EYES DON'T LIE

❝

RETURNING to Albiana, the carriage rumbled along a rocky path that wended its way through the vast, still wilderness. The darkness of night had fully engulfed the land, with a serene quiet only broken by the call of the owls and the gentle clatter of the hooves of the horses pulling the carriage along its route. All was peaceful, and a haunting calmness settled over the once-bustling urban, as if the night itself had cast a cloak of stillness over the once-lively place.

As if a glimpse of a memory was awakened within her, a flicker of an idea came into the mind of Charlotte, as she rode inside the carriage. "To work in conjunction with another?" Her words echoed through her mind, her tone filled with curiosity and anticipation at the prospect of collaborating on a common objective with another individual.

"I must place my trust in you, Charlotte." came Madame Dorothea's voice in the form of a flashback in Charlotte's thought process, with no room for other possibilities. With her words, she suggested that teamwork was the most effective method of collecting the necessary information, with two individuals assigned to a single case. 

This was the most efficient way to ensure a successful outcome, as the two individuals could cover a large amount of ground in their search and utilize their unique perspectives and expertise to uncover valuable clues.

"How am I to continue this investigation without his guidance?" 

An air of concern and uncertainty engulfed her persona, as her words expressed her confusion and apprehension over not having access to the information that was needed to conduct the investigative work.

"The issue remains, he should regain his consciousness at the earliest opportunity, we must have the medication herbs as soon as possible." Madame Dorothea said after casting her gaze out of the window, displaying her genuine concern for the condition of Lucien.

"Though the physician has indeed prescribed a new remedy, the particular ingredient upon which its efficacy depends has yet to bloom within the garden of this estate," Madame Dorothea remarked, her voice carrying the measured weight of one who understood the gravity of such matters. Her words, though gracefully spoken, left little room for doubt; the rare nature of the ingredient in question rendered its acquisition an affair of no small difficulty.

Charlotte, seeking to confirm the validity of this assertion, inquired with a tone both inquisitive and earnest, "Would it be the Calendula of which they spoke?"

With but a single, decisive utterance, Dorothea confirmed her suspicion. "Correct."

The brevity of her response spoke volumes, as though further explanation were unnecessary to one who grasped the significance of such things.

With an air of quiet resolve, Charlotte lowered her gaze in a gesture of deference before she spoke, her words imbued with an earnestness that could not be feigned. "If it pleases you, Madame, might I be permitted to journey to Hestonia village? I am acquainted with the land and its surroundings and believe I may be of service in procuring the flower which is so urgently needed."

Dorothea turned her gaze upon the young woman, her expression unreadable, neither betraying approval nor outright denial. "Hestonia," she murmured, as if weighing the very name upon her lips. "That would be the village renowned for its bounteous flora and potent herbs, would it not?"

"Yes, Madame," Charlotte affirmed, her words measured yet tinged with a quiet fervor, for she knew well the importance of gaining Madame Dorothea's assent.

A silence fell upon the room, stretching long enough that Charlotte dared not breathe too deeply, lest she disturb the delicate balance of the moment. Then, at last, Dorothea raised a hand, and with a mere flick of her fingers, the heavy wooden doors swung open to admit the presence of Vladimir, his towering frame casting a long shadow upon the polished floor.

Dorothea, her gaze never once wavering from Charlotte's countenance, exhaled in a manner so measured it might have been mistaken for the rustling of silk upon stone. "Very well," she intoned, her voice as cool and deliberate as ever. "You shall go, but you will not go unescorted. Vladimir shall accompany you. It would be most unfortunate were you to stray too far in your pursuits, or worse, if ill-intentioned figures were to take notice of your journey."

She then softened, ever so slightly, her voice lowering as though offering quiet counsel. "Do not tarry longer than necessary, Charlotte. There are forces in this world that move unseen, and a flower—no matter how rare—must never be sought at the cost of one's safety."

With a swift, deliberate motion, Madame Dorothea raised her hand and snapped her fingers, the sharp sound echoing through the grand hall. Almost instantly, a shadow stirred from the corridor beyond, moving with the silent precision of a man well-versed in the art of obedience.

Vladmir, impeccably attired in a fine suit, his gloved hands carefully holding his spectacles, stepped forward with a composed and deliberate grace. His sharp eyes, observant and calculating, flickered toward Madame Dorothea as he inclined his head slightly in deference.

"Did you summon me, my lady?" he inquired, his voice measured, carrying both professionalism and the quiet authority of a man accustomed to executing orders with precision.

Madame Dorothea, seated in a high-backed chair near the grand window overlooking the estate's flourishing gardens, turned her gaze upon him. A faint smile, touched with the slightest hint of apprehension, played upon her lips as she regarded him. The afternoon light cast a golden hue upon her elegant features, though there was an unmistakable glint of worry in her otherwise composed expression.

"Indeed, I have, Vladmir," she replied, her voice smooth yet firm, every syllable measured with the grace of one who was well accustomed to issuing commands. "I require you to accompany Charlotte on her journey to Hestonia village. She has pressing matters to attend to, and I trust that under your watchful eye, she will arrive safely and return in good health. Ensure that no harm befalls her and that she is not delayed unnecessarily. Her presence here is paramount."

Charlotte, who had been standing to the side, her hands clasped before her, lifted her gaze at the sound of her name. A flicker of gratitude crossed her expression as she listened intently to Madame Dorothea's words. Her approval meant everything, and she knew better than to take such permission lightly.

Madame Dorothea's piercing eyes settled on the young woman. "Charlotte, I approve your request. Conduct your business with diligence, and return to me without fail. I shall expect nothing less than a swift and uneventful journey."

The atmosphere in the grand hall seemed to still for a moment as her words settled upon them, a weighty pronouncement that carried an air of finality. Vladmir gave a crisp nod of understanding, his stance unwavering. "As you wish, my lady. She shall be under my protection until she is safely returned to the mansion. You have my word."

Charlotte curtsied respectfully, her voice soft but resolute with a glimpse of soft smile on her lips. "Thank you, Madame Dorothea. I shall not disappoint you."

Dorothea studied them both for a lingering moment before turning her gaze back toward the window, watching the wind play through the distant trees. "See that you do not" she murmured, almost to herself, before finally waving her hand in quiet dismissal.

The passage of time seemed to have passed unnoticed by Charlotte, as she had been engrossed in her thoughts and musings. The gentle flicker of candlelight cast elongated shadows across the chamber, creating a delicate interplay of darkness and light upon the brocade curtains and the antique wooden furniture. It was in this subdued atmosphere that she was jolted back to reality by the resonant voice of Vladimir, whose presence was as commanding as ever.

"Is there something bothering you, Lady Charlotte?" his voice held an air of detached curiosity, yet an unmistakable undercurrent of intent lurked beneath his words.

Charlotte, startled from her reverie, lifted her gaze momentarily before allowing it to wander towards the grand arched window, where the moonlight spilled across the polished marble floor. The question lingered in the air between them, unanswered. Instead, she offered a faint, carefully measured smile—one that neither confirmed nor denied his inquiry. Yet, despite her feigned composure, there was an unmistakable hesitancy in her manner, as though she were caught in the midst of an internal conflict.

At last, after a breath of silence, she shifted in her seat and regarded Vladimir with a solemnity that betrayed the weight of the thoughts pressing upon her mind. "It has been lingering in the back of my mind since we met in Normaine, but why did Madame offer me that agreement?" Her voice, though soft, carried an unmistakable edge of curiosity, laced with a quiet wariness. There was a depth of meaning in her question, an unspoken plea for clarity amidst the sea of ambiguity that surrounded her.

Vladimir regarded her with an expression that was both impassive and contemplative. He was a man whose words were carefully chosen, weighed and measured before they were allowed to leave his lips. After a moment's pause, he leaned back slightly in his chair, his gloved fingers idly tracing the rim of his goblet as he formulated his response.

"It was Madame's intention," he said at last, his tone grave, "but unfortunately, I am not privy to her precise designs where you are concerned."

Charlotte studied his face for any telltale sign of deception, yet Vladimir's expression remained as inscrutable as ever. There was, however, a certain inflection in his voice that suggested he knew far more than he was willing to disclose.

As if sensing her lingering doubt, he continued in a voice that carried the weight of something far deeper than mere words. "You, in whose possession lies the key, shall wield its power and expose the truth of the secrets veiled beneath the surface."

Charlotte's brow furrowed ever so slightly as she processed his cryptic statement. The weight of his words pressed upon her, heavy with meaning that lay just beyond her grasp. She parted her lips as if to speak, then hesitated, as though she feared that any inquiry on her part might unravel something she was not yet prepared to understand.

"Pardon me, but might I ask you to explain further what you mean by that phrase? My understanding of the situation is still in its infancy, and your words appear to indicate a deeper meaning or significance that I have yet to uncover," she said, with a touch of frustration mixed with curiosity in her tone, as she sought to make sense of the mysterious and ambiguous riddle.

The ambiguous response provided by Vladimir is crafted in a riddle-like fashion with seriousness showing in his eyes,

"The revelation of the world's secrets and understanding has only just begun, M'Lady."