Dinner and An Offer

"Princess Vanessa, your father, King Herod, is here." the maid announced, her voice hesitant as she curtsied. 

"Do I have to say 'let him in' before you know the right thing to do?" Princess Vanessa replied coldly, her voice strained from behind the bed curtains. 

"I'm sorry, Your Grace," her lady-in-waiting apologized before rushing out of the room, leaving Vanessa alone with her thoughts. The silence hung thick in the air, except for the ticking of the large grandfather clock in the corner. She sighed as she waited in silence for her father's inescapable lecture. 

The door creaked open, and King Herod's booming voice filled the room. "Vanessa! You need to learn how to treat your lady-in-waiting," the king's voice was stern.

Vanessa's frustration simmered, her words laced with venom. "Maybe I don't want one! Maybe I'm tired of sitting here waiting for something to happen."

"You know your mother and I are trying our best to find a cure..." His voice trailed off, and for a moment Vanessa could sense the uncertainty hidden in his voice. 

"Maybe you're not trying hard enough, then!" Vanessa's voice was icy, but tears flowed down her cheeks. She could sense her father's hand on the curtain as he prepared to draw it open.

"Please! If you have nothing else to say, I'd like to be alone," she said quickly, her voice cracking.

"But—"

"Please!" she raised her voice now. The king hesitated and then moved away. 

"Okay, I'll send your dinner over."

She didn't reply but waited until the door was shut before stepping out from behind the curtains. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single candle flickering on the bedside table. 

She lowered her veil, revealing her face—a face she had come to despise… her curse.

........

Fiona smoothed the simple floral dress, the soft cotton a stark contrast to the roughspun fabrics of her childhood. 

She'd spent the day in a flurry of nervous energy, a constant hum of anticipation vibrating beneath her skin. Was it too plain? Too… eager? 

She'd battled the urge to overdress, to somehow transform herself into the elegant ladies she'd glimpsed in the city. Mr. Dimitri wasn't home yet, so she'd filled the time with chores, a desperate attempt to quell the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. 

She'd even retreated to the library, the scent of aged paper and leather a comforting balm, but the words on the page had blurred before her eyes, her thoughts consumed by the upcoming dinner. 

The sound of the front door slamming echoed through the mansion, followed by Dimitri's booming voice. "Mrs. G… glad to be home!" A jolt of nervous energy shot through Fiona. He's here! 

She hurried down the stairs, her footsteps light on the polished wood, her hands instinctively smoothing the folds of her dress. The aroma of roasted meat and herbs filled the air, a tantalizing preview of the meal to come. Having already helped Mrs. G set the table, she wasn't surprised when the delicious aroma filled the air. 

She paused at the entrance to the dining room, her breath catching in her throat. 

"There you are," Dimitri smiled, his bright blue eyes locking onto hers. A woman stood beside him, her elegant silhouette bathed in the warm glow of the candle chandelier. 

Is she his wife? Or perhaps a… girlfriend? Fiona's heart sank as she bowed her head, a knot of disappointment tightening in her chest. 

"Can we have a seat?" Dimitri asked, gesturing towards the table. He pulled out a chair for the woman, then turned to Fiona. 

"You too… have a seat." He pulled out a chair next to him, his touch lingering on her arm for a fleeting moment, sending a shiver down her spine. Fiona awkwardly slid into the chair, her cheeks flushing. 

"Miss Rose and I have been talking; we want to enroll you in a homeschool program," Dimitri announced, his voice filled with enthusiasm. 

"School?" Fiona's eyes widened in surprise. First, she'd been kidnapped, then sold off, and now… an education? It was almost too much to comprehend. 

"Yes, Fiona," Miss Rose confirmed, her voice refined and articulate, her accent a melody to Fiona's ears. 

"Don't worry. Miss Rose is the best in her field. She will ensure you receive proper training," Dimitri continued as if persuading her to agree. If that was his aim, it was working. 

Tears welled in Fiona's eyes, a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. She'd always loved reading, stealing moments under the ancient oak in the cemetery back home, the rustling leaves whispering stories in her ear. 

"Thank you…" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. Dimitri gave a small nod, his fingers brushing hers briefly before he withdrew his hand. 

As Miss Rose bid them goodbye, Dimitri walked her to the door, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, a tender gesture that sent a pang of jealousy through Fiona. Dimitri returned to the dining room, his eyes sparkling with warmth. 

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" he asked, offering his arm. 

Fiona's heart skipped a beat, a surge of excitement coursing through her veins. She took his arm, the warmth of his touch spreading through her like wildfire. 

They strolled through the mansion's gardens, the air thick with the heady scent of blooming jasmine and roses. The setting sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. 

They wandered into the nearby park, a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds. Children shrieked with laughter as they chased pigeons, vendors hawked their wares, and the air buzzed with the energy of the city. Fiona's eyes widened in awe. 

"This place is so lovely. We don't have places like this back where I came from," she breathed, her voice filled with wonder. 

"I used to come here a lot, when visiting a childhood friend. I'm glad to have brought you here," Dimitri replied, his smile warm and genuine. He led her to a kiosk, purchasing two cones of fluffy pink cotton candy. 

As they walked, Dimitri handed her a cone, the sugary sweetness melting on her tongue. Fiona's eyes widened in delight, and Dimitri chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

They settled on a bench, watching a group of children play tag. Fiona turned to Dimitri, her curiosity getting the better of her. 

"Why did—sorry, I didn't ask for permission to ask a question," she stammered, her cheeks flushing. 

Dimitri smiled, his eyes warm and encouraging. "You have my permission," he replied, his voice low and soothing. 

Fiona took a deep breath. "Why did you get me if you were just going to treat me this nicely?" she asked, her gaze fixed on a little boy crying because his mother refused to buy him ice cream. 

Dimitri's expression turned serious, a shadow falling across his features. "I had…" He paused, collecting his thoughts. "I believe you are special. So when I learned you were from an orphanage and had been sold to them by your caretakers, I had to step in." 

Fiona's breath caught in her throat. An orphanage? Sold? Her kidnappers had lied. He wasn't just her owner; he was her savior. 

Dimitri's words echoed in her mind: "I believe you are special." No one had ever said that to her before. No one had ever made her feel seen or heard. 

"I…" She hesitated, the truth hovering on the tip of her tongue. If she told him, he might send her back, and she wouldn't get her education. "Thank you…" she finally said. 

"My turn to ask a question," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Why are you so shy? You can't even look at my face. Do I scare you?" 

Fiona's cheeks heated up, her heart pounding in her chest. How could she explain the way his presence made her feel? 

Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, they were lost in each other's gaze. 

"I didn't mean to pressure you…" he began, his voice soft with concern. 

"No. I guess I'm not used to seeing someone like you, which made me feel inferior," Fiona confessed, her eyes dropping to the ground. "You're bold, smart, and let's not forget good-looking… and I'm just a nobody," she blurted out. 

Dimitri's face lit up with a warm smile. He stood, offering his hand. "Shall we?" 

Fiona nodded, her heart skipping a beat as she rose to her feet. 

"Now I can see those pretty eyes of yours," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "You're not a nobody. I can tell you're talented, beautiful, and intelligent, and there's so much more to you. You're different." 

Fiona's cheeks flushed with pleasure, her heart racing. She felt seen, heard, understood. 

The walk back to the mansion was quiet, the silence comfortable. As they approached the entrance, Fiona noticed the surprised, curious, and somewhat hostile looks of Paulina, Maria, and Mrs. G. 

"I'll head to the library," Dimitri said, taking off his coat and walking away. 

"Maria, take the laundry upstairs. Fiona, assist her," Mrs. G commanded and the girls swiftly went to work. 

As they folded the laundry in Dimitri's room, Maria squealed with excitement. "I can't believe Mr. Dimitri took you out for a walk!" She looked older for an eighteen year old but had a beautiful face. 

Fiona nodded as she took a shift if his. It still had his scent, which was tempting her to sniff it. She shook her head as she began folding. 

"Yeah, he's so nice," Fiona replied, her fingers tracing the soft fabric of Dimitri's shirt, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. 

"And so handsome," Maria winked. 

"Definitely handsome," Fiona agreed, a blush rising to her cheeks. 

"What about his parents?" Fiona asked, curious. 

"Both died in a fire accident when he was ten. Mrs. G is the only family he knows now. She's been like a mother to him." 

"I lost mine too. They were wanderers." Fiona stopped abruptly, reminding herself not to reveal too much. 

"That must be really hard for you… Given what happened…" Maria whispered, gently patting her hand. 

It was no news that every year wanderers were burnt alive as a result of the King's advisor who convinced him that the wanderers magic posed as a threat to the kingdom. Although, the death of wanderers had been canceled, unfortunately her parents and a thousand other wanderers had already been killed. 

Fiona nodded, changing the subject. "Anyway, how long have you been here?" 

"Oh, me? It's been two years now. Two years of trying to catch Mr. Dimitri's fiery blue eyes." Maria laughed, then sighed. "He never seems to notice me, or any girl in particular." 

As she resumed folding, Fiona wondered if she could catch his eyes if she tried. She felt a flutter in her chest. 

"He must be blind then! You're beautiful!" 

"I know, I am," Maria giggled. "But I don't know, maybe he's fighting it. He never looks directly at any girl except during meaningful conversations." 

She sighed as she continued, I don't think I've ever seen him smile at any girl, take her on a date, or even go for a walk... Oh, except…" 

Maria's eyes widened as she gasped, her voice trailing off in a tantalizing hint. 

"What? Except who?" Fiona asked, her curiosity piqued.