The Day Before...

SEVENTEEN YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS, THIRTY DAYS, TWELVE HOURS, TWENTY EIGHT MINUTES AND FORTY-TWO SECONDS LATER.

~

"Mari?" A woman yells out loud, bending down as she steps out of an outhouse after going to relieve herself. "AMARIS?"

The girl comes running through the yard, coming to a stop as she pants heavily. "Yes ma'am?"

"Have you returned the spoilt produce you got from the Beta's wife the day before?"

Amaris shakes her head in the negative, twirling her fingers in her small, worn out gloves nervously. "Your husband asked me not to ma'am."

The elderly woman's face contorts from the one with an expressionless look right into the spawn of the devil.

Amaris, seeing what is coming her way takes a few steps back but for someone who is still physically weak, there is almost no place she could possibly run to as her back hits the wall of the brick building. 

"What the hell did I tell you about listening to me and not my husband?" She raises her hand and brings it down on Amaris's cheeks.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I will return it now."

"Better, you wolfless orphan."

With tears in her eyes, Mari backs away from her, resisting every urge to raise her hand to her stinging cheeks, the words hurting much more than the slap. Just as she is about to walk past the front of the house, the door opens right into Amaris's face, hitting her squarely on the face, making the girl fall backwards.

For a day before her eighteenth birthday, things are turning out really shitty, but what makes it so much different from the other days anyway?

A young girl steps out. She sees Amaris on the floor and pouts, looking up to see her Mum standing there, watching the duo.

"Are you okay, Rhea?"

"I'm fine mum. Guess this one does not have eyes just as much as she is senseless." Rhea hisses as she walks past Amaris who is dusting her clothes after standing up from the ground.

"Good afternoon, young miss." Amaris greets her, bowing her head subtly.

Rhea just plain ignores her walking over to her mother.

"Ah, wait." Rhea calls out to Amaris who turns around. "Where are you off to?"

"The Beta's house."

"Hm good. Mom, you don't mind me sending her on an errand right?"

"Of course not, the good for nothing wench should be good for one thing at least. Go ahead, just make sure she is back here in time for cooking dinner, it won't cook itself."

Knowing the last words are directed at her, Amaris bows softly, her eyes looking at the ground the whole time.

Rhea walks over, shoulder bumping her deliberately. "Come with me then. I have a letter to be delivered to Jon, the Beta's first son."

Rhea leads the way into the average home, and then past the living room to her room, rhea's room, looking all princessy and beautiful, it's the perfect room to be called pink blind but that is exactly how she loves it…Amaris stands outside by the doorway, only allowed to peep inside.

As Rhea would say, "Ew. I don't like peasants in my room. Get out!"

A complete contrast to Amaris's own room, if it could possibly be called that.

Rhea digs into her dresser and provides a pink enveloped letter and hands it over to Amaris. "This letter must be delivered today within the hour, if something happens to you on your way over there, I don't give a fuck, that letter must be delivered directly to him. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am." Amaris takes the letter, grabs the supposedly spoilt fruits from the dining area and heads out, taking a long coat along with her just in case of the coming evening chill.

The trip to the Beta's house takes normally, an hour on foot but Rhea had said she wanted her letter delivered within the hour so she ran. Amaris ran, because running means she might get to eat dinner.

Might.

She gets there, panting heavily, her chest heaving as she leans on the house's walls for support. Being one of the best in the whole kingdom, it is sturdy enough for her to lean on, trying to catch her breath.

Just then, a woman walks out from the corner, a watering can in her hands, as soon as she sees Amaris, her eyes light up. "Mari, it's so lovely to see you again, I don't get to see you in between weeks but here you are, second time in two days."

Amaris leans up straight and laughs, her smile nothing short of dazzling. 

Wilhelmina pulls her into a warm, motherly hug. "I guess Rosetta sent you…" She sees the basket in her hands. "Did she say something is wrong with them?"

"Yes ma'am… she said they are not fully fine anymore but I think it's just her preferences. I think she prefers ones that are not fully ripe yet."

Wilhelm laughs. "There you go again, defending her. You know, why don't you come work for me? This is probably the millionth time I am asking you. I'll treat you so much better than they do…" She looks around and brings her voice to a playful whisper. "How is that copycat bitch?" 

"Ma'am!" Amaris half yells, but she laughs all the same. It gives her joy to know that someone is on her side no matter what.

Wilhelm takes the basket from her, patting her gloved hands. "You should probably hurry back, you have a long walk ahead of you. Or do you want me to ask someone to drop you off?"

"No ma'am. I like the walk. I have a letter to deliver to your son."

"From that pink bitch?"

Amaris facepalms but nods. "Yes ma'am, from Rhea."

"You came a little too late. He left with his father to the palace about thirty minutes ago. You can give it to me so I…"

"Sorry ma'am. I have orders to deliver it directly. Thank you though."

"I'll have someone drop you off on this one, you can't say no. You can walk back home from the palace but you are taking a car from here, okay?"

There is no getting out of it this time. Amaris nods okay and lets Wilhelmina steer her to the car, pushing her into the back seat and waving her off until the car goes out of sight.

Wilhelmina sighs to herself, "Poor girl, but so loyal to the wrong people."