Chapter 4

Ana.

The scent of smoke tickled through my nostrils. I coughed and twisted, feeling cold and damp. My heavy eyelids peeled themselves open tiredly. And my heart stopped at the image before me. The snow-haired man sat before me, observing me in my sleep while smoking a pipe nonchalantly. My eyes widened and my cheeks burned as I sucked in a quick shallow breath.

“You creep!” I shrieked, throwing a pillow at him in reflex. I was mortified. Did he really sit there watching me sleep while my clothing thinned upon my body due to the rain? What a perv.

Unbothered, he exhaled a cloud of smoke. “What is a perv and why are you screaming?”

 I blinked. How did he…?

“You are quite an ugly creature, I must admit.” He continued, studying my face.

Did he just call me ugly? My eye twitched. The nerve of this guy.

“Oh, says the one who’s been staring at a young lady, soaked, and asleep on your sofa. Who does that?”

 He frowned in a loose breath, “I do not see any lady, only a filthy little rug rat perched with drool from her mouth staining my sofa.” He stood and turned, “However, if it makes you feel any better, you do not have much for me to stare at.”

“Lady Alois!” a little boy ran towards me and fell into my arms. “I’m so glad you’re staying with us.” He purred softly, sugar attached to every word. His little body was so small and soft and warm.

“Staying?”

“Oh yes,” he smiled, “Master Yuri said you’ll be staying with us. The letter said you are lady of this house. Master Yuri’s significant.”

My throat tightened.

“I’m what?”

“You heard me,” the little boy giggled, “According to his brother, you are entitled to everything here even him.”

“Tomai, get away from her. You could get sick.” Yuri scolded, frowning at the young boy’s blatant words. An old woman entered the room with a broom in her hand and smiled.

“Oh,” I flushed, “This has to be some mistake. As much as I would adore giving orders to your stiff master over there, I’m sure I’m no lady of any house.”

“Stiff?” Yuri muttered quietly.

“I thought I was collecting a package or something, not staying anywhere.” I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck. “And I certainly don’t want to get married. At least not yet.”

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” Yuri scowled and walked towards me, inches away, tipping the bottom of my chin to stare directly into his eyes. “You will forget this conversation.”

I blinked, startled by how eccentrically odd this man was. “I will do as I please.” I smiled back.

His eyes fluttered, almost shocked at my response.

“Listen,” I tried to speak a bit more politely, “I’m really sorry. I have no intention of taking over your home in any way or form. I just want to figure things out, like why my grandfather sent me here in the first place. I don’t wish to be anyone’s burden.” My chest tightened as I mentioned my Grandfather. I spoke softly, “I just want to understand why.”

“Miss Lou,” the man spoke with his back now turned against me, about to walk away, “Take her up to her room. She can stay.”

“Come child.” The old woman neared me as Yuri walked away. Her hands were oddly rough and heavy for an old woman, but her smile was genuine. The wrinkles on her face showed a history I did not know. I always admired old people, they were so adorable.

“You came with no clothes.” She noted as we reached the room door.

“Someone stole my luggage.”

“It is no problem. I shall fetch you new clothing tomorrow but for now, you shall wear something temporary. I ask you not to show yourself before our Master looking unpresentable.”

“I understand.”

Miss Lou, as she was called, did her duty in attempting to make me the most comfortable. She barely spoke much. It was like she was programmed to do as she was told. Ever so often, she would speak a few kind words, complimenting my hair as she brushed through it while I sat on the edge of the bed. Yet, nothing more. She gave me a dress of hers after I showered and that was another great kindness regardless of if it was way too big in size for me. After she left, I sank myself into the softness of the bed feeling the loneliness creep up within me and the peculiarity of my situation hit me.

I was here, in a place I did not know, alone and unable to understand the reason I was sent here in the first place. These people, that man, gave me a place in his home for the time being even though he had no reason to. A single cool tear trickled down the side of my face. I pushed the heavy thoughts away. Everything happens for a reason. I am here. I am here where I am supposed to be, am I not? Dear God, Mathias, why am I here?

All will be right. There will be pain, but the pain is how we grow.

A flower can still bloom in harsh conditions.

I don’t know where the words came from, but they comforted me as I yawned tiredly. A deep heaviness tug at the lids of my eye and the softness of the bed consumed me. A soft giggle startled me. Sunlight spilled into the room through the peeks of the drapery. Was it morning already? It felt like only seconds went by.

“Lady Alois.” A soft voice purred into my ear. I turned to see a little head hiding at the side of the bedside table. I pushed myself into a sitting position.

“Tomai, was it?” I spoke kindly for him to come out of hiding.

“You remembered!” He beamed innocently and popped his elbows upon the edge of the bed.

“Of course, I do.” I smiled sweetly and touched the side of his warm cheeks gently. “How did you even get in here?”

“I was really excited to see you. Master Yuri rarely allows guests at the manor. And it’s been so long since I had a friend.” He frowned, “Unless you don’t want to be my friend.”

“I would love to be your friend, Tomai.”

“Really?”

“Really.” I smiled.

The sound of footsteps walking by outside the door startled him.

“Are you all right?”

He played with his fingers as tears began swelling in his eyes, “I shouldn’t be in here. If Master Yuri finds out I snuck in to see you, he’ll scold me.”

“Oh, you’re just a little boy,” I tried to reassure him, “I won’t let him scold you.”

“You won’t?” he wiped his teary eyes.  

“I won’t.” I smiled with a soft laugh, “And if he does,” I motioned a sharp wave through the air with my right hand, “I’ll smack him.”

The little boy laughed and observed the prayer stone of Mathias around my neck. “There is an empty altar room downstairs. Master doesn’t use it. Maybe you can if you’d like?”

“If it’s unused and does not pose a problem then I would really like that, but please, still ask your Master.”

“I will right away!” he hugged me gleefully.

“Not right now, I have to wait for Miss Lou to return with some better clothing for me.”

Tomai flopped himself back on the bed with a palm slapping over his face, “That old lady will take years to return.” He stressed over the years. “I have an idea. I have something you can wear. Stay here!”

Tomai bounced to his feet and flew out of the room on his heels with a suppressed squeal. I enjoyed the child’s company if I were honest. There was something so radiant about just being in his presence. Minutes passed when the door slowly creaked open and he placed a thick long coat on the edge of the bed.

“Master does not mind you using the altar. Also, this is for you.”

I stood looking at the coat. It was a beautiful lilac with studded stones at the edges. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”

“You can wear it until Lou comes back.”

“Are you sure? It looks too much, I don’t know.” I studied the coat and bit into my cheek. Is he really okay with me using it?

“Oh please, pretty please. You’ll look so lovely in it.” He pleaded.

“Okay okay.” I laughed softly unable to say no to his soulful heartfelt eyes before me.

The coat was quite large for my frame but did its job perfectly in covering my body after my shower. Tomai had already left to set the altar for me and placed the prayer stone at the center. I came down to not only find that done but also beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. I sat before the stone, emotional, and in awe of this little child’s zeal to not only please me but also Mathias. The cool air from the windows skipped in and kissed my cheeks as I closed my eyes and meditated on the stone. It was always such a peaceful feeling.   

“You waste your time praying to him.” a voice spoke from behind.

Yuri stood and leaned casually at the edge of the door frame in a navy blousy long-sleeved shirt and black pants. His silver hair fell beautifully along his shoulders as he wore a plastered frown after blowing out from his pipe. His eyes fell upon the coat I was wearing, and his expression softened into a perplexed, cryptic manner as he studied me.

“Insolent girl!” Miss Lou scolded, entering the manor while looking towards me. “Have you no shame to wear the master’s coat like that!”

I stood as my heart somersaulted.

“Let it be.” He interjected. “And do not shout, Lou. You give me a terrible headache.”

“Forgive me, my Lord.” She apologized.

“Good. Now leave us.”

With a quick nod, she left as Yuri neared me. Inches away. He towered before me and I felt the warmth of his body radiate from his nearness. My head stopped at his chest. “You are frightened.” He observed, leaning forward. “Your heart is beating rather quickly.”

I blinked, unsure of how he knew that, and dared a gaze up to his. Something inside me made me not want to look away.  “You’re less ugly than I thought you were.”

Oh, a backhanded compliment. I mentally scoffed.

My eye twitched. “You’re peachy, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am indeed fond of these earthly fruits I must admit.” He answered honestly.

Did he not catch my sarcasm? Did he think I was serious? Who was this man anyway?

“Why did my brother send you here? What is your purpose?” he continued.

His brother?

All right.

That’s it.

This guy is high.

“Whatever you’re smoking there. I think you’re smoking too much of it.” I exhaled and walked past him, “I don’t even know your brother.”  

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