An Unexpected Inheritance

I was awoken by a soft knock. My eyes fluttered open as I scanned my environment. Judging by the orange light in the room. It's already evening.

"Come in"

Hermione entered the room. "My lady the Marchioness is requesting your presence for dinner"

The growl of my stomach reminds me that I haven't eaten anything since we got off the ship. I'm absolutely famished.

"I'll be down soon help me change"

She nods her head and helps me get ready to go downstairs.

"By the way what have you and Javis been up to"

"Oh nothing much my lady we've just been pulling out weight here as well. Javis is downstairs assisting the other servants. "My lady would you like me to tie up your hair?"

I nod my head and she begins braiding it gently and quickly tied it up into a bun. I admired her handiwork in the mirror. "You're really good at this"

"Thank you for the compliments my lady" She helps me change into a nicer evening gown and we both head downstairs. 

The Marchioness sees me and her eyes light up as she wanders over to me and hugs me again.  "Hope you rested well. Come join us for dinner"

We all sat down at the table as the servants brought in plates of food and placed them before us.

We blessed the food and began eating. The food of this world is impressive, amazing, tantalizing and delicious. My mouth is in heaven and I'm in pure ecstasy. The only good thing that has happened to me since my sudden entry into this world is food. The quality of food here is something I could never hope to eat in my previous life. I'll make sure to avoid my banishment. I don't think I can get food this tasty if I get banished.

"Victor, Sera make sure the both of you get a lot of rest. We have a busy day tomorrow so be prepared. I want you both up before six-thirty so we can go over tomorrow's activities" the Marchioness announced when she was done with her plate.

She looked at me "Veronica if you're finished I'd like you to come with me. I want to show you something"

Huh! Something she wants to show me? I hurriedly eat the last bits of food on my plate. It's a shame I couldn't take my time savoring the last bites. But the look on her face tells me that the matter at hand is a serious one.

I leave the dining room with her while Victor and Sera go to their rooms. 

I follow her into her study. I take a seat as I watch her search for something. She pulls out a drawer, skims through it and brings something out.

"Veronica do you know anything about the Novan family" she asks me.

I shake my head.

"We are one of the wealthiest families in all of Assenav. We own almost half of all the ruby, sapphire, emerald, tourmaline and diamond mines. If there's a gemstone in existence we are in possession of mine where it can be found''

I nod my head amazed.

She paused looking at me before looking at what she had in her hands.

"When my father your grandfather passed away he spilt the mines equally between me and my sister. But since my sister is no longer with us. You are her next of kin and as such her rightful heir. Meaning that the mines left to her are now your possessions"

Me?! Her heir! The novel didn't really elaborate on Veronica's background. So this is actually quite surprising. I didn't know Veronica's mother was from such a wealthy family.

"To tell you the truth I was a bit worried. I was worried you wouldn't bother to come. I was afraid that you still.....still... hated me" she said her voice wavering.

"Huh? What are you talking about" this is the first time I'm meeting her and in the novel Veronica never met her.

We sat in silence for a while. Neither of us saying anything or nor even looking at each other.

"Well it's was a long time ago and I suppose you wouldn't remember" she said breaking the silence. "I just wanted to tell you about the mines that's all. Come here tomorrow morning I'll have the documents prepared"

I rise and curtsey. "Thank you Marchioness" I make my way over to the door.

"Aunt"

I freeze and look back at her "is there something else you wanted to tell me"

She hesitates before speaking "Don't address me that way"

That way. Is she referring to her title.

"Alright then what would you have me call you"

She twiddles her fingers and looks at floor."Aunt! Call me Aunt"

I breathe an audible sigh of relief. I thought it was a serious matter about me not addressing her with respect.

"Alright then if that's what you please permit me to call you Aunt. Auntie Anna to be precise"

"Isn't Auntie a bit childish? Never mind tomorrow's a big day. So please get some rest I'll speak with you tomorrow"

I curtsey one final time and leave the study. I head back to my room where Hermione is waiting for me. She helps me change out of my dress and into a night gown.

"You'd best get a good night's rest my lady. From what the servants here have told me  it seems like we have a rather busy day ahead of tomorrow"

The Marchioness said that as well. What did she mean?

"What do you mean Hermione?" I ask her.

She looked shocked for a moment. "Do you not know what tomorrow's occasion is my lady?"

"Nope"

She lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Tomorrow is the young master's coming of age ceremony"

A Coming of age Ceremony is a noble's eighteenth birthday. It's a special day for some that means that their of marriageable age and for others it means that they can finally drink alcohol.

"Interesting! I'm going to bed you should as well"

She bows her head and leaves the room.

I guess I'll stay a bit longer here. There some things I want to find out for myself.

______

Anastasia sat alone in her study going over the property documents tapping her fingers against the wood of her table. The conversation she had with her niece playing over in her head. There was no need for her niece to wait until tomorrow for the documents.

They were already prepared. There was nothing stopping her from giving them to her then and there. She didn't want to give them to her because she was afraid.

She wanted her to stay a little longer. She wanted a chance to learn a little about her. The niece that had spent so much time avoiding her. Now was the chance she'd been waiting for.

'If I had given her the documents now. She'd have left immediately'

A knock on the door drew her attention away from the papers she had been idly staring at.

"Come in"  she looked up to study the person who had stepped inside the room.

"Oh! You're that young man that was with Veronica when she arrived! What can I do for you"

He bowed his head "Thank you for seeing me. I hope you don't mind me asking but 'Was this an accident or a joke' he said as he gestured to the envelope he had pulled out of his pocket.

She took it from him and observed it carefully before bursting out laughing. Her laughter was so loud and garish.

It had taken him by surprise. The letter she sent was a last minute attempt to get her niece to come. She hadn't actually expected her to come. Nonetheless after receiving such a letter.

When she had finally calmed down and was wiping away her tears. Javis was even more confused.

"It was by no means a joke or accident that this was sent"

"If the letter was meant for the Lady then why was it addressed to the head butler instead. Furthermore why wasn't it at least sealed with your family's emblem. I almost died when I read the letter"

She giggled as the young man in front of her continued to rant. She observed him closely he was tall, handsome and very charming.

'He's way to young to be Veronica's head butler' she thought.

"Aren't you..." She began.

"A bit to young to be head butler. Why yes! Yes I am. I'm merely covering for him as he is unwell at the moment" He replied immediately as if he'd known what she was thinking about.

"I see. Anyway don't worry about it. The past is in the past. Now that you're here there's something I want to ask you"

She prepared herself mentally. "What does Veronica like to do?"

Javis was even more confused. How on earth was he supposed to know?! These nobles were always making his life difficult. "I don't know any of the lady's interest if you'll excuse me I'll be taking my leave" he bowed his head and quickly left the room before this 'odd woman' could ask him anymore questions.

When he left the room Anastasia mentally scolded herself. If she wanted to forge a strong relationship with her niece she had to do it by herself.

It was her way of atoning for what she did to her sister.

She would look after her niece.