CHAPTER#29: Junkyard?
"What do you mean?" she turned pale after hearing her request.
"Your eyes say that you are not happy here milady. There is sadness in them."
At this moment Luciana was awestruck. Her plans might fail. There were more chances that she would not succeed. In her empire, it was taboo to divorce unless a woman was being abused. Any man who abused his wife faced the wrath of God. And the woman was free to marry someone else or choose her freedom. Many who were not interested in marriage joined the service of the temples all over the empire and were designated noble status and a small amount of divine powers as compensation for their patience. Punishment of women who weren't loyal to their husbands also faced severe consequences. It was for the sake of reducing cases of adultery in the land.
-"Recalling the article in the oldest law book. How could I forget?" she bit her lower lip.
"I wouldn't abandon my duties. So you don't have to worry."She reassured her.
"It's true I miss my home. Everything was too sudden. Everything here is still unfamiliar to me. But... I cannot cower in fear just because of the change."
"So that means-!"She was interrupted by the knock on the door.
"I'll go see milady. Please enjoy your breakfast." She lifted the lid letting the white cloud of steam rise in the air filling the room with the aroma of foods displayed on the small wooden dishes. She hurried to answer the person at the door.
"The master sent the clothes for the lady."Mina nodded and received the clothes.
Meanwhile, Luciana picked a small hard loaf and tore it in half with her hands. There was no cutlery. The breakfast was simple but fulfilling. Poached eggs with dragon fruit, wild berries with two small loaves of bread. The bread was freshly baked. It was crusty on the outside but fluffy on the inside.
Before she would find more uncooked meat with blood seeping out when cut. She'd lose her appetite with just a glance at it.
"Milady is the breakfast suffice for you?"She asked worried.
"Yes, I enjoyed it. It was a decent and a fulfilling one."She smiled.
"I'm glad to know about it. The servants noticed that you'd leave meat or wouldn't eat at all."
-"That's because every platter was half-cooked meat or organs of dead animals."She sighed. The very thought of it made her want to throw up.
"The bath water is ready milady. And here are some fresh clothes to wear. His lordship is not aware of your preferences so he did his best to pick out selective dresses that may be of your liking." She put the clothes on the bed. Luciana who just finished her breakfast walked over to the bed to get a better look at the outfit. It was a light green dress with white fur lining at the borders of the skirt and long sleeves. The pattern of the collar was intricate yet well-stitched. The dress was simple yet looked perfect in its own way.
-"Did he pick this out himself? Unbelievable! He doesn't look like he's the least bit interested in a woman's preferences."
"Did he pick this out?"Luciana confirmed it in disbelief.
"I understand why you ask about it milady. Master has no eye for clothing."Mina shrugged.
-"What was I thinking?"She thought dejected.
"Master prefers quality over everything. Sometimes he just looks at stuff based on cost. He's quite a miser. Brother mostly takes care of the expenses including his wardrobe. So far as I can say brother must have helped him choose your dresses."
She followed Mina into the bathroom. The light grey stone tub was filled with steaming water. There were no scents. She missed all those essence oils and fruity and floral scents she enjoyed during her baths back home.
After the warm bath, the young maid helped her get dressed. There were three layers of underclothes to keep her warm. Considering her weakness in cold weather she would need more than three.
"Mina... I've been wondering... Have you ever heard of a demon having eyes of gold?"
Mina halted for a moment.
"No... Milady. It's just a legend." She slowly resumed combing her white hair.
"I see..."There was no more to be said.
"You look stunning milady!"Mina exclaimed in excitement.
Moments later there was another knock on the door.
Mina hurried to see the door once again.
"Brother, what brings you here?" she hissed.
"I'm here to escort the lady to the courtyard."
"Who's there, Mina? "Luciana stepped behind her.
"Oh, Sir Jafar. I'm glad you remembered."
He stood for a moment. His gaze was fixated on her.
"Don't ogle at her like that. It is rude!"She hit him hard on his torso.
"Kuhh~I... Apologize milady. It's just that... Her beauty is truly out of this world."He squatted holding the place that was throbbing with pain.
Luciana blushed and thanked him. Moreover, she was shocked at the young maiden's strength.
They left the chambers and walked through the stained-glass hallways.
The patterns were similar to those on the tapestries.
The hallways ended temporarily to an average-sized overgrown space.
-"Is it a courtyard... Perhaps?" she guessed.
"What is this place?"She said.
"Oh, this!.... It is the oldest training ground of the fortress. It is said that this place was an arena. Where warriors battled against each other to prove their strength. But now it's just an overgrown junkyard."
"Now now sir don't be callin my garden an overgrown junkyard?"A low voice spoke out from behind the fairly tall bush.
"Huh?"Luciana and Jafar looked behind them. The old man with a hunchback approached them.
"Why to have the young madam visit a humble place like this is an honor indeed." he greeted Luciana with a slight bob of his head.
"Mister Darren... The pleasure is mine."She smiled. After all, he was one other person who was approachable in this place other than Mina.