3. A glimpse into the past

The moon rose high in the sky that night nine years ago, and the breeze had a bit of warmth to it when it skimmed the skin. One would hardly believe they were deep into the winter season then. Now that Meredith thought about it, it was probably due to the activities of some over-adventurous sorcerers seeking a thrill. Thanks to them, the winter didn't hit them as hard as other times. The villagers had long gone to sleep so the road to the city's outskirts was lonely and scary. But she didn't have to worry about that because her caretaker had her little hand wrapped tightly in her.

A little distance in front was the towering gates of the Goto mansion. She hadn't known it then but the events that occurred after they entered the mansion changed her life forever. A servant came to receive them and led them inside in a roundabout way to a small house that no longer stands behind all the buildings on the grounds. It was sparsely furnished but tastefully so. An elegant woman, with flowing brown hair, sat at the only table in the house nursing a cup of tea.

"Is that the girl?" a sonorous voice came out of that little body dangling on that weak-looking chair she sat on. Her caretaker immediately fell on her knees to avoid the woman's eyes and pulled her along, "yes my lady" answered her in a shaky voice.

"Hmm…" the woman placed her tea cup gently onto the saucer but it still made a scratching sound. She started at it in displeasure, servants suddenly grabbed her caretaker and studded her mouth before she could scream. "I shall make sure to make reparations with your master, her upbringing leaves much to desire," the woman resumed, "trouble not your poor heart, the dead tell no tales."

Meredith stared with tear-streaked eyes as her caretaker was dragged away kicking, till this day she couldn't wipe away the terrified expression she saw on her face from her memories. Another lady barged into the small house angrily but seemed to cool off faced with the elegant lady, "What are you doing? Take your daughter with you".

"You can't do this to me. I'll never accept this!" the other lady screamed.

The elegant lady was unfazed, "If you were a little competent I wouldn't have to do this." With a wave of her hand, a servant refilled her cup, "Do not try me, little sister. Be obedient, as you have always been."

The other lady stomped away angrily, and the servant who came with her moved to take Meredith but was halted. "Be good," the elegant lady said to her, "that is the only way you'll survive in this place."

Those words lulled Meredith to sleep and deprived her of sleep to this day. That elegant woman was no longer in this world and it was just as she said; the dead tell no tales. She heard a soft knock on her door and took a short while to organise her thoughts, "come in."

The little boy she met that day came into her room soundlessly, behind him was the older twins' friend; Agnes. That little girl was always fishing for gossip. The boy placed her breakfast on the little table by the window while the girl leaned against the open door, his glassy grey eyes wandered everywhere except for where she was sitting. He must know what effect he had on her when she came back last week and was trying to hide it.

"I can do it myself, you may leave," Meredith dismissed him as he started setting up the table. "Don't be so stubborn and accept his service, that is what he is here for," the girl snorted out loud. She turned her gentle gaze onto her and she shrunk back in fear. "Get. Out."

Two footsteps echoed in the north wing; one measured and confidence, the other playful and mischievous. The former belonged to Eizan who had now spent a week in the Go to mansion in an extremely tense environment, but he wasn't one to tiptoe around anyone and they all let him be. However, there was one vile little spirit bent on making his life unfortunate. He asked midstep and the owner of the latter footsteps crashed into him.

"Can you please stop following me? You are making my work tougher than should be" he whined to the annoying pest. Agnes circled him to face him, "and why would I do that? Following you is fun."

Eizan scoffed and found his way to the kitchens. She didn't follow him which was expected; a highborn couldn't be seen in the kitchens. "Lord Goto is throwing a tantrum again," a maidservant whispered to one and the others gathered around her, he included though it was subconscious. "What happened this time?" another maid prompted. "It's 'cause of Lady Meredith, you know! Only she has the ability to rile him up so much!" the maid said earning a lot of grunts and whistles. "Apparently, the Tower sent her back for her cousins" another maid contributed to the story.

"But the lady had already taken care of it," a maid said, and the original maid replied, "you can never truly keep the Tower away. Then again, going to the tower raises an ordinary clan into a prestige clan; that is why there are so few of them. I wonder why the lord is so against it."

The head cook struck his ladle against an iron pot which scattered the gossip gathering. "Get to back to work now!"

The butler appeared in the kitchens suddenly calming the readiness instantly. His eyes scanned the kitchens quickly before settling on him, his lips curled slightly, "come with me," he said. Eizan felt the eyes of everyone on him and once again, they were filled with pity. Amidst his confusion, he followed the Butler out.

Meredith opened the door to her uncle's study without ceremony and found him fuming in his seat, it was a pleasant surprise to her. It was wonderful to find that someone else was feeling like shit. She curtsied and plastered a smile on her face, "my lord. Have you decided?"

Lord Goto threw a book at her but it hung in the air between them sizzling with static. All pretext of cordiality was dropped and she straightened her back, "it doesn't matter if you have decided or not. You will not delay me further." The book flung itself in the direction from whence it came and stopped an inch away from her uncle's face. A pungent odour suddenly filled the air and she suppressed the urge to cover her nose. The man had pissed himself.

Outside the study stood the butler obediently when Meredith stepped out. "Prepare the children's luggage immediately. We leave at sundown."

The butler bowed deeply, "yes, my lady."