02. VEILED FAREWELL
CHAPTER TWO;
VEILED FAREWELL
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"LILAC, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU." Lilac loses her footing before catching herself as her face morphs in confusion and panic. Realizing her phrasing, Seraphina releases a sigh seeing that she caused a misunderstanding. "I meant I have something important I would like to speak to you about. You're not in trouble, at least not with me," Seraphina clears up the confusion.
Holding the wooden tray close to her chest, Lilac heaves a heavy sigh of ease at her mistress's explanation. "Are you sure I should sit with you, ma'am?" Lilac doesn't wish to overstep their boundaries or upset her calm mood.
"I'm requesting you grab some tea and sit to talk with me, is that too much to ask Liliac?" Seraphina raises an eyebrow towards her servant. Seraphina doesn't have a slight clue as to why she is hesitating on her offer.
Frantically swinging her head from side to side, Lilac agrees with Seraphina's request. Waving Lilac off so she can go retrieve the tea, Seraphina glances at Attor who is too busy devouring his balanced meal to notice.
A few moments pass by, as Lilac returns with two bulky cups and a teapot awkwardly looming over her master. Seraphina glances up at her maid with slanted eyes bothered by her stance in the middle of the room. "What are you doing? You'll need to sit to pour the tea."
"I'm sorry!" Lilac stumbles over her words as she hurries to gather at her table. Her poor brain is suffering from her swarming nerves, as she can barely form her normal body functions.
Seraphina gives her a final judgmental look before digging her spoon into the bowl of fresh rice. "Delicious as always," Seraphina stops to compliment her maid who is nervously glancing at the space around them. Catching the praise, Lilac generously bows her head quickly and begins to pour the freshly brewed tea.
"So Lilac," she calls for her maid's attention. "Obviously, I didn't call you to sit down with me for no reason." Lilac stops sipping the warm tea to face Seraphina with full attention. As to not miss even the tiniest piece of detail of information.
"I plan on leaving the village," Seraphina slowly speaks as she watches her maid's eyes swoop down slowly. "The thought has weighed on my mind for a while, but hesitance has held me back. Know that I do wish to return, but I feel as if I deserve the right to explore all the unknown places out there."
Taking a small gulp of the tea Lilac poured, Seraphina opens her mouth to talk a bit more. Yet, Lilac beats her to the punch. "I've imagined this for a while now."
"I've seen the way your eyes have changed. The way you spend more time on your balcony, instead of going out to the town," Lilac pauses with a long sigh and looks up with slightly teary eyes accompanied by a quivering smile. "But I'm not worried about that, I just want you to be happy. It's what you're parents would've wanted."
Seraphina's eyes droop into a melancholy gaze at the mention of her parents. Swiveling her head towards her maid she dips her head lowly as a sign of respect and thankfulness.
"Thank you for your understanding. We leave tomorrow, so I expect my things packed by then. I also will need a carriage, as I plan to leave to visit the village today." Seraphina finishes the conversation off returning to her normal stature and resumes consuming her now lukewarm meal.
Lilac gives her a brief smile but it quickly morphs into a villainous smirk. She gathers herself and leaves Seraphina's presence as her mind begins to swarm with evil intentions.
Her heart flutters at the thought of her brother returning so they could rule the village. Seraphina's parents may have spoiled their plans, but now with their daughter out of the way, they'll have unrestricted reign over everything.
"Farewell Seraphina, years of living as your servant are about to be far behind me."