A Salmon-Colored Stamp and Red Roses
It had been nearly two weeks since Mr. Austin's unwanted "visit", and since then, the residents of the Hockley Manor all had their taste of danger from the Master; due to silly things somehow able to completely destroy the balance of calm and order of the manor. And with the Master known for being an ill-tempered individual at certain times, the entire staff had to endure lecture after lecture, in the same manner a professor would scold gossiping students. Cordelia, herself, had witnessed a number of lectures and she'd end up comforting the maids who always left the Master's study with a face pale as a ghost's.
It was around ten in the morning when Cordelia, who had been reading in the library, was interrupted by the old butler. The elderly gentleman approached the young woman sitting on an ebony bench, and handed her an envelope sealed with a salmon-colored stamp.
"No initials?" She noticed. But already curious, Cordelia carefully opened the envelope which carried a folded piece of champagne-tinted paper, the page almost entirely covered with small, elegant handwriting.
"My precious Cordelia, how long has it been since we last spoke? Since we last laid eyes on each other? Since we last sent letters to each other, praying they'd reach the other safe and sound? It's nostalgic, isn't it? How I hope to be comforted by knowing I am not the only once reminiscing about the past; how lovely those days were, when time ceased to exist and it be only you and I sitting beneath that magnificent willow tree in the Springtime, freely chattering of the beauties of this world...How adorable we were, when smiles were all that graced our youthful faces! In all honesty, I've been in distress from how long it's been. Ah, I'm afraid I'm still as selfish as ever, and it helps me naught that man seems to have lost his mind. Believe me whole-heartedly, Cordelia, when I say I wish I could've written to you during better times with kinder words, but this is not a simple letter, it's a warning. Two weeks ago, it had been reported that the Sams family had gone missing, and the orphanage which the family ran, had been burned down. All in one night. Unfortunately, by the time the officers arrived at the scene, over an hour later, it was almost a given that there'd be so little survivors. Surely you remember, and will continue to remember, Mason Sams; from our dearest of memories. Ten or so officers had been sent to both properties to investigate and only find eight pieces of silver. Dear God…I imagine you already know how enraging this all is for me, and to think that that's only the start of this dreadful chain of events. Strangers are randomly attacking nobles, wrestling them on the streets during the day and kidnapping their children under protection of the night. Everyone is, naturally, in a state of panic and mental torment. All the missing children are being found at different cemeteries, their bodies covered in nothing but a dirtied nightgown and pale, battered faces. Cordelia, and listen carefully to me when I tell you this, not one order had been given out to authorize any further investigation. Not one, and the nobles plan on doing nothing more than blankly stare at letters filled with empty words of comfort or lie in their plush beds, making deals with the devil. Furthermore, you aren't in a good position right now. Forrest Gage Hockley has been at the top since before his parents even announced his birth, and you are his wife. Not all the nobles have children so young to be targeted, and those criminals have dropped all sense of right and wrong, meaning they wouldn't even dream of going back home without taking away something to satisfy their needs. Now, I understand that the Hockley Manor is the most protected building, maybe in the entire state, but there are enough people to crawl up that hill and climb over those iron gates. I beg of you, do not leave those grounds. I know you Cordelia, which is exactly why it pains me to even dare tell you, but please grant me this selfish wish of mine! I trust you to do what is right, just as you always have. I promise you, that you'll be free soon enough, but I ask that you wait just a little longer, until this madness subsides.
I love you with all my heart, and I pray to God that we'll soon see each other once more in the springtime, sitting beneath that tree just like the old times.
Forever by your side, Tobias Viglianco,"
At the very beginning, just by the first sentence, she could feel a comforting and familiar feeling emitting from the words holding such blissful memories of her childhood; but she soon picked up on the strategy of him stalling. By the end of the letter, Cordelia's face had gone from kind to bitter, with her brows furrowed in perplexity. She had to read the letter more than once, just to make sure she hadn't read anything wrong. The old butler who had been watching, standing at the end of the bench, cleared his throat quietly enough to grab her attention, "The rose is a rather needy flower, and the more you obtain; you must learn to share your generosity with each and every one, Madam." Said he.
Cordelia almost cringed, but let out an exasperated sigh instead. "A hundred red roses can all be watered at the same time. But a full garden, with all sorts of plants that all have different times to be watered..." She trailed off, deciding that no more words needed to be said. Cordelia stood up from the bench, her book in hand and led herself out the library, the old butler close behind.
"I suppose I'll always favor the roses..."