Chapter 13: Becoming the Lady of the Manor

Oona had a bright smile on her face, she felt a little bit sad, she couldn't spend more time at the palace but she had a great time. She was able to tour the palace with Astrid and Callie.

As for Sage, she was currently giving him the silent treatment. She still felt offended about the way he embarrassed her in front of his family. Sage relaxed his head on the couch, while closing his eyes. His mind kept drifting off to the flowers Oona was weaving a while ago. He was certain he had seen it before, the exact scenario but where and when.

They were both quiet and well obviously not ready to say a word to each other. Oona gradually felt sleepy during the ride. She leaned on the window frame of the door watching the moving trees until she finally dozed off.

Sage opened his eyes slowly and looked at her. He tilted his head when he found her dosing off. Her head kept bouncing softly on the frame. Rolling his eyes he stretched his hand and placed it on the frame. Oona's head gently rested on his hand.

Sage looked at the girl sleeping with a glint in his eyes. His passive expression gradually turned less plain and more of a look of uncertainty. He quickly pulled his hand away and Oona banged her head on the frame hard, causing her to wake up.

"What happened?" She gasped. Sage shook his head tiredly and looked outside the window.

"If you're tired at least hold yourself" Sage said blankly. Oona who was a little bit enraged closed her eyes and smiled at him. An odd gesture Sage couldn't understand.

"I'm sorry" her eyes gradually opened, they were glowing a little bit brighter than usual but it was almost hard to see.

"About today" he started "I apologize for the things I said, I had to make my family believe you are useless"

Oona puffed up her cheeks and smiled, she had long awaited for his apology. "I accept it " her stomach growled loudly in the carriage. "I'm hungry " she confessed with a red face.

"Let's get to the manor, I'll have the maids prepare something for you " Sage sighed tiredly.

AT ANOTHER MANOR

Leander stepped out of his carriage and helped Livia step down. They both walked side by side and didn't say much to themselves. The maids who greeted them, all stared at them puzzled by their new behavior. The sound of their clicking shoes echoed in the empty hallway.

"Wanna talk about it?" Leander sighed, he was never compatible with silence. Livia didn't say a word neither did she glance at him.

She increased her pace and raised her skirt up. She wanted to cry right now but she didn't want Leander to see her all weak and fragile.

"Olivia " Leander pulled her by the hand, she struggled for a while but then sighed. Leander opened the closest door leading to a room in the manor. Pulling Livia in, he placed her against the wall and trapped her in between his arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked with a calm gently voice. Olivia looked away from his eyes, muffling in her tears. She hated herself, no she hated the fact she couldn't speak normally like other humans did. She wondered why Leander married a deformed woman like her. She was a disgrace to the Gryphon family, but regardless he still married to her. She couldn't help but feel jealous and insecure any time she sees Leander with another woman, a normal woman.

Leander smiled sadly and drew close to her neck. He nimbled it gently causing her to whimper. "I love your voice" he whispered in her ears slowly. "Especially when it's forced out" he grabbed her waist with one hand and pulled her to his body. "So why are you quiet today?"

"D-do do y-y-you l-lili the g-g-irl" tears brimmed her eyes, once again she was studdering as she tried to say a complete sentence.

"Oona?" He hummed, she looked at him sadly and wiped off the tears on her cheek. "Not really, she's just someone who's kind to a cruel world and happens to be married to my elder brother"

Livia was still not convinced. She felt a pinch on her chest when Leander boiled in anger at his brother's word, why was he so agitated on behalf of someone that he didn't hold any dear feelings for?

Leander gently kissed her forehead and hugged. "I feel like I hardly tell you how much I love you" he rubbed her back slowly. "I love you Olivia and nothing's going to change that"

He squeezed her soft body against his. His hands skillful ran to her threads. Her gown fell to the ground leaving her with her inner wear. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply.

They gradually began to undress each other. Leander and Livia had both their tongues locked with each other. Leander carried Livia in his arms and walked to a white couch in the room. Laying her down, he pulled off the remaining parts of his russet. He kissed her pale skin gently and licked her knees. Her petticoat was a little bit short and exposed her legs.

Leander removed her petticoat and threw it on the ground. Parting her legs, he drove in to her without warning, making Livia whimper and quiver.

Goans and moans filled the huge drawing room. Leander gradually pulled off his inner wear as well. Sweat rolling from his body falling on hers. Her pale skin glowed from the sweat that formed round her body.

"L-lea-leande-rrr" Livia cried out with every thrust. Her once packed hair had already turned messy. Leander's blonde hair fell over his body and on her.

"Livia!!" Leander goaned silently. He sat up quickly and adjusted Livia to sit on him thrusting into her faster than before.

"L-leander!!!!" She moaned in pleasure. Creaking sounds of the wooden couch alongside their moans and goans filled the air.

After their exercise, both slumped on the couch panting. Livia snuggled herself in Leander's body. "Are you alright?" Leander panted while Livia nodded.

"I-i was a little b-it ru-u-de to her" Livia looked up to see Leander staring at her intensely. He didn't look close to being satisfied.

"Hmmm..." He hummed while climbing on her using his hand to raise himself up. "I doubt she'd take it to heart"

Olivia's hands covered her bossom shyly.

"Don't do that" Leander leaned in and kissed her chin. "Oona will definitely forget anything like that happened today" his tongue played with her skin, drawing patterns on it. Livia's eyes dilated from the effects Leander's tongue was having on her

"H-how are y-you so sure?" She squeezed out while her hands dug into his hair. Leander pulled away from her and rested his head on her belly. Both stared at each other with desires in their eyes.

"That's the kind of person she is" he hummed before licking her belly. Olivia covered her mouth when she felt something warm in her. She didn't expect him to do that now.

The two love birds intimated till they were full and exhausted.

Oona devoured the porridge which was served to her. She had never imagined herself eating a meal without the fear of being poisoned.

Sage who sat across her on the huge dinning table had a blank look on his face. Most of the maids in the dinning hall were surprised as well. They never expected their master's wife to eat in such a way.

"Another one" she raised her plate to the chubby middle aged man who stood beside her. He was the manor's chef and had personally prepared the porridge Oona was feasting on.

Though Oona didn't act ladylike, he couldn't hide the stars in his eyes. It gave him so much pleasure watching Oona enjoy his meal. He had prepared a lot of delicacies for Sage but never got a satisfying reaction. Oona brought light to his heart.

Oona gulped down the water in a glass served to her in one go. Gently placing it on the table, she berged silently and smiled. "Thank you" she bowed to the chef, causing an uproar of gasps in the dinning hall.

She looked up puzzled and confused, had she done something wrong? She turned to Sage but he showed no reaction. It was hard for her to know if she had done anything wrong.

"Milady please don't bow to a mere man like me" the chef smiled and bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure knowing you enjoyed your dish"

The chef clapped his hands and a set of maids walked forward and cleared the table in minutes.

Oona watched them leave, her eyes tailing the maids who were murmuring to themselves.

"Since you're done with your meal I believe it's time for your lessons" Sage drew her attention.

"Lessons?" Oona arched a brow.

"Yes lessons" he continued "you lack the etiquette and requirements for being the lady of the manor"

"Lady of the manor?"

"Normally, you are meant to undergo this lessons a month before our marriage but considering the reason for our impromptu marriage I believe it's alright having the classes after"

Oona did take a few princess etiquette lessons when she was younger but never did any lesson about marriage and stuff. Sage flicked his fingers and a group of elderly women wearing black gowns and same low bun hairstyle stepped in.

The eldest woman who walked a step ahead of the rest bowed first while others followed. "Good afternoon Lord Sage"

Sage didn't say a word he just stood up and left the room. Oona who had no idea of what was happening just stared at the women confused.

"Good afternoon Lady Oona" the women said in sync.

"Good afternoon" Oona bowed to them, causing all the women to gasp in shock. Oona frowned, she didn't understand why they kept gasping like she had committed an abomination.

"She's even worse than Lady Astrid" one whispered to the woman closest to her.

"Ahem!!" The older woman coughed slightly and smiled to her. "I am Lady Cornette, I am the etiquette teacher to all prospective spouses of the guardians"

Oona felt nervous at the gaze of the vixen looking woman. "Firstly, we must deal with your esteem"

"Esteem?" She asked. All the women gasped once more.

"Yes" Cornette smiled warily. "Chop chop women no time to lose"

Oona stood up from her chair quickly and ran towards the door. Being around this women had ice rolling down her spine.

"Milady we have so much to do" the women all approached her at once.

"From your hair" one popped out a scissors from her pocket. Causing Oona to grip her hair.

"Speech!!" Another popped up with a creepy smile. Oona instinctively held her throat.

"History of the kingdom" two popped up holding huge books in their arm.

Oona leaned against the door, frantically pulling the handle but the door won't open. "Sage!!!" She yelled out scared.

The women's shadow cast a dark light on her as they grew bigger and scarier in Oona's imagination. Oona wished she had control over her power. She would have easily gotten rid of them without the fear of killing them. But right now, she could sense no I'll intention towards her. Meaning she had no choice.

"We must help you become..." the older woman started

"The Lady of the Manor" the others said in sync