Chapter 24: Winter Pattio

"That's how I ended up working in the assignment hall. It's a place that keeps track of task given to disciples." Rounding off her story of abduction and conscription, Valentine forced herself into some dress that had to have at lest two sets of frameworks.

"I see sister, what does this have to do with you and Lady Iris." They were separated by two screens, with the attendant getting them. Mary was trying on something in pale blue, while the elder sister was stuffing herself into white monstrosity.

"Oh, my sister, that is certainly unique." The sleeves had ruffs, the bodice ruffs, the neckline had lace and ruffs. The skirt had twelve layers of ruffs.

"I look like a giant rabbit." It was a monotone from the red head, in a fit of giggles Mary managed to speak.

"I'm sorry sister, thank you for playing along with my selfishness. I don't know who could wear such a dress and look decent in it." The noble had tried it on for effect, not for any serious reason, Such small things were trifles and she didn't mind. Cultivating to become an elder, she had to practice three different sun and moon techniques naked or in minimal clothing.

"You also picked this one?" She asked her sister returning to remove the nightmare she was wearing.

"Yes, I picked this one seriously though, so I hope it's okay." There was no question the deep purple dress suited her.

"That one suits you well." The soft blue made her own blue eyes sparkle well and her blond hair allowed it to convey a soft look. Rather than lace, soft loops of fabric were delicately crossed across the entire bell of the skirt, transition into a soft draped bodice with white highlights.

"Thank you, sister…it doesn't feel quite right so ill keep looking." Wondering off into the depths of the dress jungle. Valentine finished trying it on before she looked in the mirror at herself.

It was a pale light amethyst, verdant in color, with pale flowers stitched into the straps of the dresses. It had a thick silk band across her chest and a field of flowers on the skirt. It did okay against her skin, and it wasn't a terrible choice. Had she been the old Valentine she would have chosen said clothes, but it wasn't quite right for her. More importantly, she felt that it wasn't what Iris would choose for her.

Flipping through the catalog and waiting for the sales attendant to bring something she just sighed. Earlier conversation had some transmission errors, which worried her a bit but what could anything do to her lover?

"What are you thinking about Sister?" Mary asked with an arm load of dresses. She had returned hanging them up before she began to try them on.

"Nothing." Mary frowned but waited. One had to tease information out of her dear sister. Busying herself she gave it enough time before asking again.

"Nosey today." Two words this time, not bad. Removing another dress from her rack and setting the one she had been wearing aside.

"Still thinking about it?" It was a marked improvement that she began to talk after three times. She had been more vocal in situations outside of her comfort zone. She told stories animatedly enough, but still struggled to speak her mind outside of simple answers.

"There was a problem with the sound transmission I received from Iris." Mary listened trying to follow even if she didn't know what sound transmission was.

"While a simple thing its delicate so if you're not focused or there's enough noise it doesn't work." Mary guessed it was something like hearing when it was too crowed.

"Mabey the tied her corset than." That got a snort from Valentine.

"It would be that they yank it tight at that moment." Radio silent after that point. It was ok though, her sister shared with her.

"Your dress was pretty, but it doesn't feel right." Mary didn't believe that she would speak to her on her own like this. It had been one of her best gap features. A strict disciplinary in the study, and a meek mouse outside it.

"I remember another time I gave you advice." Mary started joining her sister in the chairs.

"It was last winter if I recall correctly. Despite this you instead we bundled ourselves up and sit outside."

"I never did want to be trapped in those halls, did I? Not that it matters anymore." It was more than a decade since and a not new memory for Mary. The noble was sure her stepsister was going to get this wrong.

"Iris decide that she needed to find more pure key, so she took a leave of absents. You put a brave face on, but you paced back and forth in your room. You also wondered about like a lost duckling."

"I most certainly did not yet do carry on." There was stuffiness in her voice.

"Ok so maybe not a lost duckling." Mary conceded. "You were distinctly off put by the not having your lady in waiting."

"So, for some odd reason you decide you had to stay outside all day long! honestly thought I was going to freeze."

!@# !@# !@#

Snow had not yet begun to fall for the year even if temperatures were well below freezing on the cold sunny day. The back garden was smaller, designed for the winter, with a clear glass awning and a stout stone lanai. Winter vegetables added color to the gardens and the chairs were padded with thick furs rather than traditional cushions.

"It's a nice day, isn't it?" Translation its freezing cold and you could stand to go inside.

Mary was wrapped up better than most mummies, but her checks were attempting to mutiny. There were treats on the table and a fire was burning off to the side in a brick oven near the table. It helped but it was by no means comfortable outside.

"What book did you decided to read today?" It had been like this for almost an hour. The younger sister wanted to get closer, but she had been met with this blockhead that was harder than the stone they sat on.

"Fluff Fluffy Happy Life." Finally, a response.

"What is it about?" Getting her drink refiled she was on her second refill before her sister finally responded.

"A girl gets twelve dogs and cats that stay with her." That makes twenty words. The count might be off, but it couldn't be much higher than that.

"What's really bothering you? I know you don't like cats or dogs enough to read about them." This was more the question she wanted to ask of her sister. Noble Valentine had been quite and moody all week, softer spoken than usual in their lessons and said even less than normal.

"Come on you haven't said that much all week, even in my lessons you let me slack off." Mary pointed out. Groundskeepers came and built up the fire, creating a blast of heat. The maids came by and draped another blanket over each of us.

"It helps to talk about it you know." Mary repeated the line her mother would tell her when she got moody.

"Or I could guess?" She finished her thought, aware that it was obvious that her missing maid was the cause.

"What could drive elder sister to such moodiness?" Pausing, Mary counted to ten become finishing.

"Could it be that someone isn't here?" There was a physical reaction as noble lady flinched but nothing vocal.

"You can just say that you miss having Lady Iris around you know." Why was it so hard for this girl to open up?

"I am the heir; how could I miss a mere servant?" Progress!

"I miss my mother all the time, and I have friends from back in our village that I miss to. There's nothing wrong with missing someone or being lonely that they aren't here."

"Suitable for commoners but I have to uphold the duchy." Lady Valentine hadn't turned the page in her book for almost an hour now.

"Its tough but at lest with me you don't have to hid things." Why did it matter to Mary so much? The girl pondered and attributed it to sisterly love. If she thought to much, there were things she wasn't ready to deal with.

"I don't get why she didn't stay…" Nobles didn't do well with doubt. Despite appearance, they were seething cauldrons of despair, doubt, and what ifs. The speed at which fortune turns to woe drove a lot of this.

Iris Xin was a nuisance. Competent at servant work, lacking in all forms of manners and customs. Delusional as well, no one lives to be three hundred, no one shatters mountains, cuts rivers, pierces the clouds. Lastly, she was causing trouble all the time. The prince the ball, the broken stairwell, the fire she set in the garden to cook fish she stole from the duke's river.

A peaceful week this had been…to peaceful.

"She's coming back though, right; no more than a year at most."

"She left though."

So that was the issue, she felt it was her fault somehow that the maid left. While Mary didn't pretend to understand the 'sage' stuff, she knew that Iris was quite fond of her master.

"Miss Xin always keeps her word you should trust in her more." Mary spoke softly but it failed to comfort her sister. Realizing that soft wasn't the answer she decided to change methods.

"Go after her than sister." For the first time ever, her sister dropped her book.

"I couldn't I have responsibilities here." It was an excuse; they both knew it the truth was that Valentine Lockheed was afraid of what would happen if she did.

"Can't? 'I am the heir,' Right? Are you not the duchess to be? Who even has the right to stop you? Who dares to?" Something about this fired Mary up. She was a commoner, nobles had everything one could dream. What was the point if you could not do what you wanted sometimes?

"My sister had never shown fear to anyone. Even the great rainbow sage follows your beck and call. Sister, if you want someone to be by your side, show them. Force them to see that the place they belong is here, with you reading books." Her elder sister was completely stunned Mary could tell that there were no thoughts firing in her brain.

"Also, its cold so as the step duchess I say we go inside!" That seemed to start the reboot. Nodding the girl stood despite the difficulty by being buried in a dozen coats and layers. Helping each other through French doors they waddled to a room where they could remove their clothes and return to items more suited for indoors.

"Sister, I think your right." With that she left Mary standing there. She had done the right thing as her little sister, so why was she crying?