The Young Mistress

Somewhere, in a neat and luxurious mansion of Count Ashervane, the maids tended to the count's young daughter. One was brushing her hair, the other prepared her dress, and the last one sprayed her a flower fragrance. They showered her with flattered words while their eyes sparked excitement.

"You look so beautiful, young mistress! The young master will definitely fall in love with you." The maid appeased as she sprayed Naivet the fragrance again with a grin.

"Oh well, Damier and I are just good friends. You don't have to make me look good." Naivet sighed while she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Don't lose hope, young mistress. He will definitely appreciate you're a beauty. Most likely when you reach your right age!" The other maid patted Naivet's hair as she brushed them, her eyes glazed in its strands. She adored them.

It was short, barely touched Naivet's shoulder, and dark as the night sky.

"I am sure of it! Young master will always love the color of your eyes, it's unique like an ash! A shining star that can easily be distinguish from a crowd!" The other squealed.

Before one maid showed Naivet the little yellow dress from her hands, she giggled. "And it even matches this dress!"

"Your overacting, Mary!" Naivet snapped, and she bit her lips.

"Young mistress is so fun to tease." The maid finally fixed half of Naivet's hair and tied them with a yellow ribbon.

"Stop all you!" Naivet's cheeks warmed and turned reddish while she looked away.

The maids giggled before Naivet's stood up from her chair, and the maids helped her with her dress. Fixing them gently before they tied the ribbon behind her waist.

"You look greet young mistress!" The maids admired her look.

Naivet plastered a smile across her face in response.

The maids screamed in harmony.

Which made Naivet place her index in her lips and shush them.

The maids' immediately placed their hands on their lips.

"Young mistress,"—the butler called behind the door—"the young master is waiting by the waiting chamber, you must hurry and go greet him." He added.

The maid lined up after packing the stuff and cleaning up their business. "Good luck, young mistress!" They bid their goodbyes before they stormed off to Naivet's room.

Naivet's sighed deeply as she wiggled her head. Later she left the room and headed to where the young master stayed.

Naivet finally reached the door and entered the room. She was greeted by a young boy who sat by the couch. The boy's long, curly ginger hair we're fluttered across his face.

Naivet smiled before she held the soft fabric of her dress that clung to her tiny body. She fixed the posture of her foot and bowed elegantly, "I greet good mornings to master mage son, Damier."

Damier turned his head in Naivet's direction. His amethyst eyes stared into her tiny features and roamed around her, "You don't have to be so formal." The same cold tune stated. "What's with the dress?"

Naivet sighed and paced towards the couch. "I feel sorry for Tania, Eve, and Mary for going to this trouble." She sat beside him and stared at his face, "Can I help me today, Damier?" She placed his hand on Damier's thigh.

Damier stared at her small delicate hands. "Depends on the condition." He crossed his arms and stared back at her gaze. "What do you want?"

"I want to play outside..." Naivet looked away, and her eyes stared at nowhere while a smile was on her lips.

"But you know, nobles can't play with commoners. Beside..." Damier leaned closer to Naivet's ears. "Sir Flevis forbids you to go out," Damier sighed.

Naivet shook her head and pulled his arms. "I know, I know! That's why I need your help."

Damier glared at Naivet while her eyes gleamed from the thought that ran over her head.

"My father would agree if you bring me along! Can you at least lie for a little?" Naivet's joined her hands together and bowed her head. "Come on Damier, please." She raised her head and tugged his arms. "Just this once."

Later, an average-looking carriage rode throughout the city street while Naivet peak through the window curtains. Her smile influenced her eyes, which sparked brightly. "It looks so good!"

Damier, who sat at the opposite chair, focused in the other direction while his hands were crossed. "We'll be back by dawn."

"Thank you, Damier!" Naivet grinned at him while his pupils glanced at her face.

"Hm." Damier hummed.

The carriage finally halted before they decided to walk on foot.

Naivet was giggling as she roamed her eyes to the street and people. She carefully clutched her hood, and she changed into more simple clothes.

While Damier followed Naivet from behind, 'I thought she cared about her maids effort?' He shook his head as he glanced around.

Beside Damier was his guardian, who also wore simple clothes as he navigated the both of them from the market.

After a long walk from the market, the walls started to clear up, the road path became more prominent, and many citizens and carriages passed through.

"Damier, look!" Naivet suddenly halted and tugged Damier's arms as she pointed in the distance.

Damier followed her hands and found a garden. It was the famous garden of Ambrosiette, constructed by the residents of Chasse'mio.

The children play from the field, and even the nobles gather to visit Ambrosiette. By this time, the garden buzzed lively while kids ran and played from the empty parts inside the area.

"Let's go there!" Naivet pulled Damier's arms as she paced toward the garden's direction.

Damier rolled his eyes while he let Naivet to pulled him around. Later, they found themselves inside the garden, standing in the open field.

"I'm so excited!" Naivet smiled and roamed her eyes around relentlessly. Finally, someone caught her attention.

The children started to create a crowd nearby Naivet's heart pounded rapidly as she felt the energetic surge around her body as she smiled.

"Looks like they want to play there... Can I join?"

Naivet glanced at Damier while he only gave her a glare.

"Go. You don't have to ask me." He huffed, and Lirhia nodded her head before she ran toward the crowd of children.

Naivet finally ran off and joined them. They gathered around as she observed and participated in playing tags.

Later, a new kid arrived from the crowd. Damier eyes trailed the boy, and his lips lay open.

While Naivet noticed Damier's face as she leaned close to his ears. "Do you know him?"

Damier stared at Naivet while his eyes fluttered for a moment. "He's the son of Euris Cloudflaw. He is Seryic." After his statement, he immediately glazed back at him.

Naivet joined back to the children's circle.

While Seyric's eyes also met Damier's, he then gave him a smile. Damier only stared at him silently until Seyric finally decided to look away.

"Should we play hide and seek?" The kid offered while others exchanged glances and agreed.

As for Naivet, she jumped in excitement.

"Let's go to the Magi'cove Forest! Let's play there!"

Damier joined the crowd. He paced towards Naivet and tugged her clothes, "Don't get lost. I may have to look for you."

Naivet smiled at him. "I'll be back soon."

Before she followed the children that headed deeper inside the forest near the garden.

They started to set up a game until they found their seeker. The crowd began to disperse and hide while Naivet hid behind the tall trees. She peeks from a distance for a moment, goes back to her place, and she leaned her back at the tree. She stared at nowhere in the forest as she focused on her surroundings.

The place was vast and green. Birds sang in chorus together with the cicadas' sang amidst the forest.

Suddenly, cluttered leaves from the forest made Naivet's head turn as she pictured a silhouette in the distance. Her pupils dilated, and she finally saw a boy.

She scanned the boy carefully. He had brown-chestnut hair and headed from the opposite direction, deep in the forest.

She continued to examine him until the boy suddenly turned to his sight, which made her glimpse the side of his face.

A familiar look at his eye color. Naivet's eyes enlarged until she realized who he was.

He was Seyric.

Naivet's extended her hand immediately as she parted her lips and let out a whisper, "Hey, where are you going—"

Naive stood still by the tree as her body started to tense up. Cold sweat ran from her face as she bit her lips. Before finally, she took a big step away from her spot. Right now, she could barely picture Seyric's back from afar.

As she hurried to trail behind him, leaves echoed from her back.

As another kid pointed at her back. "Found you!"

Naivet turned her head behind her while the child seeker wrapped her hands across her arm.

"Wait!"

Naivet protested and glanced from Seyric's path. Yet, she only found it empty.

Seyric was already gone.

Naivet's eyes squinted from the sight before she sighed and let the seeker pull her away from the place.