3. •••Thê Engâgêmênt part 1•••

Birds welcomed a new day and a new dawn on the land of Fertilidrum by chirping their heart out, waking up the citizens of the town as well the servants of the Duke's manor. Soft and swift footsteps padded on the expensive carpet covered floor of the hall of the second floor of the Duke's large, blue colored mansion.

"Young miss. It's time to wake up." The footsteps stopped and Mary knocked the familiar wooden door.

She has been serving the young miss of the Duke Fredrick ever since she was five years old. Now at the age of eighteen, just like other noble ladies, her lady too is going to get married-such is the buzz among the servants. They claim that some of them had seen the Duke meeting up with Count of Heathanne whose son is rumored to be an able heir of Heathanne.

Young ladies of other noble families have already fallen head over heels for him and their families had already sent out marriage proposals to the house of Heathanne.

Mary scoffed under her breath as she listened to the excited gossips of the servants to the probable wedding that might take place between the two houses. The foolish servants of this house doesn't even have the slightest idea that her mistress isn't a docile, meek and naive noble lady. She's just the opposite of it. She's wild, straightforward and intelligent. Her eyes shone like in wisdom. These attributes are expressed through her actions, making Mary feel proud of her mistress.

A feminine yet gruff voice responded to Mary's call from behind the door. Upon receiving permission Mary unlocked the door and pushed the door with her shoulders. She placed the tray containing warm water on the bed side table and pushed away the curtains preventing the bright sunlight from entering the room.

"What time is it, Mary?" A ruffled up woman sitting on the bed asked her maid. Her hair was sticking out from different sides of her head, giving her a funny look, showing that she is a restless sleeper. The blanket was thrown aside the bed which is now currently hanging down from the bed. The groggy lady's nightgown has ridden up to her creamy thighs.

It'd be ironical to call her a 'lady' in this state. If anyone else saw her like this, they'd have surely gotten a heart attack, but for Mary, it's a regular scene. "The sun is already up Mistress." responded Mary whilst folding the hanging down blanket from the bed.

The young woman slumped down on the bed again. Her pillows puffing down due to the sudden pressure from her head. "I want to sleep more." she whined.

"You can't do that mistress." Mary finished folding the blanket and tucked it to the bed. The laundry is done in every 2 days in a week.

"You'll be late for your breakfast and the Duke-"

"-will be very angry as he hates tardiness. Yes yes I know." She rolled her eyes and finished sarcastically.

She pouted and sat up, folded her legs in Indian style as she watched her maid fussing all over her room.

"Say Mary..."

"Hmm?"

"....is it really the ultimate fate of all woman to get married?"

Mary stopped what she was doing for a moment but resumed her work again;"The women are the ones who are blessed with the power of reproduction, mistress." She put on a smile at her mistress.

"Ya'now that's not what I meant..." The woman slightly put up her sailor accent and dangled her legs from the edge of her bed. Mary switched her job to rearranging the pillows of the bed. "I am a foolish maid mistress. I gave what I thought to be a suitable answer. Now hurry up! Else you'll be scolded by your father again."

Her mistress grumbled but nevertheless stepped down from the bed and padded towards the adjoined bathroom of her room to freshen up. Mary stared at the closed door of the bathroom. This is what she meant when she designate her mistress to be an intelligent one. She'll ask wise yet odd questions or statements that'll leave one dumbfounded, but will make you put two or more thoughts on it.

Somehow in the corner of her heart, Mary earnestly wished her mistress to find a partner who'll understand her worth.

The door of the dining room opened as a green dress clad young woman entered the room. Her black hair was tied into a knot letting the other hair strands cover her neck.

"Good morning father, Good morning mother." She greeted her parents politely who were adjusting themselves in their respective chairs with the help of the servants. Her mother smiled in return while she received only a nod from her father.

Soon breakfast was served. She cut her bacon into pieces and started to eat. She was starving. She noticed that her mother is throwing unappreciative glances from the other side of the table.

Confused by such behavior, she looked down at her plate and immediately understood the reason. Her bacon slices were shaped in an awkward manner and she didn't slice them into small pieces. Moreover, she wasn't eating meekly as a perfect lady should do. She was annoyed. She is starving so whether she eats it meekly or chomp it down, why does that matter! She needs to fulfill her appetite!

For the rest of the meal, the woman ignored her mother's furious glances and concentrated on her meals.

"Listen, this evening, Count Heathanne might come over here. I'd like to finalize the marriage between Isleen and Daniel today itself." Duke Fredrick instructed his wife as he got ready for his work after completing his breakfast.

"Oh. Alright. I'll make the necessary arrangements." replied his wife, Isa Liberine.

"Yes, and make sure to prepare Isleen well. Hopefully she'll be on her best behavior." He spared not another glance towards his wife as she bowed and bid farewell to her husband along with the butler and other servants of the house.

As she straightened up, she instructed one of the maids to call her daughter, Isleen in the backyard.