LORD ARTHUR WILFRED SINCLAIR - A VISIT

Laurence stared in silence for a while when the maid left her room. Her eyes glimmered through the reflection of the light coming from the fireplace, but they held no emotions. Cold and void, she sat there, not moving as though the smile she revealed earlier was nothing but an illusion.

Time passed slowly. Her mind was drowning with her thoughts. Luxurious room and hot baths. Foods prepared carefully with thoughtfulness and clothes cost money only for a stranger like her.

It was odd.

Everything was odd.

Were all of these given to her so that she won’t break? So that she won’t feel pathetic? That she can be grateful for barely surviving?

No.

She doesn’t want to know.

What was the point of asking? Was she trying to save her pride just by asking these questions?

Pride? Right. All that was left to her was her pride.

Will she also lose this feeling for her to achieve her goals?

No one knows. The future was still uncertain.

It was already December of the year 1590. Close to new year.

Three months after she was found drifting to the shore of Orsatin Island. Three months after her parents died. Three months after Lord Arthur discovered her body. Three months after she was treated in hopes for her to recover.

Where should she start?

from the moment she woke up, Laurence long understood that revenge was the only way she could live her life now.

However, just like a child given only a pen and paper, she can only think hard and assume what to write and what to do with it. It was the same for her path right now.

It was nonexistent: Her path.

However, she vowed to forge one. Clearly, her option right now was only Lord Arthur Sinclair. A merchant that wasn’t a noble and someone who had to build his name for himself.

Would she be able to drag the person- her savior in the battle she swore to win?

Laurence was weighing the consequences of her choice right now. For someone who had gone through hell, everything her mind was telling her was heavy, like a boulder tied to her wrist dragging her down.

Her only was was hell.

It sounded selfish for Laurence to draw him into where she was, but then, variables and opportunities often wonder. It’s up to the person to get it.

Heaving her breath as she blinked, Laurence finally moved. She glanced out the window seeing the snow. Should she visit him now or perhaps, tomorrow?

Laurence thought for a moment and considered the time. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It’s already past nine in the evening. Right. She should consider the people’s rest.

In her wheelchair, she wheeled herself towards her bed. She put her palms on the bed, feeling the soft fabric against her skin. Laurence really thought back then that she would die. She never imagined she would be living in luxury like this ever again.

That’s why she needed to be careful. One mistake and everything in here can disappear.

As the sound of the fire crackling reached Laurence's ears, she considered sleeping. Her body was exhausted, and she wanted to lay in bed in peace, but her mind was not letting her. She wanted to think.

Laurence was getting restless. Was she being paranoid?

Heaving her breath, she looked around the whole room. The luxurious tables and chairs placed in the middle are perfectly adjacent to the windows so that people can see the view outside the room. The carpet below them and the enormous chandelier hung proudly in the middle of the room. It was made of gold, glass, and jewels.

There were books that the maid had selected for her to read on the table.

They have different titles, but it has the same plot. All of the endings have happy ever after. She frowned reading them earlier. Just like what she thought, she was being pampered right now.

Are they all afraid that she might explode any moment?

Laurence was never that irresponsible, however, even though they were trying their best to help her to regain back her confidence. Even with all of the feelings she had lost, she needed to start helping herself, and she wasn’t doing that.

Just like how her legs refused to move, she was stuck here. Hands tied, crippled, full of scars and bruises.

She hated what she had become. Laurence couldn’t even see the woman whose eyes glimmered whenever she thought of her dreams. The places she wanted to visit and the future she wanted to have for her family.

Laurence wheeled her wheelchair again. This time, she went towards the door and opened it. The moment she twisted the knob and opened the door, she was greeted by the cold air crawling into her skin.

Before going out, she looked at any available blanket. Thankfully, there was a coat that the maid left for her to use hanging on a chair. She grabbed it and put it on herself. After that, she wheeled herself out and closed the door gently.

Laurence turned to face what was ahead of her. She was welcomed by a long cold dark corridor. She can’t see the end of it even though little gas lamps were put on the wall. They flickered, creating a shadow.

No one was around.

Only the dark void up ahead was waiting for her.

Laurence swallowed. Her throat felt like it was blocked by something. Her eyes burned as she tried hard not to cry. Although she knew, It was finally sinking to her right now. Memories flashed in her mind. Memories that reminded her of the warmth she grew up with.

Her life changed.

This was a different mansion.

The servants she knew were nowhere to be found. Her parents waiting for her in the drawing-room or dining table was already dead. Her body was full of scars.

Gone was her room full of documents and her notebook where she wrote her dreams. Gone was the place she grew up with. Everything that she owned before was gone and burned into ashes.

She wanted to cry, but what was the use of crying now? Her tears won’t bring back her dead parents or her previous life. What she needed to do right now was move forward and settle her rage.

Clenching her teeth, she vowed again to settle everything.

After a while, she used her sleeve to wipe her eyes and continued to go forward. Everything was silent. The only thing she could hear was the sound of the wheelchair rolling through the floor.

Laurence saw the snow falling and the dark sky on her way through the big windows in the hallway. Just a few meters, she could see the forest and over the horizon was the sea swaying with the rhythm of the winds.

She saw this scenery until she turned left and saw white double doors. The handle was a golden door knob. She rolled forward her wheels and touched the door knob. It felt cold. Her heart suddenly started beating fast and heavy.

Why would an expensive-looking door be in the middle of the hallway? What was this for? Laurence asked herself as she looked for anyone who might be around.

If someone caught her sneaking around like this, would she be punished? Laurence sincerely hoped they would let it slide since she’s a patient.

Swallowing the lump that formed on her throat, Laurence twist the door knob. The door created a sound. Her hands suddenly become sweaty and subconsciously, she was holding her breath.

She moved an inch back for the door to open completely. Hearts heavy as she doesn’t know what to expect.

Just as the door opened, she gasped.

Inside where a small cathedral.

The arches rose into darkness and twilight. Between the reticulated windows, the light of the moonlight seeped through. There were windows with glass in the chancel that depicted legends and myths from the old tale. But on each side of the altar was a gray marble figure of angles and knights. Their hands were clasped together, praying. Their expression looked like they were waiting for miracles.

This sight took Laurence's breath away. Everything looked frozen in time. However, in the middle of the cathedral, there was a figure on his knees, hands clasped and praying.

She had seen this man’s figure before. His dignified and respectable appearance left an impression on her. He was the one who had given her all of what she had right now.

Her savior.

Lord Arthur Wilfred Sinclair.

Just as she whispered the lord’s name in her mind, she suddenly shuddered. She doesn’t know what kind of image she saw. Perhaps she was hallucinating or might be under the influence of the medicinal drugs she had taken.

Laurence stopped believing in gods a long time ago. However, there was a sudden shift in her mind. Everything went blank like she was in the middle of a void.

This time, like a mere human she was, a pair of eyes were looking at her through the darkness.

Observing silently. Waiting for her next move.