10.
2162 Words
The citadel was nothing like I had expected it to be.
Or, to put in rightly so, how I had presumed Karden's manor to be. The author never did give details about him that include describing his citadel and all, and so, I rightly speculated it would be as deadly as he was, especially after seeing the mess in the room that was now mine.
But as I ambled outside after Karden had left, I figured I had never seen a place as magnificent as this. There were different shades and types of flowers planted around, which was never what I had expected in a place Karden called home.
That, and the fact that the citadel was lively, filled with people of different age range, as well as children.
This was so unexpected, and so unlike Karden. As I sat down under one of the large pine trees in the middle of the citadel, I let my thoughts wander towards where I had been thinking for a while.
As an ardent reader, I've read lots of books about rebirth or transmigration. However, I've never read one where the soul wakes up in the same place as the body was. It was always either the soul joining a new body, or going back in time with the same body.
But never anything like mine.
Certainly, this wasn't my past, which means I didn't go back in time. If I transmigrated, shouldn't I be in another person's body? It made no sense that I was here, and so was my body.
The last thing I clearly remember happening back in Washington, was me hitting my head to the tub. The next thing I knew, I woke up to find myself here. Body and soul.
My right hand instinctively went to the pendant on my neck, and I remembered Karden having the same one. How was it possible?
"Who are you?" A soft, small voice called from beside me.
I c.ocked my head a bit sideways, and found myself staring back at a young girl with red auburn hair, clear blue eyes like the sky, and small pink lips. She looked so beautiful, and I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the edge of my lips. Her hands were dirty as she clutched tightly onto a dirty stuffed doll.
I stood up, using my hand to wipe the dust off my dress, and took small steps towards the girl.
"Who do you think I am?" I asked, crunching down so I can be at the same level of height as her.
Instead of replying, the young girl simply stared at me, her eyes dancing on my face, down to my dress, and even the small fitted almost covered shoe Sahra had given me.
"You are so beautiful," she murmured, her eyes holding a look of admiration in them. "I love your dress."
"Do you? What is your name?" I asked, carefully pushing off the hair threatening to cover her face.
"Charlotte." She replied. "But mother and Josh call me Lottie."
"Can I call you Lottie as well?"
"But you haven't told me who you are yet," she argued, pulling her stuffed doll away from my grasp.
"Who do you think I am? I asked again, enjoying the moment.
"Are you one of the women Master Karden brings home? Will you make mother work too much as well?"
I sighed, taking one of the girl's hands in mine, not bothering one bit about the dirt on them.
"I am just someone here to stay for a while," I replied. Because that was it. I needed to find a way to leave this place. At least, even if I do end up not going back, I'd rather be in Pentland with Tristram than be here with Karden. "And no, I won't be making your mother work too much."
"I hope you don't," she grumbled. "Because this time around, I intend to tell Master Karden about it during our morning walks. And I will be sure to ask him to punish you like Josh normally does when I make mistakes."
"Tell who?" I asked, furrowing my brows.
"Master Karden."
"You mean the Master of this citadel? The grumpy, cold Karden I know?" I asked, not believing a word she was saying.
"Master Karden is not grumpy!" She all but whined, hitting one of her legs to the dirtied ground. "He is only grumpy to those who aren't nice."
Excuse me? Are we talking about the same Karden here?
"Is that so? Master Karden is not grumpy?"
"Yes," she nodded her head vigorously. "He is only grumpy and angry at those who aren't nice," she paused, lifted her eyes to stare into mine for a moment before pushing back a bit. "If you think he's grumpy, it means you aren't nice."
Something was wrong here.
So, I stood up but hunched down a little so she didn't have to straighten her head up too much to look at me.
"So, you take morning walks with Master Karden, and you say he's not grumpy?"
"Yes. He laughs at my jokes, while Mother and Josh always say they are lame," she said with a small smile.
It was too much to take in. Karden smiles and takes morning walks with Charlotte? Just how much surprises about this man do I have to endure? Nothing about what this girl was saying regarding him made any sense.
From the description the author had given about him, Karden was certainly not one to smile nor have fun with children.
He certainly wasn't one. So, looking at this young girl, and hearing her speak about him with so much admiration seems so unreal. Although, ever since I had met him, he all, but keeps surprising me.
"How old are you?"
"Ten. I am ten years old. And you?" She asked, as she clutched her stuffed doll between her legs and spread all of her fingers.
"Hmmn, let's see," I teased. "I can't remember."
"You don't?" She asked, widening her eyes. "You don't remember your age?"
"It seems so," I told her.
"And your name?"
"Miriam." I decided to tell her that.
"I like your name. But it is not as good as mine, and I'm sure Master Karden likes my name better."
"Really?" I couldn't help but chuckle. I think I already like this girl. "Why do you think so?"
"Because he always tells me that he likes my name. Has he said that to you?"
"No," I shook my head, wondering if Karden would ever tell me that. Oh, but he did already. Not that I care though. "I also think your name sounds better, Lottie. And you are beautiful as well."
"Thank you," she replied shyly, her cheeks flaming up. "I think I..."
"Lottie!" A loud voice stopped her from saying whatever it was she wanted to. Both Lottie and I turned to look at the middle-aged woman, who had a white apron tied over her blue gown. Her blond hair was fitted into a small bun, as she stared at us. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at the quarters?" The woman snapped.
"I came to see Master Karden. I heard he was back. But he wasn't in his quarters. And I met this woman. I think she's one of the women Master Karden brings home."
"Lottie!" The woman shrieked, pulling the girl behind her in a protective stance. "Forgive her, Miss. She is just naive and..."
"I only wanted to see Master Karden!" Lottie whined.
"Shut up!" The mother thundered angrily.
I winced a bit and stepped forward. "It is fine, you don't have to shout at her," I said, attempting to take Lottie's stretched hand.
But the woman slapped Lottie's hand away and looked up at me. "I am sorry, Miss. I will make sure she doesn't come over here again. Please, do not punish her for..."
"Why would I do that?" I frowned.
"You won't?" She asked, not seeming to believe me.
"Why would I? She did nothing wrong."
"You don't mind her coming here?"
"On the contrary, I kinda like her. She seems fun." It was only after I had seen the look on her face after I had spoken, had I realized that I made a slip. "Oh, do not mind how I talk. I grew up in a foreign kingdom, hence, the reason for the strange way I speak." I quickly explained.
"You don't have to explain yourself, Miss." The woman bowed a bit. "Master Karden made sure we know who you are. As his betrothed, I hope you make our work easier."
Ahh, I had totally forgotten about that. I was supposed to act as his betrothed, although I think we need to go over some facts when he comes back.
"I hope you'll help me as well. So, you are Lottie's mother?"
"Yes, Miss."
"It is fine, you can call me Miriam."
"I wouldn't dare do that, Miss," she replied quickly, just as Sahra, the maid from this afternoon, stopped before me with a guy behind her.
"Miss," Sahra called as she stood before me. "I have been looking for you. Master said to make sure you are shown around the citadel."
Hmmn.
"I just found this place to be beautiful. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Miss. Ah, this is Lancelot." She pointed towards the man standing behind her, and only then, did I allow my eyes to carefully look at him.
He was tall, but not as tall as Karden. I had seen Karden shirtless, so I already knew how well built he was. But so was this Lancelot guy. The grey tunic he wore hung perfectly on his shoulders, even showing a bit of the line of his muscles underneath. His dark brown hair was tied in a loose bun.
Goddammit! How I do like men with a bun!
His eyes were a shade brown, a darker shade than I had ever seen. His jaw was firm, perhaps, even firmer than Karden's. I almost squirmed when I looked back up at his eyes and saw how he was simply looking at me.
“He is one of the guards here, but he mostly runs errands for Master’s women.”
Ahh, he's like an errand boy. Or perhaps, one whom the ladies used to go wild sometimes. That might be possible, considering how good-looking he was, and the s****l appeal around him.
Great. Just great. Way to go with those wild thoughts, Miriam.
"I hope I will be able to meet up with your tasks, Miss." He said softly, but that didn't seem to hide the loud boom of his deep throaty voice.
Just what was wrong with me?
"I see. And what can you do?" I asked, crossing my hand across my chest.
"I can do whatever it is you want, Miss. So long as it satisfies you," he replied.
Somehow I couldn't help but think as though, there's an underlying meaning to his words. But I quickly shook them off.
"Lottie and I will be on our way, Miss. I am one of the cooks in the citadel. If you need anything, do not hesitate to call for me."
As I watched the woman limp away, I couldn't help but find the resemblance between her and one of the sisters back at the orphanage I grew up in.
"If you want, I can show you around the citadel, Mistress."
"I would like that, Sahra," I replied with a small smile. It wouldn’t be too bad to try getting used to the place that would be my home for a while now.
However, as I turned to follow Sahra, Lancelot placed his hand on my back and said, "if you want, I can do that without the prying eyes of Sahra, Miss."
This man is dangerous. That much was evident. Not dangerous in a way that would harm someone, but certainly dangerous when he knows what he was doing and the impact he had while doing that
"Will you now?"
"If you'd like me to," he replied with a smile, and his cheeks dipped. Just how cute and hot could he be at the same time?
But before I could speak, the loud booming voice of Karden suddenly filled the air, and all the wild crazy thoughts I had been having about Lancelot vanished quickly.
There stood Karden, one of his hands clutching his tunic, which I could now see was somehow drenched in blood as sweat trickled down his face. His tousled hair fell to his face, almost covering his right eyes.
"What the hell do you think you are doing putting your filthy hands on my woman, Lancelot?" He snarled, rage dripping from his voice.
I don't know why, but I swear I felt my stomach clench with something so raw with the way he called me his woman.
Damn! Just what was I turning into?
- Writer
