First Step (I)
1233 Words
Ayana was browsing through the massive library of Evanti Mansion and had to marvel over a commendable collection of books that her Uncle liked to horde.
Duke Evanti was an esteemed scholar in all subjects and of course, it was expecting nothing less from the Prime Minister of Ruvesta.
Thomas Benjamin Evanti was a man of education and sophistication. He was undoubtedly a great asset to the country for his ingenious ideas and policies that run the country. And currently, as his job as the country’s Prime minister required, he almost permanently resided in the capital.
It was when she was in the far reaches of the library she found an entire section of books solely written in Palik, the language of a neighboring country called Palikan. Ayana had learned the language Palik during the initial days of her becoming an addition to Bekadna's royal harem. The person who taught her Palik was a Palikanian princess, who had gone through a similar situation to Ayana. Learning the intricate details and words and minds of an entirely different culture was soothing in ways she could not explain. Those were some of her fondest memories of that hurtful place.
Her small fingers hovered over the spine of a Palikanian folk story book that she had been reading once upon a time but it was left unfinished for a reason Ayana could not bother to remember. She pulled the book out and was delighted to find that she could still read the book with as much fluency as she had back then.
Ayana had always wondered if turning back of time had interfered with her abilities but she was pleased to find out that it had not.
Before she knew what she was doing she was so deep in the book that she semi-consciously found a soft rug nearby and decided to sit out in the aisle itself, not noticing a pair of curious eyes looking her way.
It was nearing noon Risa hounded her to get out of Library and get some air and this is how Ayana found herself walking down the large hallways of Evanti mansion, hoping to find her Aunt not swamped in with work so that she could be invited for a walk out in the gardens.
Her Aunt’s office was in a separate part of the mansion to keep the visitors away from family wing and residency. When Ayana walked to the study and nobody stopped her, she realized her Aunt would have been fine with her interrupting.
She knocked the polite way she was taught to and when she heard the ‘come in’ she swung open the door excitedly only to find that her aunt had a visitor.
She stiffened as soon as she realized who the man sitting across her Aunt was.
He immediately scrambled up and bowed in a formal way of greeting.
“Greetings to the Kingdom’s dear Princess!”
“Count Harrison.”
The absolute ice in her voice immediately made Aunt Daphne narrow her eyes. The man missed it completely because there was no alarm in his voice, in fact, he looked perplexed.
“Princess knows the name of this humble servant? I’m honored.” He smiled good naturedly.
“Count Harrison?” Her Aunt was quick to interrupt the conversation.
“Yes, your grace?”
“It seems that Princess Ayana requires my attention so it will be conveniently better if we could arrange for these unnecessary proceedings”-She gestured to the documents on the table with a flick of her hand, “-for a later date.”
He made a reluctant face but understood that there is no room for argument when it comes to the only royal Princess and the most powerful Duchess of the entire land.
“Understood.” He said and left the room with an appropriate farewell, ignoring Ayana’s scalding gaze.
“Would you like to tell me what it was all about?”
Aunt Daphne questioned with a perfectly raised brow and horror shot up her spine as she realized that she had messed up, spectacularly.
“Uh,” she fumbled, her eyes darting all over the place, “I-I don’t like him?”
“Certainly. I could see that. But as far as I know, this is the first time you have met him and I don’t think his face is ugly enough to warrant an instant dislike.”
The silence between them was mercilessly uncomfortable and Ayana squirmed under her Aunt’s sharp gaze.
At last she blurted out, “I don’t want to talk about it!”
Aunt Daphne sighed in disappointment and it hurt Ayana too. But she did not pry.
“Then so be it.” she said with knowing eyes and continued, “Is there any specific reason that the Princess graced me with a sudden visit? Last time I checked you were still engrossed in the library.”
Ayana blushed, “I just wanted to invite you for a walk.”
“Oh? Then let us go visit the marigold gardens. I heard from Frederick they are in full bloom now.”
…
That night Ayana is pleasantly surprised when her Aunt arrived to tuck her in. She sometimes cannot believe that even as a twenty six years old, she is enjoying getting spoiled. Even Martha hid her laugh behind a polite cough at how her face lit up like the moon shining in the dark sky.
Aunt Daphne read a book of childish fairy tales for her and patted her head lovingly and when an involuntary yawn escaped her mouth. She smiled, and placed the book on the bedside stand ignoring Ayana’s whine.
“My little princess,” Aunt Daphne whispered, “I am not entirely sure of your wariness towards Count Harrison but if he has made you uncomfortable or wronged you in any way, then please let me know.” Her words made something flip inside her stomach as she stared up at her Aunt and noticed how genuine the worry in her eyes was.
“All I’ve ever wanted...is to protect you, Ayana.” She whispered with absolute conviction and laid a warm kiss on her forehead. “I will do all I can to make sure of that. I will keep you safe. Always.”
Her loving presence and her words make Ayana want to do nothing but to curl up on her lap and confess all the horrors she had witnessed and all the trials she had faced in a world of a lifetime ago.
Ayana was procrastinating.
Tonight was a reminder that the decisions she made now will not only affect her fate but also the fates of her loved ones and maybe even the people she had never even met. She had been acting like a coward hoping that some divine force up there could solve all her problems but seeing Harrison today was a slap to the face that woke her up from her selfishness.
She had to make things right. She had the power now to prevent people’s suffering and the only thing between them and their salvation was her own hesitance and indecisiveness.
Tomorrow.
She swore to herself.
Tomorrow is when things change.
- Writer
