His Half Blood Princess

4.

One month earlier

"Thank you Si..." I started to say as he helped me into the carriage, but he cut me off.

"Edwin Vincent Anderson, you can call me Edwin Vincent," he said.

"Thank you Edwin Vincent." I said his name this time with a smile on my face. The man must be very nice. First of all, he helped me escape getting lynched and now he was the one to open the carriage door for me and also hold my hand as I was about to get in.

"You are welcome..." he started to say.

"Serena Green."

"You are welcome, Serena," he replied. Even though it was dark and I could barely see his face, I could tell he was smiling. But I wished, more than anything, to see the face of this gentleman more clearly in the light.

The two of his men left could have helped me into the carriage but he decided to do it himself. The other two had been sent by him to take my mother and brother away to a safer place.

"Where no one would bother them," he had said.

I entered the carriage and settled down on the seat that was even softer than my bed back home which creaked and became too small for my tall frame years ago.

Edwin Vincent came in after me and sat across from me. It felt like an honour to be inside this carriage. I had never seen one so elegant that it looked like it belonged to the royals. The ones I do see in my village didn't have roofing or even curtains, talk of less of cushions, those ones were pure wood. But then, it was a village with mostly farmers and a small factory where my mother worked.

The small details I could see in this carriage were with the help of a small lantern that dimly lit the place although I couldn't distinguish colours, just the outline of everything. This carriage looked like it would contain 10 people.

"Thank you once again for everyt..." I started to say, but Edwin Vincent raised his hand for me to stop talking and I stopped.

"Serena," he said in his smooth but calming voice. "you don't have to thank me for this. I have done this a lot of times before and I won't hesitate to do it again," he stated. Something was telling me his words had a double meaning to it but I chose to ignore that, so I nodded, feeling I could trust him more. "So I want you to relax and feel like you are home."

I wish I could feel at home right now, but how could I when my mother and brother aren't here with me?

Soon the carriage started moving.

I felt tired, so I leaned back on the soft cushion and closed my eyes trying hard not to think of everything that happened only two hours ago. Closing my eyes also helped because I felt Edwin Vincent staring at me.

I just hope he won't change his mind and turn me in. Was the last thing I thought before falling asleep.

Throughout my sleep, I woke up in a hazy state thinking we would have arrived at our destination, but every time I felt the carriage still moving and went back to sleep.

The next time I opened my eyes it was already morning. My head was leant on the side so I straightened to see Edwin Vincent's eyes on me and I said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Did you watch me the whole time I slept?" I blurted out and then blushed in embarrassment.

"Good morning Princess." he greeted, ignoring my previous comment.

"Good morning Sir," I greeted him back and he raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Good morning Edwin Vincent." I corrected and he smiled. I stared at his handsome face, observing it, he had bright blue eyes that held a gaze that looked intent but unfathomable. He was fair, almost pale white and I like to believe that it's because he doesn't get under the sun often. When he smiled, the corners of his eyes wrinkled just a bit and his eyes twinkled and his long blonde hair was tied in a ponytail. Even while seated, one could tell that Edwin Vincent is past six feet tall from his long legs.

Long fingers with trimmed nails rested on the staff that stood between his legs.

I think it's safe to assume that this man is very wealthy.

He looked neat with not a single squeeze on his fine coat and not a sign of sleep on his face. I on the other hand must look like a mess.

I felt hungry and my whole body felt cramped from sitting for too long and I felt the need to take a pee and have a bath.

"Aren't we there yet?" I asked him, now that I think of it, I had no idea where he was taking me. "We've been travelling for hours." I said and started counting the hours in my head. I wanted so much to lift the curtains and see where we were but Edwin Vincent's intent gaze kept me in place.

"It was just a few hours," he stated, and I looked at him confused. "We stopped to take a rest most of the time." he explained, but I could have sworn we were travelling the whole time.

"But where are we going to?" I had to ask after a few seconds.

"You'll see," he smiled, and I felt all my worries evaporate. "We will be there in a few."

*

I felt the carriage slow down a bit before it came to a stop and I looked at Edwin Vincent expectantly. I felt very tired as I wasn't used to travelling. Actually, I have never travelled out of my village.

"We are here." he announced, and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Edwin opened the door and got out of the carriage and held it open for me. I got out, my legs feeling numb and I resisted the urge to start stretching, but looking up, I forgot about my discomfort as I looked at the most beautiful building I had ever seen. I gasped in awe at the tall and wide building that stood in front of me, my mouth agape. I had never seen anything like it, it was more like something I would read in books.

"You live in a castle!?" I asked in awe, and Edwin Vincent chuckled.

"I call it The Villa," he declared. "it's my temporary home where I go to rest every once in a while,"

Wow! If this is just a temporary home, then what must his permanent home look like?

"Let's go." Edwin Vincent started walking to the huge door that was the entrance to The Villa and I followed behind him, keeping up with his long strides. Two butlers who stood at the door bowed before opening the door and I entered behind Edwin Vincent.

I almost tripped when my eyes came in contact with the room in front of me. It looked like it could contain my whole house, I looked up at the jewellery-like chandelier that hung from the high ceiling and looking down at the well-polished, designed tiles on the floor, I felt like removing my shoes so as not to stain them. The walls had paintings in golden frames attached to them and ahead of us was a twin staircase that led up. There were small tables put against the walls and on top of them were vases with different colourful flowers in them, making the room look more vibrant.

There were different doors and one of them opened and maids in uniform rushed out. There were seven of them and they all bowed before Edwin Vincent.

He glanced at me and I thought he was going to say that I was to join the maids, but was surprised when he pointed to one of the maids with his staff and she came forward, her head down.

"Helen," he said in a commanding voice "from now on you'll be the one to take care of this lady's needs. Take her to the prepared room and..."

"The prepared room?" I couldn't help but asked and Edwin Vincent turned to me.

"It's the newly refurbished guest room for lady guests," he explained. "She will show you to your room where you can freshen up and we can have breakfast in an hour."

Ah breakfast! The thought of it made my stomach rumble.

I followed Helen up the stairs to the right, while Edwin Vincent followed the one to the left. We kept walking down the corridor silently, passing by the many doors until we reached the end of it where there was the last door. Helen opened it and stepped aside. After I entered, she closed the door behind us.

"Edwin Vincent is too generous, isn't he?" I commented, looking at the spacious room. The walls were painted pale pink, and the furniture a much lighter colour. I looked at the big canopy bed that looked so inviting. The room was big and I thought, if the guest bedroom looked like this, then how much more amazing would the main bedrooms look like? Is Edwin Vincent a prince?

I looked at Helen who stood quietly, her head down, and I thought of introducing myself.

"Hello Helena, my name is Serena, by the way." I said, but she only nodded. Why is she quiet?

"Can you show me to the bathroom?" I asked her. She nodded and walked further into the room before pointing with her hand to a door. I walked over to where she was standing and opened the door and, indeed, there was an adjoining bathroom with a bathtub.

"Are you not allowed to talk to the guests?" I asked her again, but this time she didn't even nod.

*

If not for the fact that I was very hungry, I would have stayed in the bathtub forever, soaking my limbs in the steamy water Helen provided, even the soaps and shampoos were scented.

Many questions passed through my mind as I took my bath. What does this man do for a living? Where is his family? Is he married? And most importantly, where did he take my mother and brother and when can I see them again? I miss them already.

When I got out of the bathroom, Helen had already laid out a new dress for me. I can't remember the last time I wore new clothes, and certainly not a beautiful dress like this one. It was a brown floor-length dress with long puffed sleeves and I said a thank you to Helen, to which she nodded. She still hasn't said a single word even as she helped dry my hair with a towel and tie my corset.

Helen led me downstairs and to the dining room to have breakfast.

Edwin Vincent was already there when I walked in and when he looked up and saw me, he stood up and smiled. Looking at him, I felt a strange feeling I couldn't decipher.