Still confused about what had happened during the night, Nanna made her way in the opposite direction once the carriage was no longer in sight. Her eyes were brimming with tears but she held it in. She didn't want people to see her cry. She didn't want them to see her vulnerable side.
Nanna weakly walked toward the direction of their house thinking about what had become of it during the two days that she was gone. Clearly, her aunt and uncle would have cleared out anything valuable they could get their hands on, not sparing a single thing. She shook her head trying not to think negative thoughts. The past two days had been exhausting, and she hadn't had any proper sleep. She just wanted to relax even for a bit before starting her new life with the young masters.
She was still confused about how she ended up experiencing a heat since her results came out that she was supposed to be a β (beta). It didn't really make any sense. Did the tests really make an error? Nanna sighed. Her head ached, and exhausted. All she wanted to do now was rest. Since her heat had come, one thing is only certain --- she was definitely an omega.
Not wanting to think about it anymore, Nanna decided to walk back to her grandmother's house to clean up and prepare her things. She didn't want to waste her day for something that had already happened and was already certain. With a heavy heart, she made her way to their house.
After sometime of walking, thinking she had already arrived at her destination, Nanna looked ahead. Instead of their house, she was greeted by her grandmother's grave. She could not held it in and without any warning all the emotions she had felt and suppressed the past two days came down on her all at once. Her eyes glistened with tears as her knees weakened making her kneel in front of the tombstone.
Nanna missed her grandmother so much especially now that she felt lost and vulnerable. Even though she had accepted that things were now different and that there was nothing she could have done to change anything and all she could do was move forward. Nanna still wanted to experience the warmth her grandmother gave her whenever she was feeling sad before.
She crouched down, hugged herself as she remembered the good days she had with her grandmother. Her smile, her loving caresses, her sweet voice especially her warm hug that drove away every insecurity she had. Because of her grandmother, she never questioned why she didn't have any parents because for her she was the only one she needed in her life but now she was gone. Nanna never felt so alone in her life. Her pillar was gone.
She leaned on her grandmother's tombstone tracing her fingers on her name as she silently let her tears fall. "Grandma, I hope you are doing fine. I really miss you so much. Were you already tired of taking care of me?" she said smiling bitterly, her chest felt really heavy. "I was a handful, wasn't I? But we had fun, didn't we? Our days were slow and peaceful" she paused and looked up in the sky, stretching one of her hands as if reaching for the sky "Grandma, are you up there? Are you sad? Are you happy? I hope you are happy. Don't worry about me. I'm a tough girl. You know I will not falter, I will have setbacks but I will be able to stand up so cheer me on." she shouted her grief, her frustrations and confusions not caring if anyone was around, her tears fell uncontrollably.
Nanna stayed there for a long time, falling asleep in the process. When she came to, the sun was already starting to set. She jolted as she remembered what the young master had said. She moved her stiff body stretching it before standing up bowing to her grandmother's grave. "Grandma, I never thanked you enough for taking care of me so thank you very much. I hope you are always happy whenever you are", with those last words, Nanna left the cemetery.
She hurriedly made her way toward their house. When she reached it, she was surprised as there was a luxurious carriage, much like the one used by the young masters earlier, waiting for her in front of her house. Nanna walked closer slowly thinking who might it be. It was already late in the afternoon it wouldn't be a customer since they know that their shop was already closed at this hour. Before her mind could wander further, a head peeked out from the carriage revealing a smiling Oswald waving at her.
Nanna was surprised seeing Oswald there. She clearly knew someone would fetch her but the meeting place wasn't in front of her house but at the fountain in the town square so why is Oswald here. As she came closer to the carriage, Oswald opened the door and walked out, after him was another person, it was Clive.
Nanna clearly did not know what was happening nonetheless she bowed at them in respect. "Ahmm…" she started "What are you doing here?" she almost hesitated not wanting to sound rude and not wanting to offend them. Oswald smiled at her, "We are here to pick you up. Didn't the young master already tell you before we parted?" he said confused at her question.
"Well, I thought I will be picked up at the fountain by the young master's people so I was really surprised when you guys turned up here" she explained looking at Oswald's confused face which was a little funny making her smile a bit. The two were taken aback by this gesture and smiled too thinking it was good that she was already fine despite what happened.
"Was there something on my face?" Oswald teased Nanna. Nanna immediately stopped smiling and apologized quickly, "Oh no, there's nothing there. I'm sorry young master I didn't mean to be rude" she said bowing in panic. Oswald chuckled at Nanna's reaction to his teasing. He stopped her from bowing thinking she would really break her waist if she keeps doing it that fast. "Relax, I was just teasing you and you can call me by my name plus aren't we the young master's people too", he said warmly ruffling her hair. Nanna felt warm by Oswald's gesture. 'Is this the feeling of having an older brother? I liked it' she thought but then she realized that she was a slave.
Nanna wasn't oblivious to the world. She clearly knew that slaves were the lowest in the hierarchy. Being a slave, one doesn't have any privileges in getting close to their masters or any aristocrat. They only needed to be obedient and follow their orders. This made Nanna a little sad as she thought that Oswald was really warm and kind just like her grandmother. 'Nanna don't be greedy. You are in no position to get close to them' she said to herself.
Nanna withdrew herself from the warmth given to her, distancing herself from the young masters. "I'm sorry I will now prepare my things. I will be fast" she said bowing to them as she went inside quickly getting her things. Oswald was surprised he thought he would get close to her. He sighed, "She was really cute with that smile" he said out loud peeking at Clive hoping to have any reaction from him but Clive just stood there straight and alert as they waited for Nanna. This made Oswald sighed even more thinking why his friend is so proper.
After sometime, Nanna came out with a luggage and a small sling bag. "I'm ready sorry for the wait" she said bowing to them again, always reminding her to be well-mannered in front of the young masters. Oswald smiled seeing Nanna but sighed immediately as she heard how she talked to them, it was different from earlier.
Oswald didn't think of it much brushing it off as him getting overly getting familiar with her. To not make the atmosphere awkward he asked her, "Are those the only ones you're going to bring? You'll likely stay there for a long time" unknowingly reminding her that where she will be going will be her new home so coming back to her house will be difficult in the future.
Nanna flinched from what Oswald said as she realized that her freedom was now up to her masters, "Yeah these are all the things I needed" she said quietly before climbing in the carriage beside the coachman. Oswald was about to open the carriage door for Nanna but was stunned when he saw her climb on beside the coachman. This made Oswald sighed again for the fifth time that night. It was clear that Nanna was distancing herself from them because she was a slave the young master had bought.
Nanna noticed it but being a slave she cannot be swayed by any kindness from her masters as it would for sure only bring trouble to her and to them she thought.