The house feels colder now most probably because winter has not completely left Orlanthia. But our servants prefer it call it the wrath of our long forgotten family God Valerion, God of Silence and Oath. Sounds stupid, doesn't it? Apparently there's a story about the forgotten God and his demise which was the beginning of the Ravienne family, passed down from generations to generations. Before our ancestors used to pray and serve him but with time he became a myth rather than a legacy, how cruel to him. I once even heard in passing that our family crest is also a symbol of Valerion, a lily encircled by a crescent moon. The last time I saw the crest was on Duchess Ravienne's casket.
I didn't realise when I had strolled till the end of the hallway. A beautiful chamber with intricate gold and light pink colours and furniture worthy of a Duchess awaited me. This room has the biggest windows in the mansion yet today it feels cold and perhaps lonely. My footsteps echo in the empty hallway as I enter the now rather dull room. Books scattered on the table, her favourite jewels near the mirror and her dresses scattered on her messy bed. She wasn't a clean freak like father, and it felt real but now that she's gone nothing feels real. Perhaps this whole life was a dream, she was a dream, her eyes were a dream and her smile, was it a dream too?
Soft footsteps. "Young master? What are you doing here?"
I turn around to find nanny Alma staring at me. She looks exhausted and her eyes are red. Was she crying? "Were you missing madam?", her question catches me off guard. Since the duchess's death no one has asked me such a question. I look away not knowing what to say, but she smiles sadly.
"It's alright I understand I miss madam too. You might not had a good relationship with her nonetheless she was your mother. It's normal to feel sad. Would you like to spend some time in here?"
"No. I am good. I'll be taking my leave.", I answer slightly confused by my own answer but before I can walk away Alma walks to me, surprised by the sudden action I step back and my hands crash against the piano, unleashing a jumble of ugly, jarring notes. Though I am surprised Alma doesn't even flinches maintaining her evergreen smile. She reaches out for a leather bound diary and an old book. I know that book, it's the legend of Valerion, Tales of Valerion, Lysara and the Two Moons, passed down in our generations. It was the late Duchess's favourite book, she used to read it all the times. And about the diary I do not recognise it.
"I think the Duchess would have wanted you to have these. Her belongings.", Alma states in her ever so sweet voice.
"I don't want these. You can keep it back."
"Young master please don't say that. Please keep them at least for the respect of dead.", her words give me a sudden reality check that she's no more, only these materialistic things of hers are left. I hesitantly extend my hands as she hands me over the bundles of papers.
"There are all her letters in her second drawer if you want you can even check them out.", I glance at the pearl white drawer but look away instantly as if it will burn me. I start to walk away as Alma calls out.
"Young master please take care of yourself.", right Alma cares about me, not only because she's my nanny but because I am her true owner's one and only son. Alma was also Duchess Ravienne's closest and most trusted maid.
As I walk out of the room, curiousity gets the better of me as I flip the first page of the leather bound diary and there lies her words in the same elegant handwriting.
"A rose does not choose the garden,
Nor the gardener who prunes.
It only blooms where it's planted,
Even if beneath two moons."