The Hall, now empty.
Everyone had exited the hall.
The coachman whom had brought Vanora watches as every single noble lady comes out of the hall. Except that he did not see the Lady he had carried. He waited extra five minutes after the Duke's premises was cleared.
He came to the conclusion that Vanora was chosen and drove away.
After all, there was nothing a coachman like him could do here. He rode away as well.
Arian could not believe he finally got to meet her, the girl he had wanted to meet all those long years. He never saw her again after that night. He did not want to ever let him go, just holding her in his arms was enough comfort.
"I...need...to...go." Vanora manages to mutter this in her state of shock.
His brow furrows and she could feel his face turn into a frown.
"You will be taking care of properly." He says in a promising tone that seemed so convincing. She was not falling for it.
Her eyes scans through the hall without making anyone seem suspicious. When she feels his hold loosen around her, she pushes him with the strength she could mutter and dashes towards the exit.
Arian looks at her in amazement. She had not said anything yet but it seemed she has forgotten all about him. He watches her as she dashes towards the exist, a lips curls into a dangerous smile. He knows she is trapped and has become his little prey. There was no escaping from him now. No carriage is in sight.
He wonders how she thinks of running away from him.
Arian indicates for the guards who rushed following Vanora to stop with a slight wave of his hands. He is amazed by how frantically she trying all she can.
On the other hand, he knows so many women were willing to let him choose them as his wife even if it meant for them to be the second wife. Why would she see such an important role and chance and want to escape from it?
Vanora reaches the outskirts of the mansion and finds out that all the carriages are gone, including the one that had brought her. Hot tears flowed down hey eyes to her cheeks.
She knows she would not be allowed to pass the gates, especially since she did not come out with other ladies.
It would be taken as though she had either committed a crime and is trying to escape or has been picked as the bride and is also trying to escape.
"You do not need to be scared, angry or afraid my darling." She hears Arian's voice from behind her, turning around with her teary eyes to look at him.
"I have a sick mother at home." She says in between sniffs, her eyes looking at him in a spiteful manner.
"I know." He says bluntly.
Of course he knew. He definitely did not want to approach her that way; she would have definitely told him out.
He brings his hands forward to place on her shoulder and she instinctively moves her body away.
"She would be taken care of." He says smiling at her. She could see his smile could reach his eyes. She wasn't happy about this.
How is she to believe a thing this man is saying.
"Prepare a bath for my Lady" Arian says sternly facing the maids.
Few maids went away to perform the given task.
The Golden haired man walks towards Arian.
"Take care of her mother's issue, Talbot" Arian says before the man could speak.
Talbot bows and leaves.
Arian sees that Vanora is not making any move and indicates she is escorted to the room.
Vanora is too tired to argue, it seemed as though she had given up completely. If only the coachman had waited a little longer, she would have made a run for it.
She could not move; her eyes had become so dull.
Arian knew something was not sitting right, that memory is not something to be easily forgotten no matter how much one goes through. But here they are and she had forgotten.
It's been barely five hundred years, how could she forget. Or does she think she is human?
If she did forget, he is certain for sure that it is the work of a witch.
He watches the maids support her as she is taken for her refreshment.
Meanwhile, the coach man had arrived back at Vanora's home. Ciro and Vanora's mother Ellie had received the news that Vanora had not returned. Ciro, terribly heartbroken leaves with the carriage to drop him back home. Ellie knows she should not have sent her daughter to the Duke's mansion. She just wanted what was best for her. And she was sure if they did not do as the letter had said, guards would have shown up at their door step in order to force her out.
She coughed up blood. She knew she did not have much time. She walks over to the table, takes a clean cloth and wipes the blood off her hands.
She stops in her track when a knock is heard.
"Who is there?" She asks in a low voice as she is unable to speak properly.
No response.
The knocks come again.
Ellie walks over to the door, wishing it could be Vanora. She did make her go and now she some how regrets it.
Without asking another question she opens the door only to see a strange man dressed in some expensive fit. He had a sword attached to his trouser.
She hurriedly tries to shut the door in fear but the man's huge foot stops it mid-way.
"Good evening my Lady" he speaks, his voice loud and clear enough for Ellie to hear him.
She is startled-moving away from the door as it opens slowly. The man does not move from where he is.
"I was sent on behalf of the Duke, your daughter is now the Duke's fiancé."
"I am Talbot, he's right hand man. You have been bestowed upon a maidservant to take care of you these few days and a few days to your daughter's wedding you will be brought to the Duke's mansion"
Talbot added.
Yes he had been able to track his Lady's home in less than twenty minutes.
He watched as the already old lady's expression, she looked somewhat sad and happy.
Ellie just nods her head. The maidservant emerges from behind Talbot.
A brunette looking young girl around the age of twenty.
"I am called Evelyn my Lady" the girl bows her head and walks in.
"I am really thankful, but this is not needed" Ellie speaks. Though aware of her situation and how she might not be able to handle things she still persists that she would rather be left alone.
Vanora is not going to abandon her, that she knows.
"These are orders My Lady" Talbot adds.
He turns his back and leaves without uttering another word.
Evelyn rushes over to Ellie and takes the cloth she uses in wiping the blood stains off to the sink.
She comes back and supports Ellie down to her room to have a good night's rest.
Assuring her she would take care of everything.
Evelyn looks around the small yet arranged house. She washes off the cloth she had dumped in the sink and cleans up the environment.
She could also see that food essentials are at the bare minimum and as a learning doctor she could at least try to keep Ellie in check and make sure it was nothing serious.
She decides on sending a crow in the morning back to the Duke first thing in the morning.