"You like to follow me, don't you?" She said, looking at the sky. I smiled to myself, strangely drawn to this woman.
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"How long have you..." (Damon)
"Did I know you were there? Since the meadow, you were not very good at hiding your presence. Or your cologne." She laughed.
I chuckled and asked her, "You're not afraid of the dangerous creatures of the forest?"
"No, not really. The beautiful scenery is enough to satisfy me. It rids me of any fear that I may have and keeps me optimistic." She said so calmly.
"And those are? I pointed at the flower rings in the water." She turned around, looking at the flowers and then back at me.
"Oh, umm. It's a long story," she said that kind of solemnly.
"I got time," with expectancy. She looked shocked for a moment, but the next moment she looked sad.
A sense of grief and curiosity, came over me when I continued to watch her. She seemed reluctant to tell me. She turned away with a small frown and sat on the bank of the lake.
I proceeded to sit next to her looking expectantly, waiting for her to explain. She took a deep breath, nodding and patted the ground next to her for me to sit down. So I did. She was fiddling with her fingers while she contemplated how to tell me the reason.
I had my suspicions about what it might be, but the reason behind it was suspicious. But at the same time, I didn't know how to react to the matter without knowing the full story behind it. She took a deep breath and started talking.
"It started when I was a child, maybe around four or five years old. I was told I was found alone deep in the woods by the cooking staff, while they were looking for wild fruits and vegetables."
"They also told me I may have been abandoned by or stolen from my family, wandering away from my kidnappers. With only a pendant around my neck that gave them my name, and a dagger in my pocket.
It was the only identity they could give me. After they brought me back to the mansion where the servants worked, I was given 'mercy' and was allowed to stay there as long as I worked hard for the family." (Cassey)
"The madam. Their mother couldn't bear any more kids due to complications with her health and passed away from illness after giving birth to Mason. Plus their father died in the line of duty for the country.
So when I came along Jaydon and Mason saw me as their little sister, though we share no blood between us. Even knowing their grandparents, the old master and, madam, are on the fence about it."
"Do you know why their grandparents don't like you?" I asked her.(Damon)
"No, I don't." (Cassey)
"Jayden is the eldest of the two young masters of the Caspian noble family and is liked by all the household staff. In all honesty, I don't know why he kept me around. Jaydon is five years older than me and his younger brother Mason is only two years older than me." (Cassey)
"Jaydon and Mason even made me call them Big Brother because they liked the sound of it. Their grandfather hated the idea of me being their sister to the extent of trying to kill me countless times." (Cassey)
"That sounds awful." She nodded absently.
"Yeah, but Mason and I liked to train with swords in the garden; we were often yelled at, though. Well, mostly just me. The old master thinks it's inappropriate for any woman, let alone a maid.
To be training with either of the young masters, and the yelling matches would begin; they never lasted very long though. Eventually, they even dragged me here tonight as an unofficial guard, too." We were both laughing by the end of her explanation.
"I see. So you like making trouble, huh?" I smirked.
"What? No, I would rather keep to my work and get better at it. I'm a bit shy, though." (Cassey)
"Really?" I look at her a little skeptically, and she nods. "Look Miss, I know I probably should have asked sooner but, what is your name?" "What do I call you?"
"Oh, umm. Call me Silver. What about you?" She said with a smile. I had a feeling that Silver wasn't her real name. So I told her my dragon name instead, trying not to make things awkward.
"Nyxen, if you will." I smiled back. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"You mean like the goddess of the night?" She looked at me strangely. (Cassey)
"Yeah, that." I laughed awkwardly while rubbing my neck.
"I like it; it suits you. Calm yet mysterious."(Cassey)
"You think so?" I asked her. She nodded.
"So~. Why were you following me earlier?" (Cassey)
"Nothing much, just patrol duty." I shrugged
"Sounds fun. Is it because of the party? I nod,(Cassey)
"Yes, especially when you stand against a duke's daughter." I tease Silver. She looks away, her cheeks have a hint of red.
"A lot of people were impressed by how you handled the situation. I included. She turns away with a deep blush on her face.(Damon)
"Ugh, you don't need to tell me that. Aww~, that was so embarrassing."(Cassey)
"Hahahahaha~." I couldn't help but genuinely laugh. There was just something about this girl that felt good when I talked to her, to be around her. No one has ever or rather could ever make me feel this way.
I looked at this woman, really looked. She looks like she doesn't know who I am at all. No malice. Just genuine care in her eyes, with a hint of concern in her tone.
I don't know how much of myself to share with her. The elders would have a fit if I told anyone about the dragonkin to an assumed-to-be human, and although her dress was modest, I could tell she was not raised wealthy.
Despite that, she appeared genuine with good character. That in itself felt like a heavy stone sitting on my chest for doubting her. But Angela ruined all my trust in women in the general sense. Making me feel a little guilty.
So I decided to give her a proper answer. "Well, it sounds like you made the best of it. But revisiting the main topic I came out here to figure out. I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me."My eyes follow hers, looking at the blanket of stars. "Do you want to go back to the galla? Together, I mean?"
She chuckled softly, a calm smile on her face. "Sure, I should get back to find Jaydon and Mason anyway. Otherwise I might get caught by their grandparents for what they would call slacking off."
"Really? That doesn't sound nice at all." Without looking at her, I pinch the bridge of my nose while shaking my head. I stand up, offering my hand to help her up, and she takes it.
"Then we better start walking and save the talking for the way there, yeah?" She nodded, taking my hand, and we went back up the trail towards the palace gardens.
It felt like it took longer to get there than usual as we walked in comfortable silence.