ASTRID SHADOWBANE.
I got out of the bath, with a towel around my body, water dripping down from my legs, making the floor wet as i made my way to the closet.
Which was situated in the opposite direction to the bathroom and right next to my bed. Suddenly a small gust of wind came through the opened window sending shiver down my spine from the cold air, "damn it i forgot winter is right around the corner" closing the window I made my way back to the closet to pick a dress for the dinner with aunt Isabelle and her family, I looked around for a suitable dress to wear as i considered what my aunt would want me to wear.
And then my eyes landed on a dress in my closet, I picked the dress and after a careful consideration, I decided to role with it.
The dress was full-length gown fitted at the bodice and flaring out into a wide skirt, It has a slightly A-line silhouette, which provided elegance, the sleeves were upto my wrists, at the end of the sleeves were embroided by a black colour fabric. The neckline was a wide scoop, modest but open enough to highlight my collarbone, and it was embroidered by the same colour that was used in my sleeves.
it was a dress typically worn by the noblewoman but all thanks goes to my aunt, who bought this dress for my birthday.
After wearing the dress, the only thing left is my unkempt hair, I let out a defeated sigh as I gave into the huge process of tidying it up, I started combing my long hair, slowly taking control over my hair as i started braiding it, and after what felt like an eternity, I finally managed to braid my hair.
Which took more time than my bath. As I made my way to the mirror one last time before going out, the braid was draped over my shoulder reaching below my hips, as i carefully checked one last time, for some reason, I felt strange as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, the dress and my neatly braided hair making me—uncomfortable, "this feels wrong, i don't wanna be like this forever, why was I the only one left alive?" I watched as the reflection stared back at me, showing me the scowl I had on my face as I said those words, I shook my head and decided to head out.
I opened the front door to my small cabin, and stepped out after wearing my footwear, and closed the door behind me, as I started heading towards aunt Isabelle's home, my back straight as I walked confidently, on the same path I've walked for the past 12 years. Aunty's house was only few minutes walk from my cabin, on my way I was greeted by some familiar faces.
As I greeted them back politely and resumed my walking towards the house, but my peaceful walk came to an end, when the first son of the noble woodwoks family stood in the middle of the road as he blocked the path.
"It would be rude not greet him when he is standing in the middle of the road." I said to myself, after getting a few steps closer, I moved my hands and rested both of them on my abdomen, and bowed slightly, and said "good evening lord woodwoks, are you coming back from the capital?" I said as I waited for the tall man to speak, he tried to act confident but for some reason the man looked nervous like he has something urgent that needs to be done.
GORDON WOODWOKS.
I looked closely at the beautiful woma, who stood before me confidently, I've seen my fair share of women in my 37 years, but never have I seen someone this breathtakingly beautiful, I wanted to say something, but I couldn't think straight in that moment, all I wanted to do was to stare at the Ethereal fingure infront of me "Ahem lord woodwoks?" Astrid snapped me out of my thoughts as she she placed a hand over her mouth elegantly.
Just then I realised how long I've been staring at her face, I cleared my throat "ahem apologies I was just— thinking that's all." I locked my eyes with her Ruby eyes losing my train of thought again, but quickly shook my head, and started speaking again.
"Astrid I have already told you that you can just call me Gordon, you don't have to act so polite infront of me all the time." I waited for an answer as she started speaking in her usual formal expression that lacked any emotion. "My apologies sir Gordon, I'll try to do that from now on," she gave a smile which didn't seem genuine.
I took a deep breath and pulled out a small square shaped box rapped with the same colour as her eyes, and handed it over to her, and waited for her to take it. But the look in her eyes was obvious that she isn't going to take it, even if I used my authority on her, i Cleared my throat once again and said with a calm and reserved tone as i streached the hand out where the gift is.
"This gift is for you Astrid, I hope you will accept this." Astrid shook her head in denial as she put her hands infront of her in a defensive way, and she said.
"lord Woodwoks please hide it, what if anyone saw you giving gifts to a village orphan like me, it will start unwanted rumours about and you and— me I don't want that kind of attention." Knowing she won't take the gift, I had to grab her hand and place the gift and before she could do anything, I looked at her and said, my voice slightly flustered. "My father is going to name me as the next successor for the Woodwoks family, and I need to have a partner in order to become the next head so, i hope you think this through and give me an answer in two days, near the ocean on the west-side." After saying what i wanted to say, I walked away from the scene without waiting for her reply.
ASTRID SHADOWBANE.
"What the actual fuck? Did he just confess to...me?!" I thought to myself, as the next head of the Woodwoks family walked away from the scene, which looked more like he was running away from a street rober, I shook my head in disbelief as i stared at the man's back as he disappeared.
Then my gaze went to the Ruby coloured gift box in my hand, i stared at it for quite sometime, and then decided to just think about that later and resumed my walking with the gift box in my hands, as I walked to my aunt's home.
Once there, I knocked on the door three times and took 3 steps back, as I waited for the door to open, and just like i thought, the door flew open with a loud 'BANG' and a small kid who is about 8 years old came through the door, with an excited expression on his face, as he smiled at me from ear to ear. "It's aunt Ast, mom aunt Ast is here." My nephew Henry started shouting to his mom. And he ran up to me and wrapped his tiny arms around my waist.
I patted the back of his head, as he nestled his face into my abdomen giggling with every head pat, suddenly I heard the familiar voice of my aunt who was on the taller side as she loomed over the door frame.
"Henry didn't I tell you not to open the door like that you will injure someone." My aunt looked at me said with her usual caring tone. "Well what are you standing there for? Come on in you're already late." After convincing Henry to let go of me, I walked inside the house and Henry ran off to play with his siblings, and I went to the kitchen to help my aunt but.
"Dinner is already prepared just get the utensils to the table." I did just as she asked.
My aunt's family consists of, my aunt, and my uncle, and their three kids, the youngest one being Henry, and the other two kids are twins, two girls at the age of 12, we all sat at the dining table and the kids are sitting on the other side, opposite to where me and my aunt sat and my uncle William Cedric, who was on the shorter side but was big enough to make up for the height he lacked, he had muscular build with wide shoulders.
He sat between the two sides of the table, the kids were talking and laughing but the moment their father sat on his designated seat, the room fell silent as my aunt started serving the meat stew she made one after another, first to her husband, and to me, and later to the kids.
We all started eating silently Henry being the loudest one, as he struggled to chew the meat in his bowl, but that didn't bother me, but what did bother me, was that my aunt and uncle kept nudging eachothers shoulders, while looking at me, I wanted to ask them but decided not to as I already know what they wanted to say. And I kept eating.
After nudging eachothers for a few more minutes, my aunt decided to speak. "Ahem Ast how's the stew? Do you want seconds?" I looked at my aunt who was nervous, my tone remained neutral, and said.
"It's tastes as good as ever aunty no one can beat your stew." And I resumed eating my meal as I waited for my aunt's actual question.
"Soo I was wondering Ast what is that gift in your hand?" I already forgot about the confession but my aunt's question reminded and I let out a sigh, taking that as a sign of something bigger, she told the kids to go to their room, since they've finished eating. And she looked at me and waited for me to speak.
I pushed the bowl infront of me after I finished with my bowl, and looked at my aunt and started speaking without putting much interest in my words. "It's uhhh a gift from the Woodwok family's first son. He gave this to me and, said he wanted an answer in two days." I put the Ruby coloured square box on the table. And looked at my aunt, already knowing what she is going to say next.
"That's a wonderful news Ast, I was worried that you will remin single forever but ohh thank god." She ranted as she looked at the ceiling like she can actually see a god above.
"I'm going to reject him aunty." I said my tone, slightly irritated, at how my aunt didn't even consider my feelings in this situation, as she already started celebrating, as I said my sentence my aunt face fell in disbelief as she registered the news I just said.
"Wait what? Ast you are joking right? You can't be serious, your life will change if you accept his proposal, please reconsider this As—"
I cut her off before she could say anything more. "I'm sorry aunty my decision remins same I am NOT going to marry him, I have a goal in my life and that goal comes first." My aunt looked at me furiously, as she stood up from her chair and glared at me. "Your goal huh? What is your goal is it finding your brother? Or is it getting revenge on that mysterious man from 12 years ago? Tell me Ast what is your goal."
I looked at my aunt dead in the eye, and said confidently, "my goal is to find my brother— the only family I have left." My aunt face fell with sadness as she uttered the words, which made my heart ach with guilt. "Ast are we not your....family?" A knot formed in my throat as i struggled form words.