Diane wanted to ask why she had to take it with her when she could leave it here.
What could be the content?
But she did not ask.
And with that, the physician disappeared into the hallways that looked like they led to a massive triangular museum. Diane's eyes stretched as far as they could, trying to take in the architectural beauty that was this house.
"You seem intrigued by everything, very unlike you". Mira said, not smiling.
"What was I like?" Diane asked, curiosity written all over her face.
"Uninterested with the world," Mira answered as she led her past the floors that looked like they were sliding and then onto a porch that overlooked a garden. Diane had never seen a garden that beautiful, a garden having that much variety of flowers and plants, and what…mushrooms? She was about to ask what the mushroom-looking plant was, but Mira interrupted her thoughts as she continued with her unending chat. She must really enjoy talking so much.
"You only became like that after coming here, though. We used to have so much fun at the house, at least on days when Lady Moon, your aunt, is not being witchy!"
They walked past a bunch of roses about to bloom; they were so tightly planted closely that she worried how they would survive with so little space between them.
'You said they'd be too lonely otherwise, milady"
"I did?". "I planted these roses?"
"What do you mean, you planted every single flower here,". "You used to spend hours and hours here, soiling your delicate hands".
"You always loved flowers, but never planted any back at Lyselle's house."
"Once here, a few months in, and all you did was read about cultivating plants, and I could never get used to that version of you!"
Mira is now rambling on, as Diane inspects the roses, which she assumed would bloom in a few hours' time. If she were her usual self, Diane would have waited it out and watched over it all night as it bloomed. Nothing is as satisfying as watching the act of roses blooming; others may not think much of it, but not Diane.
Her mother had been a florist. In the town where they both used to live, only her mother sold flowers. They had a flower garden at home, and Diane would watch her mother talk to the plants like they were children that needed childing, or consolation, depending on the mood.
Naturally, Diane came to love plants too, not until her mother died, and every flower reminds Diane of her mother's smell, her smile even.
Looking away from the flowers for the first time, Diane saw that at the end of the flower bed was a giant gate, which ran far and around the very building she slept in. The house was in no way small, yet it felt small, constricted.
"What is beyond the gate?" Diane asked, cutting off Mira, who had been on an unending tale about Diane, flowers, the house of Lyselle, and mostly Dravon, and how everyone, including Diane, dreaded him. If everyone so feared him, why was Diane given to him, as a scapegoat? What exactly was the deal? Diane would have asked all these if only something else had not caught her attention, the gold-pleated gate. With dramatic engravings in a language that Diane thinks might be Spanish, or is it Japanese?
"Ooh, yes, it separates the house from other houses in the manor, milady". "The house closest to and after the gate is where your husband, lord Dravon, lives". "Though I think the gate is always locked, primarily to keep you out".
"He loathes your family, milady, and that naturally includes you".
"Then why did he marry me?" Diane found herself asking, realizing until much later that the answer to that question was completely going to ruin her.
Mira looked at her with so much pity that Diane had to smile from the uneasiness of being looked at that way.
"Well, the house of Ravenforth and Lyselle had been sworn enemies for a long time; your marriage was a sorry attempt at quelling an impending unrest, milady".
Mira said flatly.
"Your father wanted to send your sister Kaisha, since she is the older one, but your stepmother was so strongly against it and finally convinced him you were a better choice. That wicked woman, she literally threw you out here to wither. I miss home, at least we could go see the rivers and trees at will".
Mira rambled on in her usual manner. All Diane could think of was the fact that, as much as Lady Athea didn't want the marriage, Lord Dravon would not have wanted it either. It must have been what both families wanted. Diane couldn't help but feel sorry for him and Athea. Where is she at this moment? Did she die?
Diane walked to the gates, feeling the well-textured frames against her thin hands. Then ran her hands over the engravings that looked so perfect. Suddenly, the only thing she wanted was to walk out of it. She wanted so much to see the streets and cities. While she might not admit it, she thought of getting to see what Dravon Kail looked like. She felt a surge of strength, which surprised her, because minutes ago she was tired from all the feelings raging within: body pains, confusion, and all. Now, what is this feeling, excitement?
"Where is the entrance, though?" Diane asked as she ran her hands all over the engravings.
Mira looked at her with surprise and curiosity. She knew Athea better than anybody. There were days when she would act mischievously. Days when she would commit outrageous things, even, but she had never seen Athea like this. She seemed as if thee has been a shift in her personality. The Athea she knew never liked being out of character, but this one here with her is a different personality. She is wild!
"Why do you ask, milady?". She asked inquisitively. Don't tell me you are planning to leave the gates, against the rules?"
Diane suddenly wants to, she was always scared of breaking rules in her previous life, but not this one. She was going to do everything she want, and maybe more.
Mira looked at Athea's face and knew immediately that there was no way to stop her. But yet, she tried.
"You won't want to do that, Athea". "If Dravon finds out, there's no telling what he will do!"