Medusa’s Tale

Chapter 8

I wish to have the knowledge on what to react on the spilled information that Desiree presented to me. Still, I was in between two maids and both of them were grasping my wrist gently, fearing they might hurt me, however, the left wrist was already swelling in red because of Vlad's touch earlier at the field.

He is unquestionably an awful person who outrages whenever I am around. May cruelty set him free.

Am I in a prison cell for me to unable to walk for myself freely? Is it obliged for them to hold both my wrist to assist every activity I create?

It feels unduly nostalgic. The sense of the deceased era existed everything but me. It was not displeasing at all. The fact that the need of being returned to the previous era penetrates my system.

"Why do you look so pale, Lady Eleanor? Do you feel ill?" Desiree reached forward and was about to caress my forehead when I avoided her hand, shaking my head left to right.

She was however worried and giving her a reassuring smile is the best I can do to convince her that I'm fine. "I'm fine, Desiree. I just didn't know that I slept for too long, no one did even bother to wake me up."

"We; maids cannot do that unless we are in high birth, Lady Eleanor." She explained and nodded at both of the maids who were holding both my wrist.

They nodded in return, slipping their hands to the tuck of my shirt as they lift it, I spat their hands away. "W-What are you two doing?" I asked stuttering due to the created actions.

"They will be removing your clothes now, Lady Eleanor. Please let them do their duty as maids." Desiree insisted.

Were maids supposed to do these kinds of ill-mannered duties? To undress someone by force and without their approval? Maids were not assembled to do certain tasks like minding another person's privacy.

"Maids promote respect, honesty, and loyalty to their masters, Lady Eleanor.", She answered directly where her tone seems she was aware of what thoughts amuses my mind currently.

"How- wait, pardon? Masters? But I am not one of your masters, Desiree. I do not even have a single idea where on earth have Vlad brought me in."

"Vlad? Are you pertaining to Lord Simon?"

"Yes, Simon it is." I rolled my eyes heavenwards as I call his unusual name in the air.

I waited for a response that I anticipated from Desiree but she could only bear to display a neutral expression as she stared at me for a long time. The feeling of fresh embarrassment devours my mind as I negatively overthink Desiree's look in me. But relief soon washed my entire system when one of the maids breaks the occurring silence between four corners of the room. Yet a single cough was the only noise she created to get her attention.

"Oh my apologies, Lady Eleanor. I was forfeited in my bewildering thoughts I forgot I have to present you to Lord Simon after thirty minutes of your preparations." She bows down her head as a sign of apology and beckoned her fingers to both of the maids who nodded in response.

"W-Wait, is it really appropriate for you maids to undress me?" I panicked. "I am not one of your masters so you do not need to show me your respect, honesty, or whatever that is that you do to your masters. And who said I am going to attend an event with Vlad? "

They all exchanges look for a couple of seconds before giving me their full attention once more. "You must, it is an event gathered in an honorable school called Tahaci Academy."

My eyebrows draw closer from each other. "Tahaci Academy? Where is that? And could someone please tell me what place am I in?"

Desiree appears anxious as she stares at me, clenching the golden box in her hand. "I can resolve your queries, Lady Eleanor. However, I can ONLY if you allow us to undress you and wash you."

Desiree is good at one-way deal communication and in my opinion, this kind of deceitful deal is like a manipulation toward the partner in agreement. I do not understand yet it feels that way.

"Alright..." I sighed in defeat and willingly opened my arms wide for better access for the maids.

The maids remove my upper clothes and I was about to protest when one of them touches my boobs to discard my bra yet I remembered this is what maids do to their masters even though I am not one of them.

"Why do you maids treat me like one of your masters?" I inquired as I watched the maids pulling down my bottoms. I really did reckon after waking up from that extended sleep was that I was wearing a white dress but I didn't realize I was wrong. It was a blouse and bottoms with similar color and fabric.

"Because you are owned by Lord Simon." She remarked in a flat tone yet followed by a smile to hide the given tone of her voice. "We will now be cleaning you, Lady Eleanor. We do not have that much of a time."

The maids guided me towards the bathroom yet once I entered the room, the details were misleading however it was more like a sauna. The big bathtub was already filled with fresh water. The sweet aromatic vapor warns that the tub was heated and the smell lingers the whole area. There was a big window for a view of Cockaigne where the moon and sun rise as the trees balter against the wind’s limitless touch.

The nakedness of my body was unrecognizable and my awareness was blinded not until they unlatched the rectangular window inviting the cool wind to come in. Before I quiver in the cold as the maids watch my every movement through my nakedness, I decided to enter the tub by testing the temperature of the steam by my feet. Once I knew I was satisfied by the warm heat, I submerged myself inside its heat as the delightful quality of the scent of the roses infiltrated my nose, easing the pressure of confusion, frustration, and panic inside my system.

"The roses' scent arrives from Thebes, they were all originally extracted from the rose petals itself," Desiree informs gently, her voice echoed.

I smiled as I enjoyed being in a tub filled with an aromatic scent. Even though I have a negative idea on which part of the earth is Thebes was found. "It smells so good, thank you."

"We will be now scrubbing you, My Lady."

Whirling around to look at the maidens, Desiree and another maiden were holding a block of soap and a pink scrub as they went towards my direction prepared.

I was still reluctant at first as a tint of red covered my cheeks. Yet Desiree had promised to apprise the occurrence of this perplexingly series of events at this very moment. I was constrained to nod my head as Desiree told me to lean back as she will scrub my back while the other maid will assist her.

"By now, I can already ask questions, can't I?"

Desiree hummed from my back as she gently scrubs my back, exploring every area of my skin. "Yes, Lady Eleanor. What queries do you have in mind?"

"Where am I?"

"You are in Ithaca, Lady Eleanor." I tilted my head from the side as the place Ithaca came clicking on my brain yet I could not guess the thorough details of the subject.

"It sounds familiar..." I murmured, urging the limits of my knowledge at the endpoint so I can manage to recall the memories of Ithaca itself.

Light chuckle coming from Desiree distracted my thoughts, "In the mortal realm, in Greece, there is a place called Ithaca too, My Lady."

That's it!

I snapped my fingers together as Desiree found the key to one of my thoughts. Ithaca indeed was one of the cities in Greece. It is the city of the sea. But why does she kept on saying 'mortal' similar to earlier ago?

"Why do you kept on proclaiming Mortal like earlier ago?"

"My Lady, it seems you are as clueless as any other mortal from the mortal realm is about us." She begins with.

"Pardon?"

"My Lady, we are inside the enchanted realm. Mortals are way too far from our region and their popularity in our realm is negative."

I did not think that Desiree would create such a joke with a tone of affirmation. Enchanted Realm? I remembered examining a book that I borrowed from Belle with details such as pieces of information about the Enchanted Realm. She said something about the book being AWESOME and more and that I can manage to learn something from the book.

"There is no such thing as an Enchanted Realm, Desiree."I laugh flatly as I raise one of my arms for a less struggle scrubbing it.

"You are the only person in this realm who does not believe in such fairy tales, Lady Eleanor." she squeezes the scrubbing foam in my arm releasing a soapy liquid.

"What proof do you have to have me convince in believing such fairy tales, Desiree?"

"You came from the mortal realm." she delivers the tone of her voice as if she concluded the thought in her mind correctly.

"Yes?" I answered, confused. I shifted my seat, turning around for a clear conversation with her. "Don't you call this place as the mortal realm for you to say that?"

"I apologize, My Lady. But as I said earlier, we are not in the mortal realm. It seems that you are still confused for you were raised in the mortal realm and not originally in ours."

"What certainty do you have, Desiree?"

The sedated tone of Desiree seems like a humorless pleasantry. But is it truly a pleasantry? It would be foolish of me to think that her statement was likely honest. I am no more a child and was raised as a well-minded person that does not think immaturely. Furthermore, believing in such fairytales is essential only to children.

"Lady Eleanor... There are things in life that are created in an orphic way and the loss of beliefs has blinded humans from all of that." she paused. "You see, for mortals, it is painful to live in a reverie illusion and they think our realm is fraud and was only devise falsely."

"Therefore, a manifestation of your oh-so-called enchanted realm to humans is required if you think your realm is really indeed enchanted. You must convince the humans; you must convince us so that we can believe all of you are not a fraud." I challenged.

The concrete detail of her expression reveals the anxiousness. "Lady Eleanor, we are not allowed to do that. We will get punished. " She explained in fear.

"By who? "

"By high Aristocats. Just like you and Lord Simon, My Lady. But high Aristocats are more powerful than you. You all are people in high birth but high Aristocats are higher."

"We are people in high birth? Do you mean I am a wealthy person?" She nodded in response. My eyes widened in surprise as I shake my head, disregarding her suspicion of me. "I am no wealthy, Desiree."

She placed her hand on my shoulder as a genuine smile curved on her lips. "Yes you are, My Lady. Lord Simon isn't someone who welcomes peasants like us in his own mansion. "

"But... " I look down at the waters. Seeing my distorted reflection filled with curiosity. "Do you know why he brought me here? "

She stopped in her tracks but as soon as I notice, she apologizes. "I do not have a faintest idea why he brought a woman in his mansion. Is it distasteful for you to be living with him? First and foremost, you two are partners however, I was confused why you act disgusted towards the Lord. "

So all I can ask for now is Vlad. And what does she even mean by partners?

After minutes of bathing, Desiree informed me I was finished and was ready to be dressed and fixed. I stood up from the water that was dropped in temperature. The maids were guiding me afraid that I might slip from the floor. I was rinsed with a towel, eliminating the inconvenient waterdrops that stayed in my body after arising from the bathtub.

Mocassins were given to me as Desiree wrapped the towel around my body. "It is noticeable that your body was taken care of since you were a child. How beautiful. "

I shyly smiled at the given compliment as they all followed me going back to the bed. No one dared to appreciate my body but my mother since then... However, it was all new to me after hearing all of this from a pretty maiden that deserves the compliment she has given me.

"Lady Eleanor?" Desiree called shaking me off my thoughts.

I returned my attention to the maidens and was stunned as they were all holding vintage dresses. These are dresses from the previous era by late Americans, I suppose. Two dresses were length merely above the ankle and the other three dresses were all above the knee. All were outstandingly gorgeous and assuming its price, it might be all golden.

One of them was purple and the bodice feels like it might hug my curves well-accordingly. It was in the shade of pale purple. The skirt’s volume might be five layers of purple fabric and three layers of lace fabric, dropping the length just above the ankle. It was a simple vintage dress yet it outstands the remaining dresses from my own point of view.

“I believe you like this one?” Desiree asked, raising the dress from her hand.

I nodded to agree. They removed the towel from my body and carefully guided me into the splendidly sexy and flattering dress. I never wore a dress once in my life until now. Perhaps it is because of how underprivileged we were with my late mother and maybe because my foster mother has not known what to give me from every holiday but money.

“Such an exquisitely beautiful woman.” Desiree complimented once more, although the dress would have complimented her body than mine. “Let us finish you with the hair,” she said.

She gestures her finger from one of the maids. She whispered something inaudible for me to hear. The maid nodded in agreement and bow her head in front of me before exiting the room. I was confused and therefore, I asked Desiree.

“Where would she be going?” Desiree guided me towards the vanity table, insisting I sit down.

Earlier, there was none on the table but only the mirror that I turned around. However, the table was now filled with cosmetics and other facial goods. Were they planning on covering my face with these products?

Two maids started covering my skin with powder and Desiree was assigned to do the hair. Observing the maids and Desiree, Desiree was the only maiden who maintain the vibrant smile on her face. Unfortunately, the other maids seem displeased by their jobs, they didn’t dare to care if I notice the dull expression on their faces. What must have happened to these maids to act like this?

Calculating the time, it took only ten minutes to finish the hair and the make-up. The maid who left the room had soon came back with four different stylish heels. I decided on the purple tone to match the color of my dress. It was enjoyable dressing in a high-quality dress and being treated as a person in high birth.

Time fleets too soon and once we were done, Desiree clasps both her hands lovingly as they all stared at me. Yet, Desiree was the only one with a vibrant expression written all over her face.

“Look at you now, Lady Eleanor. You indeed belong to the people of high birth. Lord Simon must be so madly in love with you, you are a lucky person. ” a hint of another tone flashes through her voice that I didn’t catch.

Does she think Vlad and I are lovers?

I was about to say something when a knock on the door has refrained me from uttering something. It was soon followed by a tiny voice.

“Simon wish to see Lady Eleanor now, Desireeee! ” I presume it was one of the twins that was whining. By hearing the perfect delivery of the speech, I thought of Noah behind the door.

Desiree opened the door and it displayed one of the twins which I can’t tell if it is Noah or Jacob due to unfamiliarity.

“W-Woah...” His mouth opened agape showing his teeth. It is indeed Noah. The agile child. “Is that you, Lady?”

I walk towards the little boy and saw a pale of blush on his cheeks. Why is he blushing?

He shakes his head, refusing the thoughts that wanted to dominate his mind. “Come! Simon must see you, Pretty Lady!” he exclaimed eagerly and started running away going back to the first ground floor.

I heard him screaming and it echoed along the hallway.

“Oh, Simon! You must see Lady Eleanor for she is stunning!” His voice was becoming baffled as the distance between us was also becoming distant.

A giggling sound coming from my left caught my attention and saw Desiree was amused by what she had seen. She must be proud of what she has done to me. Even if I cannot tell what changes I appear to have today, I can sense they were all pleased by my appearance. Besides, I despise looking at myself in front of the mirror. And it accumulated when a strange nightmare disrupted my mind.

Fair enough it is merely a nightmare, yet forgetting the incident that occurred inside my nightmare was hard to forget and I do not know the reason.

“You must go now for he is waiting for you downstairs.” She smiles softly.

They all bowed down and I nodded my head in agreement. I returned the smile to Desiree. “Thank you, I appreciate all your efforts, everyone,” I stated sincerely before walking towards the path Noah had run off to.

The feeling of being so light and alluring today overcome my worry. Aside from smelling too nice, I feel so soft and everything that a person of high birth can manage to feel every day.

Arriving down the staircase, I searched for Vlad’s presence and the twins but only saw a man standing in front of the entryway as a chariot below awaits. One of the two horses neighs as if he was an impatient one.

“Vlad?” I called for him. Turning around, it was indeed him. He was wearing a formal and I do not know why we must wear such elegant clothes by just attending school.

His gazes caught the purple dress and his eyes darkened to my surprise. Does it look bad in me?

“Let us go.” He said in a firm tone without giving me a full single glance.

He hurriedly went outside and he was the first who have decided to enter the carriage. I sighed in disappointment. Maybe I was anticipating for him also to compliment my looks but I receive nothing from him. Maybe he dislikes the outfit that I have chosen for myself or maybe I was just undoubtedly ugly.

Without letting my thoughts distract me once more, I followed Vlad inside the chariot as I remove the disappointment written on my face.

Once I entered the chariot, I sat in front of him. The chauffeur yells making the horses neigh under his control, making the chariot move. I inhaled deeply, calming my entire system. Being with only Vlad inside the chariot had me on this disturbing feeling.

I looked at him and saw him crossing his arms while his eyes are shut closed. I was confused and maybe he despises upon seeing me dressed like this.

“Vlad...”

There was no response that followed after I call him by his name.

“Simon...” I called once again. His eyebrows met as he scrunches his nose.

“What do you want, Eleanor.” He asks bitterly.

It took me a matter of seconds to control my fear before answering his question.

“Does the dress doesn’t suit me?”

I waited for his answer until I heard two yells from the chauffeur making the horses run-in speed.

“Vlad,” I called for him.

“Simon...”

“Vlad, look at me,” I said impatiently.

However, I receive no gaze from him.

Why am I even in need of your attention?