Serving House Beneviento

3

I dragged a huge piece of log out of the greenhouse and threw it to the side. That was five of eight. I glanced back at the wood as I rubbed my hands on my pants from the sweat. It took forever and three different ladders to get the rest of the greenhouse cleaned out, but I had finally managed it. After the logs, I had to rip up the plates of cobblestone that lined the pathways in order to redo it. Thankfully, they were cracked and loosened for me. I scratched the back of my head as I groaned outwardly. Donna and Angie left early this morning on their carriage to Castle Demitrescu for their family meeting. I was left behind to watch the manor. Angie claimed that they would be back by tomorrow afternoon. That was enough time to finally get the rest of the greenhouse cleaned. I had just gotten the wagon of supplies from the Duke two days ago and I was excited for the project that I wanted to get underway.

I walked back to the wagon of goodies. Two crates were filled alone with stones and bags of soil. The Duke was able to snag some grown flowers that needed planted along with fences and seeds of flowers that I had been studying. I grabbed the two bags of concrete and buckets first. A few hours later, everything except the crates of rocks stayed on the wagon. Sweat dripped down my whole body. The only reason I stopped was because I heard a carriage in the distance. I looked up and shock laced my expression.

"Caiden!" An excited squeal greeted me from a black haired, blue eyed woman from atop the Duke's carriage. A man with metallic arms waved alongside her. One in a royalty velvet dress while the other in grease monkey attire.

"Elena! Nikolai!" The carriage stopped and the two dropped from the roof of the carriage. "What are you two doing here?" I asked as I walked over.

"Well, the Duke told us that you were working on something special for Lady Beneviento," Nikolai explained as he surveyed the area. "So, we were bored at the Lord family function and hitched a ride." My eyes turned to Elena in surprise.

"Lord Heisenburg letting Nikolai out is believable. But Lady Demitrescu let you get your hands dirty?" Elena laughed heartily.

"I can be persuasive. And besides, I told her that I wanted to see around the Beneviento manor. Lady Beneviento approved it and Angie even told me to tell you to be nice to us while we're here." I eyed her for a moment before she rolled her own eyes. "Okay, she told us that if we made your life hell, we would never be allowed back. Duke had our backs in convincing them to let us over without them present." I turned to the Duke and he waved.

"Well children, I must be off. I assured Lady Demitrescu that I would be back here bright and early on the morrow to come and get you two." The two of them nodded and the Duke turned his carriage around. We waved him off and then they turned to the project I had before me.

"We...have a lot to do," Nikolai expressed. "What did you plan on getting done?"

"As much as I could. I wanted to get the rest of the logs out and cobblestone. Lay in some nice glass marbles and concrete as the first priority and then lay the garden beds with the stones and top soil." I explained.

"Irrigation?" Nikolai asked.

"I'm...I got stuff for it, but I have no idea what would work best." The two nodded.

"Mind if I go in and take a look?" Nikolai asked as he pointed toward the greenhouse. I nodded for him to go ahead. "Cool." He walked into the greenhouse which left Elena and I alone outside.

"So, how has life been since you got here? I haven't seen you for a few months! You have not accompanied her to any of the family meetings and Alcina cannot convince her to come for a social call." I shrugged as I walked over to the flowers that laid in their little plastic cups.