When You Say Nothing at All

Chapter 6

It was weird to think that I was now one thousand years old. I often wondered how long I would've lived had I not died in that car wreck. Maybe eighty or ninety years old, if I was lucky. And lately I couldn't help but think of my life on Earth. My family was definitely better than the one I had now. Were my parents already born in this universe? Would they meet? I had no way to know.

"My Lady? Are you alright?" I hear a voice beside me.

I look up at one of our servants a confused look on my face. She pulls a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wipes my face. I didn't realize that I had been crying. I blush and shake my head at her. The maid looks around quickly before looking down at her feet. Her voice low.

"It's alright Miss. You're allowed to cry sometimes." She steps back and leaves the room.

I frown. It was absolutely no secret how I was treated in this family. Maybe that was why the servants were nice to me. I let out a huff, stand and stretch. It was time for lunch anyway. Getting one more stretch in I leave my room and make my way to our dining room.

A month later, I entered my step-father's office. I rarely came in here if ever since I was a kid. My step-father was almost always in here and so I avoided him and this room at all costs. Today though both he and my mother were in there along with another man. I recognized him as Lord Gronlund. He was an older man. Much older than me and older than my step-father. His hair was solid white, his eyes were a cold hard blue. He was just a few inches shorter than my step-father. I had met him a few times during the feasts at the palace but had never talked to him.

Everyone turns their heads to me when I enter the room and my step-father waves me in.

"There she is!" He says a smile on his face.

I narrow my eyes at him in suspicion. He never smiled at me like that.

"You know the Lord Gronlund." He gestures to the older man.

I curtsy and Lord Gronlund hums.

"So it is true? She really can't talk?" He doesn't look at my step-father as he asks his question. He keeps his eyes on me and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

My mother nods her head and stands up, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Yes My Lord. But that doesn't mean the same will happen with her kids."

My eyes widen at that. My heart sinks at what I think is happening. I begin pleading to whoever is listening that I am wrong.

"Hmmm... well a woman doesn't need to talk to produce heirs." Lord Gronlund says.

I take a shuddering breath. Everything in me is telling me to run away. I don't want to hear this. He looks at my mother.

"And you're positive she'll grant me a son? I've had way too many daughters." His cold eyes turn even colder looking at her and she shrinks back a bit from me.

"I can assure you My Lord, that she will bear you healthy sons."

My whole world shatters at that. I can feel tears threatening to overflow and it is getting harder to breathe. My legs feel like they are turning to jelly. Lord Gronlund takes a step closer to me and puts his hands on my hips. I move away from him but he grabs my arm.

"Stand still girl, I need to feel your hips." He lets go of my arm and puts his hands on my hips again and squeezes them. I want to throw up.

He nods his head. "She does seem to have good enough hips for childbirth." He lets go of me and I take a few steps away from him.

"So then you agree to the marriage?" My step-father asks.