Perished Lullabies

Chapter 4: Banquet Pt2

Savoring each moment of the fresh air, Arla scattered around each corner of the garden. Watching birds rest on their nests was his favored observation. Smelling the scent of roses eased his heart and unlocked countless nostalgic illusions.

"The enchanting beauty you behold is that of a Rose. Anything red like these flowers makes me believe you are another symbol. Yet, I believe Anemone best resonates with you as a human."

More sentences like this began to fill his mind. It comforted him to the point he sat on the grass to lean his back against a bush wall next to the blue Anemone flowers. He fondly began to enjoy the cinnamon rolls on his plate he had yet to taste.
"What a scandal, this isn't at all a waste!" Arla says, impressed by how delicious the sweet bun was. He couldn't help but continue getting another bite after the other.

"Pardon the intrusion," Says a hoarse voice, "I believe this area of the resident is restricted." Arla trembled. That startled him so terribly he nearly choked on the sweet bread.
"I apologize for my reckless choice! I just couldn't bear to stay inside. It's suffocating to be cramped in one area." He admitted with a trembling voice. So embarrassing, he didn't dare avert his eyes to see the male staring down at him.

The tall figure was puzzled by his encounter. Should he allow this guest to stay or get rid of her?
"Tell me your name." He ordered.
Arla kept his anxiety from getting the best of him, "I would love to stay alone if you don't have the intention of sending me out." He says with a reserved tone. The male didn't listen to the wish and sat beside her, yet he did maintain his distance from the maiden.

...

"Why aren't you back inside? I thought I told you to leave me alone!" Arla muttered the last sentence.

"It's so exhausting having to walk through everyone. I prefer to not be at parties."

"Then why be here?"

"Mr. Smith is my boss. I have to congratulate my friend's brother, Harold, on marrying Ms. Lee." He answered honestly.
Arla sighs and takes his heels off before continuing the conversation.

"How many women has he been fooling around?"

"Not sure. However, I would like for you to stay here with me. He's a major disease spreader at the moment, so if he sees you, he'll try to get his way with you." The man warns. Arla scoffed.

"Bastard! As if I'll be easy to get! My standards are pretty high, and as the best companion of Faith, I'll be the one to get her out of the wedding before she says yes!" He exclaims. The man sitting on the opposite side of the wall bush seemed to be interested.

" You haven't told me your name yet...What's your name?"

"Belle Mathew. And you must be...?"

"Nakoa Maliah, delighted to make your acquaintance." Nakoa grins reaching his hand out to Arla. The teen managed to get comfortable enough to take eye contact with the stranger.

Nakoa had gorgeous long black hair reaching to his waist. A braid held back his hair and then flowed down like a waterfall at the end of the red ribbon. His bangs were thick to hide his eyebrows but well balanced to get a chance to see the sharp chocolate orbs and long lashes.

His attire was black with red to add some vibrant notice. However, this gentleman was indeed pleasant to the eyes.
Arla accepted his hand and both exchanged a smile, "Oh! They're warm?" He laughed nervously.
Nakoa grinned, "Yours are cold! Do you perhaps need some warmth?" He asked.
"No, I've had them since birth. It's completely normal since Faith's hands are cold too." Arla says as he was taken back into his golden days.

"Are you two very close?"
"Like siblings! She wouldn't let me do chores alone and always helped me finish to have time to play."
"Sounds like you had an overall stable childhood. What does one have to do for the past to be reincarnated?"
"My belief is nothing. Those events happened for a reason, and made us the human we are today!" He smiled. Nakoa hummed in response and kept the conversation going.

"Luke and I are similar to you two." He begins, "He's the reason I'm still here. Yet, I'm always regretting the choices I've made after my family was sent to rest."
"From what I know, isn't Mr. Smith in a promising business?"

"Of course, that's why they have the best privilege and many plantations in this state." Nakoa agreed. Arla was intrigued by this information. Yet, he knew there would be boundaries set up.

"Belle!" Shouted a voice from the doorway. Arla jolted up and rushed to the elder woman.
"Why the commotion, Mrs. Smith?" He questions with unease.
Mrs. Smith began, "Have you seen Faith? She hasn't returned-"
Arla knew the possible location of her disappearance. The male rushed inside and upstairs to a guest room. In the wall, a hidden door would transport whoever went in there up the attic. He was much faster to reach the stairs without his heel, and just as he opened the door to the attic a woman was holding in her sobs as she was on her knees.

Arla pushed Harold to the wall fiercely, "What a disgrace!" He shouted, "Dare lay a mark on her again and I'll stuff you inside a coffin alive to bury below to Satan!" Arla proposed with rage in his voice. Harold wasn't fazed by this action.
"As a lowly class you are, I could make you my slave." He smirked as he purposely tried to get his face as close to the disguised male.
Faith quickly got herself to stand and held her grip on Arla's shoulder, "Don't you remember what I told you in the carriage?" She asked him. Arla furrowed his eyebrows and let go of Harold's collar.

"What a dear she is! Obedient as a man's good fellow, say, Faith, how about handing her to me?" He chuckled jokingly. Faith didn't respond to his wish, instead, she took off her heel and smacked his face and ribcage with a deep grudge.

Arla was stunned for a moment but was highly satisfied with this action.
"What a lunatic of a disappointment! I'm glad we're here because I have news for Mrs. Smith!" Faith exclaims as she rushed out of the room with both heels still in hand. Arla followed behind her, curious about what she'll announce today.

Mrs. Smith wasn't far from them, they spotted her with Nakoa who too was searching for Arla and Faith.
"Is everything alright? I heard a sound upstairs." Nakoa questions the pair. Faith wasn't having it. She glared at Nakoa before she took Arla behind her lead and face Mrs. Smith.

"Ma'am, I've abode Harold's abuse of authority, and I come to you for a great favor!" She begins with confidence, "I propose with a certain declaration, I will divorce Lord Harold tomorrow morning when the sun becomes light on the horizon."

"Faith, what would your parents say of your choice? Would it be fair for us too?" Mr. Smith inquired feeling puzzled by her decision.
"With respect, I doubt my decision will be a great blessing for them. After all, I'm not devoted to becoming a wife to him and my only job in the house is to birth the fetus." She snarled. Mr. Smith wasn't accustomed to her new behavior.

"I say, let Faith draw her path." Says Lord Luke confronting his father. "Even I know the possibilities of Harold aren't up to your expectations." He admitted. Faith was unaware of Luke's cooperation with her belief. It made Arla grin and stare at her with a smirk.

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