Effugium

X - WINTER

DECEMBER 1892 (Jandel District, Soliana)

"Auntie, how soon are they coming?"

Eydis's aunt stroked her beautiful brown hair and gave her a loving smile.

"You look eager for the guests to arrive, do not you?" stated her aunt, who is currently embroidering a slender piece of fabric into a circular frame.

They are residing in the district of Jandel. The tranquilly of this place makes everyone feel at peace and work together. They are the breadbasket of Bernians with all of their meat from different kinds of animals. Her uncle works as a hunter and a butcher. He can sell and earn big enough that his savings are used to establish their own big home in a peaceful district far away from troubles

Twice a knock was heard, and Eydis stopped playing as well as her aunt. The visitor might have arrived. Her aunt put down her embroidery and carefully opened the door. Due to Eydis' shyness, she ran inside the kitchen with half of her head peeking at them.

The door revealed a man in his mid-thirties, his hand on the shoulder of the child who was the same age as her.

"Oh, Mr. Wilde, it is you. "A wonderful morning for you." She cocked her head slightly to look at her niece. "Eydis! Step outside to welcome our guests."

Even though she was delighted before, she can not face them in person. She is not used to communicating with anyone, with the exception of her aunt and uncle, as they are the only people she knew her entire life. According to her uncle, she was handed from relative to relative from the moment of her birth and was adopted by them when they wanted a child but were unable to conceive. She was chosen for adoption by her aunt at that point.

After a long time of isolation inside their abode, a strong sense of wanting to be outside struck her. She want to be free to run outside, take in the scent of the wind and the sun's warmth on her fair skin. However, it exists only in her dreams if she is still under her uncle's roof.

With fear, she stepped out. She crept up on her aunt and hid behind her back. She held onto her aunt's skirt and peeked out to catch a glimpse of the visitors. The young boy caught her in his gaze and gave her a small smile.

"Mrs. Presley Thompson, your niece has your beauty."

She appeared to be taken in by the man, letting out a small sigh. "Go back if your sole purpose for coming here was to flatter us."

Mr. Wilde gave a small laugh. "In any case, it is not what I wanted to do." He adjusted his colar and his leather coat. He still has his uniform on.

Mr. Wilde is employed as a corporal of white guard. He seemed to have his son with him after he got home from work, or rather, skipped work to visit Thompson's residence.

"Is that your son, Mr. Wilde?"

"Indeed, this is Marcel." He moved Marcel a little closer to the woman in order to give her a hand kiss, which is a show of respect for ladies.

Her eyes moved from the kid to the man. She has great judgement over anything, and she could tell that this kid had anything but his blood. She dared not tell him about this perplexity.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Thompson gave Marcel a small smile for it. Her response is essentially the same as every adult he has encountered thus far. Marcel is a well-mannered kid, which is a good thing about him and has made the adults fond of him. As his father would often remind him:

"Treat people with the utmost respect at all times, and they will return the favour."

Eydis felt the urge to do the same. She moved to reveal herself to the guests. She raised her skirt with her fingers, displaying her bare feet, and bowed to them. Her aunt trained her to act like a lady in front of everyone. Even she as a child of five, she spent her years studying the etiquette that every young lady must acquire.