Drumwe Isles

chapter fourteen

Bronwen gathered her thoughts and accepted her fate. She'd probably dashed a relationship between two orphan boys who's survival depended on each other, and when she was done experiencing guilt for that, she finished the journey home.

Dragonfury estate was every bit as gaudy as one would expect from a noblesse's own creation. Alexus' mother had drafted the plans and her father had funded the operation just as his wife had wished it. Since then, some changes had been made, but none of any real extremity. When Alexus Dragonfury had inherited the estate, she conferred with her husband on what sort of renovations they ought to make.

The first thing to go was the ballroom. Maybe in the older generation's time it would've been a thing of normalcy but to Alexus and her husband it was a nonsensical thing. They opted to have it refurbished as a sitting room with a library on one half. Afterall, they had extensive investments at Taudor's university and their children would need to be well educated.

They'd also had several trees planted on the otherwise barren front lawn. Alexus felt it added a very necessary natural touch. Her husband didn't entirely understand the change but opted to back her decision anyhow, he was no expert in decor.

Everything else they'd kept virtually the same, with the exception of refurbishing a few of the bedrooms and repainting the walls in the kitchen. It was an old architectural piece with a lot of Taudor's more modern furnishings and often full to the brim with Dragonfurys.

Bronwen ducked into her home through one of the lesser used entryways at the kitchens. There were only two kitchen members present, neither of which paid her any mind. She strode through quickly and made for her bedroom with hopes of avoiding any and all interaction. To her misfortune, she was confronted by Alexus Dragonfury herself as soon as she'd reached the hall her room was in.

"Is it taken care of?"

Bronwen nodded. The woman looked her over.

"Gods- what's happened to you, darling?"

Bronwen sighed wearily.

"I'll explain, but not here."

Alexus agreed, ushering the two of them into Bronwen's room.

It was the second to the last in the hall, on the right. It was a decently spacious room with minimal furnishings. Alexus had offered to modernise it many times, all of which Bronwen had decided to stick with her great grandmother's things. She'd never met the woman but found her to have suitable taste and Bronwen didn't particularly care for appearances anyways.

"I was robbed on the way to Honorhill."

Alexus' brows arched, irritation evident.

"What brainless ruffian would dare?"

Bronwen shook her head.

"What is it with you and protecting foolish men?"

Bronwen slid her shoes off and unwrapped her overcoat from her body. Alexus had taken a seat at her granddaughter's vanity, with the chair facing the girl.

"There was an old couple who did me a favour."

"Oh? How so?"

"They mended my wounds and bid me enough coin to get the boy into the orphanage."

Alexus allowed light shock to grace her features.

"They bid you coin? Where is this couple? We should show our gratitude, they've done a great service to this family."

Bronwen nodded in agreement and sat down on her bed, facing her grandmother. The woman had aged well. She had minimal wrinkles and remained well-kempt regardless of whatever befell her or her family. It was its own magical property, Bronwen thought.

"Well then , darling, I suppose I ought to let you rest."

"Thank you."

"Oh and darling?"

Bronwen blinked at her. Alexus rose slowly from the vanity and moved towards the door.

"Lay low for a while, wouldn't want any more rumours going around."

Bronwen nodded. The Dragonfury reputation was always of their top concerns and Bronwen knew better than to expect any differently as a member of the nobility. She settled under her covers and finally allowed the weight of it all to hit her. Soon enough, she'd fallen into a slumber. 

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