The Book Of Flowers

Chapter 9

I walk around the castle, but I can't find him. The last time I saw him he was talking to my mother about something, and that was yesterday. I walk back to my door. He would've told me if he was going somewhere. I finish getting ready and head down to the kitchen, and grab a plate of fruit and start walking to the garden. I get there and see it's raining today. I head to the library to eat there instead, I would normally eat breakfast with him but he's not anywhere to be seen. I finish breakfast and head back to my room just in case he is there, when I arrive there is a new guard there.

"Who are you?" I walk up to him.

"Oh, I'm your new guard." He looks at me.

"What? Where did Sebastian go?" I start panicking.

"Oh he switched jobs this morning."

My eyes start to water, why would he switch jobs? I look down at my hands, "Oh, okay."

I walk into my room and sat down on my bed, I didn't even notice the tears streaming down my face. Why did he switch? Is he upset with me? I get up and walk to my bathroom. I splash my face with water. I look in the mirror for a quick second to see if you can tell I've been crying... you can. I walk out of the bathroom and over to my door. I try to relax before I open it. Once I leave, I start heading to the library. I glance up and see him.

"Sebastian?" I look at him.

He turns his head and our eyes meet. He quickly runs off.

"Wait! Sebastian please."

I stand there for a few minutes before I continue to the library. When I arrive, I walk over to my nook and just sit there. I don't know how long I was there for, but long enough for the rain to stop and for the sun to almost be at sunset. Someone eventually snaps me out of that trance I was in.

"Estella?"

I look up to see my mother sitting down next to me.

"You've been in here all day, are you okay?" She asks.

I look down at my hands, my eyes start to water. "Why did he switch jobs?" I look back at her.

"Oh sweetheart." She hugs me and starts rubbing my back, "He didn't want to hurt you."

I hug her tighter, "Did I do something wrong? Did I make him upset?..... Does he hate me?"

She pulls away, "No Estella, he doesn't hate you. I don't think he could ever hate you."

I look down, "Then why did he switch jobs? And why isn't he talking to me?" I look back at her.

"I'll tell you when you are ready to know."

I look out the window, "Okay."

She stands up, "You should probably eat something. Let's go to the kitchen."

I nod and follow after her. On the way there I see Sebastian and he stared at me while I passed by. We arrive and the chefs have a plate set out already, I grab it and head to the garden.

"Can I eat alone?"

She smiles, nods and walks away.

I walk over to our tree and sit down. I trace the tree trunk with my hand feeling all the groves while watching the sunset. I start eating and I feel better, I sit there for a few minutes. It starts to get dark so I head back inside, I see Juni near my bedroom.

"Hey Juni!" I walk up to him.

"Oh, hi Estella."

I look down at my hands and then back up at him, "Can you ask Sebastian if he's okay? I'm just worried about him. I feel like I hurt his feelings and I don't know why."