The Ballad of Beauty and The Beast

2. Your daughter will be fine

I woke up to the unfamiliar surroundings . As I lay in bed, the reality of my father's death began to sink in. The weight of it all felt suffocating. I couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for me to get used to this new home. 

Tears streamed down my face as I thought about my father. I missed him so much. I missed waking up to the smell of his blueberry pancakes and the sound of his cheerful voice calling out "Good morning, Ammy!" I missed the way he would watch me savor each bite of his delicious breakfast and smile.

I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand, but they just kept coming. My eyes were puffy and red from all the crying. I felt lost and alone in this grand mansion that was supposed to be my new home.

Out my window, the sun was shining bright in the clear blue sky. It must be noon already, I thought to myself. I reached for my phone and checked the time. 2:34 PM. Shit. I had slept for far too long. 

But then again, I had barely slept last night. All I could do was cry and cry until I finally drifted off to sleep around 5 in the morning.

I decided to freshen up and take a shower. I entered the gigantic washroom, with its gleaming marble floors and luxurious fixtures. The walls were adorned with intricate mosaics and the large clawfoot bathtub sat invitingly in the corner. I turned on the shower and let the cold water wash over me, refreshing my skin and clearing my mind.

After my shower, I wrapped myself in a plush white towel and noticed a large door to the right of the washbasin that I hadn't seen before. It must be the walk-in closet. I opened the door and stepped inside.

The closet was huge, with rows upon rows of shelves and racks filled with clothes. The walls were lined with full-length mirrors and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over everything. To my surprise, all the clothes were in my size. There were dresses and tops and jeans and lingerie in every color and style imaginable.

How did all these clothes get here? I only arrived at Ravenwood Mansion yesterday and hadn't left my room since. Had someone put them here before I arrived? All these questions came rushing to my mind as I stood there, staring at the vast array of clothes before me.

After changing into a pair of crisp white trousers and a plain white tee, I left my room in search of Sarah, the lady from yesterday. I walked through the large corridor, my footsteps echoing on the polished marble. The walls were adorned with paintings and tapestries, and the tall windows let in streams of sunlight.

As I turned a corner, I found spotted the kitchen. It was a large room with a high ceiling and a fireplace at one end. The moment I stepped into the spacious kitchen, I felt a wave of warmth and delicious aromas. Two women were busy preparing a meal on the stove, their movements synchronized and graceful. They looked up when they heard me enter and greeted me with friendly smiles.

The older woman had a round face and curly brown hair that was tied in a neat bun. She wore a white apron over a floral dress that matched her cheerful personality. She seemed to be her mid fifties "You must be Ms. Davis," she said in a soft voice.

"Yes, that's... me," I replied hesitantly tailoring a smile.

"We've been expecting you. I'm Carolina Mariah, the cook and the caretaker of this mansion. And this is my daughter Rhysa Mariah, she helps me in the kitchen and around the house." The younger woman was a spitting image of her mother, except for her straight blonde hair that fell over her shoulders. 

She wore a blue apron over a simple shirt and jeans. She had a bright smile and catchy emerald eyes. She seemed a little older than me ,probably 25 or 26. 

She nodded at me and said, "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Davis. We're happy to have you here. If you ever feel hungry or need anything, just let mom know. And if you ever want some company or assistance, I'm always here for you."

 "Thank you so much for your hospitality. But please don't call me Ms. Davis. Everyone keeps calling me that and it makes me feel out of place. I'm only 20 years old. Please just call me Amelia."

Carolina and Rhysa looked at each other hesitating for a moment before telling me that Mr. Zyrian didn't like it when his guests weren't treated with the utmost respect and they might get in trouble for not addressing me properly. But I somehow managed to convince them to call me Amelia.

Rhysa then gently took hold of my shoulders and guided me to a chair at the vast glass dining table. It was beautiful, just like everything else in Ravenwood Mansion. "I... really don't want to eat anything right now." I said, trying to convince her.

But she was persistent. "I'm cooking you some blueberry pancakes with honey, dear," Carolina called out from across the kitchen. "You'll love them and ask for more even if you're not hungry."

Everything kept reminding me of my father. I am being taken care of here. Don't worry about me like you used to, father. Your daughter will be fine. And for the first time since arriving at this grand estate, I felt like I was starting to settle into my new home.

Carolina made the blueberry pancakes really delicious. As I savored the sweet taste of honey that coated the fluffy pancakes, I noticed Sarah enter the kitchen. She smiled warmly when she saw me and walked over to where I was sitting.

"I'm glad to see you eating, Ms. Davis," she said.

"Yeah, Rhysa basically forced me to," I replied with a smile. "And Carolina's pancakes are too irresistible."

Sarah chuckled. "I see you've already met everyone," she said. "I'm glad you're socializing. I was a little worried when you refused to leave your room yesterday."

I shrugged. "I guess I just needed some time to myself," I said.

"Of course," Sarah said understandingly. "It's completely understandable."

We sat in companionable silence for a moment before I spoke up again. "By the way," I said, suddenly remembering something that had been puzzling me. "When did you put my clothes in the closet? I don't remember leaving my room."

"I had them put there this morning while you were asleep," Sarah replied.

"Oh, I see," I said, still a little surprised. "I must have been really sound asleep."

Sarah smiled. "You were out like a light," she said.

"Well, I have some work to do so I'll have to leave now," Sarah said, standing up from her chair. "Please enjoy your pancakes."

Before she could leave, I made sure to tell her not to refer to me as Ms. Davis and that she didn't need to treat me so formally. Of course, she politely refused at first but it seems like I'm good at convincing people because she eventually gave in to my request.

"Alright, Amelia," she said with a smile. "I'll see you later."

And with that, she left the kitchen and I was alone once again with my thoughts and my pancakes.

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Hello, my lovely readers !

I hope you enjoyed the second chapter of this story. 

You must be curious about our mysterious Mr. Zyrian.

Don't worry, he will make his appearance soon. But I wanted to give Amelia some space to cope with her loss and get used to her new life. She deserves some kindness and comfort before she meets him.

How do you imagine him to be? Let me know your thoughts and feedback in the comments.

Love,

Sania.