The Fate Of The Red Eyed Girl

Chapter 4: White Umbrella

Larisa observed her surroundings through the sedan curtains. The flowers growing along the harem corridors bloomed with bright and vivid colours. The grass looked greener after the previous night's rain.

The man servants carrying the sedan moved as slowly as possible to avoid slipping on the wet cobblestone path. They passed by numerous grandly built palaces with heavy locks on their huge double doors.

The harem had a total of a hundred palaces for consorts and high ranked concubines and about fifty hostels for low ranked concubines. But only two palaces were occupied, one being Larisa's and the other being Consort Ari's.

"Stop," Larisa called out. Someone helped her get off the sedan that had been placed down. "You can go back now," she dismissed them with a wave of her hand.

"Yes," they answered in unison then took their leave. This was another of her routines; she would ride the sedan all the way through the harem then get off at the harem gates and walk alone the rest of the way to the library.

She walked hastily for a while then stopped beside a particular path. The path in-front of her led to the library and her older brother's study, the road behind was where she came from, while the one to the side led to the outer court where the meetings with the officials were held and banquettes were hosted.

Larisa stood as close to the wall as possible, but not close-enough to it that her clothes may touch the wall. She admired the ruby bracelet on her wrist as she stood there. Rubies embed in gold; it still shined like the first day it was given to her years ago.

She stood up straighter when she heard familiar footsteps coming from the direction of the outer court. She dusted the non-existent dirt on her dress just in time when Maynard emerged from the path way.

A dazzling smile bloomed on Maynard's face upon seeing her that left Larisa staring at him in a daze. He closed the scroll in his hand and gave her a bow and said respectfully, "greetings princess."

Larisa returned a curtsey as she answered, "greetings young lord Maynard."

"Is princess on her way to the library?"

Larisa answered with a smile, "Aha, is Maynard going to find my brother?"

Maynard answered as he walked alongside her, "yes."

Larisa frowned, seeing the dark circles under Maynard's eyes and said softly, "It must be very hard on you and brother to have so much responsibility on your shoulders at such a young age,"

Maynard ruffled her hair with a smile as he replied, "not at all, it is our pleasure to take care of the kingdom and give you a peaceful place to live."

Larisa swatted his hand away as her face grew hot. Maynard's low voice as he laughed did not help her situation either.

"My bad, the princess will be coming of age soon and now hates me touching her hair," he laughed.

"It's good you know that I'm not a child anymore," she retorted.

Larisa was thinking of a new topic they could talk about when she felt something wet hit her nose, she looked up at the now fully blanketed sky. It had started to drizzle.

A white umbrella appeared above her head and she couldn't stop the smile that came to her face.

She looked at Maynard and teased, "Is Maynard a magician?"

Maynard replied with a chuckle, "What makes princess think that."

"Well, it seems like you pulled the umbrella out of thin air."

Maynard lightly shaked the handle of the umbrella and Larisa regarded the silver hook at the handles end with interest.

He went on to explain, "The weather is always unpredictable during the summer. My servants aren't always with me so I got this hook made and attached to the umbrella. That way, I can hang it on my belt and it's always hidden in my robes."

"That is very creative; can you make one for me?" she gushed.

"Your wish is my command princess, in what colour do you want it."

She answered in a heartbeat, "yellow." Then she shook her head while waving her hands, "no, it should be red."

Maynard just agreed with a small smile on his face. They soon arrived outside the study, much to Larisa's dismay.

She hesitantly probed, "we have arrived, you can go in and find my elder brother, just lend me your umbrella and I will be on my way."

Maynard lifted the umbrella higher when she was about to take hold of it.

"What? Are you afraid I won't return it?"

"I don't mind if you take and don't return it."

She looked deep into his abyss like brown eyes as she asked, "then?"

"How can I let you carry an umbrella while I'm here, let me escort you to the library."

Larisa looked down as a huge grin broke out on her face but she still spoke calmly, "you don't have to trouble yourself, you are very busy and I would hate to waste your time."

Maynard lightly tapped the top of her head, "what trouble? I will never be too busy to accompany you."

Larisa was about to agree when a deep male voice interrupted her.

"The rain has already stopped, what are you doing standing around under the umbrella for?"

Maynard calmly closed his umbrella while Larisa started to fiddle with her fingers not knowing what to do in-front of this older brother of hers. Prince Dario stood ramrod straight at the door of the study, hands behind his back as he scrutinized the pair at the bottom of the steps with a deep set frown on his handsome face.

Larisa put on a small smile as she addressed him, "morning brother, how has brother been these past few days?"

Dario didn't answer her but pointed at her face and questioned, "What is a 14 year old child like you doing painting your face like that?"

"I heard that this is the trend among noble ladies these days."

Dario frowned even more, "why are you copying those snobby and attention seeking ladies?" he sighed and waved her off, "Enough of standing around here, your teacher must be waiting for you. Don't put on such ridiculous things on your face in the future, go now."

Dario's eyes followed her until she disappeared around a corner before he went back into his study with Maynard following close behind.