The Rose That Never Withered (Wattys 2017)

‡Elizabeth‡

Author's Note:

This is not a chapter. This is just an introduction to who the main character is. Her job, relations and such. Next chapter would be the start of the story.

Amanda Seyfried as the main character Elizabeth :)

My name is Ramses Olivia Seraphine Elizabeth. It is quite a mouthful, I know, so please, call me Eli or Elizabeth if you so desire.

My mother and father are nowhere to be found... But I was certain they weren't dead. I know it sounded preposterous, but the reason behind my certainty was just a feeling. I felt it.

At least, I hoped they are well. What child wishes their parents unwell, right? Even if they did leave me.

I haven't seen them in all my days as a youth. But, I still hope with all my heart that they are, in fact, still alive and well.

Though their identities remain a mystery to me, I continue to believe that someday, I will see them again and we will be one big happy family once more.

Thankfully, I'm not alone, someone had adopted me when I had been delivered at the manor; that someone being Dianne.

I insisted on calling her mother but she always declined. I didn't know how to feel about it.

"Just Dianne." She said. I guess she wanted to remain a platonic relationship? I just simply agreed, avoiding further conversation. We wouldn't want to distress Dianne.

Dianne stood at an average height. Not too tall, but not too short either. She has a few graying hairs, but lacking any clear signs of wrinkles, which I find strange. She might as well be over fifty with the hidden knowledge I know she possess. She sports two knowing, hazel eyes filled with knowledge through, I suppose, years of experience.

What's even stranger was sometimes I'll catch a glimpse of her staring long into nothing, mumbling something too faint to hear. It was like she was under some trance, and the only way I could get her out of it is if I brew her a fresh cup of coffee. She would almost automatically snap out of her trance when she gets a whiff of the substance.

Strange right?

When I was old enough to realize I only had a "Dianne", I asked her about it. She was more than willing to tell me all I wanted to know, except for when how I came to be here, at the manor.

"It's not time yet" was all she answered. I nodded in acceptance.

And when I tried for the second, "Not yet" she said, then a nod and a, "Yes Dianne" was all I answered.

You can probably guess what happened with the third, and fourth and so on. I eventually got tired of asking and just left the matter alone. It wasn't that important to me anyway, in my opinion, Dianne was all I needed and nothing more.

We lived in a manor in Ravenshire, the town just over the riverside, and served as a head housekeeper for the Vilgrain manor. So you could say I had a bit of authority here and there.

We had served the Vilgrains our entire life, including me and Dianne. She said her grandmother had started here when she was still a dame, falling in love with a servant boy, thus bearing a child, Dianne's father. Her father had later fell in love with a lady in waiting and married her and they had Dianne.

In my almost eighteen years of existence on the manor, I had always been curious of the young master. All my life, I had never even seen nor catch a glimpse of him. I guess we, as lowly servants, are not allowed to, but I should have at least seen a portrait of sorts right? But no. It's almost as if the young master didn't even exist. I wouldn't even have known his existence if it weren't for the loud, gossiping chambermaids.

Dianne had claimed to have seen the master though, but never started a conversation regarding the matter. I never tried to ask further, afraid Dianne would scold me if I ever did.

She would eventually open the idea if she wanted to talk about it. The master's parents, however, I have seen. If ever the young master does inherit not only their fortune but their good looks as well, then I could only imagine the beauty he beholds.

The Vilgrains run a trading business, exchanging goods with nearby lands. They transfer a product from town to town, circulating the trade and consumption. But I guess the price to pay for wealth is being separated to your own flesh and blood.

We are a total of twenty-five servants roaming out and about the manor every day. That includes me, Dianne, eight other housekeepers, five gardeners, three coachmen and two caretakers, and of course five cooks to be exact. You can never have too much food, that's what I'll always say.

All in all, we have a love-hate sort of relationship inside the manor, and I wouldn't have any other way. I just wanted to keep things as they were, but even then I knew, nothing stays forever.