Looking left and right, I hesitated, unsure which direction to take. Both paths seemed endless, and I became slightly dreadful. How big was this place? How would I ever find Lorelei?
The silence in the hallway was discomforting, with only the sound of my own pacing footsteps echoing off the walls.
"Which way should I go?" I muttered to myself.
I thought about my choice, and as I did, my feet took me to the other side of the hallway, where the arched windows revealed a sunlit courtyard. The green plants and colourful flowers outside called out to me, calling me to explore further.
The courtyard looked inviting. And my mind began to ramble on again...
Did Celeste play here as a kid? Having a happy childhood... Happy memories... I wondered.
Well, really, I couldn't even imagine what a happy childhood would be like.
As I thought about Celeste's past, my eyes met the mark on my arm.
Right... Celeste had this mark... Her childhood might not have been as happy as I believe... Was she considered different because of it? I felt bad for Celeste. Her life might not have been as easy as I thought.
I turned my gaze away from the courtyard and back into the the hallway. I was on the second floor, and drawing rooms were typically on the first floor. Meaning, I needed to find a staircase.
"Why did Cecilia have to leave me here..." I sighed as I aimlessly wandered down the hallway, searching for a staircase that would lead me to the first floor.
All I could think about was how much I wished I had someone to guide me through this place, which would be strange as I was supposed to be Celeste, the daughter that lived here. But, like, no one had prepared me for this.
Eventually, after walking for what felt like hours (and tripping about seven times), I finally stumbled upon a grand staircase leading down to the first floor.
The railings were polished to a shine, and the steps were wide enough to accommodate several people at once. The steps were covered in the same plush carpet as the hallway; no detail was overlooked in this luxurious home. They split at the top, and merged at the bottom with a graceful curved design that gave the staircase an elegant touch.
This staircase is too beautiful to be real. I thought as I made my way down, trying not to stain the handrail with my fingerprints.
The subtle patterns on the bannisters and the soft glow of the chandelier above made me feel like royalty, descending into a grand ballroom, which, I shouldn't be. My body may be royalty, I didn't know, but my soul was anything but royalty.
"Walking down the stairs felt weird. I didn't belong here, well maybe not my soul, but everything was so beautiful.
Making it down to the bottom of the staircase, I was greeted by the first floor, which was essentially the first floor but with twistier and turnier hallways and overall, the whole place was a labyrinth I didn't quite understand.
I was contemplating where the drawing room would be until suddenly, I heard distant footsteps, chattering, and... perhaps some trays? The footsteps were getting louder and I had no idea what to do, I wanted to hide, to blend in with the walls and become invisible. But then I realised that whoever was there could possibly help me navigate through the hallways and find my way to the drawing room.
Taking a couple unsteady steps forward. I took a turn down the hallway and...
Thud!
Trays clattered.
