Aurelia: Secrets of Oceanic Mysteries

Aurelia's Sweet Sixteen

In the charming streets of Paris, nestled within the picturesque Cour du Commerce Saint-André, lived the Arnaud family. This small household consisted of three members: Mr. Armand Arnaud, a stern and hardworking man; Mrs. Élodie Arnaud, his often irritable wife; and their bright and lively son, Lucien. Alongside them lived a young girl named Aurelia, who had been placed in their care under unfortunate circumstances. The Arnaud family never truly accepted Aurelia, who had been left on their doorstep by Mr. Alan Waver, a close relative of Mr. Arnaud. This occurred on a stormy night, just before both Mr. and Mrs. Waver mysteriously vanished during a cruise in the treacherous waters of the ocean.

Aurelia was only five years old when Mr. Waver left her in their care. Eleven years had now passed since that fateful night, and in that time, Aurelia had grown into a kind-hearted, beautiful, and obedient young woman. She was a gentle soul, always ready to lend a helping hand, yet the Arnaud family treated her with constant disdain. They expected her to do all the chores without complaint, and she was rarely given enough food. Meals were only provided after she completed every single task they assigned to her, no matter how laborious or time-consuming. Despite her hunger and exhaustion, Aurelia bore her burdens with grace and rarely spoke up for herself.

"Aurelia!" Aunt Élodie shouted one day, her voice sharp and demanding.

"Yes, Aunt?" Aurelia replied, her heart sinking as she rushed to respond.

"Did you finish today's laundry?"

Silence filled the room, heavy with unspoken words. Aunt Élodie, reading the silence like a book, declared, "Well, it looks like someone will be fasting tonight." Tears rolled down Aurelia's cheeks as she felt the familiar ache of disappointment. "How can I do the laundry when I'm already washing the dishes?" she asked, her voice trembling. But Mrs. Élodie paid her no mind, dismissing her plea as if it were nothing more than an annoying fly buzzing in her ear.

When Mr. Armand returned home from work that evening, he walked in with a cloud of frustration hanging over him. He pulled Aurelia into the attic, his face darkened with displeasure. "One more mistake, and you'll find yourself at the orphanage," he warned, his voice cold and unforgiving. Aurelia's heart sank further at the thought. After locking her away, he and his wife went to the dining room, where they sat down to enjoy their meal without a care for her absence.

"Nonsense!" Uncle Armand roared at the dinner table, his voice booming as he surveyed the meager spread before him.

All that lay before them were a few vegetables and a loaf of bread. "Where is my protein? I don't see any meat!" Lucien, looking disappointed, gazed longingly at the table. Aunt Élodie sighed heavily, her patience wearing thin. "My dear, Rose will be here tomorrow. That's why I planned to cook steaks then," she explained. Rose, Mr. Armand's sister, was known for her kindness and beauty, and she was the only person who ever listened to Aurelia's daily tales of woe.

The following morning, a cheerful knock at the door had Mrs. Hannah hurrying to answer it, her excitement evident. "Olalla, look who's here, Lucien!" Lucien dashed down the stairs, his face lighting up with joy as he saw Aunt Rose at the doorstep, her coat flaring open like a warm embrace. "Aunt Rose, I've missed you so much!" he exclaimed, throwing himself into her arms.

"I missed you too, sweetheart!" Aunt Rose replied, enveloping him in a loving hug. Aurelia watched from a distance, her heart swelling with happiness for Lucien. When Aunt Rose's eyes met hers, she felt a rush of warmth. "Why are you just standing there? Don't you want a hug?" Aunt Rose asked gently, her voice inviting.

"Aunt Rose, I'll take hugs if you give me two of them," Aurelia said, managing a shy smile.

"Of course! Come here, you!" Aunt Rose exclaimed, opening her arms wide.

That day was the 31st of August, a day that felt special even before it had begun. As dinner approached, Mrs. Rose noticed that Aurelia was missing from the table. "Élodie, where is Aurelia?" she asked, concern filling her voice. Mrs. Élodie replied firmly, "She won't be joining us for dinner until she cleans the ceiling and the attic."

"How do you expect her to do that?" Rose questioned, her brow furrowing in disbelief.

"If she can't, then why is she living with us?" Mr. Armand and Lucien were too engrossed in their meal, particularly the juicy steak, to pay attention to the growing tension between Rose and Élodie.

"I've had enough! I'm taking Aurelia away from you all tomorrow!" Rose declared, her voice filled with determination as she marched toward Aurelia's room. "Aurelia, we need to talk. Let's go." She took Aurelia's hand gently, leading her out to a nearby restaurant where they could finally speak freely and enjoy a moment of respite.

When their food arrived, Aurelia eagerly dug into her meal, her eyes lighting up as she savored each bite. It felt as if she were regaining energy she had long been missing, and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly happy. "Sweetheart, happy birthday," Aunt Rose said softly, her warm smile lighting up the room as she watched Aurelia relish her food in blissful peace. In that moment, enveloped in kindness and warmth, Aurelia felt a sense of joy she hadn't experienced in a long time.