Historians

03.

01.20.4010

Sometimes the truth can stare you in the face and try as you might to ignore what it means. You still try to reason that it's not what it seems but try as you might you cannot change what it is, or hide the truth. The truth always comes to light. Sometimes I long for the days before I stumbled upon the secret door that would lead me to my family legacy. Knowledge is power but it is also a burden. A burden so heavy that you feel as if the weight of the world rests on your shoulders.

The capitol bustled with people moving about their evening as if they had no care in the world. Anastasia watched all the people as her carriage passed through the streets. The sun was just beginning to fall over the horizon signaling the decline of the day. As predicted it had taken the entire day to arrive at the capitol over lunch though her father assured her the staff at the house in the capitol were aware that he would be returning and would be prepared for him. He had been convinced of her innocence in the whole ordeal but others had not been. So the staff would likely not have prepared for her. She could maintain her time in the library while she waited for her rooms to be prepared. It was her backup plan you could say. She did not expect to have any company that evening. Her carriage veered off from her father's carriage. He would be going with the Magistrate to take care of locking up their prisoners. Down the road, she could see the rise of the wrought iron fence that surrounded their capital home. This home had been fashioned of the Gothic period in the old world. Her family's' ability to live in palaces of history was something she never wanted to give up. The turn of events worked in her favor to get to keep her family legacy in her possession even if her prospect of marrying had gone down the drain. Anastasia frowned as she remembered Jacob from the night before. He had acted so spinelessly and unlike the man, he presented in his letters with his eloquent words. Her carriage crossed over into the courtyard and the staff from the house began to file out of the house in and welcome. Anastasia smiled seeing their familiar faces. She had spent half as much time at their house in the capitol as she had at their family estate. As soon as the carriage stopped the door was opened by the footman who helped Anastasia out. Before she had gotten far from the carriage she was wrapped in a warm embrace. "Oh dear, you dinna know how pleased we are that you played no part in all this nonsense." Anastasia knew the housekeeper worked hard to keep her accent from slipping up but sometimes simple words slipped through. "Maribelle, it is good to see you as well." The housekeeper released Anastasia and took a step back. "Well Ms. Anastasia, much to the argument of some of the staff..." Maribelle cast a pointed look at the head butler before continuing. "I had your rooms prepared I just knew you wouldn't have been so foolish." Anastasia smiled "Well thank you, Maribelle, I think I would like to go change out of my travel clothing." With that Maribelle ushered Anastasia leaving the head butler to direct the staff about unloading the trunks. Now that the housekeeper wasn't blocking her way Tiffani was able to exit the carriage. First thing Tiffani did the moment she was out was stretched. It had been a long ride with only one stop. She was going to have a long night. She would have to go see what outfits were in her mistress' room that would work for the evening. Then she would have to unload her trunks to ensure she had clothes for the next day. With no more time to waste Tiffani followed the direction, her mistress had headed with the housekeeper.

Anastasia had removed her shoes and was settled on her bed when Tiffani made her way into her room. "Let go ahead and get that dress off you. You look tired, would you like to take a nap miss? You were awake more than usual on our trip today." Anastasia shook her head as she rose from the bed. She would lay back down once her travel dress was removed, she feared sleep would elude her once more as it had on their journey. Tiffani loosed the ties on the back of Anastasia's dress and she shrugged the rest of it off allowing it to fall in a small heap at her feet. Having been freed from her dress Anastasia moved back over to her bed to lay down. As Anastasia watched the ceiling Tiffani moved her dress over by the door. Another maid would be by to pick it up later. Tiffani opened the armoire to the left of the dressing table. Two dresses hung inside both slightly outdated compared to Anastasia's new wardrobe but they were not entirely unfashionable. One of them would have to do for the evening. Tiffani chose the emerald dress over the cerulean. She personally thought emerald complemented her mistress' own green eyes. The color also played up the warmer red highlights of Anastasia's hair. As Tiffani was pulling the dress out there was a soft knock at the door. The housekeeper poked her head in the door. Tiffani laid the dress at the foot of the bed before going over to see what Maribelle had. Maribelle handed Tiffani a small note before ducking back out of the room. Tiffani moved back over to the bed where Anastasia was now sitting up. "What is it, Tiffani?" Tiffani handed the note to Anastasia before moving back to the dress. "It would appear to be a note miss" Tiffani began loosening the laces of the dress so that it would be easier to pull over her mistress' frame when she heard Anastasia groan. Clearly, the note had not been good news. "He expects me to attend a supper with him." There would be no time for Tiffani to fetch an outfit from the trunks and prepare it for a supper. At least the emerald dress would work as a compliment to her mistress' feature...