It's early morning as I'm getting dressed in a lilac and white off the shoulder dress that I found in the closet, after taking a relaxing bath that was waiting for me. The dress is extremely beautiful and sits perfectly on my body, going well with my caramel skin and black long hair tied up in matching ribbons I found. I look so different, pretty even.
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When I woke up, Ruby wasn't there, making me feel a little sad. But I'm sure I'll see her soon. Hopefully, she'll like how I look in this dress. I smile at the thought. I find myself not being able to stop thinking about her. All I want to do is be near her and it's only been one night.
I make my way out of the room and make it to the terrace after a couple of wrong turns. I lose my smile when I find that Ruby isn't waiting for me there.
"Cheer up, buttercup. She's only in her study. She told me to tell you that she'll meet you in the garden later on before you go to Solris." A voice startles me from behind after I take a seat.
A grey-haired short woman dressed casually in a light blue blouse and black skirt comes in with a tea set followed by two young women dressed similarly carrying trays of food. They set it all in front of me before the young women leave after giving me kind smiled. The older woman grabs my attention.
"So you're the young woman to marry Ruby. You're as pretty as a picture, dear! No wonder Ruby's been smiling like crazy this morning." She says to me excitedly as she examines me. I blush and look at her confused.
"Oh forgive me, dear. My name's Pepper. I'm basically the woman that runs this place, keeping it in tip-top shape! I've been doing this since even before Ruby existed!" She says as she pours me some tea.
"I'm so glad to see this place finally have some life breathed into it. It was so dull and spooky when the Count lived in this place. That stick in the mud was just so awful, it's a wonder and a blessing that he created such a precious being like Ruby. But I guess I should be thanking her mother for that, God bless her beautiful soul."
I start eating the delicious pancake as I listen to Pepper speak. She seems very happy and open about everything, and she must know a lot about Ruby. I'm guessing she's a vampire too since she said she's been working here for a long time, which must have been many many centuries ago.
'maybe you can ask her about the Count and Ruby..' my conscience speaks up.
"Enjoy your breakfast."
"Um, Pepper..." I speak up quietly before she leaves.
"Yes, dearie?" She smiles kindly at me. She almost reminds me of the sweet old woman that I would help every now and again. I should visit her.
"I...I was wondering if you could tell me about the Count...and maybe more about Ruby...if that's ok..."
She looks at me for a minute before nodding and taking a sear next to me. I eat some grapes as she begins.
"The Count was an awful man. In all the years I've worked for him I'd never seen him be fair or kind. That is until he fell in love." She fills up my teacup before pouring one of her own.
"He was on a trip to a neighbouring town that was bigger and more prosperous than ours to meet with other nobleman and the King, which was strange because that man never left this place. He hated being outside or enjoying the beauties of life, always keeping this place dark and miserable like his soul." She sighs as she remembers the Count. "He's probably the reason humans think vampires are all awful. Which is not all that true. We're dark and broody at times but we aren't all that bad. Look at the vampires here for example." She explains, making sure I understand her short explanation.
"Anyway, he left to the meeting and that's when he met her. A young and beautiful woman. She was a ballet dancer, a very talented one. So much poise and elegance, something she passed down to Ruby. He fell in love instantly, and so did she apparently because she agreed to marry him when he asked not even two days after meeting. She seemed to have melted his heart. We all thought things would change with her in his life, and they did but that didn't last long." She says sadly and I have my eyes wide as I listen intently.
"He wanted her to become a vampire-like him but she refused. She didn't want to change. She believed that giving up her life and freedom was enough for him and I don't blame her. She was at the peak of her career as a prima ballerina. But alas, his stubborn heart didn't see it that way. He thought changing her would ensure her loyalty to him, he wanted more than love I guess. It was revealed a little later on that she was with child and, instead of being happy, he was furious because he knew that this child would not be a pure vampire as he wanted. What made matters worse, in his opinion, was that the baby was a gorgeous little girl." She stands up and waters the plants near us before she continues.
"He was obsessed with having a pure vampire male heir that he didn't even bother to care for the little bundle of joy that was his. He went back to being cold and miserable, while the rest of us were overjoyed with little Ruby. She was as beautiful as she is now. She grew up in her mother's care and barely saw her father. I know it hurt her but she was happy with her mother. They would dance and read and go out to the garden every day, that's why it's so full of life now. She would always try to get her father's attention though. So she would always try and get his approval which never worked sadly. Soon her mother fell ill and passed on when she was just a young girl." Pepper's face contorted into one of anger.
"And instead of comforting his child, the Count turned her away and would treat her like she was nothing. He's only option to get rid of what he thought was a burden was to marry her off as soon as she was old enough. And he tried, and failed, to find an heir to take over from him since he too was dying somehow after hundreds of years. That was Ruby's final straw. She saw there was no use trying to care for someone so cruel. So, to rebel against him, she burnt all the dresses he forced her to wear and cut her hair shorter than it is now. She got tattoos and dressed in a way that made her happy and would upset the Count. And no matter how many times he'd punish her, she'd stay true to herself." Pepper turns and smiles at me.
"Ruby is truly one of a kind. A gem like her mother named her. The Count eventually died without having his way thankfully. Ruby ran things her own way. That's what's she's doing in her office now, she's building ties with the people that her father cut off. She's extraordinary my dear, I'm sure you'll see that too." And with that, she left me there to think about everything.
'i already see that she's extraordinary...now more than ever.'
