Forest of Light

Chapter 9: Freya

CHAPTER IX

“Mistress!!! Ma’am!! I found Miss Sapphire!!!” A thin maid with a short stature came running. Her feet are almost hopping with her hands gaily waving on the air. She actually made Phire remember of Lauren’s dead rabbit, which she forgot to feed for three days. Good thing Mrs. Olan gave them a really small space at the farm, where they solemnly buried it beside their son’s rooster who died out of cold. “Are you alright Miss?”

“Is she fine?!!” Phire can already hear Imelda’s voice even she isn’t still in sight. It was gruff and hoarse like her uncle’s. “I’m coming!!!”

“Yes ma’am!!!” The maid seemed to be really happy. “In fact she’s with--------------------” Abruptly the maid’s face turned dull. Phire didn’t know whether she’ll laugh or take pity on the maid. Her mouth remained open and she can imagine her saliva seeping out. “What are you looking at?” Freya’s bluish gray eyes had turned cold again. Motionless, the maid remained on that state as if she had seen a ghost.

“Thank goodness Phire!! You’re here!!!” Imelda wrapped Phire with a thick blanket and rubbed her back. Her mouth went nonstop. She couldn’t even understand the rest of what she said; until “We thought you r--------------------------” Imelda’s eyes caught Freya who’s quietly standing in one corner watching them.  “Oh sire, y-ya’ also here” Now Phire understands the situation. Freya is the master those maids pertain about. But she’s not quite sure about his relationship with Victoria. However, her instinct told her step out of this.

“I’m tired Imelda” she whispered. Imelda bowed and gently held Phire’s arm. Then she bowed next to Freya. “We’re already going sir”

As soon they arrived, Phire immediately had a hot bath and kindly asked Imelda to bring food inside the room. Instead of setting up the table, she had her meal on the floor. She knows that her nanny might scold her, but she’s much tired to think about manners anymore. At last Imelda came back, she had to return the blanket she took from the house Freya is staying in. By the way that’s the topic she wants to open right now. “Don’t worry, Victoria won’t know...only this time” Phire continued munching. She made sure she really looked like tired.

“Miss, about the boy you were with a while ago...”

“Freya?” As expected Imelda popped the conversation first. “Who is he?”

“Well he’s the lord of this house” Imelda knows that Phire isn’t really aware of the young master’s existence from the very beginning, so she must have been shocked, but it appears she wasn’t. However, the young master looked liked bothered. Well, no one informed him because all of them thought he wouldn’t be interested anyway, though Victoria told them to. She just prays and hopes that this won’t be brought to Victoria, especially now that the young master appears to be disturbed of Phire’s existence. “Please forgive him for his not so good attitude” She’s sure that he did something awful and really stubborn to Phire, just like to the other maids.

Honestly, Phire doesn’t really know what Imelda’s talking about, but she just agreed to close the statement. “Alright” she sounded like a boy. “Is he Victoria’s son”

“Absolutely not” Imelda took out a key from her pocket and showed it to her. The rounded key glistened as if it’s urging her to come. “You wanna know?”

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Last night, Phire and Imelda snuck out from the house only with a flashlight and a piece of wooden stick, though she didn’t get the purpose of the wooden stick. “This is the basement” Imelda slotted in the key on the rusty doorknob. Phire doesn’t really understand why they have to go back to the other house.