Us The Royals

the Invite

it was the start of autumn and the leaves were yellowed and hardly holding on to the trees.

The subtle wind blew around the Shaffer estate, which was in dire conditions.

The last batch of workers was released from their post as the household couldn't pay them.  The head butler saw them off before releasing a grieve-full sigh.

"Are they gone?", a woman's voice came from behind. The head butler looked, it was the mistress. " Were they the last of the servants?"

"I'm afraid, yes, milady. Soon, the cook shall be leaving as well. It seems he wanted to cook one last meal for the family before he left."

"What about you, Gael? Don't you plan to leave?"

"I have worked all my life to serve this household. I have seen Young-master become the head and his struggles as well. I might as well work here until my last day, even without the pay."

She shrugged," Suit yourself. I only see him dozing off. Did you see Zinnia anywhere? I've been looking for her all around the estate. If you see her tell her to meet me."

Butler Gael bowed. "As you wish milady." The mistress, Carolina, walked back inside unable to handle the chill. A figure showed itself on the second-floor window, the one above Mr. Shaffer's office. It was Zinnia, hiding away from the mistress. She wore a white dress that reached up to her knee and held a notebook in her hand.

 It was her diary. She had started writing in it a month ago, hoping to write about one-a-many great adventures she would go to with her future siblings. But, when her mother left the manor, that hope crumbled on the inside of her. Now, she would write about the great disappointments she has on everything she does and says, as well as the stupidities of the maids. But alas! if there were no servants in the manor, who was she going to write about? Her shut-in father? His snappy mistress? Or the old butler who just works diligently?

She sat down underneath the bed, a place away from any eyes on her, a lamp beside her, and a fountainpen at her feet. She starts writing,

"Today Brianna and Jasper left the manor. Mr.cook is still here, and the butler hasn't left so, maybe it isn't going to be as lonely as I thought. The dog was taken away as well. the butler said that since it was a rare breed, it could be sold for thousands of Leons and that I shouldn't be sad for it because it will one day meet me again. BUT!!!! it was my dog! how could they do that to my dog! Maria didn't bite anyone nor did she poop inside the house, then why???"

There was a knock. She looked at the time, it was past seven. Dinner time.

She opened the door. it was Gael. He bowed a little and said, "Young miss, I have come to escort you to dinner."

Zinnia nodded.

At the dinner table, she sat across from Carolina. Her father hadn't joined them for any meal in the past month, but Zinnia didn't really care. If her father wanted to eat alone, then be it. She was never troubled by the fact that he needed to be present at meals, for he skipped meals and family gatherings to go meet his mistress or go to the casino.

But when the 2nd prince, His Royal Highness Shanto, or as the people call him the Foxglove of the empire, closed off all the casinos in the country, the downfall started for Zinnia's family. Her mother left, Loansharks gawked at them, her father fell into noticeable fatigue and trauma, and the mistress' family shut them off. Zinnia, a mere 6-year-old didn't actually get how dire their conditions were, until, the mistress told her.

" Zinnia, I need to tell you something."

"..." Zinnia didn't really ever reply to Carolina's words. so she kept quiet and ate the pork chop.

"Your mother has asked you to go to her family estate."

Zinnia gulped. It was the first time the mistress ever spoke about her mother. Usually, she would ignore Zinnia's mother and her existence as well, but the sudden mention took Zinnia's attention.

Zinnia looked up at Carolina. Carolina then said, " You will be joining your mother in two days. Head up and pack up your belongings. It might be so that you won't be able to come back here anymore in the future."- then she took a bite.

Zinnia nodded. Her mother's family estate, she never went there. She grew up in this house and she dreamed of that one day when everything will be hers and her husband's. She was partly sad that she needed to leave but did not complain. She never complained. What was there to complain about anyway?

"It's not that she asked, there is no other choice other than sending you to your mother sooner or later. It won't be suitable for you to stay here anymore."

Zinnia stood up and silently walked away. The door behind her closed and the butler accompanied her.

"Young miss, do you need help packing up?"

" I  have to do it?" She looked up at Gael, confused, and big-eyed.

Gael stopped and smiled. "Of course not, young miss. You should get some sleep. I will see to your packing."

Zinnia just nodded.

Morning. The wind was chilly. Zinnia was waiting at the stairs. Gael finished loading her belongings on a cart. The carriage looked shady and poor. It rocked unsafely like it would fall over any moment. Gael came by Zinnia's side and she looked up at him.

" Is there something you wish to ask?" Gael asked her. 

She shook her head. There was one thing she wanted to know, but it was better off not asking.

She seemed gloomy. Tomorrow, she would leave the manor. People who would generally bid her goodbye were already gone. 
The day passed with a little difficulty in bathing and getting things done, but nothing too difficult. Zinnia was not used to staying alone in her own room all day long. There were always people to talk to, her personal maid, the milkman's boy, the knights... 

With a blink of an eye, everything was gone. 

Morning. The wind was chilly. Zinnia was waiting at the stairs. Gael came back with a small parcel in hand. He went towards the gates to let the carriage in. The carriage was in really good condition. So good it looked expensive. The carriage arrived. Gael also came back. Zinnia stepped towards the carriage and Gael helped her get in. Gael also stepped inside with her. 

"You're coming with me?" Zinnia gave him a surprised look.

"I will accompany you to the duchy. it will be very unladylike of you to not have anyone with you especially while you will enter the duchy."

"oh." Duchy?

"Furthermore, I have to deliver this to your mother personally."

the carriage started to move.