05: Maria's new home
"What on Wonderland do you think you're doing?" I asked, annoyance evident by how I felt my brows unite into a line. He just smirked and gave me a wink before he leapt from the tree. He followed me around the whole time, annoying me to the core. And I was there, left to my devices, alone and annoyed. It was a matter of minutes when I decided to show up— more like quit since I stealthily sneaked into the kitchen in my purple dress. As stealthily as possible since I was wearing stilettos that clicks and clacks with every step that I take. I sighed in relief when I had snuck out some sweets from the kitchen but with the very fact that they could be looking for me, I still snuck out to climb another tree.
Thank goodness.
"Where on earth is she?"
"Ari shouldn't be allowed to play hide and go seek! She's too stealthy."
"Oh, come on. She can't be that far, right?"
It was almost sunset and I managed to go back to my room without being caught making me smile victoriously. "Wow, your room is neat. Too neat, to be precise." I just walked past him and headed to the closet. The twins knew that I stopped playing so they didn't mind. I'll just have to make my way with treats and flower crowns tomorrow— or a game of crooked chess. I got myself another dress— this time, it's more comfortable to wear.
"So, what do you think?" He asked when I got changed into a long breathy dress that rests a few inches from my knees. "Think of what?" I asked, heading to the vanity table where I had last left my hairbrush— I always remember where I leave my stuff, so I didn't need to fuss around. "Let me do it." He offered when I sat on my bed. I just obliged. He hummed a soft song as he did. The song was a familiar tune. Like I've heard it somewhere, but I can't fully recall.
As the night deepens,
Take a breath and let me comb your hair
Get the tangles away from there
And fix things that needs fixing
With a smile, I sing this song
To help you relax
Calm yourself down
As I brush your hair
When he had finished, he just pat my head twice. "All done." He said soth a beaming smile. "I'll go down first. I think the elders are done talking." He smoothly slipped through the door and closed it gently. And again, at the very same day, I was left in tranquility— not. My mind is in chaos, to be honest. It was like he was this big jerk then the sweetest in a blink and I feel like there's something that wasn't there before. Like, different. As if it were another person talking to me. And the possible reason scares me. But I just shrugged those thoughts aside and went down after slipping myself in my shoes.
When I arrived, they were just settling in the dining area. "Arielle!" Lia said and gestured that I sit in between them— Synthia and her. I just smiled and made my way in between the twins. Once the food was taken in, I smiled when I smelled the roasted chicken. "Lisa, dear, eat up." I just nodded politely and started to eat.
"Lady Monalisa, I apologize in behalf of my son a few days ago."
"It's just Lisa, Duke Fernandez." I said with a polite smile. "And I firmly believe that if it is not your fault, there is no need to apologize for someone's stead." The duke stiffened but I managed to give a polite smile. "Is that so, young miss?" I nodded with a smile. I just ate silently, not wanting any more discussions about me and it seems to have went well.
"My son sure is lucky to be betrothed to a wonderful woman." Duke Fernandez comments with a smile as he raised his glass filled with wine. "To their future!" He cheered on and everyone followed—— except the twins and I raised our glass with a hidden grudge. I may not know about theirs, but I sure do have mine.
He stole my first kiss.
And that was enough for me to hold it against him. But with what he did a while ago, I'm not sure anymore. After dinner, I went to the garden to watch the fireflies dance under the bright blue moon. At first, it wasn't normal to me until I realized it was like this every night. I sighed as I remembered what I used to do back at home. It was kind of past seven in the evening and by that time, I'd be doing my homework already—— starting up with the subject I really don't fancy.
But since I can't seem to find my way home, I didn't mind. Wonderland is an amazing place—— so far as I have seen of course, I mean, what could go wrong, right? This already feels like home to me. The wonder, the fun, the magic. I can't seem to get enough if it. This place makes me feel happy and somehow special. And the thought of being away from it makes me feel sad deep inside.
That night, I didn't show up when the Fernandez' left. I stayed in my room, watching their carriage drift away in the night underneath the blue moon. Thoughts of coming back home scared me and I can't let them see me in that state. They might worry— the last thing I want to happen and the thing I don't want to happen.
This is your home now, Maria.
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A SPOILER FOR THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS:
"Do you know what you can do?"
"I know what, but I don't know how. And somehow, I think it's better that way."
"No," Pa— Menald, said firmly. "You can bring back the old Wonderland. Before he shattered it to pieces."
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To those who Wonder,
Hello!
I am proudly presenting you the chapters of my re-written, well, not totally rewritten but— I am now going under some slightly major editing to fix plot holes as I develop the story. And me losing some of my chapters seemed like a good thing now that I had been thinking about things a bit more throughly.
I want my characters to develop. And since I have slightly implied that someone acts like another person and another in the next, then they would be so. It just makes it a bit more twisted and more interesting. I had also fixed some of the holes that might grow bigger as the story would progress.
a heart filled with wonder
(and trouble-shooting),
ᴍᴏᴏɴʀᴏᴇᒪᴜɴᴀ🌙
YOU ARE READING
Do You Wonder?
FantasyAN EXCERPT: It was a long table, filled with teacups and people- most of them were actually animals- chattering. The ambience cozy, like there's some familiarity between them. It was an event that makes me feel slapped in the face with "we're happy"...
