Chapter 335: Well placed gratitude
Arabella meant every word, every promise.
She wasn’t hungry for blood per se, but what she’d experienced the night before that sun sent shivers down corners of her body she didn’t even know could be rattled.
For nothing in the world was the young woman going to let go of it without a fight.
Not to mention, she did not appreciate the way Silas put the entirety of the blame on himself. It stung her in such a precise manner. The fact that her finger would just not land on the spot drove her crazy.
She’d been the one to insist on him feeding in the first place. Arabella was the one to insist on trying his blood and also the one to demand that he keeps on feeding after the first round.
No one had forced her hand or influenced her. Her judgement was in no way clouded. On the contrary, her mind was set and clear.
Perhaps it was the fact that she was human and way too fragile in order to be considered his equal.
It lived as a thorn in her side to walk around with such thoughts gnawing at her, sprouting different ideas and theories about the way he perceived her or what he saw in her.
Never the matter, she still managed to go about her day. The couple split up and went their separate ways around the manor.
Arabella headed for the gardens where she was shortly after joined by Ada, who wanted to be part of every aspect of the wedding planning she could.
"Today is such a lovely day!" Ada dragged her words while stretching her arms upwards.
"Yes, but to be fair, almost every day is a lovely and beautiful day," Arabella smiled.
"True, especially around the middle stretch of Solis Aevum," her friend nodded before leaping onto a different topic, "I wonder if Edgar has gotten the roses ready. Oh! They’ll look so beautiful!"
"Well, all of us are chipping in to get things ready but the fairies promised to help make things happen if we don’t finish arranging them in time,"
"What about the invitations?" Ada seemed almost more enthusiastic and anxious about the wedding than the bride herself, "They’d need to be sent out as quickly as possible since the wedding will only be in two nights,"
"Lady Persephone took that task upon herself," the smile on Arabella’s features did not waver. It remained seen, mingling with the amusement at Ada’s agitation, "According to her, they have already been designed and will be sent out first thing at nightfall after verification,"
"That is good. That is good," Ada mumbled to herself, "Speaking of invitations," an apologetic look snuck across her face, "Did you try to invite Remus since...,"
The words failed her, but Arabella needed no more pointers, "I have reached out, yes of course, but...," that topic however, dulled the look in her eyes, "Understandably, after what happened, his father refused to let him come anywhere near the manor. I am not sure he will allow him to attend the wedding either,"
"The poor thing did not stop crying," Ada focused her gaze on the ground, "He clung to Lady Persephone’s hand until his father came to collect him, and even then, he just wouldn’t stop wailing,"
"I suppose he was in complete shock, but what destroys me is that he could have gotten killed. I could have gotten him killed," tension built up around her jaw as she uttered those words.
"No, you actually saved his life," Ada rushed to put a hand on Arabella’s shoulder.
"Yes, after putting it in danger," she muttered, "You forget that he went out there looking for me,"
"Why such a sour mood? Aren’t you a bride to be?" Madame Arumina’s voice was kind but a little shaky.
"Oh! My apologies, I get carried away sometimes." Arabella’s expression shifted at once, "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Better than yesterday and the day before that and the day before that one too," the head maid chuckled, "Come now, we’d love the extra pair of hands if you have nothing against that,"
"No, of course, I’d be delighted to help," Arabella followed in Arumina’s tracks towards the rose hedges.
Most of the daytime staff was gathered around Edgar, some copying his actions, and others making sure to stay within his line of sight in case something went wrong as they performed their given task.
"Oh, this is just wonderful!"
Her eyes twinkled at the view before her.
The white roses were split between three groups that worked quickly with their hands.
A line of spheres, tailored out of roses, had been formed on one side.
On the other side, simple bouquets were also lined up, ready to go in vases.
"These are for the tables!" Edgar pointed at the bouquets.
The third group banded together to raise a splendid, silver arch mingled with white roses as decorations. In addition to the solid and brilliant ornaments it originally had, that was.
The gardens buzzed with life and as it wasn’t a sizzling sun that shone upon them, the scene rendered was almost magical.
The kind breeze tickling everything that wasn’t heavy enough to sway with the little power it had.
The gentle light reflected on the many bright surfaces and absorbed by the darker ones to create the perfect contrast.
The beautiful, vivid colors that blended impeccably together... And best of all, the humming of laughter, banter and simple chitter chatter that lifted that image to a whole new level of splendor.
"And there is another arch coming," the gardener added, effectively pulling Arabella out of a comfortable daze.
"Thank you... Thank you all," she murmured.
"I suppose we are doing our jobs," Estrid had been close enough to hear the young woman.
"Still...," that came out as another whisper before she started pulling her sleeves when realizing that Ada had already dipped her hands in the mix.
"Where would I be most needed?" she looked at Edgar.
"Well, I’d say, as the bride and future Lady, you shouldn’t worry yourself with this kind work, but I know for a fact you won’t listen so... With group B you go. You will make some table bouquets,"
She stood in place for a few more seconds, taking that entire picture in one more time...
That "thank you" she’d uttered wasn’t just for the work they were performing but... For everything. Even the things that weren’t there.
For the new chance at life she was granted. For the air she was breathing instead of dirt six feet under.
For the smiles directed her way and the dark days she got to put behind herself.
Arabella was fully aware that not every soul got to escape their fate and nightmares...