My feet glided across the rocky paths, never once slowing to consider the blisters I would soon have. As my new soles touched the familiar grass of my family home, I finally slowed to a walk. My breaths heaved with every step as my lungs caught up with my excitement.
The Aristi family estate was nothing to be boastful about, but it possessed its own charming appeal. It wasn’t overly embellished, nor was it undignified. The aged home’s elegant stone walls blended in seamlessly to the flowering green landscape with interlacing vines taking root around the white-washed shutters. The entire estate grounds looked as if it had sprung up from nature itself, and that was what I loved most about it. Sapphira, on the other hand, hated it. My dear stepmother despised the “cottage” look the estate had developed and constantly ordered the groundskeepers to prune back the gardens. She believed that only a well-manicured garden was necessary for a proper home. It was such a shame to clip back glorious blossoms, but at least the cuts made great additions to my bouquets.
As my leaden limbs trudged fully in front of the house, I casually swayed away from the entrance and around to the back garden. I still had a few hours before tea would be served, so there was plenty of time to break in my new shoes. As I made my way around to my favorite flower patch, I was instantly greeted by a row of smiling faces. All three of the groundskeepers lowered their eyes to my dazzling new shoes.
“Whoa! You already got em?!” Chester, the youngest of the group, chimed in first. “I thought it would take at least a week for old-man Pruner to hammer them out.” The young lad gawked at the new leather enveloping my feet as I began to giggle.
“It would seem Mr. Pruner had been expecting me, so he had crafted these in advance.” I kicked up a shoe to prominently display it atop a tall stone. “What do you think? Aren’t they beautiful?” I pointed my toes elegantly, earning a laugh from the group.
Yvette swatted my posing shoe with her glove. “You better not go flaunting those around the mistress.” The older woman gave a cautious look around the garden. “You already know she doesn’t like you working the grounds. If she catches sight of those boots, you might as well pack your bags.”
I rolled my eyes at her paranoia, but simultaneously heeded her warning and lowered my shoe. “She won’t kick me out yet. She still has two months to steal from the crown before tossing me aside.” I huffed a loose strand of chestnut hair from my eyes. My lengthy braid had come loose during my run, and the wind was beginning to blow it astray.
“Watch your tongue, child!” Beatrice scolded in a hush. Her wrinkled features crinkled further as she scowled. “I detest the mistress’s methods too, but it isn’t wise to go spoutin’ off about her. Ya know she tips the servants extra to keep an eye on you. Most of us ignore her, but a few of the younglings can’t help themselves. If ya don’t wanna risk losing more than just yer shoes, then I suggest ya quiet down. There are moments where it’s good to be brave and others where it’s only foolish.” She turned her attention back to the rose bush she was pruning, surveying the grounds with her eyes.
“Oh, if only I bore an ounce of shock.” I feigned a dramatic swoon and Chester snickered. “Honestly, if that woman paid even a fraction of attention to me, she wouldn’t have to waste all the crown’s support on spying servants.”
The two ladies passed a look of agreement, but remained silent. Sapphira was granted widow’s aid from the kingdom when my father died. Drancos allows a regular widow-stipend based on how many children the deceased spouse left behind, so when my father left behind three daughters, Sapphira received a rather hefty payout. The funds are only provided until the children turn eighteen, in order to support them until they reach adulthood. The last payment for a child’s eighteenth birthday is always the largest since it is meant to give them a head start into adulthood. My two stepsisters had already aged out at this point—Odelia was twenty now, and Brielle recently turned nineteen—which meant I was the last official child who could qualify for the crown’s support. That was essentially the sole reason I still had a place in this house... well, at least until my birthday in a few weeks. That’s when the true challenge began.
I knelt next to the rosebush and inhaled its sweet fragrance. The vibrant pink flowers had bloomed brilliantly this season, and it was a shame to see Beatrice forced to prune them so tightly. I sighed softly as I silently joined the older woman on the ground. She and Yvette had always looked out for me, so I shouldn’t be surprised that they were worrying over the little things. Sapphira and her two daughters had never truly seen me as an equal. Even before my father’s passing, my stepmother always seemed to place herself on a pedestal only slightly ahead of her two daughters. In the beginning I didn’t notice much, but everything changed once Father died. Yvette and Beatrice had helped me through a lot of the grief, and they even helped me keep my father’s garden growing to distract myself.
Sapphira, on the other hand, mourned for a far briefer time. She instantly took full control of the finances and secured a tight leash on the staff. She hired a new butler, who seared a fearful respect of the mistress into the remaining servants. He occasionally showed a soft spot for me, but it never came out when under Sapphira’s direct orders. Though the gardeners loved me, they still feared my stepmother, so they tried to protect me all the ways they could.
The women continued to chatter about their distaste for the mistress as Chester tossed in the occasional snide remark. As I settled down onto the grass, I found myself missing the feeling of the warm soil beneath my toes. Although my feet were protected, there was a certain comfort that I missed due to having my feet newly bound. Father and I had often strolled through the gardens to waste the days away and tend to our flower patch. My mind always flooded with fond memories when I took in the fresh smell of a budding blossom or the warmth of the sun’s kiss on my neck. I couldn’t help but relish in the thought of new life springing up as I dug my hands into the garden bed.
I knew I was already late for tea when I heard the distant clock tower chime in town. Despite never caring about my overall existence, Sapphira despised tardiness. I waved a quick farewell to the gardeners before rushing through the back door. The girls never dared to cut through the servant halls, so I didn’t fear crashing into them as I ran.
As I passed through the kitchen, I paused at the dining room’s threshold to remove my new boots. Per my promise, they were already well-lathered in fresh soil, which had lightly tracked throughout the rear of the house. A few sets of irritated eyes followed my trail, and I muttered a quick apology before stashing the boots behind the door.
Taking a moment to brush rose clippings off my dress, I entered the main part of the house, calmly approaching the tea parlor. When I entered the parlor, six blue eyes instantly grazed over my rugged appearance.
Sapphira sat stiffly in her favorite arm chair, her tea cup daintily held between her delicate fingers. She had dressed more subtle today in a high-necked, cream day dress, which complimented the widow’s full-figured frame. Her pale blonde hair was braided tightly against her scalp, tied off in a low bun at her neck. Usually, she preferred to be a bit more flamboyant in dress, even just lounging around the manor.
She gave me an overly polite smile as she placed her tea cup back on the table. “Kalina, how thoughtful of you to join us.”
Odelia and Brielle both sat upon the velvet sofa, their dresses both slightly more ornate. The two blondes eyed me with silent judgment as they watched their mother’s icy glare glaze across me.
“My apologies, stepmother.” Straightening slightly, I stepped cautiously into the room, then selected a seat distanced from them. All eyes followed me as I lowered into my chair. “I lost track of the hour, please excuse my tardiness.” I reached for a teacup, but it was hard to focus away from their glares.
“Oh? Is that right, dear?” Sapphira tapped a long finger against her chin as if pondering my statement. “I suppose it can be rather easy to lose track of time when you’re out in the town. Isn’t that right, girls?” She smiled sweetly, and I nearly choked on my tea. How did she know I was in town? Her spies must stretch farther than the house.
“Yes, Mother.” A malicious twinkle sparked in Odelia’s blue eyes as she side-eyed me from atop her teacup.
“I often get distracted in town as well,” Brielle added, her smile looking equally mischievous. “Especially if I’m busy shopping.” She placed her cup down with the most composed grace as eyes fell knowingly upon me.
I maintained a calm exterior as I sipped from my cup. “That’s understandable, Brielle.” I gave my stepsister a collected smile. “Considering how much money you require for the upkeep of your purchased-beauty, I wouldn’t be surprised if the shops practically called you by name.” I clenched the cup’s handle a little too tightly as I prepared for the consequence of my outburst. She had it coming, but it was foolish of me to mouth-off in front of Sapphira.
Brielle turned as red as a carnation. “Why, you little dirt frolicker! How dare you chastise me while you’re the one spending all our money at the cobbler?!” She balled her hands into fists and pounded them into her lap.
Ah, so there it was…Our money?So that’s how it was going to be?
“Brielle, that was my own money. I earned it by—”
“Silence,” Sapphira quieted me with a single hiss. I knew better than to argue with my stepmother. The last time I attempted to fight against her authority, I found myself confined to my room for a week. She smirked at the sight of my obedience. “First of all, apologize to your sister. There was no need for you to criticize her, and I won’t tolerate you disrespecting her.” She gracefully gestured toward Brielle, who continued to pout, still half-reddened.
“My apologies Brielle.” My throat tightened, not willing to say the words I had to force out. “Please, excuse my lack of understanding regarding your spending needs.” I gave her a charming smile, my teeth gritting behind it. She huffed with her dainty nose pointed in the air, but at least Sapphira seemed appeased for now.
“Good.” Sapphira directed her frighteningly blue eyes at me. “Now, Kalina, about this purchase you made... I thought we had an understanding that I alone maintain the family’s finances?” She batted her lashes sweetly. “You shouldn’t be troubling yourself with such peasantry tasks anyway. A young lady should never do her shopping unaccompanied.” Her smooth voice held a twinge of irritation as she narrowed her gaze.