Chapter 8: Begin
"I would like to go to the town. May I sir?" Announced Ashley as she and the Count sat in the dining room. They both are having dinner while the Countess isn't there due to her excuse of not having an appetite.
The Count stopped eating and looked at her with a frown. "Father. Call me father. And, of course, you may. Just bring a knight and a maid. You can bring the maid you are always with, Mary, isn't it?"
"Really?" Ashley looked at him with flashing eyes as if they were diamonds.
"Yes, however, are you going out with that kind of clothes?" The Count looked at the maid clothes Ashley was wearing.
"I'll ask Mary to let me borrow some of her outdoor clothes."
"What? No need to do that. Carl!"
The butler walks toward the Count. "Yes, Sir?"
"When will Baron Bennet come here?" The Count asked him.
'Baron Bennet?' Ashley thought to herself.
"As per he is in the Capital, he should be able to receive the letter this evening or tomorrow morning. So, I assumed he would come here tomorrow evening or the day after tomorrow."
"Hmm… Alright. Then you can go to the town after that." He said as he looked at Ashley with a smile while slightly nodding.
"Do I have to?" Ashley mumbled.
"Of course. I don't want you to wear someone's clothes anymore. You deserve to have a dress for your own."
"Scars…"
"Scars?" The Count frowned again.
"He'll see it," Ashley mumbled again.
The Count sighed. "I don't know what you are talking about if you'll just keep mumbling."
"I will apologize in advance if what I'm about to say is wrong, but I assume she is telling you that she doesn't want other people to see her scars." Carl butted in their conversation.
The Count looked again to Ashley, whose head downturned. Then he massaged one of his temples while he closed his eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll ensure that man will not tell anybody about your scars." The Count replied as he opened his eyes.
'It's not like that. The reactions bug me.' Ashley bottled in her mind. She just nodded while the Count smiled at her.
"And don't worry, I found someone who could teach you proper etiquette." The Count added.
She just nodded again, not uttering a word until the end of dinner.
"You should use the room I have given to you. I already ordered Carl to let your things transfer there even though you only have a few things."
Ashley nodded again as she slightly smiled. The Count thought to himself, 'What an obedient child.'
"Good night, my child." The Count hugged her, which she didn't return.
"Good night, Father." Then he walked towards the office while Carl slightly bowed with a hand on his left chest to Ashley before he walked away with the Count.
The smile on Ashley's face faded away as the sight of the Count disappeared. She wasn't comfortable throughout the dinner. She walked towards the room which the Count provided for her.
As soon as Ashley came in, she saw Mary, who was tidying her room.
"Mary!" she threw herself to Mary, who was startled.
"Ashley? What's the matter? Did the Count hurt you?" Mary asked with her eyebrows pulled together.
"No. Rather, The Count was kind to me, and the Countess was not present at tonight's dinner." Ashley answered.
"Then why?"
"I just feel so exhausted. I didn't do any work today, but I felt tired from overthinking."
Mary hugged the lady in front of her. Today must have been a long hard day for Ashley because of the changes she is experiencing.
"Are you sure about this?" Mary asked Ashley
"…." Ashley didn't answer and gazed somewhere else.
'She's definitely against it.' Ashley pondered to herself as she looked at Mary again.
*sigh* "I'm against it." Mary protested to her. "I don't trust Mrs. Lana at all. I don't trust the Count. The Countess, all of them."
"I don't trust them," Ashley muttered. "You're the only one I trust here."
"Then why still go on with her plan?"
"I understand that you are worried she might be using me, but even so, Mrs. Lana's suggestion is quite useful," Ashley stated.
"You can call it a desperate move, but if it means not getting hurt again by the Countess and receiving love from the Count, then I'd do it."
Mary looked at Ashley with astonishment. Her eyes which were about to shed tears a moment ago now showed a determined and strong aura. It was as if she was a different Ashley from before.
'Does she always look stronger? When did this girl grow?' Mary thought to herself then she sighed.
"Alright. I'll support you in whatever way if you persist on being his youngest daughter." Mary conceded to Ashley's reasoning.
"Thank you, Mary." Ashley smiled and then hugged her again.
"I prepared your bath. Go and take one now while it's still warm," Mary spoke as they separated each other from the hug, while Ashley nodded.
After the bath, Ashley changed into a white long sleeves nightdress.
"This is not mine." Ashley's eyebrows formed a frown as she looked at the dress.
"Ah! I found it on your bed when I came here. I bet it was the Count's gift to you." Mary answered as she pulled Ashley towards a chair in front of the bureau. Then she combed Ashley's hair with a brush while Ashley sat.
"Stay still." Mary hissed at Ashley when she tried to turn her head to the right side.
"I can't see the night sky here while you comb my hair," Ashley stated.
"You can gaze at the stars later, so stay still." As she continued to brush her hair, Ashley was being impatient.
When Mary finished combing her hair, Ashley walked towards the small balcony. The stars and the moon are shining in the darkness of the sky. As she gazed at them, Mary approached Ashley with a shawl in hand, wrapped it up to Ashley, and stood beside her.
"It's cold, so wear this."
"Thank you, Mary."
"Missing her?" She asked Ashley. Ashley nodded in answer. Then she clasped her hands and closed her eyes like wishing on them while Mary did the same.
The two stayed silent for a while as they prayed through the cold night.
"Achoo…" Ashley sniffed as she rubbed her nose.
"Let's go inside now, or you might catch a cold." Mary dragged her inside the room and made her sit on a chair at the front of the fireplace. Then she closed the balcony door to prevent the cold wind from coming in.
"It's nice that this room has a fireplace. It was so cold every night in the Attic room, even in summer. Imagining it again…" Mary shook her head as she rubbed her shoulders with hands.
Ashley was silent only as she looked at the burning woods.
Burning woods. The crackling sounds. The color of the fire and its ashes. Screams and crying.
"So, did you ask him?" Ashley was awakened from her thoughts when Mary tapped her shoulder as she sat beside her.
"Yes, the Count allowed me. However, he said I could go only after Baron Bennett-" Ashley's words got cut by Mary.
"Baron Bennet?! As in the royal tailor?" Mary asked with widened eyes while Ashley nodded to her in answer.
"Oh my! I didn't know the Count had such influence to even have the royal tailor come to his household and make your dresses. I love his works and wanted to meet him in person." Mary's eyes were twinkling like diamonds as she talked about Baron Bennett.
Ashley was silent again when Mary noticed it.
"I'm sorry I talk too much."
"No. It's fine. It's just-" Ashley hugged herself.
Mary looked at her movements then she realized Ashley's agony. "Your scars… Are you afraid they'll see it?"
Ashley shook her head. "It's not that I'm afraid. It's just--their reactions."
"You don't want others to see it because you don't want them to pity you?"
Ashley smiled a little bit. "Can you read minds?"
"Silly you! Don't you know how many years we have been friends? How can I not know what you are thinking or your fears?" Mary giggled as she gently patted Ashley on the head. "Don't worry too much."
Ashley slowly nodded as she looked again at the fire. "I don't want them to pity me. But having them see my scars feel like they will look down at me."
Mary just sighed and stood up. "You worry too much. Come and stand up. It's time for you to sleep."
She stood up as Mary helped her, and they walked towards the bed. It's so big and spacious that it can fit two people. Mary tucked her into the bed, and as she looked up, there was a painting above. It's a landscape of a forest with two Ash trees, separated by a river in the middle, but they still lean toward each other.
"Beautiful." She mumbled.
"Isn't it?" Mary asked her with a smile as she looked above too. "Well. See you tomorrow. Good Night, Ashley."
"Good night, Mary."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone