Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 190: Never the same

Edgar did not say or do much with most of his and Ada’s time in the gardens spent watching Arabella go around, exploring the place as though it was her first time out there.

The view and scents had the merit of making her smile, but something about those beams did not sit right with Ada. At least, it seemed like it.

They were distant, earning her a hazy look. For all one knew, neither Ada nor Edgar spoke to her in those moments because they believed she wouldn’t respond as her mind was probably lost somewhere far away from them.

"They turned out splendidly," the young woman cupped a white rose between her hands, "Will you be trimming them again soon?" she then pointed at a specific flower. One that stuck its head out among the rest.

However, the further her arm extended, the more the sleeve around it retracted, exposing her flakey and dried skin from the constant bathing.

A little gasp escaped Ada while Edgar cleared his throat to answer her question, "Yes, I’ve scheduled that task for tomorrow," he let out an awkward chuckle, "I will have to do it the day after tomorrow too since they are growing at such a rapid rate,"

"Is it because it’s Ostara?" she too cleared her throat, sheepishly tugging at her sleeves in the hopes of covering the deeply shameful marks left by the otherwise pure element that was water.

Her efforts were futile, of course since both the maid and the gardener had already glimpsed them.

"Yes, most certainly, it is," the grin on Edgar did not reach his eyes. A detail Arabella noticed almost immediately.

Not that there wasn’t any warmth in it, but while the young woman failed to read Silas’ face, those two on the other hand were open books she’d read time and time again. Despite knowing them for a little less than a month, the way they smiled, their tonal shifts as well as the micro expressions on them were songs of familiar melodies.

The looks they offered right there were ones of pity and sympathy.

"Perhaps Edgar and I can cut some for you. The ones in the vase have already started to wither," Ada suggested, her face lighting up a little.

"No," Arabella shook her head, "I’d like to enjoy the ones I have for a little longer. At the very least until they take their last breaths,"

"Of course," Ada nodded, "Should we help you with something then, Edgar?" she quickly turned towards the gardener, seemingly unable to maintain eye contact with the young woman.

Eyebrows furrowed a little as his irises darted around, searching for a simple task to satisfy Ada’s request with null doubt, "Well, I was about to water the flower beds,"

A lie! Arabella believed. But she voiced none of her thoughts out loud. Those two appeared to struggle enough in order to appease her which inspired her to complain as little as possible.

Their kindness truly was a gift. Arabella only hoped she’d be able to return it one day.

The women followed Edgar where two small watering cans awaited. They filled them and walked back towards the colorful flower beds.

"How was it you did that last time with your foot, Ada?" the young woman looked at the maid’s feet while asking.

"Oh! It’s simple enough, really!" she chuckled, "You put your dominant foot underneath the can and push slightly up so that you can spill the water that makes the can harder to balance with your hands alone,"

"Thank you. You really are good at this," Arabella smiled before copying the maid’s actions.

"Well, my father deserves all the praise for that,"

"Did you learn this from your father?"

After keeping his peace for a good moment, Edgar’s turn to speak had come.

"Yes... My father was a gardener," Ada took a deep breath before sighing, "I’ve learned most of what I know about gardening and herbs from him,"

"Then you have me worried," he laughed.

"And why is that?"

"I can’t allow you to show just how good you are otherwise you might replace me sooner rather than later,"

"Nonsense! my knowledge is simply incomparable to yours. You’ve spent years doing this so please do not downplay your skills," Ada waved a frantic hand dismissively.

"No, I am being serious. You must know so much more than I do. I’ve been a gardener since my arrival to Umbraria which wasn’t that long,"

Arabella watched the two people she considered friends interact with a beam decorating her features.

It was effortless and easygoing. They bounced off each other well enough, alleviating some of the pending weight on her shoulders. It reminded her that the world was still round and spinning like it always did.

She stayed out for hours, only stopping for a lunch break before coming back to follow after Edgar and Ada who knew exactly what they were doing.

It seemed to be a day like every other day where the sun rose from the north only to set south, but it wasn’t. Not to her.

Something was missing within her. Ripped away without the prospect of ever being returned. It was not knowing whether she’d ever be the same again that panged her. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

The uncertainty that things would never return to normal after what had occurred... That Arabella would never be able to heal from it, never be whole again.

Well, aware that there were things even time couldn’t fix. Perhaps going around and smiling at life would do and perhaps it wouldn’t.

Like pretending that everything was alright might work or it might not.

That was what took a grip full of her insides only to twist them mercilessly.

It was when Edgar began to put away his tools that Ada finally suggested going back inside.

"Thank you," Arabella muttered.

"For what?" wondered the gardener.

"Today was wonderful," she nodded.

"Please, come back anytime you want and...," he trailed off, looking reluctant momentarily before continuing, "I am sorry for what happened to you. It couldn’t have happened to a kinder person,"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺