Tales Of Hearts | Liskook

Chapter 29

“You’ve only just recovered, so don’t stay outdoors for too long.”

“I-it’ll just be a short walk.” She smiled at Rudis and walked away.

The quiet and calm maid, who rarely talked unless necessary, one day slowly began to fuss over her like a sister would. All she did was say a word or two out of concern without crossing the line, but that was enough to warm Lisa’s heart.

Is this really… my house… home?

Her eyes glazed around castle Calypse, the notion bringing to mind her life back in castle Croix. She had spent her whole life there, yet she had nothing she was emotional about. No people, place or anything for that matter, that could remotely make her miss the place. A cold castle that had once sheltered her for so long but she couldn’t bring herself to call ‘home’ – for it never felt like one.

She hoped that she just might be able to fill her life with new things completely different from that of her past. She hoped she would grow fond of this castle and its people, and hoped she would find love here and make this place her home. The pitiful, smidgen of hope that had erupted within made her heart tighten.

Is it really possible?

Leaving Croix didn’t mean she had become a completely different person. She was still that stutterer they had labelled dumb and inconsequential. Someday he’d also realize that I’m useless. Then everything might change. She felt her blood chill with the thoughts of losing his amorous, affectionate touch or burning gaze. What if he suddenly turns into my father and…?!

“Madam? I think you are still sick….”

She must have looked anxious as Rudis gave her a look. Lisa shook her head, as if the action was enough to dismiss the negative thoughts plaguing her. “I’m oh-okay. I would li-like a war-warm cup of t-tea.”

“I’ll prepare one right away.”

Lisa took this moment to gather herself. She had a decision to make. If she wanted her fears to never see the light of the day, she had to trudge far across the great unknown, beyond the haunting past of the halls of castle Croix, the reproached Lalisa and unfamiliar future. A resolve, a patient, but rather steely one was burning inside her heart.

I can change. I must start acting like a lady. I’ll become a dependable landlady for him.

***

By the next day, Lisa had fully recovered. Although she was yet to regain her full strength, she felt enervated.

This day, she had a visitor–Merchant Aderon. Had it been the usual timid Lisa, she would have avoided the meeting, but today she had an intent to fulfill.

Without hesitation, she met with the merchant and discussed the plans for the Great Hall. She carefully listened to his explanations without interrupting, before launching into a few questions of her own. After much consideration, she decided to lay faintly jade-toned, white marbles on the floor of the banquet hall in the Great Hall and have all windows furnished into exquisite glass. Before he took his leave, the merchant assured he would bring in workers from the guild and commence the work the very next day.

With that settled, she made a beeline for the library with the transaction statement she’d just received from Aderon. She skimmed through several, heavy tomes, and worked on recording it in the account books as how Rudo did it. By the time she had finished writing the items with her clumsy, almost non-descript, handwriting, the sun had sunk low into the horizon.

This hectic and busy schedule continued for days as there were many places in need of repair and there seemed to be no end to things she had to purchase. Each day she met with Aderon early in the morning to be guided on areas that needed fixture and flair. After buying more auxiliary landscaping, she would check to see if the workers were working properly.