Ersia: Raven Dawn

Viena, Lisabelle, and the others are now sharing their hunting yield with the villagers. They give the villagers some meat, and the villagers help them cook it. Some were made into soup, while the others were turned into barbeque skewers and meat pies. Two stags, two mountain goats, and five fat rabbits. It's a rich hunt that is surely able to feed the whole village at least for a week.

"You see, Milady. Actually, there's something that we wanted to ask you. But it's kind of a tough question, so we're not sure how to say it . . . ."

Sir Roger, a stablemaster who took care of the horses and carriage used for the hunt, approached Lisabelle and offered her a handful of skewers. He glances at his fellow men, looking unsure and uncomfortable. Lisabelle knows what his next words are, but decides to let him go for it.

"We heard uh, some news or rumors - I suppose, and they say that you had a trouble back in the capital."

"That rumor is true. I did all that you heard of me."

Sir Roger looked at his peers, and they just let out big breaths and shrugged their shoulders.

"Mind to tell us why?"

"It's embarrassing stuff that doesn't need to be told in detail. But the point is - I got bullied and had enough of it."

"Well, that's quite hard to believe, if I may say. I mean, if you and Tall Boy Johnson were to duke it out right now, I would bet my whole fortune on you," Sir Kimberly laughs.

"Daym, I'd bet mine on you also, Milady," Tall Boy Johnson responded casually.

As the men of the exurban tend to keep their share and maintain their way of life, things such as Lisabelle and her case don't give them too much of a burden on the mind. All they know is that Lisabelle is a good girl. If anything should happen, then she must have a good reason to explain. Yet, whether she is willing to explain - that is of a different matter.

"Roger, prepare the horses after you are done eating."

"Oh? What's the hurry?"

"Uncle Liam's guest must be arriving soon. I just wanna say hi while I can . . . . Thanks for the food, by the way. However, it's too bad that the cooks mistake burnt meat and ashes for pepper. After all these years and you are still suck at grilling. Well done, Tony, your shitty-ness never fails to amaze me."

Lisabelle then left the gathering of adults after blowing the remnant of ashes and burnt meat on her hands into Sir Tony's eyes.

"Aarrgh! My eyes! You damned cruel lady!"

"Ahahah! Serves you right, idiot! Why would you cook as if the whole game was yours?"

"Those pieces of shit you call food were just charcoal and salts! How come you got the nerves to give it to the young lady?!"

"This must be a murder attempt, let's paint him black, boys!"

While the adults are fooling around with each other, Lisabelle finds Viena who is busy spooning out the leftover meat from the pot. With the pots bigger than her, it takes a lot of time for her who can only depend on her feeling of whether she hit the jackpot or not. Lisabelle chuckled and took the little girl's bowl off her hand.

"Step aside, midget. How much do you want?"

"Make it full! I'm starving!"

"Heh. Sure, sure. You need to eat a lot if you want to grow fast."

After that, Lisabelle takes a bowl for herself and sits right beside Viena. They are eating together while talking about which part of the stag they are munching, about Tall Boy Johnson who is so tall but so skinny, and also about the mountain goats that can climb a very steep cliff like spiders. Soon, their bowls are getting empty and Lisabelle starts to bring up the next plan of the day.

"After we finish, we will go to my uncle's mansion. We will wash up there, and then I will teach you some manners."

"Teach me some manners?! A-Are you going to hit me?!" Viena jumped aside warily.

"No, stupid. I mean real manners. Like, formality and etiquette."

Mannerism is something that Viena isn't too fond of thanks to Randia's constant scolding when they were travelling. However, it is also thanks to the very same scolding she got, that she is not entirely a stranger to that subject.

"Is your uncle a straight-laced, uptight person?"

"Hmm. Actually not, but his guest might be. Wait, where did you learn those words?"

"The brochures at Barbara Barberia!"

"Really? Heh. Not bad."

[Liam Arbon's Mansion - 15.00 PM]

Viena and Lisabelle have arrived at the mansion. They are accompanied by Sir Kimberly as their main guardian, and Sir Roger as the coachman. Even for a small-time baron, Liam Arbon's mansion is quite resplendent given the historical figures of the house and their deeds in the past. The insignia of the Arbon family - The glorious sunflower, is etched proudly on the gate.

"Welcome, Young Lady."

"Welcome, Young Lady."

Two maids are bowing solemnly, welcoming the arrival of Lisabelle and Viena. They act so gracefully despite their old age, and it fascinates Viena.

"Thank you, Janette, Matilda."

"It's a pleasure to see you in good health . . . and good heart," Janette smiles sincerely at the sight of Lisabelle holding Viena's hand.

"We have prepared everything in prior, Young Lady."

The maids guide the two inside the mansion. Inside the main building, is literally everything that Viena expected it to be. Extravagant pieces of art, expensive-looking furniture, and a cool relaxing atmosphere with no speck of dust in sight. The windows and curtains are gigantic, making Viena wonder how they could keep them clean.

"Lily, this place is so impressive!"

"Is that so? This is nothing compared to the estate of the real high-ranking nobles though. Well, we were amongst them once . . . If I had to put it in numbers, I guess the mansions that belong to families like the Zavenchis or the Sezans are five times more exquisite than ours."

"F-FIVE TIMES? N-No way! How could someone be allowed to have that much wealth?"

"I know how you feel, but that's just how it works. The only true equality in this world is death, anything else is factored results. Uh - I mean, there are lots of reasons things happened, and they almost always resulted in inequality between the people - for better or worse." 

"You mean because of how the world works, some are so rich while some others stayed poor all their life?"

"Err . . . I don't think you're ready for that talk, but sometimes it does be like that. That's why the fortunate must uphold their morals to keep everything less unbalanced. Give what you have, and share what you know wisely."

Soon, they arrived at the Master Bathroom. It's a wide room fully furnished to wash and relax oneself. It has two pools and the statue of Lady Ninon Dufraisse, the third head of the Dufraisse family. The statue was a gift from the Dufraisse as a symbol of the strong friendly relationship between the two families even to this day.

Then the two take a bath. Instead of doing it by themselves, Viena was utterly surprised when two younger maids appeared from the back side of the room and took care of the cleaning of her body. She had never had someone clean her other than her late mother, and that was almost four years ago.

Afterwards, the maids leave and there is no one but only Lisabelle and Viena in the bathroom.

"Are there only four persons who take care of this house?"

"Six actually, and the house isn't always this neat. Only when we are expecting guests."

"Hm, I can understand that. It must be very tiring to clean such a big house."

"There used to be more than twenty of them. But yeah, things aren't what they used to be. So here we are."

Half an hour later, after they had their refreshing bath, the two are heading for the closet room. Lisabelle pick the most suitable dress for the upcoming agenda, formal but not too gaudy, casual but retaining her class. As for Viena, Lisabelle had her wear her old dress - a simple light brown gown adorned with a big ribbon as its belt.

Then, as they waited for the guest, Lisabelle spent her time teaching Viena a little formal etiquette with the help of the maids. It comes as a surprise for her when she realizes that Viena is learning very fast. Little did she know that Randia had taught Viena the basics over and over again until she got so sick of it.

"Mmhm. That's decent enough. I believe you are ready," Lisabelle nodded.

"Phew! Finally! So? What's next?"

"Hmm . . . It seems our guest is a little late. Very well then! Why don't we go and greet my uncle?"