CHAPTER 19
After talking to them while putting our things to the proper places. We didn’t notice the time went by. I put down the curtain of the window. It’s dark outside but, I saw few lights to the houses that we passed by earlier. The house of nanny was above from them.
I don’t want to go outside. I might see some creatures lurking in those tall bushes and trees.
Nanny peek at the hole to let us go down for a dinner. As I climbed down the stairs, there are people I’ve heard laughing in the kitchen. I got nervous by it.
As I entered the kitchen, there are two men and a girl aside from nanny. Wait, where is Sebastian? He’s nowhere to be found.
“Sister!”
The girl run towards Scarlet and hugged her. The two men followed the girl and did the same.
“How are you, sister?”
“I’m fine, sister, brother and Dad! I’m glad you’re doing well”
“Is this the lady, you were talking about?”
“Yes”
“I am Chantria Alena Marcox, Sir” I bowed to them as a signed of respect. I’ll be staying here for quite a long time so I shouldn't make myself a hindrance.
“I’m Amelia, the attendant of the Lady”
“Welcome girls! You can stay at here anytime you want”
“I’ll be in your care” We spoke in unison, Amelia and me.
“Oh? Right. We will introduce ourselves”
“I'm the father of these tree, you can call me Dad too”
“I’m the oldest here. I’m Leon Frets”
“I’m the youngest, I’m Dairy Frets, seven years old”
“We’re very sorry for not meeting you, earlier. We were on the public market and we fetch Dairy to her school”
“It’s okay”
We were seated to the square table. There are dishes that I’ve never seen before. You can see that it is a handmade dish. It has a delicious fragrance.
“So, we bought roasted chicken while we were there. Also, ingredients and other stuff to make food”
“Where is Sebastian, Mom?”
“Oh? He’s gone home. He told me, that you must not worry because he will visit here, tomorrow”
“Your, lover is here too?”
“Dad, he’s not my lover anymore”
“I believe he’s still an unmarried man, you still have a chance”
“No way”
“Well, Scarlet might have some hidden feelings for him and she just don’t want to show it”
“Yeah, you’re right, milady. Our daughter just wants Sebastian to court her”
“No, that’s not true”
“Why not? You two are suitable to each other”
“Who’s Sebastian, mother?”
The seven years old sister of Scarlet joined the conversation. I teased Scarlet so much, that her face is red as a tomato. I chuckled to the sight of this. It’s been a long time that I experience a happy meal.
They were talking to each other. I know they have many stories in their sleeves for catching up to their daughter who they didn’t see for ages.
“Milady, is the food suit to your taste?”
“Yes, thank you for this delicious meal”
“I’m grateful that you’ve visited our village, milady”
"Thank you for this warm welcome, nanny"
"Our door will always open to all of you. I considered you my child"
“Thank you, nanny. And I have a favor”
“What is it?”
“I want all of you to drop formalities. I don’t want to be treated a lady. I’m faraway from home and I want to experience a normal life, just for once”
“But..”
My nanny tapped Scarlet’s hand to not speak any further. She sighed and then looked at me.
“Even if it against our will, you’re still our Lady in Raisville”
I looked down. It seems that there’s still a distance between us. As I am the noble lady they served.
“But, we can turned a blind eye to your status as long as you’re still here. Amelia and the Lady will be treated as our daughter, or part lf our family”
“Thank you”
“Then, does that mean I have three big sisters now?”
“Yes”
Dairy smiled from ear to ear. We continued our conversation until at the end of our meal.
Right now, we were seated to the living room. I sat down to the floor were pillows and cushions are. Amelia followed me and Dairy sit on her lap. After that eveyone came in one by one, all of the family is here.
“You girls have the perfect timing in coming here”
“Why?”
“Your brother will be married, next month”
“Dad”
“With who?”
“To the village chef’s daughter”
“Oh? That beautiful girl”
“Congratulations”
“The three of you will be coming to the wedding”
“Is it okay?”
“Yes, there are lots of seats that’s available to you, girls”
Amelia was playing with Dairy’s hair. The two of them talking with lots of stuff like how Dairy’s classmate teased her because of her hairstyles that made by her father. The places she’s been. The two of them seems getting along well.
“I almost forgot, Chantria don’t sleep facing the ceiling or the window. You must lay sidewards and don’t spread your legs”
“W..why?”
“Is this, that story again?”
“Yes. I just want you three to be careful especially you, Chantria”
“Why? A story?”
“I heard that you’re pregnant”
“Yes, I am”
“There’s a folktale or belief here that there’s a man eating human flesh especially kids who were unborn or it’s in the womb of the mother”
“What? Is that true?”
“Well, in the village area, it is probably true”
“Let me tell you our believes”
“Okay”
“We are taught that there are monsters lurking in the night especially this human eating flesh. We were very scared that we don’t want to go outside anymore. There are sayings that at the day, they are a beautiful young woman in disguise and then at night, they will stalk their prey. Their most favorite dish is a pregnant lady”
“Most of the villagers believed this tale, because there are women who given a birth to a death baby and sometimes, they heard scratching to the roof or the walls”
“Did they capture that monster?”
“No, it’s very hard because we believe that they are shapeshifting creature”
“Have you experienced that nanny?”
“Well…”
“We don’t want to scare you, Chantria but, when I was pregnant by Scarlet. I experienced how noisy the roof gets. I didn’t notice that I was sleeping upwards”
“’Gladly, I prepared axe at that time or else Scarlet might not be born”
“Another thing, if you heard a ticking sound that is very loud that means the monster is far away while, the voice is toned down there’s a big chance that it’s very near so, braced yourselves to it”
“That’s why. I don’t want you to sleep alone”
“Just put some garlic on the window. I already put those on the ceiling”
“What’s the garlic for?”
“For protection, it helps fight off the monster but, we still need to be extra careful”
“Okay”
“And, don’t let anyone, a stranger to caressed your stomach especially it’s already visible because, that’s fragrance is very delicious to them”
I nodded to them. I’m very nervous right now. I’m thinking whether it’s good to be here or not. It’s my first time hearing those scary things.