A different world

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia nodded firmly and got back to the kitchen. She kept wondering who the guest might be, maybe his father was returning to the mansion.


She started cutting vegetables and prepared the dinner.


After a lot of hard work in the kitchen, she had prepared wht she thought was a pretty good meal.Then she put the cutleries on the table and got some plates as well. She carefully put everything into the right place and was very pleased with the result. The flowers were a beautiful centerpiece.


Then she heard the door opening. This must be the guest, she figured.

 

[DawnAntalios]

In the door stood a young lad, wearing a uniform, searching his bag. When he looked up and saw the girl opening the door he smiled gleefully.


" Oh it is you my lady. Hold on just for a moment. " he said, searching in his bags again " There we are! "


He pulled out a note and a single rose and gave it to her.


" I was tasked to deliver this to Lady Emilia - and presumably it is you my lady. I also have a letter for Lord Benjamin, please do give this to him. "


After he gave the letter to her he saluted then hurried away. On the note next to the rose was but a single word written


"Sorry"

 

[Dropintheocean]

She was suprised to see the man in uniform standing in front of the door. She took the rose and the letter and thank the young man.


"Thank you very much, Sir, have a nice evening still!"


She closed the door and inspected the rose carefully. She could only think of one man who could've possibly send her this. The brute she had met this afternoon. Atleast he apologised, which made Emilia feel a little bit better already.


She walked up to the library. "Excuse me, Sir, there has been a letter delivered for you." She smiled as she handed over the letter to Benjamin.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Benjamin smiled as she entered the room and he stood up.


" Thank you my lady. " he smiled and read the writings on the envelope. His expression turned grim for a moment but then he put it in his pocket and smiled at the cheerful girl. " And I see my dinner guest has also arrived! Splendid. "


Bowing courteously in front of her he smiled.


" Lady Emilia, would you honor me with a dinner tonight? I did not have time to properly apologize for today - I would like you to dine with me tonight. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She arched her brow, not quite understanding what he meant. Then she got a big smile on her face. "I would be my honor to dine with you, Sir." Emilia hadn't expected this suprise, but she was very glad to dine with Benjamin.


She quickly went back to the kitchen and put the food on the stove. She then hurried back to the library. "Diner will be ready in 10 minutes, Sir." As she went back to the kitchen she bit her lip to keep herself from smiling. She was so excited to dine with him, now she could stare into those beautiful eyes the whole night.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Benjamin's face lit up in joy.


" Splendid my lady. " he said and as she hurried out to prepare the dinner he sat down to read the letter. The grim expression returned to his face and the more he read the darker his mood become. These news came at the worst possible time... but he could do nothing about it. He put away the letter as Emilia hurried back to inform him about dinner.


" I will be right there, my lady, thank you. " he said as she hurried away once more. He could not show his worry, not this night. No, this evening shall be about the perfect dinner with her nothing more.


As the ten minutes has passed he stood up, heading to the dining room. The great smell of the food made him smile - she was an exception cook.


" Oh my, this smells divine. Frankly I can hardly restrain myself to devour it in whole right away. " he chuckled.

 

[Dropintheocean]

"Thank you, Sir, I hope it'll taste as good as it smells. She put the pots on the table and took a seat.


Candles were lighting up the room, creating quite a romantic atmosphere.


She lifted the lid of one of the pots and grabbed Benjamin's plate. She put the food on it and handed it back to him. She filled her plate as well, while the smell of the freshly cooked meal was filling the entire room.


"Bon appétit." she said, as she waited for him to take the first bite. She looked at him with a curious expression on her face.

 

[DawnAntalios]

" Bon appétit. " he mimicked the good wish and proceeded to take his first bite from the food.


His eyes widened and were filled with tears - tears of joy.


" This taste... this aroma... " he could barely manage to speak " This is simply the best thing I have ever eaten in my whole life. " he looked up at her " My lady, you deserve to be called a master cook! And perhaps I might be able to arrange something... should you wish. " he winked and continued to eat - not too fast of course, but like a gentleman.


The evening was wonderful, but as it went on occasionally the news have emerged from his mind, painting his mind in black, but due to the wonderful food he managed to always smile and look at Emilia. She was truly a talent and her serious expression... he wondered how could she remain this stoic and professional.


" I respect you my lady. You take your job incredibly seriously. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She smiled and blushed a little. "Thank you, Sir, I try my best.


She took a bite as well, and she was suprised it tasted this good. She kept taking small bites until she had almost finished her plate.


'What was the letter about, Sir?" She then realised she came across as frank and apologised immediately.


"I'm sorry, Sir. That's none of my business ofcourse."


She smiled in an apologetic way and took another bite.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Benjamin stopped eating when he had heard the question. So he did not conceal his feelings too well after all. Well ultimately he would have told this to her anyway so he shook his head when she apologized.


" Not it is quite all right. " he said " I meant to tell you later anyway. "


He leaned against his chair.


" It was from my father. It brought ill tidings... he informed me that my mother has passed away. " he bowed his head for a bit so that his eyes would be concealed by his hair. " Moreover due to this unfortunate event my father intends to visit us sooner than I expected... "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She put her knife and fork down when she heard the sad news. "I'm so sorry, Sir." She didn't know what to say anymore. She regretted asking the question already and looked at him. She felt bad for him, losing his mom at such young age. She couldn't even imagine what it must be like.


After a moment of silent she picked up her cutlerie again.


"When will your father return, Sir?" She saw the sadness in his eyes, and thought about ways to cheer him up. Tomorrow she'd stand up extra early to prepare him an exquisit breakfast, she promised herself.

 

[DawnAntalios]

" In two week's time. " he replied sourly. " However he comes with a reason... "


He sighed heavily, looking sadly at her.


" You remember that I mentioned an arranged marriage? Well he had already found the 'perfect' candidate for me, namely Umaline de Lion - the wealthy noblewoman who lives not so far from us. "


He lowered his voice.


" She is the younger sister of Lance de Lion, the 'gentleman' you had the misfortune to meet today. This was actually the reason why he barged in today without invitation. "


He looked at her sadly, awaiting her response.

 

[Dropintheocean]

She noticed the sadness in his voice and wondered what would follow


When he told her everything, she couldn't believe what she had just heard.The thought of him marrying this very rich woman, who would probably be as beautiful as she was rich, made her very sad. She tried to hide her dissapointed, but felt that she was failing at the attempt miserably.


And to top it all of, this lady was the sister of the brute who had treated her like his very own slave, like she wasn't human. All this bad news made her lose her appetite to continue eating. So she put her knife and fork down on the plate and looked down.


She didn't want lord Benjamin to know she might have feelings of some kind for him -she hadn't figured out what is was exactly that she felt for him-, so she put on a smile and congratulated him. "Congratulations, Sir. I hope you two will get along." Although her smile seemed very sincere, she was devistated.

 

[DawnAntalios]

He shook his head.


" You misunderstand me. " he said sadly " Umaline de Lion is one of the most insidious, vile and evil woman I have ever seen in my life. She is - unlike her brother - cunning, manipulating and an overall terrible person. No man on earth is lucky to marry her. "


He sighed.


" She would make my life miserable, day and night i would suffer endlessly. And the only way I could convince my father about the folly of this plan is if I had someone else to marry to. "


He didn't dare to look at her.


" Frankly, I have a plan. I had it a while ago but... it is too selfish, too insulting to do it. I am torn, my lady. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

"Oh." She tried to sound as neutral as possible, but she was smiling on the inside. No way this marriage would work out. Luckily for her.


Curious to hear his plan, Emilia asked him about it.


"And what would be that other plan, Sir?" She looked at him, but he didn't look up. She could tell he was very upset indeed, and hoped he wouldn't be like this all the time once his father had arrived.

 

[DawnAntalios]

He now looked up, a mixture of pain and hope in his eyes.


" It was my mother who accepted you to work here, my lady. My father does not know who you are at all - he had never met you before. That is why I... I... "


He gulped and paused before he finally spoke up.


" I wanted to ask YOU to act as my betrothed, my lady. I know it it uncomfortable, nay outright audacious to play such a role but time is short and you... well you... "


He turned completely red.


" Your beauty and elegance would be more than enough to convince my father. That way both of us would be able to escape the grasp of the de Lion family. Of course i know that this is outrageous... you have every right to turn this down. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

Emilia didn't see this coming.


"I'll have to think this over for a while, Sir. I hope you don't mind." She was suprised he had thought of her to play as his betrothed. It even made her blush a little.


Ofcourse she had want to say yes right away, but she couldn't come across to desperate.


When she saw his sad face, it made her shrink a little. She decided to swallow her pride and nodded.


"I'll do it." She said with a serious look on her face.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Tears started to gather in his eyes upon hearing this.


" L-Lady Emilia... I... " he was not sure what to say " I know that I do not deserve your trust and that... this is probably very awkward... but I make a promise to you here and now. "


He looked up, wiping the tears from his eyes.


" If we succeed in this I will make sure that your family will never starve ever again, I will make them to be noble citizens of this city, respected member of society with their own house and jobs for extra revenue. I vow that I will repay your kindness in any way I can. "


He sighed as he slumped back into his chair.


" I am eternally thankful. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She nodded and still felt a little bad for him.


Although she didn't live an easy live, and her dad had sent her away so he could feed his family, she would never have to marry someone she didn't like. And she couldn't imagine how it must feel like.


"Thank you, Sir, it's no problem at all. I am happy I can help you out with this." She smiled and silently sratched her head. She would have to behave like a true lady in order for this to work, and she wasn't quite sure she could pull it of.

 

[DawnAntalios]

He smiled weakly.


" Please, you need not to be this formal. " he said " I know that it is difficult to accept a task like that and that it is something that I can not realistically expect from you to do... and that is why I am so glad that you have decided to help me. "


He finished his meal and stood up.


" Thank you for the splendid dinner. Truly it was the best part of the day. " he walked over to her, now smiling " I advise that you go to bed early, my lady. We have a lot of preparations to do and I will need your help. "


He leaned closer to her and without a warning he kissed her forehead.


" Have a wonderful night. And thank you. "


With that he bowed before her and left the room, heading upstairs to sleep. The turbulent events of the day made his life to take an unexpected turn. Never did he think that he would need to deceive his father... but it needed to be done. And besides... there was something in Emilia which made his heart race.


Something wonderful.

 

[Dropintheocean]

She blushed when he kissed her forehead. She cleaned the table and did the dishes before calling it a night.


Emilia then went upstairs and opened the door to her room. She lied on the bed, she was exhausted.


Today was a day full of suprises, that's the least you could say. She changed into her nightwear and crowled under the blankets. She couldn't get Benjamin and the fact that she would be playing his fiancée out of her mind. She definitely felt something for her lord, but she couldn't tell what is was exactly.


She closed her eyes and hoped tomorrow would be good day..

 

[DawnAntalios]

The next day Ben woke up really early, planning to prepare for their departure. He took on traveling clothes and headed down to make a coffee for himself. They had to visit many places in order to be fully up to the task. He was certain that he would be able to teach her how to act as a noble woman - but many other things needed premature preparations. After drinking his coffee he started to write a letter to one of his friends - friends who are usually not supposed to be in contact with noblemen like him, arranging a meeting for later on.


When he finished he started to plan out the day more specifically - everything needed to be perfect by the time Emilia woke up.

 

[Dropintheocean]

She woke up quite late and strechted out. She hadn't slept well,because she kept thinking about Benjamin. She got out of bed, opened the closet and took out her new uniform. After she had put it on, she inspected herself in the mirror. Now she looked like a real maid.


She went downstairs, still a little bit sleepy. In the kitchen se saw Benjamin, and Emilia greeted him politely. "Goodmorning, Sir."


She nodded and filled a cup with coffee. She took a sip and put it back down. "What are my tasks for today, Sir?"

 

[DawnAntalios]

He looked up, smiling.


" Good morning, Lady Emilia. " he said with a smile on his face. " Today's tasks are really important and I want you to start with the first one: call me Sir no longer. Call me Ben on Benjamin please. I know it might be a bit difficult at first but we must practice so it will not be alien for us. "


He now stood up, putting his coat on.


" Your second task is to put a coat on, for we will go to the city the moment you are ready. "

 

[Dropintheocean]

She nodded.


"I'll try my best, S- Benjamin." She smiled as she corrected herself. "Just a moment." She walked upstairs again and opened the closet.


Luckily she still had a coat that would do just fine. She put it on, took a look in the mirror and went back to the kitchen. "I'm ready to leave." She smiled gently as she appeard in the doorway.