CHAPTER XVIII: LANKY BOY

"They would like to purchase some seeds. The farm sells cheaper price than from the market."

"But you don't have to find cheaper price—"

"Lady Beatrice, your help and assistance from Croix Family are blessings to us. We wanted to cherish and to use it properly."

"Hmm, Okay, then, there is nothing for me to interfere." She smiled.

Sometimes Sister Mildred asked herself if she was truly talking to an eleven-year old girl. She just acknowledged the high intelligence of Lady Beatrice. She, then, purposely changed the topic by going back from their first conversation.

"I am happy of your frequent visitation but we wouldn't want to burden your busy schedules. You'll need time to prepare for your upcoming schooling."

"It was nothing. I enjoy being here, and after all, I have no other kids, same age to be with. Being with them, it was nice and good feeling."

Sister Mildred was curious in the response of the lady. The lady sounded that she had no friends. It was a sad remark for her because Lady Beatrice is kind and a very beautiful girl who deserves love more than anyone. She further thought that anyone would love to be her friend if they got to know her, especially, she is not just a girl from a lower rank noble.

She was a former servant from a noble. Thus, she knew the importance of at least attending tea parties to widen your connections. She just thought that the lady is still very young so she has no interest with it, but there is no harm to give encouragement especially if it will benefit her lady in the future.

"Haven't you tried to attend tea parties, Lady Beatrice? It was a good environment to find girl friends with same age as yours.", encouraged by Sister Mildred.

"That would be nice, Sister Mildred, but the real Beatrice has no good reputation due to her obsession to the young heir of Duke Aland. Unfortunately for me, it was known throughout the noble society. And if she had a girlfriend with that wicked attitude, it might be a fox, who pretends to be one, craving for influence because it is still a fact that she is the only daughter of Marquees Croix." She thought but had no intention to voice it up. She was thankful that the real Beatrice's reputation did not reach here, and she was able to start freely.

"I don't like parties." She said childishly. It was an excuse, but half meant true. After all, she was not fond of the crowd. And the truth that she might also encounter people whom she doesn't remember. The memories of the real Beatrice were very hazy and unclear, especially to those she regarded insignificantly. Moreover, she has no idea nor knows how to act as the real Beatrice in social gatherings. She never had a chance to read completely the book. She only holding up with the summary and the marketing ads of the novel.

From the cover and marketing ads, she only needed to avoid a person with black jet hair with crimson eyes, the male lead, and straight blonde hair with emerald eyes, the heroine of the story.

Then, the door opened. Lily and Andrew came in with small sacks.

"Sister Bea." Lily greeted her warmly as soon as she appeared in her view.

"Lily and Andrew. You guys are just in time." I went down from the chair and approached them. "Marielle, together with the twins and Caville, prepared the picnic set already."

Sister Mildred surmised that Lady Beatrice appeared to be a kid with Lily and Andrew. "She is still a kid after all."

"Good afternoon. Bea.", languidly greeted by Andrew. Both of them, put the sacks on the ground.

Behind the age of an eleven-year old kid, Andrew is quiet and serious boy. He has a lanky body and very wary of her existence when she first met the boy. Red hair and deep marooned eyes. Looking the appearance of the boy, she knew that the boy will grow handsomely, and with proper care and sustenance, it was not far that he will look gorgeous in the near future. And one point that he has a noble vibe.

****-------****

"Good morning. How are you?", Beatrice happily greeted the tall and thin boy. "My name is Beatrice, but you can call me, Bea for short. I hope we could be friends."

"..."

The boy did not respond to her, but only stare at her with his cold eyes.

"Andrew!", Sister Mildred silently scolded the boy to give Beatrice a proper greeting.

Andrew looked at Sister Mildred with dissatisfied cold eyes, but heed Sister Mildred silent order.

"It was a pleasure to know our benefactor. Thank you for your kind assistance for us.", the boy languidly said and bowed. It was rather civil to describe.

"Introduce yourself, Andrew.", persuaded by Sister Mildred with smile.

There was no emotion surfacing from the face of the boy, but he obeyed Sister Mildred. "My name is Andrew, Lady Beatrice."

"Nice to meet you, Andrew, but you can actually call me Bea." Beatrice happily reiterated her name.

"Then, can I call you Sister Bea?", asked by Lily at the side holding the twins with her both hands. Lily's face shyly blushed.

"Yes, of course. You can too, Lily."

Hearing that, Lily beamingly happy.

"Sister, I'll be leaving then. Lady Beatrice, please excuse myself.", excused by Andrew.

"Still with Lady Beatrice." She pouted inwardly but she wanted to build harmonious relationship with all of them so she didn't care about it too much. Further, Andrew might be wary of her because she is a noble, but it does not mean for her to give up.

"You're leaving. Where are you going?" Beatrice curiously asked.

"..."

Andrew did not respond immediately. He just reached out the basin with fishing rod. "I will go—"

"You're going fishing!", she exclaimed. It was one of the exciting things that she had done in her previous life. Not the fishing, actually, but if there is a fish, there is a river or lake. And that made her excitement alarmed. "I want to go too."

"But My Lady—", Marielle, who stayed quiet, spoke worriedly.

"Lady Beatrice, it wouldn't be good for you to—", second the motion of Sister Mildred. The children, except Andrew, tilted their heads looking at the worried faces of Sister Mildred and Marielle. They don't understand the need to worry while Andrew had inexplicable stare on her.

"I have read it, Marielle, in the books, and I wanted to experience it too. Please Marielle let me. After all, Caville will be with us." She pleaded like a child. She purposely did it to look more childish in front of the kids. It was a way for the children to feel at ease with her.

But Marielle was left in incredulity, why her lady acting like a child, but of course, she is a child but it was not the way she used to be in the mansion. The lady acted like an elegant woman with proper etiquette. Though with confusion, she gave up and chose to go with the flow.

"Alright, if you insist, My Lady." She agreed worriedly.

"Thank you, Marielle. You really are the best." Beatrice made herself as cute as ever.

With that praise, Marielle's cheeks reddened like a sweet tomato.

****-------****

Marielle and Caville stayed and seated on the blanket under the big tree while on watch. Lily and Miles stayed in the house. They said that they will prepare snacks together with Sister Mildred.

Beatrice followed the two boys, Mike and Andrew. "So where are the worms?" She who stayed and observed the two, blatantly asked about the bait.

"..."

Andrew's eyes slightly widened with her blunt question. The emotionless face of the boy became transparent at that time. She guessed that Andrew did not expect that she will ask blatantly about worms. It was uncommon for a lady especially from a noble family to utter those words. After all, worms are not pleasant to the eyes. And the idea that fish, which will be served as dinner, already eaten worms, is disgusting.

Looking with Andrew's face, she smiled innocently, and continued. "Aren't worms the best to use as bait?"

"..."

Andrew then took a cooked corn from his bag.

"Is that a corn?"

"We will not use worms. We could use this.", he answered with an emotionless face again.

-------------

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY FAIRIES!!!

Though the pandemic is still presently on, I hope you all enjoy new year's eve with family or friends. I may not know you all, but I am praying and rooting to all's happiness.

To be honest, I have already come up with the plot of the story, but as a writer goes into details, the story went more far than i expected. Please bear with me.

I actually had a problem in remembering names in real life XD, (it was a serious problem that even the complete name of my boss XD), but i guess i have to sharpen my mind for my characters as they starting to pile up. hehehe. (i actually made a separate list. XD)

Again, Thank you. All your presence are made my year undeniably enjoyable.

PLEASE Dont forget to click the star below (VOTE) and/or FOLLOW me here.

Lovelots,

Isaiah ^_^