CHAPTER XX: THE INNER CHILD

"AAAAHHHH"

Caville, Marielle and Andrew were all startled hearing the voice from the deep woods. It was Beatrice. All of them stood up and hurried were the sounds coming from.

Unfortunately, the voice echoed in the entire forest that made it difficult to locate. Andrew hurriedly ran where he thought the voice coming from. He was very familiar of the forest. His undeveloped body made him quick in jumping logs and rushed between trees. Caville and Marielle were left behind.

"Ms. Marielle go back in the river. Let us Andrew look for them." Caville sternly ordered the maid.

Marielle realized that she slowing down the man so she decided to stay. She clasped her both hands and prayed, "Please let my Lady be safe.".

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

It was a huge python. Yellow and green scales with frightening eyes. Hiss hisss

"Help!"  Beatrice shouted while swinging out the long fire wood against the snake. Mike was behind her, wrapped his arms to her.

Hiss hhiss.

"Don't you dare come here or I'll hit you to death." She said trying to threaten the dangerous long reptile. She was holding hope that it will understand her words.

"Just stay behind, Mike. Sister will get you safe."

Mike, who is teary eyed, held her dress tightly.

As they slowly retreating, Mike got off balance that the two of them both fell to the ground. The huge python found it as an opportunity and attacked.

Beatrice saw it. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and turned to Mike who was behind her, and gave a tightly hug in order to protect him.

Bam. Thak.

Expecting an attack from the huge snake, Beatrice slowly opened her eyes and loosened her hug from the little boy when there was no pain at all. It came to her view was a crushed snake's head by a big stone. Though, its body and tail were still wagging and 'til it stopped moving.

It was dead.

"Brother!"

Mike ran towards him as soon as he saw his brother Andrew. He hugged him. Andrew patted the head of the little boy.

"It is okay now." He said calmly to console the little boy.

Beatrice was still slumped in the ground. Honestly, she is very afraid of snakes. But due to Mike's trembling and lethargic expression, she held herself and kept acting strong, because she doesn't want to frighten the little boy more.

Now that everything was settled, the snake was killed. Unconsciously, her tears streamed down on her cheeks. Her scared heart that stopped beating is now screaming. Her heart beats so fast.

"You're late.", she cried and unintentionally blamed him. "We were" sniff "so scared."

Andrew's eyes widened in shock. He flinched with the sudden burst of the lady.

Mike looking at her, cried at the same time.

For the first time, Andrew did not know what to do. He has no idea what to do at the time, whom the latter ended up stiffened.

Until finally, Caville appeared, "My Lady."

"Cavilleeeee."

Beatrice sobbingly turned and called her knight and held her hand out. Caville then picked up the crying lady.

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

Beatrice's first day encounter with Andrew was quite embarrassing for her. Her childish heart within burst during that time. She did not intend to cry that much though. But it seems that even her mind was old enough, the young body still prevails at some point.

However, she took it as a blessing in disguise somehow. After that incident, Andrew and Mike became comfortable with her. Mike was enthusiastic to see and to talk to her whom she was so happy about.

Andrew was still wearing his emotionless face, but his guard put in low. She also understood his moods more.

But there are times that she noticed Andrew's face slightly reddened for some reasons, rather he looked embarrassed. Most of the time, it happened when they talked to each other closely. She has no idea why the latter somehow appeared that way, but she doesn't want to query. She had a hard time pleasing him so she doesn't want to inflict unpleasantness to their growing friendship.

And moreover, she thought that she had another brother in the person of Andrew.

"Let's go now. For sure, they already set up our picnic." Beatrice happily said.

"You two go first. I will just change clothes." Andrew languidly responded.

"Why do you have to change. You did not even get sweat from our trip.", muttered by Lily.

"You both looked presentable to me though." After saying that, Beatrice approached Andrew and attempted to smell him.

As she got closed to Andrew... "I said, I need to change my cloth.", Andrew embarrassingly retreated. His face slightly reddened and averted his gazed. "I will have quick change so you two could go first."

Beatrice tilted her head in confusion looking the embarrassed disposition of him. "Hmm... alright. Let's go Lily and Sister Mildred"

"You go quick, Brother Andrew.", reminded and pointed by Lily to her brother.

"..."

Andrew watched the three going out of the house. Without proper understanding of his situation, his heart beats so fast. He just stayed stand still while seeing Lady Beatrice's back dispersing from his view.

Beatrice, who was happily talking with the two, had no idea with the warm gazed of the boy behind them.

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

It was a big day. The school year already ended; summer already began.

His brother Ronald is coming home. It will be her first time seeing him personally, and she was excited but at the same time, nervous. Becoming a pen pal buddy, she was assured that her brother would not think of her suspiciously. She wore a simple, but elegant dress to welcome him. She waited in the front of their mansion together with Marielle and other servants.

"Marielle, am I presentable?" She confirmedly asked and continued her query. "My face did not change right?"

Marielle slightly giggled. "My Lady, you are beautiful as ever, and your brother will be very delighted seeing you."

Beatrice smiled. "Thank you, Marielle. I really don't know what am I going to do without you."

"It is my pleasure, My Lady."

The gate opened and a carriage entered to their premises. Her brother was riding there. She felt like her hands trembled, not for fear, but in excitement. She was really happy that finally, she will meet her brother personally.

To her excitement, she did not notice the arrival of her father behind her.

"Are you excited to see your brother?", asked by the Marquees.

"Father, you startled me."

The Marquees just smiled as his response.

The carriage stopped at their front and the door opened. It was a handsome and tall boy alighted from it. He was wearing white suit and pants with blue vest. He was like a prince from a snowy castle. His elegant and manly demeanor was right in all places.

"Father. Greetings. I'm back." After greeting his father, Ronald turned his gazed to her and hugged her tightly. "Lil's Sis, I missed you so much."

Beatrice hugged him in return. "I missed you too, Brother."

-------

Half of January 2021 already ended, time flew so fast.

Hi fairies! ! !

Thank you for my new readers! I hope you all enjoy my work for this update.

My POV in this chapter, I can somehow relate to Beatrice's fear of snakes because I am too. Just imagining the situation there, and wearing her shoes, I might run fast as i can while Mike is in my arms.

Though, I know in reality that would be impossible (teehee ^_^'). Honestly, I encountered a python in our house when I was a kid, and I just ended up frozen and glued on the ground, while shouting for my mother. I did not cry, but the trembling was real. Anyway, i was a child back then.

Now, that i am adult, i came friendly to them now, i guess he he. When we went to safari zoo,  we even took pictures with a python wrapped on our shoulder, so now, i am perfectly fine.

(.>>) I guess. :P

Apology for not replying to some comments, i am avoiding to spill beans. Apology for that. But i was happy to read your comments wholeheartedly. Thank you for your appreciation in my work.

PLEASE DONT FORGET TO CLICK THE STAR BELOW, vote, and/or FOLLOW me. Thank you.

Lovelots,

Isaiah ^_^