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The summer storms had finally subsided and so too did the return of the vibrant sun reclaim the cerulean skies above. The sound of children’s laughter sang with blissful euphoria as they could be seen running down the streets but not without the fretful parents behind them, beckoning them to slow their stead in fear of lost footing. Iridescent pearl-sunrise gaze blinked with baffled inquisition with idle watch.

The early morning was spent with redecorating the small manor to her liking. Ridding anything that had any lingering reminder of her mother save for the family portraits as she could not bring herself to tear down the lasting images of her father and brothers. Sadness still lingered in a black swirl around her heart and would eventually break away from the manor to explore Vufrien without the company of her aide. Jocelyn had done more than enough of her share and Ianthe felt that the head maid needed to have her own time to grieve. 

It felt odd, as she thought come the passing of her mother that such theoretical chains would have been broken and she would have that longing freedom she’d only have glimpses of, when such fantasies were only crushed by the writings of her mother’s will.  It was the demise of her brothers, and those that remained to aide in her escape of their home in the North, here in Vufrien allegedly, was she to experience the freedom of those shackles. Freedom that came with a cost.

Her gaze was downcast after a while wandering aimlessly through the busy streets. Her senses aware and her guard remained a firm barrier still. Ianthe couldn’t help but feel the unsettle. Perhaps it was the trauma that followed her ever still. It is unlady like to fret, came the distant searing hiss of her mothers scoldings. Ianthe found herself unconsciously lifting her head up, then where her sights were soon met with the large cathedral before her.  Eyes widened, as old books that she escaped her sheltered life to depict such grand buildings as castles.

Curiosity begged her to venture further, walking passed the gates and into its gardens.