Lady Rosellia the Noble

Asty made her way to Lady Rosellia's mansion. Her eyes straightforwardly looking as she averted her gaze from the other women in the proximity.

Asty did not want to hear their childish rants.

"Look! It's the woodcutter's daughter!"

"She has bright orange hair, yet everyone in the village has dark hair."

"Is she a countess?"

"A secret count's love child, maybe."

Asty clenched her small fists on her skirt and closed her eyes.

"If she is a half-countess then why can she walk on sunlight?"

Asty's eyes slowly widened when she heard a familiar man's voice who came into her defense. She looked straight at the male and a smile spread from her small lips.

"Hello, Asty."

Asty chuckled as the male shooed the gossiping women. He looked at her with tender eyes and smiled sweetly at the young girl.

"Long time no see," he started. "You've grown a lot, Asty."

She chuckled. "Noelle," she called out the boy's name.

Noelle was Asty's childhood best friend. He used to be a woodcutter just like herself. He was a fine young man, a few inches taller than her with dark tousled hair and bright green eyes. He was very charming in his own ways.

He left the town a few months before and this was the very first-time Asty had seen him after he left.

"Where are you headed to?" he asked her.

"I am going to Lady Rosellia. She is ill and she needs me."

"I will come with you then," he smiled. "I adore Lady Rosellia. It would be nice to greet her."

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Asty elbowed the male who's cheeks have become beetroot when Lady Rosellia's name was mentioned. They both proceeded to walk.

_

When they arrived at Lady Rosellia's mansion, the guards let them in with no questions. Asty was worried because their behaviour was different as usual. It would seem that they were in a hurry making her go inside.

"There is something wrong," Noelle murmured.

Asty heard him and agreed. "Mhmm."

They both walked at a fast pace to Lady Rosellia's bed-chamber. When they arrived, the maids immediately opened the doors.

Lady Rosellia was in the bed, weak and frail. Noelle averted his gaze away from the woman.

"Lady Rosellia," Asty called out to her, and held her hands. They were cold as ice. "Lady Rosellia?"

"Asty..." she called to her weakly.

"Yes, I'm here."

"Asty, you're here..."

"I am..." Asty gently responded, while caressing her head.

Lady Rosellia was Asty's inspiration. A noble in her thirties who gave significant changes to the Village of Erana even if she weren't their chieftain. She was generous and kind, even to the poor peasants like Asty herself.

She was Asty's ray of sunshine.

"Lady Rosellia, the last I saw you, you were..."

She beautiful woman chuckled. "I was..?"

"You were extremely lively." Asty's bright eyes frowned. "What has become of you..?"

Rosellia smiled. "Every night, a creature visits me to watch me sleep."

Asty's eyes widened a bit. "Lady Rosellia?"

"It would stare at me with those huge, poisonous hues right at that window." she weakly pointed to a huge curtained glass. "It would not leave me alone. But last night, it did not come."

Asty did not understand Lady Rosellia's words. But she continued to listen.

"Maybe he grew tired of watching me."

"Don't say such things like that, Lady Rosellia."

Asty could not believe her eyes. Two days ago, this beautiful woman was with her picking daisies and blowing dandelions from the mountain meadows. And now, she is here, bedridden to the point that she cannot stand.

"Lady Rosellia, I will ask the doctor to bring you medicine immediately. Or should I run to the palace and seek the King for help?"

Lady Rosellia placed her palms on Asty's pale cheeks. "The king will not help me. The doctor did not know my illness."

"But Lady Rosellia..."

"I wanted to see you because you remind me of the sun..."

Asty gripped her hand tightly, and controlling herself from tearing up. "T-Then look at me to your heart's content, Lady Rosellia."

Rosellia smiled weakly. "Asthenosthene."

"Yes..?"

"Would you do me a favor?"

She frantically nodded, tears streaming from her eyes. "Yes, of course!"

..."Would you go to the Ball on my behalf?"...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***