Chapter 35: The Children
It’s been weeks since the family of Lorenzo moved into the main mansion of Monteverde’s. Maxine, Flora and Lenox were excited when they first moved into the main mansion because they could be with their Grandfather, Perol. Like how Perol treated Lorenzo, He treated it the same to his children.
The children are almost happy when they move into the mansion but the thing is. They are not happy when they learn their cold uncle Xander and his new wife Giselle are going to live with them in the mansion. The children don’t really like their cold uncle Xander. Because Xander didn’t give any reaction to his face and he is cold to them. And added to that Lorenzo scared his children by saying that Xander is a monster who takes his cousin’s body. For that reason, The children are wary of their uncle. And now everytime they see him, Whether they’re stunned or shaking in fear.
The night before the first breakfast in the mansion. Chantal talks to her children seriously to not make any mistake in front of the Headmaster and as much as possible avoid Giselle and Xander. The kids obediently followed their mother’s words. Especially Maxine. The eldest daughter of Lorenzo.
Maxine Monteverde, The eldest child of Lorenzo. The pride of their family because of her exceptional talent in music at a young age. Maxine is not a normal child, She was exceptional in every aspect. Mostly in music. She learned to play a piano when she was 3, She played the hardest piece of piano that was almost impossible to play. Piano Sonata in D Major, K. 576 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She played it after 3 months of piano lessons. That is the reason why Lorenzo, So much invested in Maxine because of her talent. To the point that Maxine became a spoiled brat. All the things that she wants she will get it in just a snap of her finger. And she is also the most obedient in terms of following her mother’s word. Because even though Lorenzo put all his attention to Maxine, The child still wants the attention from her mother.
If Maxine, Obediently followed the words of her mother, It was opposite to Flora. The second daughter of Lorenzo and Chantal. Flora is a timid and shy kid. She grew up with her nanny. It’s because Lorenzo and Chantal are too focused on their other kids that they forgot the existence of Flora. Even if she is a timid and shy kid, She is a hard-headed one who doesn’t listen to her parents’ words except her nanny and Maxine. Who she treats as a real mother. And the youngest is Lenox, The only boy of the family and the weakest, who is born with a weak body. The joy of Lorenzo and Chantal.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
Today is a sunny afternoon for the siblings who are in the garden of the mansion and playing with each other. They are having fun by making a flower crown and blowing the dandelion to spread it in the air. They were just having fun until Lenox started to feel drowsy because of the good weather of the afternoon.
” I think, Sir. Lenox wants to sleep” His Nanny Wilma said as she carried Lenox in her arms.
” Belina and Miranda, I’m going ahead. I will put Lenox in bed” Nanny Wilma said to the two other Nannies.
” Okay” The two of them said in unison.
Flora stared at Lenox who was comfortably sleeping with his nannies arms. She stared at him intently to the point that she also felt sleepy. Flora shakes her head as she looks at Maxine who is now meticulously finishing the flower crown that she will give to their mother Chantal.
” I don’t want to play anymore, I also want to sleep ” She said while looking at Maxine who immediately stopped creating the flower crown and looked at Flora.
” You can’t, You need to stay here” Maxine answered as she returned her focus to creating a flower crown.
Flora, Always looking up to Maxine. She believes that if she becomes Maxine their parents will put at least attention to her without being a hard headed one just to get their attention.
” Who are you going to give that flower crown to?” Flora asks out of curiosity.
” For Mommy,” Maxine answered. Flora’s eyes wide as she looks at the flower crown that she is also making. The flower crown that she made is nothing compared to the flower crown that her sister is making. She pouts as she looks at her Nanny, Asking help from her by giving a puppy look to her.
The nanny just smiled as she gently shook her head as an answer. Flora’s Nanny knows that if she helps Flora. Maxine will get angry at her sister and she will ruin the crown that Flora is making. And she doesn’t want that to happen. She just wants to have a peaceful afternoon with the sisters.
Flora just stared at the flower crown that she is making. She also wants to give the flower crown to her mother but her flower crown is ugly. In her eyes it’s garbage compared to the beautiful work of art that her sister is making.
” Sister, Can you help me make my flower crown beautiful? I also want to give my flower crown to Mommy. ” Flora said to her Sister Maxine.
Maxine looked at her Sister’s face as she gave her a blank look. She doesn’t want to help Flora in making her flower crown beautiful because she wants her creation to be the best and the most beautiful. To make her mother happy and to get a compliment from her.
“No, You want to give that to her, Then you need to create it with your own hands and mind ” Maxine firmly said that makes Flora sniff because she feels that she is going to cry. Flora wiped the tears that came from her eyes to prevent herself from crying.
” Crying baby ” Maxine commented to her sister as she stood up.
” I don’t want to play with you anymore. Crying baby” She mocked before she left Flora.
Flora stared at her sister who was moving away from her. As soon as she can’t see her sister back. She started to cry hard because of the sadness that she is feeling in her heart.
” I just want to ask for help” She whispered before she ran towards her Nanny and cried.
Flora’s Nanny just hugged Flora as a comfort to the child. She can’t do anything towards the sister’s relationship because she is just a worker in the family. She can only give assurance and comfort to Flora. Assurance that she is always at her side and comfort that she never receives from her family.
FLORA is in the library of the mansion. Her Nanny left her there to get a refreshment for her while reading children ‘s books together. Flora was just obediently waiting for her Nanny when she saw a familiar face between the shelves of the big library. Flora got off from her seat as she started to go where she saw the familiar person. She walked between the shelves as she slowly peaked between the books. Her eyes widened when she saw Giselle reading a book between the shelves. She watched Giselle reading and the more she watched her the more she fell in her beauty. She feels like she saw a fairy in front of her. She is thinking about all the books that she read. That a fairy will come to a good child to grant her wish. And she is thinking that Giselle might be a real fairy who will grant her wish.
GISELLE feels the stares of the Kid in the back of the shelves. She knows who it is and she is just pretending that she doesn’t see her even if she really sees her whole face staring at her. Giselle closes the book that she is reading as she puts it back on the shelves on the spot where the Kid is peeking at her. As soon as she put the book down. She turned her back and was ready to leave the aisle but the book that she put fell on the ground. It looks like Flora moves the book out of her way to see Giselle’s face. Giselle turned her back as she slowly bent and looked closer at the hole where Flora was watching her.
Flora was startled because of what Giselle does. She fell on the ground because of shock. Giselle just smirks because of what happened. She decided to go to the other side of the shelves to have a better look of the kid who was peeking at her earlier.
Flora gulped as she heard the footsteps of Giselle walking towards her. Her body is shaking out of nervousness and she also wanted to cry because of the fear that she is feeling at the moment. What if Giselle is not a good fairy and she is the one who gives curses to the children. She doesn’t want to be ended like the bad kids in the children’s book that she is reading.
” Why are you peeking at me, Flora?” Giselle calmly asks, which makes Flora a little bit calmer. In her mind she voices like her mom. The way her mom talks to her. Gentle and Calm. The voice that she always wants to hear from her Mom.
” I-Im j-ju-” Flora cannot complete her sentence because of the mix of emotions that she is feeling. Embarrassed, Fear and nervous.
Giselle walks a little bit closer to Flora, As she bends her knees and helps Flora to stand up.
” I’m not going to eat you” Giselle muttered while fixing the dress of Flora that crumpled because of falling in the ground.
Flora gaze at Giselle who was busy fixing her dress. ” Don’t cry and go back ” She heard Giselle say. She doesn’t know that she is already crying because of the fear that she is feeling.
She closed her eyes when she felt the warm hands of Giselle wiping her tears.
” Go back ” Giselle said before she stood up straight and gave a pat to Flora’s head before she walked away.
Flora was just stunned because of what happened. She unconsciously touches her head where Giselle pat her head. She closes her eyes because she can still feel her warm hands on her head.
” It’s warm”