Sunflower Hill

Sunflower Hill. I'll miss that place.

But I couldn't stay there, trapped in Clara's mansion any longer. Already it has become like a desert in there- Sad and desolate. Empty of the joy that once had me dancing through the halls, the joy that made me feel forever grateful that I lived in such a wonderful house.

I turn away, and follow Silvan, who's already almost at the dock. "Wait for me!" I call, and he laughs.

"I could never leave without you, Rosaleen." He says, and I attempt to smile, trying to ignore my doubts about leaving the life I had behind.

Sure, it had gotten tedious at some times, but that wasn't to say that it always would be. Would it?

And after this, there's no going back. Clara will be furious. I've tried to get her a little bit prepared, but that's no guarantee that she won't send her whole legion after us. If she wasn't already sending them after Sir Mario Roamer.

Clara, known by most as Clarabella Violet, Countess Violet, or just "Her Excellency" and Sir Mario Roamer did not get on well. They would constantly exchange letters threatening to send their soldiers to take over each other's mansions, and every once in a while, they actually did.

However, the most their soldiers ever did was ruin their gardens, since they weren't really soldiers but people who they paid to wear a uniform and look impressive. Their animosity only served to annoy me, since I was friends with them both.

But I can't tear my eyes away from that house, that house where I was so happy and so sad, where I laughed hysterically and wept uncontrollably.

I still remember the day I arrived there. Both my parents had died a few years before, from a terrible sickness, and my grandfather finally decided it was time for me to go out into the world... In other words, he kicked me out.

So I wandered the streets, with no possessions and no money, looking for a place to stay.

Just as it was begining to grow dark, I reached Countess Violet's mansion. It was a beautiful mansion, painted dappled shades of lilac, with large windows. It was stood alone on a large hill, surrounded by rows and rows of sunflowers. There was an occasional tree here and there, and a few rosebushes. Enclosing it all was a tall iron fence.

I stood at the gate, debating whether to enter or leave before anyone saw me. Clara and I hadn't been on good terms as children -we were both in love with the same boy- but I had heard that she was turning over a new leaf, and I thought maybe she'd let me stay with her if I did some kind of work for her. After all, everyone knew she lived with her many, many servants. And I had nowhere else to go.

So I let myself in through her gate, and started walking up the long path up to her house. It was fall, and the leaves on the trees were a brilliant shade of red.

When I finally reached the house, I knocked on the door, which was opened by a butler.

It was even more beautiful on the inside. There were paintings with scenes of nature, and the walls were a very pale pink, like the inside of a shell.

"What is your business with Countess Violet?" The butler asked, which made me wonder whether I it was the wrong choice to have come, since I didn't really have a reason to be here. But I couldn't go home to grandfather.

"I'm an old friend of Her Ladyship's, Rosaleen Grant." I said. "Could you take me to her?"

The butler looked skeptical, but he replied, "I'll ask Her Excellency whether she'd like to see you. At the moment she is dining with Sir Mario Roamer."

Of course, this was long before the two of them had fallen into enmity. Back then, she and Sir Mario were actually rather close.

When the butler returned, he said, "The Countess will see you now." He led me down a long corridor filled with portraits of Countess Violet and her family and into a grand dining room. The long cherry wood table seemed almost too big for just the Countess and her guest.

"Miss Rosaleen Grant." The butler announced before disappearing back down the corridor. I had half a mind to run after him, but I stood my ground.

"Rosaleen Grant. You seem familiar. Although I don't really remember much about you." Countess Violet said, walking over to greet me. She was much shorter than I remembered.

"I hope I’m not disturbing your meal." I said quietly.

"No, no, we haven’t started eating yet." She said. "So, what brings you here?"

I try to swallow the anger that comes rushing back, threatening to spill out of my mouth. Seeing her face, which looks exactly the same, after all these years awakens all the hatred for her that I never knew I had in me. She, who was always so privileged. Her, with her diamond earrings and sapphire necklaces. The one who knowingly stole my boyfriend from me and then turned him against me all those years ago, the one who then abandoned him for some other, more handsome guy. And she didn't even remember?

But I took a deep breath and said, "I was wondering if you needed like... a secretary or companion or something."

"A companion? Whyever would I need a companion? What is a companion anyways?"

"Well, companions are those people who you hire to be your friend and keep you company. Something like that." I say, trying out my winning smile.

I didn't know what to expect, because she did seem a little different. But maybe we would never be able to be anything other than enemies.

And then I remembered something- The sunflower necklace, resting around my neck. When my father had given it to me, back when I still believed in magic and miracles, he told me that it was enchanted, so that whoever I gave it to would see me as a friend, but that if it was taken back, great tragedy would befall the person it was given to. Perhaps this was the time to give it to someone, as it wouldn't be much use to me if I were living on the streets. And it was well known that sunflowers were Countess Violet's favourite flower.

Slowly, I undid the clasp around my neck and handed it to her. "I heard you like sunflowers." I said. "I feel like I must give you something- We didn't always get along quite so well when we were younger. I must've such a pain back then, I imagine."

She smiled. "I don't really remember that, but if you say so. You seem all right, though. You couldn't have really been so bad back then." She turned around. "Could you help me put this on?"

I placed it around her neck and fastened it. Either my smile or the necklace must've been working, because it seemed such a trusting move. I was half tempted to stick a knife in her neck, but I restrained myself. I hadn't given her enough of a chance yet.

She turned around, and Sir Mario and I both gasped. Somehow she looked even more radiant wearing it. It looked perfect, like it was meant for her to wear. I felt a twinge of resentment. She really had everything- looks, money, power.

"You look beautiful," Sir Mario said, seeming to materialize from the shadow. A few moments before, I had forgotten he was there. He had that property about him.

Countess Violet laughed. It was a pretty laugh, happy and playful. It was the laugh of someone who never knew growing up worrying about not having enough food or money. It was the laugh of someone who had everything.

She turned to me and smiled. "You might as well stick around, if you like. But you don't have to stay as my secretary or companion- be here with me as my friend!"

I was annoyed. There was no "if I liked" about it. I had nowhere to go. But she never saw things that way. To her, anyone could do as they pleased.

And yet- there was something so childlike and charming about it, the way that she asked me to stay with her, how she didn't take life too seriously. The touching way she assumed I was her friend!

"Thank you very much, Your Ladyship." I said, and Sir Mario Roamer laughed. I glanced at him, confused.

"You're very welcome, Rosaleen. And you don't have to be so formal, you may call me Clara. Oh, and for the future- I know that traditionally, a Count's title would be "His Excellency," and a Countess' title would be "Her Ladyship," but as I consider myself just as excellent as a count, and my title is "Her Excellence.""

"Very well." I said, and then added, "Your Excellency."

She laughed. "Now then, let's get on with dinner, shall we?"