Free Web NovelChapter 47: Harvest moon festival (1)
It was finally the day the townspeople had all been waiting for, the harvest moon festival. It meant tons of activities for the next two days and hopefully a visit from the king. Parties would be held for young men and women to mingle and potentially become partners. Young girls were busy picking out their best dress with their mothers while the young men were having drinks with their father to discuss which household daughters they should keep an eye on.
Aurora stood alone in her room looking at the bland dress which arrived for her a day ago. It was nothing like the one she liked back at the Madame Eloise and did not match her cape. It was a strange looking off-white dress with long sleeves and looked like it was too long for her which she disliked. However, she expected a dress that would not suit her so no one would pay attention.
She felt the material and wished the dress would instantly change to the one she liked but it didn’t. Aurora sighed but didn’t allow it to get the best of her because during the harvest festival she planned to run away. She had put up with their lies for too long and it was time for her to go and find who she truly was. There was also the possibility of meeting the wolf tonight.
"I hope someone comes to take care of you or maybe I should place you in the garden," she told the plant which had spoken to her a day ago. Without her here, it wasn’t guaranteed the plant would be taken care of. "How about I leave you by the old oak tree?"
She left the plant and went to place the rest of her belongings into a small ball she had packed. She was taking a couple of clothes, money she had saved from her monthly allowance, the jewelry she could sell in the future, and lastly was the book she got from the witches. When Aurora was done she pushed it under the bed. Halfway through the festival, she planned to return home to get the bag and then leave.
"Time to get ready now," she muttered as it was nearing time for everyone to leave for the festival. The night would start off with dancing, singing, and things on sale under the full moon.
Thirty minutes later, Aurora arrived downstairs in the dress picked out for her to go to the festival. Despite everything else happening in her life, she had been longing to go to the harvest festival with her siblings.
"What is that ugly thing you’re wearing?" Questioned Regina upon seeing her sister’s dress for the night. "Did they pick that out for you?"
Aurora nodded, hating it even more now that Regina also agreed it was ugly. On the other hand, she admired the dress Regina wore. It was light blue and complimented her features. There was no doubt her sister would capture the eyes of many young men tonight. Aurora hoped Regina would find someone who loved her.
"This is taking things too far-"
"Is it?" Minnie asked, coming down the stairs with Rachel, Nathaniel, and Samuel behind her. "What are you doing here Aurora? A maid was supposed to tell you not to prepare for the festival. No need to complain about the dress anymore." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"That’s outrageous. You said she could go-"
"Regina! Shut up before I am forced to do something about that attitude you have," Rachel scolded her daughter and hurried by her side to drag the unwilling girl out the door.
"Go Regina. I don’t mind staying behind," Aurora told her sister. Regina looked too beautiful not to go out and have fun tonight. Regina also loved the festival as much as she did. "Have fun for the both of us."
"Come along," Rachel pulled her daughter towards the carriage followed by her husband.
Aurora watched Samuel walk by her but he did not look her way. He refused to make eye contact with her and she found it to be strange. They hadn’t talked much these days for her to know what was wrong.
With him gone, it was only Aurora and Minnie left to talk.
"Duncan will stay here and keep an eye on you. After your little display that night with Seth, this was the perfect punishment that came to my mind. You know I don’t tolerate disrespect Aurora. I really wanted to bring you along and this was hard for me to do. I’ll bring you back a treat," Minnie said, placing her hand on Aurora’s shoulder. "Be a good girl. Duncan, take her to her room."
Aurora looked over her shoulder and saw the butler coming up behind her.
Minnie fixed the coat on her shoulder beside Aurora rubbing in the fact she was about to leave for the festival.
Aurora suddenly remembered the story children were told of a girl with a red hood. How a wolf was the bad guy in the story but here in her life, the grandmother was her bad guy. Why did it take her so long to realize how two-faced Minnie was this entire time? Her younger self who waited up for Minnie to come to comfort her when Rachel had Samuel and Regina would be heartbroken.
"Goodbye Aurora," Minnie said before going out the door to the carriage awaiting her. freewebnøvel.com
Aurora stood with Duncan beside her watching the carriage move off with everyone else inside.
"It’s time to go back to your room," Duncan said after a maid had closed the door. He had prepared everything Minnie asked of him. Instead of returning to her room, she would be placed in the cell Minnie had secretly built.
"Okay," Aurora replied, not feeling upset, surprised, or even sad. Her plan had slightly changed and instead of returning to the home afterward for the bag, she’ll take it now and leave.
"I am sorry," Duncan apologized walking ahead of Aurora.
"I’m sorry too," she apologized after hearing footsteps coming behind her.
