Free Web NovelChapter 64: Chapter 64: Zara’s curiosity
In a large luxurious room sat a golden-haired girl with blue eyes, fingers moving across the piano keys while a man in his fifties stood beside her, guiding her through the piece with quiet instruction.
Maria stood four steps behind them, posture straight, mirroring the teacher’s stillness without thinking about it.
Zara’s face was completely focused. This was one of the few lessons she was genuinely passionate about, and it showed. Maria’s lips curved upward slightly at the sight before she caught her own reflection in the polished surface of the piano and composed herself.
She looked away, letting her gaze drift around the room until it settled on the cupboard in the corner.
Zara had been unusually sensitive about that cupboard lately.
Maria’s first theory had been that it was simply another odd purchase. Zara had a short attention span for new things — she would fixate on something, lose interest, and whatever it was would end up in her treehouse box eventually. She had accumulated quite a collection that way. Items bought from strange vendors, curious little things she’d carry around for a week and then forget entirely.
But the wooden box was different.
It hadn’t gone to the treehouse. Zara would usually hand things off to Maria to store once the novelty faded, but not this one. She kept it close and said nothing about it, which was unusual enough on its own. Zara was many things but secretive was rarely one of them.
Maria looked at the cupboard a moment longer.
"A girl could have a secret or two,"
Maria concluded, and let it go. Knowing Zara, she would slip up eventually. She was too naive to be a crafty secret keeper.
---
When the lesson concluded that afternoon Maria went to fetch Zara’s snacks, the other maids moving through their own routines around her.
Another maid fell into step beside her on the way to the kitchen. She was Sophia the personal maid to Zara’s mother the Duchess, and their paths crossed often enough at this hour that they had grown comfortable with each other. Not quite friends , since Sophia was considerably older and Maria treated her with the respect due being her senior , but there was a warmth between them that had developed naturally over time.
"Maria dear," Sophia said pleasantly, "how are Lady Zara’s studies coming along?"
"She gives her utmost effort," Maria replied with a polite smile. "Though she does complain about certain lessons from time to time."
Sophia covered her mouth and giggled. "You know, her mother was exactly the same at her age. Probably more unruly than Lady Zara, if I’m being honest."
Maria blinked. "You mean the Duchess?"
Sophia made a swift shushing gesture, eyes wide with playful alarm. "Oh my, I may have said too much. I do hope Maria dear won’t tell on me or I’ll find myself in trouble."
"I would never," Maria said, with an awkward smile.
Sophia patted her head warmly and turned toward the other wing, snacks in hand. "Let’s not keep them waiting. The mother and daughter do love their afternoon snacks."
Maria gathered her own tray and watched her go.
She exhaled quietly.
"She is too playful for her age."
She tried to picture it. The Duchess who was graceful and composed, every movement as unruly as Zara.
She couldn’t manage it. The comparison refused to form properly no matter how she approached it.
She shook the thought off and continued down the hall.
Zara lay across her bed, one arm draped over the edge, staring at the ceiling .
"I truly wonder where Mr Ronan is located at ."
Her gaze drifted toward the cupboard where she had kept the box .
"If I’m correct, i should receive the message tonight. If he sent any at all."
A knock came at the door.
"It is me, Lady Zara."
"Enter."
Maria came in carrying a tray containing cookies arranged neatly beside a small pot of tea, the familiar afternoon smell of it reaching Zara before Maria had fully crossed the room.
Zara sat up and reached for a cookie immediately.
Maria was tempted to correct her but remembered yesterday and decided against it. She cleared her throat instead , a small reminder atleast .
Zara ignored it completely and started on the cookies, taking small quick bites with complete contentment.
Maria sighed.
---
When the snacks were finished and Maria was tidying the tray, Zara looked up.
"By the way, Maria, why did you have a lemon with you yesterday?" She paused. "I didn’t get to ask since I was busy looking for odd items on the street. Gracious items," she corrected herself, straightening slightly.
Maria glanced at her.
Curiosity made up at least half of Zara on any given day, and there was little point in deflecting it. She decided to answer plainly.
As she explained the origin of the lemon ,which was about how and why she had it .
Maria could see it happening in real time , which was Zara’s eyes brightening, her posture shifting forward, curiosity fully engaged before Maria had even finished speaking.
She didn’t get the chance to say anything further.
Zara grabbed her hand with both of hers. "Show me. I want to see the magical lemon," she said, her voice edging into something close to a coo.
"Lady Zara." Maria tried to free her hand with minimal success. "I didn’t say it was magical. Someone used it to perform magic, and who knows , it could simply have been a trick involving the lemon. My brother is still a child. He would believe anything."
Zara didn’t appear to care about the distinction in the slightest.
Maria looked at her for a moment, then exhaled.
"Alright. I’ll bring it to you."
-----
After a moment, a lemon lay on Zara’s palm , her blue eyes scanning the entirety of the lemon .
"what is so interesting about a lemon ?" Maria could not understand at all
Where as Zara started poking the Lemon slightly ,but after no reaction from it whatsoever.
Zara suddenly had an interesting idea .
"Should i try keeping it close with the magical box to see if anything happens ."
