"It is the third time this week that Mr. Morris has come to our home, hasn't it?”

I stand on the balcony, looking down at the scene of my father and Mr. Morris and conversing with Thena, while being equally surprised. Truly, the regular presence of the lawyer at Drevolre Manor has caused us to start worrying. We walk through the deserted corridor, our minds unable to think clearly. The servants of the house have significantly dwindled, only the elderly and those who have been attached since my grandfather's time remain. Even my maidservant is now the only one left. Surely, something has happened in this family. And my parents are hiding it from us.

I wait for Mr. Morris to leave, and when only my father is in the study, I decide to ask him directly. Seeing me, my father is extremely surprised, and perhaps he also notices his daughter's serious expression, he immediately puts on a guarded face. I walk up to him and smile gently. I do not want him to feel tense. My elderly father has had to endure many bitter things in his life. But I also do not want to waste both our time by prolonging this long-drawn-out story. I only blame myself for not being more vigilant earlier.

"Father, I see that Mr. Morris has been constantly discussing matters with you and mother recently. Can I ask about what it is?"

"Nothing significant, my dear Fiona," he reassures me with a smile. Sometimes, I truly hate his smile. Because when he does so, I completely trust him without a second thought.

"Is it really nothing, or is it related to our estate?"

"Nothing at all, my daughter," my father interrupts, with a very straight-forward attitude. "Just some legal matters, and we need to discuss them carefully with Mr. Morris."

"Does it have anything to do with the departure of our servants?" I inquire persistently.

"Indeed, that is the case," my father replies solemnly.

For a moment, both he and I remain silent, exchanging nothing more than an intense, searching gaze. Though he has given me a reasonably persuasive justification, I cannot help but believe that there is something shrouded in mystery, concealed beyond my grasp. I sigh heavily, bid him farewell, and depart the room. If something truly transpires, I can only hope that my father will inform us before it is too late. Strangely enough, while I am preoccupied with the welfare of my family, the two gentlemen from the Morten household come to mind, swift and sudden. Could this be a portent of some kind?

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I continue my knitting to pass the time, and once again my younger siblings come to me. But this time it is not just Thena, and certainly not a letter of mine being discovered. This time, all three of my siblings come to my room. Thena and Diana push David forward, while all three of their faces are drawn and uneasy. I am surprised to see David back in the middle of term. I set the knitting aside, and instinctively sense something amiss. I scan each of them with narrowed eyes and ask, "What's the matter?"

Thena shrugs David's shoulder and says, "He has something to say."

"David?" I look at him with a serious expression. "What is it?"

My younger brother initially appears hesitant, but then as if unable to hide it any longer, he says, "Someone in my school said... we no longer have any money."

I am silent for a moment, as if all the blood has drained from me. The knitted hat I was working on suddenly falls to the ground, and I don't bother to pick it up. So, everything has its own reason. Mr. Morris did not visit my home every other day for no reason. He would not come just because an order was changed. Mr. Morris came to announce that we have gone bankrupt, and yet here we are, dressed in luxurious clothes and eating expensive food. Once again, the Lamstrong household is in chaos, and I no longer care whether the rumors that my family is cursed are unfounded.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

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In the room, the atmosphere becomes extremely solemn. The four of us sit on the sofa without making a sound. The clock ticks loudly on the wall. Madame Satine The Cat walks back and forth, creating the clinking sound of her bracelet. We are facing my parents. My father sits on the chair, with a terrifyingly serious expression, while my mother stands on the side, bowing her head. She places her hand on his shoulder as a gesture of solidarity. Satine jumps onto my father's lap and whines as if seeking attention. He looks at the pitiful cat and strokes its belly. After a while, he clears his throat and breaks this cold and stale atmosphere.

"I don’t know what to say to you anymore..."

"We no longer have money, do we?" Diana asks softly, with eyes that seem to want to cry.

My father does not answer, but that expression is enough for us to understand. My sisters look at each other with a relieved expression, but also feel helpless. Diana, the ordinary daughter who hardly ever voices her opinion, and does not interfere with anything, becomes the strongest and most decisive in this situation. Diana says tearfully:

"I will sell my paintings. I will also teach drawing. There is no one here good enough to teach the ladies."

My parents and we are stunned at the little girl, and so are we. Following Diana, David also gradually becomes a true man, a pillar for this family. My little brother makes a decision:

"I will quit boarding school. After all, I am better than the kids there. Kevin told me that Mrs. Daphne is looking for someone to manage her garden by the river. I will go there."

"And me..." Thena stands up. I can see the little girl struggling internally very strongly. Her fingers clasp tightly together, just a little more force and blood will rush out. "I will stop writing what I always believe in... I will write what people want. Then... my work will be accepted by everyone."

A hardy girl like Thena doesn't often utter such words. In this moment, I feel much smaller than my younger siblings. Only I am without anything special to aid my family. Perhaps becoming someone's wife is the only thing I can do. I know I have had such thoughts before, and I have sworn along with Enzo. But how can I be at ease when everything is falling apart like this? I try to hold back tears, my fingers becoming unsteady and constantly biting into each other. I can see the blood seeping out. Oh Lord! Please show me the way back. Please help me find a way to save my family.

I stand up, gaze at my family as if to give more strength to what I am about to say. I take a deep breath and speak:

"If it has to come to that, I will do everything I can to salvage the situation. I can teach music or even have to marry someone..."

Immediately, I receive objections from both my parents and everyone in the house. My mother walks over and hugs me tightly. I can feel her tears soaking through my clothes. She says in a choked voice:

"You won't have to marry anyone!"

She releases me, then kisses my forehead. Afterwards, she walks over to look at her other three children. She firmly and strongly says:

"Thena, you won't have to change for anyone. David, you won't be allowed to stop your studies. And Diana, you can continue to paint, for your own good."

Only now does my father stand up and come close to the family. He embraces all of his children. After a moment, he reluctantly lets us go. He smiles to reassure us. The imprint of anxiety is etched onto that man's face. Gently, he says:

"We've run out of money, but that's the past. I've dealt with Mr. Morris and within a few months, we'll be back to where we were."

"How?" I feel somewhat relieved, but partly within me still disbelieving.

"I have found someone to work with me in managing the estate. I didn't tell you all because I didn't want to upset our family. We have gone through many things, and this too shall pass quickly."

He smiles reassuringly at us, and like always, we fall for it. Each of us feels a bit lighter. Outside, the trees are budding and the grass stretches out like a painting. The stallions neigh and the mares swish their tails. A flock of swallows flit and dip across the sky. Suddenly, I feel like a stranger in my own home. I look at my father's smile, my mother's smile, and my siblings' smiles. I feel like I am in a dramatic play, unsure of what's real and what's not. I do not know if I can trust their words anymore. And now I have to question myself about what I just said. Whether those things really happened and if I will do what I promised.

Will I marry any man just to keep the estate, leaving Enzo with a broken heart all alone?

I do not know anymore… I just do not know…