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Geomancer
2. A Visit to Hillcrest Manor

2. A Visit to Hillcrest Manor

"Devin, are you up?" Rupert asked.

"I am now," I said, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes, "what's up?"

"Aren't you worried?"

"What?"

"Because of what you are," Rupert said, looking past me, "and people like Clive?"

"It isn't a crime. So, I don't know what the big deal is," I replied.

"But it is to the church, and if they push…."

"I know."

"Then why do it?"

"Because when I look in the mirror, I want to see myself," I said.

"That doesn't make sense. You can't change like that," Rupert said. The way he said it didn't seem to have malice behind it. But, the words stung with real hurt. We can't change what the gods give us.

"And why not?" I questioned. The hurt and pain that Rupert's words struck inside of me made my voice waver.

"Because."

"I think Sky has to go to the bathroom," I lied.

I pushed the snoring Sky until he voluntarily slid off the bed. He took a quick stretch and started to bark at me giving my cue that it was time for his morning routine.

"See," I said.

"Wait, Devin..." Rupert called out, but I had already turned my back on him.

Sky and I went down the stairs. We turned quickly out of the backdoor and into the alleyway. It seemed like another rainy day in Hillcrest. The depressions in the gravel were beginning to fill with water. And, the alleys were becoming too damp to traverse. Sky, for one, was not enjoying the rain and looked at me very annoyed. He refused to leave the little shelter the roof provided from the rainfall. Not budging no matter how much I pushed him.

"Come on, Sky! Pee! Please. Then you can go back in," I said.

With some reluctance, Sky went about his business and immediately returned to the backdoor. So I let Sky and myself back into the family bakery, and he entered the living room. It was the only room that Sky was allowed in on the first level due to the sanitation issues of a dog in a kitchen. Sky found his pile of old blankets and curled into a small ball. He seemed to be almost half in size and fluff. At least Sky could be content to sleep the day away.

"Sky, I will see you later," I said while scratching him behind his ears.

I made to leave but grabbed a rain jacket to stay dry this time. It wasn't the most slimming of wardrobe choices. But, the lack of holes meant that I would stay dry.

Even though I didn't like it as much, I would have to take the main roads. The main roads always meant more people. And more people meant more chances to run into Clive or the priest. His beating the day before was more than enough for one week. If I could avoid him longer, that would be ideal.

Thankfully with the rain and the early hour, hardly anyone was up and about yet. I walked peacefully through the streets admiring everything that was getting set up. After all, the ceremony was a big event, and many surrounding communities brought their children of age to Hillcrest. This year was the same with the influx of people in town, getting many traveling salespeople with individual and unique carts. There was yet to be anything displayed on these carts. But looking at the various tapestries and carvings that ordained them was still lovely.

As I got closer to the center of Hillcrest, the street my family's shop was on grew more expansive as it merged with intersecting streets. No matter what road you were on in Hillcrest, they all led to the same place, the Lord's estate. The estate was the manor where Alfonso and his family lived. It was unlike anything else in town. Where most buildings were shops on the lower floors and residences on top, the manor was all one grand house with smaller stone buildings surrounding it.

I entered the estate's central courtyard to the smell of wet roses.

Even though I tried to visit every day, my senses never failed to be amazed at the grandness of it all. It looked as though the hedges of roses had finally taken full bloom. The scent was a pleasant surprise, so I strolled through the rose bushes.

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"Devin, is that you?" A voice called out.

As I turned, I saw the ever-elegant Cinthia, Alfonso's mother. She was wearing a lovely red sundress with a large white-brimmed hat. I bowed my head as she approached me.

"It's nice to see you, my lady," I said.

"Now, now enough with the formalities. I assume you are looking for that boy of mine?" Cinthia asked with a smile playing on her lips.

As I raised my head to see her, I noticed that the water seemed to bend around her. Even with the falling light rain, she managed not to get a single drop of water on her.

"Yes, I would like to spend some time together. Would Alfonso happen to be around?"

"Unfortunately, you just missed him. He headed out hunting with the loggers' boy."

"Oh…"

"What was that boy's name again?"

"Clive."

"Yes, that was it, Clive. That boy's father has been trying to butter us up as of late," Cinthia said.

I had frozen there in the dew of the morning showers. Alfonso was off hunting this morning and with Clive, of all people. Cinthia must have noticed my inner turmoil and broken the silence.

"Well, since you came all this way, why don't you and I spend some time together?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," I responded.

"Afterwards, you can visit the library. I know how much you love it there. Besides, I am sure Alfonso will return by dinner, and you wouldn't want to greet him like that, would you?"

Cinthia looped her arm in mine and guided me into the manor. Upon entry, my feet met the softness of their entryway. The mansion had a deep red carpet running through every hallway's center. The rug itself depicted the changing of the seasons in its golden ornamentations.

"Bertram, can you grab a selection of clothes for this fine young girl? Also, send for a maid to gather my powder kit," Cinthia said to the well-dressed butler.

Cinthia led me into one of the more private drawing rooms of the manor, where she sat me down at a table with a sizable silver-trimmed mirror.

"You are of age. So, would you like to try this yourself this time?" Cinthia asked.

"Are you sure it's fine?" I replied.

"Of course! As much as I love doing this. I won't be able to do this forever for you."

"Okay."

"Good, I am glad to hear it!"

After a few moments, Bertram and a maid entered the drawing room. Bertram was pulling a rack of different dresses and garments for various occasions. The maid placed a large box on the table before me and started pulling out items. She first pulled out a few different foundations and compared them to my skin. After deciding on the palest of the three, she pulled out more items to go along with it.

"That should be good. Thank you, Sarah. But we will need your assistance after it is applied, so do hang around," Cinthia said to the maid.

Sarah, the maid, nodded and placed herself in the corner of the room until further directives.

"Thank you, Bertram. That should be all for now," Cinthia said to Bertram. Bertram promptly left the drawing room, closing the doors behind him.

Cinthia guided me through the steps of placing on my makeup. This makeover was not the first, but it was the first time I had done it with many different options. When I used my mothers, there was always way less to choose from since she only seldomly used any kinds of cosmetics.

"Sarah, can you help Devin touch up her look?" Cinthia asked.

"Of course," Sarah said as she moved over to me.

Sarah quickly got to work on finishing up my makeup. She touched my eyeshadow and added purple and black, whereas I used only blue. Sarah also touched my contouring, giving my face a more feminine appearance. I could hardly believe what I was looking at when it was all done. Every time I had my makeup done at the manor was the only time I felt like the real me.

"Now you look like a beautiful girl again," Cinthia said with a smile.

"Thank you."

"Now let us get you out of that outfit and something more fitting for a young lady. Sarah, if you would."

Sarah guided me behind a changing screen and helped me remove the clothing that I was wearing. Quickly, Cinthia threw three dresses on top of the changing screen.

"Try those on for me, Devin. Let's see how they look."

Sarah helped me change into the first one. It was a pink ball gown with decorative flowers running down each side of my body. As I got into it, I noticed the dress was very poofy and made me look about two sizes larger than I was.

"I don't think this dress suits me," I said with a frown.

"No, I think you are right. Try on the green one next."

The green dress was much more slimming with large decorative shoulder pads. When I got into it, I could not help but feel my chest loosen. The dress only worsened how I felt about my body when I noticed it exaggerated my shoulders more than I would have liked.

"Ugh, I don't think this is it either."

"No, you are quite right. That dress does not flatter you," Cinthia agreed.

The last of the three dresses was a silver and blue dress with a fitted waist and a flowing skirt. The waistline helped to cinch and made me look like I had a modicum of curves. That skirt made the dress one of my favorite things I had ever tried. Being able to twirl around in it sent euphoria straight into my head.

"You like that one, don't you?" Cinthia laughed.

I had forgotten where I was and was too busy twirling around in circles in front of Cinthia and Sarah.

"Yes, I do love it. Do you think it suits me?" I asked.

"I do indeed think that was the right dress for you."

Cinthia summoned Bertram again, and he began wheeling out the rack of dresses. Sarah cleaned up the table we had been using and packed all the makeup back into its box. After everything was once again in order, Cinthia turned to address me.

"How about I join you in the library until my son's return?"

"That sounds lovely," I replied.

Cinthia and I made our way out of the drawing room and back into the main hallways of the manor. The library was closer to the back of the estate and detached from the main mansion. It was one of the few spaces the Lord had begun to allow Hillcrest residents access. The grand library had more books than I could ever hope to read. Books were on every subject, from the latest fashion trends in the capital to Nucrestrian history. It was also my favorite space to wait for Alfonso to return when he was out and about Hillcrest.