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Rich In Deception
Chapter 1: Ivory Winds

Chapter 1: Ivory Winds

A series of cold winds flow past spruce wood trees, rustling them, making an echoing sound that anyone in the vicinity could hear. As mist gathered, the rain poured softly through the endless woods filled with a multitude of pine trees and quickly dampening rocks. Nearby Appaloosa horses let out a hearty sigh, and dusty candlelight flickered upon the nightfall's presence. "Ms. Vierrei, I insist that you hurry along. These trains are not going to wait for you." said a man dressed in black. He was wearing a professionally ironed suit, white gloves, and had a handkerchief neatly tucked in his right shirt pocket. The man received no reply from the girl. She stood next to him staring forward, her eyes dead and sucked of any delight inside her. The girl wore a heartless demeanor, and her hair reflected the auburn aura of nearby candle flames. It was brown, and delicately combed. She was fitted with a white collared shirt, complemented with a matching brown beret and cotton vest. Her black dress shoes were firmly planted in the ground as her skirt blew in the wind. The whole charade was all tied off with white socks. Despite her well kept clothes and hair, she had bruises on her knees, scarred knuckles, and appeared as though her heart had rotted from hurt. The rain settled slightly, and the train horn blared as it came to a sudden halt . "Ladies first," the old man persuaded her as he opened the door to the railway carriage and motioned for the girl to enter. She stared at the man for a moment, her reluctance present in her hesitant movement, before finally accepting the invitation. He followed swiftly behind her, suitcase in hand like a pawn at her disposal, as they walked and seated themselves before the train started up again. A moment of silence passed before he looked at her. "Ms. Vierrei, your absence of words proves heartbreaking." the man stated, yet the girl yielded no reply beyond a disturbed look. "You do understand the reason behind doing all this, right?"

"Yes," her voice barks, attempting to sound as accepting and calm as possible. Strange, it was. The Vierrei family were known for being exceptional people. They were well kept, intelligent, the family decided upon a majority of the political decisions within the city in fact, as the Winchester citizens heavily relied on their wits. Yet, the Vierrei daughter was unlike the parents. Cold and stubborn, weak or bruised, and often angry. Certainly, no such child could be that of a Vierrei, right? At least, that's what the townsfolk would think. There was silence from the couple. The girl had no desire for conversation, nor a desire to entertain the man's attempt at opening her mind to new things. New, undesirable, and draining things.

The man sighed and looked at her with an unexpected break of character to follow, "Your father is only doing what's best for you, you're a Vierrei you know? Each of the Vierrei female children had to attend the Boarwood Academy exactly as the last once she turned 13. It is the best academy for our family, as it teaches everything you need to know to uphold business. Your mother went through this very place as well as you will, Noelle-" the man yelps in agony to a sudden pain in his shin. The young girl stands towering over him, a sour expression on her face which is the first sign of emotion she'd shown since they arrived at the station. "Silence Atticus, you are merely a servant. You will not remind me of my family's customs, nor will you ever dare to address me by my first name again or I will have your head on my wall. Understood?" Noelle's burning disappointment made the chairs themselves feel inflamed, a representation of her distaste towards Atticus' callout. Hence the unbearable pain, Atticus could only manage a weak nod. Satisfied with his obligation, Noelle sat back down in her seat. The Vierrei family had a widely known history as far as their social status in Winchester. Men in the family were trained as knights or politicians, as their expectation was to serve or manipulate anything of value to the family's advantage. Their grueling training began at the young age of 13, especially if the boy was the eldest out of the children. The eldest sons were expected to be prepared and educated to reign the family in an Aristocracy ruled society, such as the one in Velmont Hollow, UK. The brothers of Noelle, George Arthur and Thomas Barette, had left to begin their training 5 years ago. George, the eldest, was mannered to conclude government decisions, while Thomas was strengthened in combat and command as a constable. As a Vierrei, they were responsible for maintaining the family appearance because no man was allowed to see any flaws with the family. To the public eye, they were brilliant. The women in the Vierrei family had to uphold a more economic appearance while the men directed part of the military system or improved the family's reputation. Women had to manage the business exchanges that took place within the family, as such, a Vierrei female was expected to be intelligent in finance or trade. These were Boarwood's primary teachings. When Noelle's brothers left, their absence marked her as an only child in the Vierrei Mansion, with only her Father and Atticus to accompany her.

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Growing up, the girl was always cheerful and shy. She loved plants and the family gardens, the staff would often find her with dirt on her clothes, yet, the girl began to grow explosive after the disappearance of her mother. Noelle grew angry, and resented her father. She blamed him for not protecting her mother when she was still around, for not begging her to stay at the Mansion the day she disappeared. The household staff were growing more concerned with the family's well-being. Noelle and her father fought constantly, yelling could be easily heard from across the halls. In all those arguments, Noelle could only remember the suffocating smell of alcohol on her dad's obnoxiously loud shouts, and the paralyzing fear that came with his presence.

“What is this filth you’re wearing? You’re covered in mud and you reek of fertilizer, you weren’t born in the horse stables with the animals!” He drunkenly shouted. Noelle let a chuckle out under her breath, he was one to talk considering he reeked like a man who consumed five bottles of pure rum and gin. Mr. Vierrei didn’t find the situation so amusing. “What, you think it’s funny to behave like a pig?” The fight from Noelle quickly turned into submission as his words struck through her. He stumbled out of his office chair, Atticus catching him before being pushed away. Noelle could only watch as he came closer and grabbed her shirt collar. “You bitch,” he mumbled “get your ass in the bath immediately before I break one of my good bottles over your head. It would be such a waste now wouldn’t it?” Noelle just shakily nodded her head, and stumbled out of the room when he released her.

"We're here," Atticus says as he rises and grabs her suitcase out of the storage unit. Noelle snaps out of her thoughts from the unexpected cease of motion, and notices Atticus' hand out to her. She takes it and follows behind him, trying to forget the irritating memory that arose a few moments ago. The two step out of the train and into an ordered taxi parked on the side of the road. They drove for a few hours along a narrow road bordering Boarwood. Trees and rocks seemed to repeat while the time never felt like it was passing, and the conversation between Atticus and the driver seemed to float by like a foggy cloud of words. Once they had arrived, the driver unlocked the car doors and Noelle stepped out of the vehicle, looking up at the high-end building before her. It was rectangle, made of spruce wood and stone with a conceitedly crafted grand door for an entrance. She noticed pillars that appeared to be made out of a rich marble, purposefully overgrown with mossy vines and flowers. "This is due part my lady. I do wish to serve you again after these three years." The reminder of time she'd have to stay at this Academy for almost made Noelle collapse out of pure exhaustion. Atticus hands her the suitcase looking unusually proud. "What is it Atticus?" Noelle questions and raises an eyebrow at him. Atticus suddenly pulls something out from behind his back to give to her, a ditsy grin on his face. "I packed your stuffed bear before our initial departure. I believed you'd be rather lonesome without her knowing you can't seem to sleep without her at night." Noelle let a soft gasp escape her, and quickly gathered herself from slight embarrassment. "Thank you, Atticus." She coughs as she takes the bear and case in hand, "Return at once before father thinks you've gone wild and ran away." He chuckles, "my lady, I believe he'd think that of you before I."

Atticus bids farewell before entering the taxi once more and entrusting Noelle to the Boarwood Academy. Noelle stood there, watching the black smoke dissipate from the exhaust of the vehicle as it faded out into the mist. "click, click, click, click..." The stone stairs echoed loudly, perhaps it had recently been smoothened or waxed. Whatever it was, it had the illusion of glass as shoes impacted it. "Excuse me ma'am, are you the Vierrei child?" A soft voice asked from behind her, frightening Noelle as she quickly turned around to appear tall. "Yes, that's me." Noelle responds flatly, uncertain of the figure before her. "Ah, perfect! It's a pleasure to meet you, milady." a young woman bowed before Noelle, her actions graceful and in accordance to addressing superiority. "My name is Evelynne Athenia, I will be your personal maid during your time here. I take care of all the girls within the East Wing of the Boarwood Academy."

Evelynne wore a black dress suited with a white apron, finished with a small white bow around her neck. The brunette had her hair tied up into a ponytail, and curly bangs hanged down from her face. Noelle observed Evelynne before giving her a response, "Oh, I see. Piacere, Miss Athenia." Evelynne was young and pretty, presenting a tall and slender figure. Surely, she couldn't have been much older than Noelle, she thought. Evelynne looked at her with a warm smile before holding out her hand, "It will be my honor to serve you, my lady. Please, come with me."

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