Everybody was very well dressed. They gave me their fancy smiles and praised me. Many were in the same situation that I was, but my name carried the fame of my father. I got out of the hall, giving polite words and praises to a few ladies walking on my way. It was very tiresome, but I can't deny I was happy. It was all I had dreamed of since I was a kid. It felt very different from what I expected.

...

"Milord?"

I breathed and took notice of things around me. I was still in the carriage, but the scenario changed as I was lost in my memories.

"Milord?"

"Yes?"

Bertrand was calling me. He was there sitting beside me, but I had completely forgotten about his presence.

"We will be passing near the house of Lady Mariane. Would you like to meet her?"

"Not really..."

"But you will. Am I right?"

"Yes"

The city was full of activity. The sun had risen a few hours ago and the people walking around were making the passage of carriages and horses very difficult. The shouts of merchants and peddlers calling the attention to their merchandise stood out.

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"What about the bank, Milord?"

Bertrand was becoming an expert of making me frown by reminding me of unpleasant things.

"I will solve that later"

"You said that a few years ago"

He had always been a good servant, so I considered him a friend. He had all the freedom to speak, but it would be nice to not ruin my day.

"Yes. I am aware of that"

"You could sell his projects"

I gritted by teeth with my mouth still shut, but he noticed that. I was tired of living by the things that were built by him.

"No, I will find my own way"

"He is dead now. It is not wrong to use the things that are left to recover from a fall"

"I had enough, Bertrand. Please stay shut for a minute"

The sight of wood houses and balconies were replaced by walls that streched what seemed to be a kilometer. The gates of steel were decorated by flowers and two static guards dressed in red and white.

They prevented our passage using their spears.

"Identify yourself!"

And there I was, seeing the gates of that same palace as Bertrand got out of the carriage to speak with the guards. I stood there to celebrate a moment I now curse and that was just a few years ago.

They stopped blocking the way and openned the gates for us. The floors of rugged stones from the streets gave way to a very delicated material with carvings that showed the prosperity of the house.

The flowers were simply beautiful, but that is not all they were. The ones inside were separated by railings for a reason. They were some of the most poisonous you could find. I stopped looking at the plants when the carriage stopped moving. I oppened the little door to get out and feel the pleasant sensation of standing again. As usual, Bertrand started to speak with other servants to take care of the baggage.

The finely carved doors painted in white and blue oppened for me to see someone as beautiful as a godess and as poisonous as the garden she kept.

I forced the best smile as I could and she responded with a graceful expression, a fake one.