Her View
Whissh, clang!
The door to the bookstore swung closed and the girl was leaving with just as much on her mind if not more than when she’d entered.While her mother's death anniversary had been less than pleasant, for several reasons, it offered a few intriguing insights for her.
One such discovery was that there was certainly more to Neil and Cami than meets the eye. Had it only been the bracelet she might’ve brushed it off, but something hadn’t seemed right after mentioning Cami’s hair accessory. She had brought up the topic to make a passing comment on her way out.
“It would appear your family has quite the affinity for jewelry,” she had casually said.
They were partway to the door and he’d been futilely reorganizing the overflowing shelves. Upon hearing her comment, the clerk had swiveled so fast that a stubborn novel refusing to squeeze into the sliver of space on the shelf had fallen. This resulted in a ripple of reactions from the books it displaced on the way down to the step back Neil took to keep from being hit which in turn caused the back of his foot to collide with several short stories piled up on the floor.
“Pardon?!” He squeaked out while attempting to tidy the ground around him.
This had surprised the girl who was in awe that even a simple remark such as this caused such distress to the clerk.
“I spoke of your mother since she made such a beautiful hair ornament.”
He appeared to be confused and still nervous in his late response,
“…My mother?” His question hung in the air for a bit, and he only seemed to be getting further lost in whatever he was mixed up in.
She was fatigued after the earlier events of the day and so she’d decided to speed things along,
“I was referring to the hair ribbon Cami treasures. She told us her mother gave it to her, and besides you made this.” She shook her wrist just enough that the bracelet would slide into view.
This relieved Neil’s worrying face, and he mumbled, “Her mother… I thought they’d…” Then he offered the two of them a shy grin and thanked her for the compliment, insisting that she should believe him that his abilities were inferior to most jewelers, etc., etc.
She had nothing if not sympathy for his fragile demeanor but, at this rate, it was getting harder to ignore that suspicions of him weren’t completely unwarranted. Although the gift he’d given was poor quality, to say the least, the knowledge of making such items was already odd for him to have acquired. Similarly, even her one-track-minded companion could observe how out of place Cami’s bow was.
Accessories and especially jewel industries are not easy to get entangled with unless it’s a family business or an acquaintance is involved in those dealings. I’d say it’s hardly a coincidence.
Through spending time with Belladonna she’d discovered that it wasn’t only shows the family sold but rather everything one could adorn themselves with besides clothes. The catch was that most of these accessories produced were exchanged among extended family, and friends, or at smaller events like tea parties. As Belladonna had put it, “I’m still a bit jealous you missed all those tiresome together with the same attendees, but then again, even if you’d wanted to I doubt Uncle and Father would have let you participate. Yes, it really would be for the best, Anemone’s don’t belong in a place full of thrips.”
A small part of her guessed that this information hadn’t been included in her information sheet because Constance had little to do with any kind of social gathering. The chances this topic would ever affect her cover would be extremely slim. On the contrary, though, there was still the possibility that this could’ve harmed her and her partner's play, which made a large part of her think Grandpa Ed was either testing her abilities or preventing her from anything that might spur her interest.
It really is advantageous to have an inside connection. If the head of Winthrop keeping Constance in the dark about the outside world made him a villain, then Grandpa Ed could also be considered a tyrant for preventing me from obtaining the truth behind Constance.
She still couldn’t be sure how Neil factored into everything but he didn’t seem to have the capability to commit such a crime and then keep quiet about it for so long. In any case, she had come to the conclusion that probing him could wait until absolutely necessary since it wouldn’t be wise to scare him off before she knew exactly what she wanted to retrieve from his fear-filled mind.
When she returned to the dorm she was surprised to find it empty,
Elodi must have gone out to avoid me. It looks as if I have more time to record my discoveries then.
This time she’d kept the notebook wedged under the plush mattress, between the supports of the bed frame. Lifting the excessively thick cushion was hardly a challenge and she easily held it with one hand while grabbing the book.
At this point, several pages had been filled by her conversations with Belladonna, leading her to conclude a few things about the family dynamics.
First off, it's clear Belladonna and Constance were close in their writings to each other but distant in physicality since she seldom mentioned any prior meetings between the two. In the Winthrop family, it also appears that they cherish flora and anything in their sprawling grounds.
Much of the cousin's words tended to be references to plants and she seemed to be the biggest green thumb of the family. The head and his brother were overprotective of the heiress and this aided in her isolation from the outside.
The messages she passes on from her father for “me” often sound as if they should be for a much younger child. Lady Winthrop is the prime creator of jewelry and is fairly efficient in organizing the family and finances.
Belladonna had reminded her several times “You needn’t be so frugal, I’ll help explain to your mother. It isn’t as if she isn’t used to finding ways to cover your expenses.” She would always add to this with something like, “Imagine how much funds she’s had to reallocate after your father bought that vacation estate in Qaultor.” Apparently buying an entire property in a region known for expensive properties and less-than-desirable weather was a typical practice for the head. This was odd for her to hear because her previous research had yielded near spotless business results and if he had inherited the title over his brother she’d thought he’d be as fiscally responsible as possible. The truth was more likely that his name could really be credited to his childhood sweetheart who’d stayed by his side from his pre-inheritance days until now. Whether his wife had many qualms about this, the girl hadn’t heard but she was given the impression that the mother-daughter relationship between Constance and the Lady was strained. This was the final point she found of note from her time being attached at the hip with Belladonna.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
One day while she’d followed the cousin to complete her representative duties in the library Belladonna was complaining about her younger brother Oleander or maybe it was cousin Xander, (harping on family was an occasional habit of hers) she’d come to the conclusion that sons gain more affection from mothers than daughters. Then she asked plainly,
“It’s the truth, wouldn’t you agree?”
Having never had a brother nor a mother the girl was at a loss, but even more so because Constance was an only child.
She remembered considering,
What course of action is more natural, agreeing with nothing to contribute or shrugging off the point and possibly angering her?
In the end, it didn’t matter because Belladonna replied to herself, “Forget it, assuming you had affection between the two of you, to begin with, it’s still nearly impossible for you to relate to.”
Then as if swatting the lost cause away Belladonna began about proper daffodil care. It was also true that Belladonna's hours of useless conversation were more frequent than her useful mentions, that is Unless she ever needed a way to properly manage her maidenhair ferns.
The girl understood this was the price to pay for a free source of information but her tendency to record every detail meant she had to stop herself from regurgitating all the gardening jargon and minute family drama into her book.
As she wrote her suspicions related to Neil, the gift jangled with her movements.
Unfortunately, he has yet to give me what I truly want, the truth. At least now I have a reminder of his involvement if all else fails.
Elodi ended up returning long after the girl had finished her writing and she’d slipped in, seemingly relieved to see Constance “asleep”.
The next morning Belladonna had rushed to her outside the dorm engulfing her in her arms. Then she’d gone through a whole health checkup right then and there, examining Constance up and down. On the third look over Constance finally shifted away, the warmth of Belladonna dissipating.
“There’s no need to be concerned, I’m completely fine Bella.”
Belladonna's face twitched and maybe she’d come to the realization that she’d been overactive in her approach.
Belladonna linked an arm with hers, and they began walking.
“Of course I was worried! Just think of what would’ve happened had you been hurt by that corpse flower of a person. I heard from that roommate of yours that you immediately left with that boy…” Her eyes shifted suspiciously at Constance.
I see, so they must’ve conversed as well.
The cousin continued,
“I feel as if you’ve kept me in the dark when it comes to that Oswald fella. I don’t remember you ever mentioning him before your attendance here but it appears you're extremely close.”
The girl had been avoiding any sort of interaction between Belladonna and Oswald, things had been fairly uncomplicated this way.
Constance giggled and turned to Belladonna, “One might believe you’d be jealous of him. He’s simply someone I've become close to lately.”
“I’ll pretend that’s plausible but I’m warning you, don’t go looking for trouble. Well then again, maybe my worries should be put on that boy instead. If something happens to you, things will be worse for him.”
“You mean because of Father?” Constance was curious about this Winthrop lead who wasn’t exactly what he seemed, successful but careless and a doting father who also confined his daughter to her room.
Belladonna scoffed, “Your Father, my father… causing you harm is like directly aiming for the family’s throats.“
This might be a good moment to push a little more into Constance and her mother's relationship.
She directed her gaze toward the refined stone pathway that was still damp from the morning mist. Then she slowed her steps and summoned just the right amount of emotion so that she appeared on the verge of tears. The cool air around them bit at her cheeks and was certainly a timely crutch for giving her a sorrowful appearance. In a quiet voice, she almost felt guilty imitating the pain she’d seen Neil exhibit recently.
“I doubt my mother would be too affected by anything happening to me.”
Belladonna stayed quiet for a few moments but she made no effort to slow herself. Then she began muttering,
“Mmm, I’m not sure. I believe your mother would have quite the reaction to something like this. In fact, when my Father receives the report I’ve sent him about this situation, I’d imagine your mother will be infuriated.”
“Do you really think so?” She asked this with a genuine interest in what the response might be.
“Of course I’m serious! The amount of resources Father and Uncle will use to mobilize the rest of the family against Chesterfield, how could she sit idly by? I understand you’re a bit naive from your time inside, but are you a complete crow flower?” She shook her head and nudged Constance's head sideways with a finger.
“Even if your mother truly hated you through and through she has to care when trouble comes your way considering her one true love.“
She decided to carry on with this self-pity act for a bit longer since it was advantageous for her at the moment. “ So she only gives me the time of day because of father.”
Belladonna stopped in her tracks. She retracted her arm and gave a cold look to Constance. Her eyes were like vipers piercing her prey.
The girl was not intimidated easily but this sudden action caused her to shudder and she began looking for plausible falsehoods that could resolve whatever this issue was.
Pointing her finger out as thunder rolled in the background Belladonna said,
“You. You aren’t Constance, are you?”
Is it over? Have I failed? But what happens if she lets this out? Will it even reach the level of exposing the organization?
Attempting to step closer she formed a face as if this was the wildest, groundless, speculation. She didn't know what to say, but she wasn’t sure she dared to insist she was this deceased young woman should her closest relative and confidant insist otherwise.
Belladonna smirked, “I mean just look at how spooked you get over a little joke like that. Your innocence is truly astounding.”
The girl could hardly hold back agitation as the cousin patted her head softly before they started moving again.
She couldn't help but think, the longer I'm involved in this situation, the more frequently I encounter situations where I'm left without words.
“My dear cousin, sometimes things are more complicated than they appear. Orchids have a simple beauty but are quite difficult to raise. When your plant starts wilting, it’s not always the amount of water but rather toxins in the soil. As for your mother, her true love has never been your father, but rather the profit she attains through him. But you usually pay little attention to her dealings, are you feeling homesick all of a sudden?”
So her father and uncle cared excessively and her mother couldn’t have cared less. If she was afraid the sudden death would affect earnings and inheritance processes she could’ve been a driving factor in hiring me. Then again, if she’s willing to give up her chance at love for profit, she could have been so inclined to do nefarious things to keep her current prestige and power.
She looked off to the side as if longing, “I’m happy to experience my freedom here but of course, I think of home from time to time.”
That should be good enough to quell her suspicions. Although her words are odd, she is useful. Who is the true naive one here, “dear cousin”?
Belladonna's grin filled her face and Constance wasn’t sure what she could’ve been thinking. Then a loud roar of thunder snapped her back.
“Oh! You may be late for your first class if we delay, Constance!” They began hurrying, albeit not much faster given Constance’s constitution. The grim clouds were passing overhead and the girl hoped that similarly, her answer was close in sight as well.