Chapter Text
You quite liked the annual meetings of the four lords and mother Miranda that were held at Castle Dimitrescu. Sure, it was a lot of work, and you had to tread carefully. However, there was one big thing to look forward to; the presence of Lady Beneviento.
There were many mysteries surrounding the quiet woman, many rumours, some better some worse. Though you were slow to believe them, as in your experience, the woman had been very sweet to you. She was polite, quiet, and kind. Really, in your eyes she was adorable, though you kept those thoughts to yourself.
You'd talked to her a few times one on one, which had come as a surprise at the time, considering she wasn't known to converse much. You assumed there must be something about you that made her comfortable enough to do so, and whatever it was, you were glad you had it.
You stood to the side of the room when she came in, joining the other lords silently as they all got comfortable on the sofas. Angie who was walking right after Lady Beneviento, looking to be the only one excited for the meeting, waved at you which once again took you by surprise. However, she quickly stopped, presumably shut down by Lady Beneviento whose only indication of acknowledgement was a small nod.
You give her a nod back, accompanied by a small smile. You didn't want to look too eager, not wanting her to think you had some weird excitement to see her again. Even if, to some extent, that was the case. It also didn't escape your notice to see she'd sat down on your side of the room, meaning that you would most likely be the one in charge of her food and drinks. You didn't want to think too much of it and look at it as a sign of trust, a sign that she was comfortable enough to have you that close to her. After all, you were just a maid, and this was your job. Any other maid in your position wouldn't think much of it, as there wasn't anything to think of it to begin with. Still, it was a nice thought.
You didn't pay much attention to the meeting itself, that wasn't your job after all, not to mention the lord's and Mother Miranda seemed to have their own way of speaking of important matters that made near to no sense to anyone that wasn't in their circle. Instead, you made sure Lady Beneviento had everything she could possibly need, making sure her drink was always full and she had food at her disposal.
Unlike the other lords, who often thought themselves better than everyone else, Lady Beneviento always thanked you in a quiet voice whenever you served her. She seemed so timid, almost scared to be there. You wondered if she too felt Anxiety when being around the other lords and especially Mother Miranda, though you quickly shake the thought. Of course she wouldn't, she was their equal, if you ignored Miranda's clear superiority.
As the meeting came to an end the conversation turned more casual and unprofessional. Lady Dimitrescu and Lord Heisenberg were already deep into a discussion in less than a minute, and everyone else either joined in or tried to break them up. Everyone but Lady Beneviento, who sat quietly, having almost curled up into herself the moment voices started to get raised.
It made you feel a little bad for her, though you didn't know her that well, you did notice that she tended to be excluded. You decide to at least check if she's okay, not wanting to put too much pressure or intrude, but not wanting to neglect her needs either.
You step closer, making sure she's noticed you before you speak as you didn't wish to startle her. "Are you alright Lady Beneviento?" She seemed to relax a little as you kept your voice low and soft, avoiding being too loud. It was something she greatly appreciated about you and the main reason why she preferred you over any other maids so far.
"It's a little loud, but I'm alright, thank you maid." She assured you, though you can tell it's probably more than a 'little' loud for her. You weren't even talking as quietly as you usually would, simply because you wouldn't been able to be heard over the bickering of the other lords.
"If you'd wish to step outside for a moment, some flowers still bloom this time of year." You suggest, hoping the comment wasn't too invasive. Luckily it seemed she appreciated it, pepping up a little at the mention of flowers. You'd heard of her own garden, you'd love to visit it sometime if you got the chance, so it doesn't surprise you to see her interest in plants.
"I'd love to. If you'd accompany me?" She posed it as a question, a mere suggestion, as if she wasn't able to command you to come with her. The other lords no doubt wouldn't have hesitated to simply tell you what to do, but not her. She was far too polite, it almost seemed like she hoped you'd agree to come along willingly.
"Of course, I'll grab your coat Milady." You respond, still speaking quietly, a soft smile gracing your lips. You offer your arm to help her stand up before walking with her, holding open the door for her, and leaving the noisy room. Grabbing her coat from the rack and helping her into it. For yourself you grab one of the communal coats which were worn by the maids if they needed to go out. It certainly wasn't as high quality, nor would it be as warm as hers, but it would protect you against the cold for the most part.
You gesture where to go and once again hold open the door for her to enter the courtyard first before following behind her, making sure to keep a respectable distance as the two of you walk. The air was cold, a slight breeze making you shiver just slightly, though you didn't complain. This certainly was a better way to spend your time than being inside while the lords bickered.
Like you had told her, even in these barren conditions, a few flowers still managed to thrive, poking their heads out of the thin layer of snow that adorned their ground and delicate petals. Neither you, nor Lady Beneviento, speak as you watch them and she gently reaches out to touch the petals. Her fingers tracing the soft edges with such grace, you were sure you'd be able to get entranced by her soft handling of the flowers.
You felt a bit silly just watching her like some kind of silent stalker, but she didn't seem to mind, simply appreciating your presence. She wouldn't easily admit it, but she'd grown quite fond of you in the little time she knew you. You were a breath of fresh air. Kind, soft spoken, well-mannered and considerate. You'd noticed her seclusion, you'd checked on her when it felt nobody else cared much. It was the kind of attention she'd get attached to a little too quickly, the kind she'd been deprived of for so long. Her life was a rather lonely one, despite often being in the presence of others.
Her eyes flicked to the side for a moment, looking at you through her veil, her face hidden from the world. "They are quite beautiful aren't they?" She asks quietly, secretly hoping you agreed. She was rather fond of plants after all, dedicating quite a bit of her time to them when she wasn't in her workshop. Her question makes you smile once more and you nod in agreement. "Indeed they are, Lady Beneviento."
You noticed she seemed much more at ease now, despite the harsher conditions of the current weather. Perhaps it was the lack of loud noise, maybe it was simply the fact that she got to talk about something that actually interested her. Most likely a mixture of both.
"Who takes care of them?" She speaks once more, conversing with you more than she had during practically the whole meeting with the lords. Now turning to better face you as you stand just a few steps behind.
"The maids do, we're on a weekly schedule, so it's a communal effort." You waste no time to answer, finding her presence as comforting as she yours. Eagerly taking the chance to speak to her, despite your clear difference in social status.
She turns back towards the flowers, crouching down to get a better look as she once again caresses its petals. "You might want to move them closer to a wall, it's struggling a bit out in the open with such winds." There was that knowledge again. You'd noticed quickly that the woman wasn't silent for a lack of things to say, when provoked by her interest she clearly knew what she was talking about and was rather intelligent. "I'll see what I can get done." You respond, the smile on your lips now ever-present as you gladly accepted her feedback. Making a mental note to ask Lady Dimitrescu for the possibility of moving them accordingly.
Lady Beneviento doesn't waste any time however, already walking over to the next bunch of resilient flowers and you were quick to follow, not wanting to leave her side. Wrapping your arms around yourself as it was getting a bit more chilly as the evening came closer with each passing minute.
Your peaceful stroll was rudely interrupted however, as Lady Beneviento slipped on a rather slippery stone, frozen over by the ice and nearly loses her balance. Causing you to quickly step forward into her space to catch her by her arms if needed. Luckily it seemed to have only been a misstep, and she was saved from a very undignified fall to the ground. Yet your hands remain on her upper arms, keeping her steady for a little longer.
Her reaction to your sudden invasion of her personal space is hard to read as her veil reveals near to nothing. You could only hear her soft, slightly fastened breathing come out from under it, which you attribute to the small adrenaline rush of her slip up. "Please be careful my lady." You speak, despite knowing full well she wasn't a child and knew such things for herself. You couldn't help but worry a little, she almost seemed frail, especially in such weather conditions.
"I will, thank you." She finally speaks after what was a surprisingly long time from the initial slip, her face turning away from you just slightly. Was she embarrassed? She needn't be. However, to avoid any further discomfort, you quickly let go of her, not wanting to further impose on her personal space which you knew she valued. Giving her a comforting smile as of to let her know it's alright.
Not a moment later however, you once again come to worry as she visibly shivered. It seemed even her coat, which was much warmer than your own, wasn't fit for such cold weather. As she wraps her hands around herself as you had done just moments ago you come to notice how cold they look. Oh she must be freezing, why didn't you think of that!
"Perhaps we should move inside my lady." You suggest, though you avoid making it sound like you're taking charge. If she wanted to stay outside, you'd gladly remain there with her. You just rather her hands didn't freeze off.
She seemed to understand your reasoning as she tried to cover her hands with her coat to keep them warm, sadly not with much success. "I'd prefer to stay here a little longer." She still insists, which you don't go against, completely understanding the wish to be away from the loudness of the other lords' conversation and the bickering which you doubt had seized by now.
So instead you focus on something else in hopes to at least make her a little more comfortable. "I could try to find you some mittens, I'm sure there will be some close by this time of year."
"Thank you," she starts, seemingly wanting to say something more, yet taking a rather long pause, as if she wasn't quite sure if she should. Once more turning her face away from you for a moment. After a few seconds of consideration and your patient waiting, it seemed she'd mustered up the courage to continue. Sounding rather unsure of herself, dare you say flustered, as she speaks.
"But there's no need, you could keep my hands warm with yours no?" She seemed to almost regret the words the moment they leave her lips, even letting out a near-silent squeak which you only barely picked up on.
Had she just suggested you hold hands? You weren't sure, and it would be incredibly awkward had she not and you were simply performing an incredible feat of wishful thinking. But still, if anyone should be embarrassed it should be you, not her, and so you hold out your hand to her. A silent invitation. Sadly for you, without a way to hide behind a veil as you get a bit flustered yourself. Though you think you could always try and pass it off as the cold making your cheeks burn.
It seemed she was just as unsure of how to act as you were, though she does take your hand. Intertwining your fingers as you stand side by side rather awkwardly like two teenagers acting on their first crush. Anyone watching would no doubt be having an incredibly adorable show to look at.
You give her hand a soft squeeze as you both wait for the warmth to take over, hoping she'd interpreted it as intended, letting her know it's okay. As much as you yourself were inexperienced and vastly out of practice when it came to stuff like this, you doubt you had much experience either. From what you'd heard she'd been pretty much isolated from a very young age. You wondered if she'd had any romantic relationships, if she'd held hands with anyone.
If she'd been kissed before.
You quickly shake the thought, not needing your thoughts to drift to such places as quickly as they had. Choosing to instead focus on this very unexpected moment of her hand in yours. Hers was soft, yet her fingertips were a bit calloused, most likely from her creative pursuits in doll making.
It seemed neither of you knew what to say to continue the conversation for a solid minute before you spoke up to break the tension. "What other flowers did you want to look at?" You ask, bringing you back to the original reason you were here. She'd been walking towards another flower which piqued her interest, before she slipped.
Your mention of the flower shed to snap her out of her own flustered state for a moment, her interest once again piqued as she continued to walk over to where it was. Pulling you along by your now intertwined hands which were more slowly starting to heat up as intended.
Now, with something else to focus on apart from the fact you two were holding hands, it's easier to return to the conversation and she starts to tell you a bit more about the flower as you ask questions, eager to hear her talk more. You couldn't deny that you found her rather cute when she spoke so fondly of them, and you sure wouldn't dare to interrupt or stop her.
It was hard to tell how long the two of you spend there. With you now permanently in her personal space, close to her side as she moved the two of you from plant to plant. Excited to speak of them now that she actually had someone willing to listen.
You're only stopped once the doors to the courtyard are opened and a maid calls out to the both of you, warning you about an incoming storm. And hence, you reluctantly make your way back inside. The both of you now much more relaxed yet with a whole collection of new feelings to process.