Chapter 82: Letter To Anna
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CHAPTER 82
"But your grace," she protested.
"No buts. Now, off you go. Only ask Azzura to send in my meal and she should give the guards, no. She should come when the royal physician is coming and give him to bring it in for me."
"But…"
"Relax. I know those working with me. She would want to find all possible ways to work for me and do the chores. So, no! At least the royal physician won't dare do that. Now, you can start your time off."
Letting out another deep sigh, Aeverie resigned herself to Era's wish. "As you wish your grace."
***
Seeing that she had the day off, Aeverie decided to go visit the kids and check on them personally while also giving Era's letter to Anna.
She could almost imagine vividly the girl's expression when she would be given the letter. Just the thought of it was enough to keep her smiling for days.
On getting there, she was greeted by all the children. All except one. Looking at all of them er smile dwindled when she could not see the one person she longed to see.
"Where is little Anna?" she asked the second big child.
"She is in her room, sulking as always," Gabriel replied.
She shifted her gaze from Gabriel and looked towards the room where Anna was staying.
"I see. Okay, settle down children. I got some nice meal and sweets for you all."
"Really?"
"Yayy!"
"Thanks aunty Aeverie."
She was touched by their genuine cheerfulness. Even at that, one of them stood sour and it was the youngest of them all.
"Hey lovely, what is the matter?"
"Where is Aunty?"
Aeverie did not need a soothsayer to tell her whom they young child was referring to. She felt bad that's he was going to have to lie to the girl about it but what other choice did she have?
"Oh, your aunt. She is still away. She sends her regards though. By next three months she would return from her journey and personally come pay you all a visit with lots of gifts."
"Is auntie okay?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, why wouldn't she be?" Aeverie questioned them as her gaze swept across them.
"I do not know. It has really been a while since we saw her, that si why."
"I understand your thoughts and worries but she is, really."
"But how would you know considering you are not seeing her too. She travelled right?"
Aeverie was shocked at his reasoning. Wow, they really did say kids were little wonders.
"I know because I believe so. Trust me and trust that you would see your aunty too. She wouldn't abandon you."
"Okay, I trust you."
"Me too," one of the kids chorused.
"And I."
"I trust you and aunt too."
"That is very good. Also, she wanted me to let you all know that you would be starting school soon. So I would be enrolling you all in one of the schools for young kids like yourselves to help you read and write."
"Yayy! Did you all hear that? We would soon start schooling. I am so glad. I can't wait."
Watching the young lad behave this was contagious and she too felt elated.
"No worries, Gabriel, you all will. Now, let me go and see little Anna. Your aunt Aquata would give you all some sweets."
"Okay, thank you, aunt Aeverie" they chorused.
"Anytime."
***
As soon as Aeverie walked into the room, she was greeted by a very dark environment. It took her sometime to adjust her eyes to the darkness in the room.
Luckily because she has visited more than once, she knew where to step through to till she made her way to the window and pulled the curtains open.
A muffled sound was heard coming from the left hand side of the room. She immediately knew it was Anna and walked towards the sound.
"Hey Anna," she greeted and touched her shoulders lightly but got no response.
"Anna? It is I, your aunt Aeverie."
"I want to see her," Anna responded but still kept her head buried in the covers.
"Oh come on, Anna. I know you miss her. I miss her too. Please be a good girl and sit up."
"I want her and no one else. Leave me alone."
Aeverie knew she was hurt but the girl's response did hurt her own feelings too. What did she mean? Weren't they important to her too?
"Anna, do you know that you are hurting my feelings and the feelings of your other aunties taking time to come and take care of you all? I know you miss her but you are so insensitive of others feelings right now. So what right do you have to see her when you can't be appreciative?"
She did not say anything further. She knew Aeverie was speaking the truth but she was still hurt and scared.
After a few minutes of keep silent she lifted her head slowly to look at Aeverie.
And what a shock Aeverie got when their gaze met. The little girl's eyes were already puffed up from crying so much, still more tears flowed down her cheeks.
She felt a jab pain in her chest from the sight before her. If only era could see how much her life was affecting others, she would not have thought about commiting suicide because of a major loss.
"Anna."
"I am so sorry, Miss Aeverie, but I miss her so much and the thought that she too would not come back to me is painful. I do not know what I would do if she..."
She could not speak anymore and just burst into more tears with her eyes dimmed at Averie.
"Oh Anna." Aeverie engulfed her in an embrace and began to pat her back lightly. "I understand. I am so sorry dear. She would not leave you. She would surely come back to you, I promise."
"But…" draws nose. "But… I want to see her."
'I know, Anna. Please give her some time. She needs to work more so she gets more money to fund your stay here and take you all to school. She cannot pay the bills by sitting at home."
"I know."
"Good, then pardon her a little."
"But I still miss her."
"We all do, Anna. We all do. Now, guess what, she sent me a letter that is strictly for you."
Anna pulled away and stared at Aeverie. She did not know what to say and decided to wait until she saw the letter.
Noticing her silence, Aeverie did as she thought. Bringing out the letter, she handed it over to Anna.
For about a minute plus, Anna's gaze stayed on the letter without doing anything. It was not until she cleared her throat that Anna get herself back.
Taking it, she apologized, "I am sorry. Thank you."
"No worries. Now I would give you your space to read the letter. She was pleased when I told her you knew how to read and write. That was why she sent this and used her lipstick as her insignia."
"Oh, thank you for this, Miss Aeverie."
"No worries, young one. The last thing both of us want is to see you feel downtrodden and depressed." She stood up from where she sat on the bed and with a smile, she added. "She loves you, never you forget that and she won't leave you as well. When you are done, come have your sweets and nice treats, okay?"
Anna nodded at her and escorted her with her eyes. Once the door was shut closed, she immediately opened the letter and began to read.
Dearest Anna,
How are you and how are the others? I miss you dear. I wish I could hold you in my arms and hug you much so you could feel just how much love I have for you and the others.
I am so sorry for not being able to see you these past days. So much has been going on and I needed to pursue some things. Please pardon me for leaving without proper explanation. All I need is three months and I would be back to you.
I am glad to know that you can write and read. That is good. Soon your Aunt Aeverie would be sending you all to school. I hope that by the time I return you would have so much reports to give me. Do not worry, I would be all ears to hear from you that day.
Who knows, I may even sleep over with you so we can catch up on things. But then you wouldn't have much to tell me if you do not stop crying and play with the others. I would ask for some story books to be sent over to you. Read them and write back to me about what you love.
I miss you each day. Until when we see. Till then be safe and look out for your siblings. Bye, my little Anna. With love.
She read it over and over again and by the time she was done, she clutched it to her chest and wept.
"I miss you too."
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CHAPTER 82
"But your grace," she protested.
"No buts. Now, off you go. Only ask Azzura to send in my meal and she should give the guards, no. She should come when the royal physician is coming and give him to bring it in for me."
"But…"
"Relax. I know those working with me. She would want to find all possible ways to work for me and do the chores. So, no! At least the royal physician won't dare do that. Now, you can start your time off."
Letting out another deep sigh, Aeverie resigned herself to Era's wish. "As you wish your grace."
***
Seeing that she had the day off, Aeverie decided to go visit the kids and check on them personally while also giving Era's letter to Anna.
She could almost imagine vividly the girl's expression when she would be given the letter. Just the thought of it was enough to keep her smiling for days.
On getting there, she was greeted by all the children. All except one. Looking at all of them er smile dwindled when she could not see the one person she longed to see.
"Where is little Anna?" she asked the second big child.
"She is in her room, sulking as always," Gabriel replied.
She shifted her gaze from Gabriel and looked towards the room where Anna was staying.
"I see. Okay, settle down children. I got some nice meal and sweets for you all."
"Really?"
"Yayy!"
"Thanks aunty Aeverie."
She was touched by their genuine cheerfulness. Even at that, one of them stood sour and it was the youngest of them all.
"Hey lovely, what is the matter?"
"Where is Aunty?"
Aeverie did not need a soothsayer to tell her whom they young child was referring to. She felt bad that's he was going to have to lie to the girl about it but what other choice did she have?
"Oh, your aunt. She is still away. She sends her regards though. By next three months she would return from her journey and personally come pay you all a visit with lots of gifts."
"Is auntie okay?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, why wouldn't she be?" Aeverie questioned them as her gaze swept across them.
"I do not know. It has really been a while since we saw her, that si why."
"I understand your thoughts and worries but she is, really."
"But how would you know considering you are not seeing her too. She travelled right?"
Aeverie was shocked at his reasoning. Wow, they really did say kids were little wonders.
"I know because I believe so. Trust me and trust that you would see your aunty too. She wouldn't abandon you."
"Okay, I trust you."
"Me too," one of the kids chorused.
"And I."
"I trust you and aunt too."
"That is very good. Also, she wanted me to let you all know that you would be starting school soon. So I would be enrolling you all in one of the schools for young kids like yourselves to help you read and write."
"Yayy! Did you all hear that? We would soon start schooling. I am so glad. I can't wait."
Watching the young lad behave this was contagious and she too felt elated.
"No worries, Gabriel, you all will. Now, let me go and see little Anna. Your aunt Aquata would give you all some sweets."
"Okay, thank you, aunt Aeverie" they chorused.
"Anytime."
***
As soon as Aeverie walked into the room, she was greeted by a very dark environment. It took her sometime to adjust her eyes to the darkness in the room.
Luckily because she has visited more than once, she knew where to step through to till she made her way to the window and pulled the curtains open.
A muffled sound was heard coming from the left hand side of the room. She immediately knew it was Anna and walked towards the sound.
"Hey Anna," she greeted and touched her shoulders lightly but got no response.
"Anna? It is I, your aunt Aeverie."
"I want to see her," Anna responded but still kept her head buried in the covers.
"Oh come on, Anna. I know you miss her. I miss her too. Please be a good girl and sit up."
"I want her and no one else. Leave me alone."
Aeverie knew she was hurt but the girl's response did hurt her own feelings too. What did she mean? Weren't they important to her too?
"Anna, do you know that you are hurting my feelings and the feelings of your other aunties taking time to come and take care of you all? I know you miss her but you are so insensitive of others feelings right now. So what right do you have to see her when you can't be appreciative?"
She did not say anything further. She knew Aeverie was speaking the truth but she was still hurt and scared.
After a few minutes of keep silent she lifted her head slowly to look at Aeverie.
And what a shock Aeverie got when their gaze met. The little girl's eyes were already puffed up from crying so much, still more tears flowed down her cheeks.
She felt a jab pain in her chest from the sight before her. If only era could see how much her life was affecting others, she would not have thought about commiting suicide because of a major loss.
"Anna."
"I am so sorry, Miss Aeverie, but I miss her so much and the thought that she too would not come back to me is painful. I do not know what I would do if she..."
She could not speak anymore and just burst into more tears with her eyes dimmed at Averie.
"Oh Anna." Aeverie engulfed her in an embrace and began to pat her back lightly. "I understand. I am so sorry dear. She would not leave you. She would surely come back to you, I promise."
"But…" draws nose. "But… I want to see her."
'I know, Anna. Please give her some time. She needs to work more so she gets more money to fund your stay here and take you all to school. She cannot pay the bills by sitting at home."
"I know."
"Good, then pardon her a little."
"But I still miss her."
"We all do, Anna. We all do. Now, guess what, she sent me a letter that is strictly for you."
Anna pulled away and stared at Aeverie. She did not know what to say and decided to wait until she saw the letter.
Noticing her silence, Aeverie did as she thought. Bringing out the letter, she handed it over to Anna.
For about a minute plus, Anna's gaze stayed on the letter without doing anything. It was not until she cleared her throat that Anna get herself back.
Taking it, she apologized, "I am sorry. Thank you."
"No worries. Now I would give you your space to read the letter. She was pleased when I told her you knew how to read and write. That was why she sent this and used her lipstick as her insignia."
"Oh, thank you for this, Miss Aeverie."
"No worries, young one. The last thing both of us want is to see you feel downtrodden and depressed." She stood up from where she sat on the bed and with a smile, she added. "She loves you, never you forget that and she won't leave you as well. When you are done, come have your sweets and nice treats, okay?"
Anna nodded at her and escorted her with her eyes. Once the door was shut closed, she immediately opened the letter and began to read.
Dearest Anna,
How are you and how are the others? I miss you dear. I wish I could hold you in my arms and hug you much so you could feel just how much love I have for you and the others.
I am so sorry for not being able to see you these past days. So much has been going on and I needed to pursue some things. Please pardon me for leaving without proper explanation. All I need is three months and I would be back to you.
I am glad to know that you can write and read. That is good. Soon your Aunt Aeverie would be sending you all to school. I hope that by the time I return you would have so much reports to give me. Do not worry, I would be all ears to hear from you that day.
Who knows, I may even sleep over with you so we can catch up on things. But then you wouldn't have much to tell me if you do not stop crying and play with the others. I would ask for some story books to be sent over to you. Read them and write back to me about what you love.
I miss you each day. Until when we see. Till then be safe and look out for your siblings. Bye, my little Anna. With love.
She read it over and over again and by the time she was done, she clutched it to her chest and wept.
"I miss you too."
************CHAPTER 82"But your grace," she protested."No buts. Now, off you go. Only ask Azzura to send in my meal and she should give the guards, no. She should come when the royal physician is coming and give him to bring it in for me.""But""Relax. I know those working with me. She would want to find all possible ways to work for me and do the chores. So, no! At least the royal physician won't dare do that. Now, you can start your time off."Letting out another deep sigh, Aeverie resigned herself to Era's wish. "As you wish your grace."***Seeing that she had the day off, Aeverie decided to go visit the kids and check on them personally while also giving Era's letter to Anna.She could almost imagine vividly the girl's expression when she would be given the letter. Just the thought of it was enough to keep her smiling for days.On getting there, she was greeted by all the children. All except one. Looking at all of them er smile dwindled when she could not see the one person she longed to see."Where is little Anna?" she asked the second big child."She is in her room, sulking as always," Gabriel replied.She shifted her gaze from Gabriel and looked towards the room where Anna was staying."I see. Okay, settle down children. I got some nice meal and sweets for you all.""Really?""Yayy!""Thanks aunty Aeverie."She was touched by their genuine cheerfulness. Even at that, one of them stood sour and it was the youngest of them all."Hey lovely, what is the matter?""Where is Aunty?"Aeverie did not need a soothsayer to tell her whom they young child was referring to. She felt bad that's he was going to have to lie to the girl about it but what other choice did she have?"Oh, your aunt. She is still away. She sends her regards though. By next three months she would return from her journey and personally come pay you all a visit with lots of gifts.""Is auntie okay?" Gabriel asked."Yes, why wouldn't she be?" Aeverie questioned them as her gaze swept across them."I do not know. It has really been a while since we saw her, that si why.""I understand your thoughts and worries but she is, really.""But how would you know considering you are not seeing her too. She travelled right?"Aeverie was shocked at his reasoning. Wow, they really did say kids were little wonders."I know because I believe so. Trust me and trust that you would see your aunty too. She wouldn't abandon you.""Okay, I trust you.""Me too," one of the kids chorused."And I.""I trust you and aunt too.""That is very good. Also, she wanted me to let you all know that you would be starting school soon. So I would be enrolling you all in one of the schools for young kids like yourselves to help you read and write.""Yayy! Did you all hear that? We would soon start schooling. I am so glad. I can't wait."Watching the young lad behave this was contagious and she too felt elated."No worries, Gabriel, you all will. Now, let me go and see little Anna. Your aunt Aquata would give you all some sweets.""Okay, thank you, aunt Aeverie" they chorused."Anytime."***As soon as Aeverie walked into the room, she was greeted by a very dark environment. It took her sometime to adjust her eyes to the darkness in the room. Luckily because she has visited more than once, she knew where to step through to till she made her way to the window and pulled the curtains open.A muffled sound was heard coming from the left hand side of the room. She immediately knew it was Anna and walked towards the sound."Hey Anna," she greeted and touched her shoulders lightly but got no response."Anna? It is I, your aunt Aeverie.""I want to see her," Anna responded but still kept her head buried in the covers."Oh come on, Anna. I know you miss her. I miss her too. Please be a good girl and sit up.""I want her and no one else. Leave me alone."Aeverie knew she was hurt but the girl's response did hurt her own feelings too. What did she mean? Weren't they important to her too?"Anna, do you know that you are hurting my feelings and the feelings of your other aunties taking time to come and take care of you all? I know you miss her but you are so insensitive of others feelings right now. So what right do you have to see her when you can't be appreciative?"She did not say anything further. She knew Aeverie was speaking the truth but she was still hurt and scared.After a few minutes of keep silent she lifted her head slowly to look at Aeverie.And what a shock Aeverie got when their gaze met. The little girl's eyes were already puffed up from crying so much, still more tears flowed down her cheeks.She felt a jab pain in her chest from the sight before her. If only era could see how much her life was affecting others, she would not have thought about commiting suicide because of a major loss."Anna.""I am so sorry, Miss Aeverie, but I miss her so much and the thought that she too would not come back to me is painful. I do not know what I would do if she..."She could not speak anymore and just burst into more tears with her eyes dimmed at Averie."Oh Anna." Aeverie engulfed her in an embrace and began to pat her back lightly. "I understand. I am so sorry dear. She would not leave you. She would surely come back to you, I promise.""But" draws nose. "But I want to see her."'I know, Anna. Please give her some time. She needs to work more so she gets more money to fund your stay here and take you all to school. She cannot pay the bills by sitting at home.""I know.""Good, then pardon her a little.""But I still miss her.""We all do, Anna. We all do. Now, guess what, she sent me a letter that is strictly for you."Anna pulled away and stared at Aeverie. She did not know what to say and decided to wait until she saw the letter.Noticing her silence, Aeverie did as she thought. Bringing out the letter, she handed it over to Anna.For about a minute plus, Anna's gaze stayed on the letter without doing anything. It was not until she cleared her throat that Anna get herself back.Taking it, she apologized, "I am sorry. Thank you.""No worries. Now I would give you your space to read the letter. She was pleased when I told her you knew how to read and write. That was why she sent this and used her lipstick as her insignia.""Oh, thank you for this, Miss Aeverie.""No worries, young one. The last thing both of us want is to see you feel downtrodden and depressed." She stood up from where she sat on the bed and with a smile, she added. "She loves you, never you forget that and she won't leave you as well. When you are done, come have your sweets and nice treats, okay?"Anna nodded at her and escorted her with her eyes. Once the door was shut closed, she immediately opened the letter and began to read.Dearest Anna,How are you and how are the others? I miss you dear. I wish I could hold you in my arms and hug you much so you could feel just how much love I have for you and the others.I am so sorry for not being able to see you these past days. So much has been going on and I needed to pursue some things. Please pardon me for leaving without proper explanation. All I need is three months and I would be back to you.I am glad to know that you can write and read. That is good. Soon your Aunt Aeverie would be sending you all to school. I hope that by the time I return you would have so much reports to give me. Do not worry, I would be all ears to hear from you that day.Who knows, I may even sleep over with you so we can catch up on things. But then you wouldn't have much to tell me if you do not stop crying and play with the others. I would ask for some story books to be sent over to you. Read them and write back to me about what you love.I miss you each day. Until when we see. Till then be safe and look out for your siblings. Bye, my little Anna. With love.She read it over and over again and by the time she was done, she clutched it to her chest and wept."I miss you too."
