The manor mourned as though it had a soul of its own.
Black drapes veiled the tall windows, swallowing the pale sky light before it could reach the floor. The grandfather clock in the west hall ticked with a strange reluctance, each second stretching too long as if time itself hesitated to continue without Richard, the Viscount.
Servants moved softly, their footsteps muffled, their voices reduced to whispers that dissolved before reaching the high ceilings.
No one laughed.
No one argued.
Even the fireplaces burned low, their flames subdued as though grief had starved them of warmth.
Richard's absence filled every corridor more thoroughly than his presence ever had.
Currently, Richard's body was in a private room on the first floor of the mansion, filled with natural wild flowers to keep it fresh since it had been three days since he had died.
Ella sat alone in the dining hall, sipping her cup of warm chocolate while staring at the ceiling. The silence of the manor at that moment felt like a bliss in her soul, even though it made her feel bored.
"I wonder how long this grieving days will last," Ella muttered and took a huge bite of her chocolate cake.
Since the servants were practically busy with the chores given by Eleanor, Ella could easily snuck sweets and ate them freely.
Ella placed her palm on her chest and felt emptiness. "I feel nothing… Is this grieving too?" She whispered.
In those three days, Ella wanted to mourn the correct way. The way she had seen Cindy and Anna reacted, but somehow, she felt the same like nothing significant had happened.
"Ah, I should visit them," Ella muttered and finished her meal. In her thoughts, as a sister, she should sympathize with them.
First, Ella went to Anna's room and saw that the door was slightly open. She peeked and saw Anna playing in her dollhouse, even though her expression was not happy. It was enough that Anna was coping well.
'I should leave Anna alone for now,' Ella thought with a slight smile. Then she proceeded to Cindy's room, but when she reached the door. She felt nervous and thought Cindy might get angry if she barged in without a reason.
"I should go pick something to comfort her," Ella stated before running to the kitchen. Since she was comforted by eating a chocolate cake and a hot drink, she thought it was a good idea to bring sweets to Cindy, too.
A wide smile formed on Ella's lips as she prepared the dishes and placed them in the tray.
Ella climbed the staircase with the tray, but her hands trembled so much from nervousness.
The porcelain cup rattled softly against its saucer, the surface of the hot chocolate still steaming, rich and dark. She had made it herself, heated the milk slowly, and stirred until the cocoa dissolved just the way Cindy liked it.
Ella stopped before Cindy's door. It had not opened in three days, and she worried she might have starved herself too much, nor was she even alive at that point.
"Hohh! Here we go," Ella stated to herself as encouragement. She lifted her hand and knocked twice very softly.
"Cindy?" Ella whispered, pressing her knuckles gently against the wood. "It's me."
No answer.
Ella's throat tightened. She tried again, louder this time. "I brought you something warm."
Still nothing.
That was when Cindy started to get worried. At the same time, a servant walked by, carrying a laundry basket.
"Hello, umm. I want to ask if Cindy left her room since…" Ella muttered lowly, even pulling the servant away from Cindy's room.
"The Lady hasn't left her room. She refused to eat or drink and didn't want to be seen," the servant replied before she excused herself and left in haste.
Ella inhaled deeply, steadying herself, and went closer to Cindy's room. "What if she's dead too?" She murmured. The idea of not eating for days was enough to kill a person, and that's what made Ella nervous. She pushed the door open, and what she found was a messy room.
Clothes scattered anywhere, tattered and ripped apart. There were also broken items, and it made Ella scared even to step inside.
Ella carefully tiptoed to the closest table and placed the tray since she might spill the drink. She saw Cindy curled up in her bed, covered by a thick blanket.
"It's hot chocolate. It's sweet, and I think you'll like it," Ella stated softly. She felt awkward when Cindy didn't reply, and she stood there like a child, swaying left and right.
A few minutes passed, and Cindy was still unresponsive, with no slight movement from her. That was when Ella started to get worried.
"Cindy?" Ella called out again, but still, no response.
Fear struck Ella as she walked slowly toward Cindy. Her thoughts were filled with negative ideas that Cindy might be dead, too, due to starvation and dehydration.
"Cindy?" Ella called again, but when there was still no response. She did the unthinkable and launched straight to where Cindy's body was located.
Ella felt it was right in that moment as fear consumed her. Even though they were not that close, she wanted Cindy to survive.
"AH!!!" Cindy screamed in surprise and also on the pain she felt on her right rib where Ella's elbow was dug in.
"AHH! Ella screamed too. "You're alive!" She cried, half-sobbing, half-laughing, clinging to Cindy's blanket like it was a life raft.
"GET OFF ME!" Cindy snapped, shoving her away with far more strength than someone who supposedly hadn't eaten in three days should possess. "What is wrong with you!?"
"I thought you were dead!" Ella said breathlessly. "The servants said you haven't even at all!"
"I was sleeping!" Cindy hissed, sitting up abruptly. Her hair was wild, her eyes swollen and red, her face pale with exhaustion and grief. She looked terrible. "Some of us grieve by not being elbowed to death!" she continued.