บท 31: same But Different
M.. mom! I am good. I was just missing you." the little girl barely whispered when Oriana smiled sweetly. She wrapped her arms around the little girl and rubbed her back tenderly.
"Oh, Abigail. You do know that I have a lot of responsibilities right? I get entangled in many things. But you have to grow up to be a fine lady and share my responsibilities one day. So even if I am busy and could not share meals with you, you must eat a lot and study a lot.
Only when you will be a fine lady, will you be able to stand with me, one day! Could you do that for me." Abi blinked her large animated eyes. She nodded again and again with a look that she understood.
"Yes, mom, I will work hard. I will be a fine lady like you one day. And then I will marry a duke too." Abi patted her chest as if she was taking an oath.
Olivia had a painful smile on her face. How much the girl had missed her mother. Simple responsibilities from her mother had made her this happy.
Leo narrowed his eyes. Abi could be a fool but he was not. If his mother was being this kind, she must have needed something.
"Abigail! You should see the gift first." Olivia remembers making the child stare at the grift again longingly. But she did not open it. Holding it tightly, she stared at her mother.
"Of course, you should check your gift." The girl smiled bashfully, getting encouragement from her mother. As her tender hands opened the gift, there was a small box inside.
When she opened it, a beautiful sapphire necklace and earrings were glittering inside.
"You brought a necklace for the girl?" OLivia asked in an incredulous voice. Her face twitched but Oriana just shrugged.
"I remember giving her this dress last time. It would go well with the dress." hearing the pride in her voice, Olivia wanted to smash something on her sister's face. But when she looked at joyful Abi, she controlled.
"The dress is old and torn. She needs many new dresses or dolls." Oriana furrowed her brows.
"Dolls! She should study more as she had promised. You want her to be in social gatherings. She could prepare for them. Toys are for lazy kids. A jewel is a better support." ignoring the dark and red face of Olivia, Oriana smiled at the girl, "right Abi?"
Abi nodded at once. "Yes, mother jewels are much better. I love your gift. It is so pretty." Oriana raised a brow at Olivia with a smirk.
Olivia sighed. Even if she had packed dirt in the box, Abi would have been this happy and confirmed that it was the best gift for her.
"Alright, let's have lunch." Olivia stared at the table with a shrewd look. "Abi.. why don't you sit with your mother and tell her about your recent progress. She would love to hear the poem you have written the other days, and the name of the kings." Leo stared at his aunt in disbelief.
But Olivia was looking back at Oriana. As if they were speaking with their eyes. Oriana's face was cold! Since when did her aunt become a daredevil?
"Yes, of course. Leo! I want to hear your progress too." Oriana sat on the seat with her kids on both sides.
She looked expectantly at Leo. hoping that he would take all the time.
"I learnt a new move in sword practice and my riding lessons had finished already. I am studying the economics of our estate." Oriana stared at him to continue but as he said this, he picked up his spoon and took a sip of his soup.
One, two, three.. He kept drinking soup as if there was nothing else to do.
Oriana frowned with her eyes narrowing. Abi was leaning at the edge of her seat so that she could see her mother's face. Her eager look waited for her brother to finish. Of course, he was older, so he would get the first chance.
But when Leo did not continue, she smiled brightly.
"Mother.." she called in the sweetest voice, "i have learnt…"
Leo played with his spoon as he saw the smile fading from his mother's face. But his aunt was eating food as if her life was depending on it. He stared at her fancy clothes. It was his mother's dress. His mother did not offer her clothes to his aunt leisurely.
He did not remember any occasion that required it and the way his mother was forcing herself to listen. She had never been a patient woman. She would have declined directly. Even in public where she could not be rude, she would have made an excuse and left.
"Olivia.." Leo flinched and realized he was dazed all this time. The lunch had already finished.
"Mother.."
"Later, Leo. Olivia and I are going to Eleska's Theatre. We had an appointment there. Leo, would you take Abigail back to her room please." Leo nodded obediently.
Olivia stood up without any hesitation and followed Oriana.
Oriana smiled brightly as she bade farewell to her kids.
"Mother loves me a lot." Leo sighed as he heard her sister bragging with a dreamy look.
"Yes, and aunt loves you too." he reminded the girl who frowned and did not understand the relationship. Leo shook his head and sighed.
"Abigail, you need more dresses and you are too young to wear these jewels. Aunt was right." Abi held the box tightly in her hands and glared at her brother.
"Why are you comparing both of them? They both love me and I love both of them. Aunt spent time with us because she did not have a job or a position. That is why she knew more. Mother is busy with her work. She works hard for us. And I like her gift. Do not be a bully, brother!" Leo just shook his head.
"There is no treatment for you
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