Once she was finished sweeping the stairs, Cecelia wandered into the pub. It wasn't her intent to stroll around aimlessly, but there was so little to do once chores were done, and hardly anyone cared to speak with her.
She found Corvo huddled in one of the booths, feasting on bread and cheese, and drinking a fair amount of mulled cider. Cecelia backed away and hid herself behind the bar before he could notice her. She wasn't afraid of him. If anything, she found him rather alluring, almost relatable. She knew what it was like to go days without speaking a word, and could imagine spending years doing the same. She was given more than a fair amount of odd looks. There were also times when she smacked her hand against the counter, just to catch attention from Lydia or Callista, sometimes even Wallace.
"Enjoying your meal, love?" Lydia asked. Cecelia wasn't sure when she had arrived, but there she stood, in front of Corvo's booth, a bottle in one hand, a small plate of fruits in the other. "The admiral says he'd like a word with you, after you finish. No rush though."
She placed the plate on the table, and looked over her shoulder, at Cecelia. She knew why. It was rude to stare. She tucked her hat down to cover her face before turning around the corner.
She heard Lydia ask if he'd like some more to drink, maybe a bit of meat with his meal, before leaving him to finally give her a scolding. "You know," Lydia said, "if you got nothing else to do, maybe go upstairs and change the sheets?"
"Maybe," she muttered, earning another odd stare from Lydia. She turned her head slightly, but watched from the corner of her eyes as Lydia shrugged at her, too indifferent to care anymore. She waited a few minutes before heading back into the pub. This time she chose to peer around the corner. She doubted Corvo would notice her anyways, but still.
"Corvo, Corvo!" Lady Emily passed by Cecelia and ran across the pub, not stopping as she jumped into Corvo's booth. "Look at this picture I drew for you. Do you like it?"
Cecelia watched Emily shove a wrinkled sheet of paper into Corvo's face. Her view of him was obscured, but she imagined he was smiling. The thought was enough to have her smile.
Maybe there were some similarities, but unlike her, Corvo could change impressions. The man couldn't speak, yet he did so much to alter everyone's view of him. Callista and Lydia no longer feared him, and Wallace stated that Corvo's work did wonders in aiding Lord Pendleton's campaign. Admiral Havelock told everyone that actions spoke louder than words, and now Cecelia was starting to believe it. Corvo stopped a bunch of powerful men, and he brought Lady Emily to the Hound's Pit. That was so much more than what she could ever imagine one person doing.
Emily took a handful of grapes and stuffed them into her mouth. She made strange noises, and Corvo shook his head and grinned at her before grabbing some of his own and mirroring her actions.
Amidst their antics, Cecelia wondered if she might ever do the same. Not save an empire, but perhaps do something of value, just on a smaller scale. Maybe she could earn recognition the same way Corvo did, through meaningful actions, and then people wouldn't treat her like a dullard or child. Perhaps one day. Cecelia doubted it. For now she was content in watching changes occur around her.
"Who's that?"
At some point Emily took notice of her, and was now pointing a finger at her. Corvo swallowed his grapes and tilted his head, trying to get a better view. Cecelia dug her nails into the wood. Oh, she was going to hear it from Wallace tonight.
Corvo then tapped a few fingers on the table. Emily looked away from Cecelia and back to him, watching as he made some signs with his hand.
"Oh, Cecelia?" Emily said aloud. She turned herself around and smiled. "Hello, Cecelia?"
Hearing her name spoken by the future Empress made Cecelia all the more nervous. She wanted to hide behind the corner, but she bit her lip and gave the future Empress a quick nod. Emily continued to eye her curiously, and on the other side of the table Cecelia saw Corvo leaning on his elbow, giving her a small wave before producing a small grin of his own. His teeth were covered with pieces of grape.
With such an odd sight before her, Cecelia suddenly felt at ease. Her fear dwindled, and she found just the right amount of courage to wave back. She thought she might say something, but then Emily noticed Corvo's messy teeth and burst into a fit of chuckles, waving a finger at him and calling him some playful names. With the two distracted, she decided to take her leave. Better to disappear than push her luck.
She rested on her bed, replaying the last few minutes over in her mind. The few seconds of attention she received from the two was nice. It was more than what she was used to from everyone else. And Corvo waved at her.
Cecelia rolled on her side. For the first time in a long while she felt giddy.
Next time she'd do it. She'd talk to them. She'd give herself a voice.
