Author's Note: I am so, so, sooo sorry that I took so long to post this chapter! (Even though it's only been about a week, and I had originally planned to post weekly.) Writer's block is a b*tch, and no way in HELL was I gonna post something I was not happy with. To make up for this, I made this chapter extra long. Lot's of plot development. If all goes well, Mai could have a romantic encounter with Naru as early as the next chapter, so look forward to it!
I own my own sh*t and ideas, not Ghost Hunt, or it's characters!
I think I forgot to say enjoy in the last chapter, so Enjoy x10!
Mai had spent the remainder of the day bedridden, unable to accomplish much more than eating and sleeping. Madoka had informed her that the tailor had finished her dresses that afternoon, as promised, but both she and Mai unanimously agreed that the finishing alterations could wait until Mai was feeling better.
Dr. Mason came to see Mai as soon as he had learned she was awake, and performed a routine checkup. He changed the bandages on her slightly frostbitten hands and feet, and prescribed her some additional medicine to aid her recovery. The doctor had strongly advised Mai to rest, and to eat whatever she could stomach. After leaving her, Dr. Mason reported directly to Oliver, as he had been instructed to do by the Duke following each visit.
Mai ate an early dinner, and was asleep before the sun had even set.
Later that evening, after Madoka and the other servants had retired for the night, the Duke had stealthily entered the young girl's room. He placed a thick, dark, leather bound book onto her nightstand, knowing she would find its contents more than a little intriguing.
Before he left for the night, Oliver peered down at her ghostly parlor, so that he may better view her face in the firelight.
She was still much too pale, as it had only been one day since she had woken, but she appeared to have slightly more color in her cheeks than before. The Duke's eyes traveled down to her chest, finding it's up and down rhythm beneath the mountain of blankets. As he listened to her breathing, he noted that it was fairly ragged, as if every breath of air was a small victory in a hard-fought battle. The thought of her alone, gasping for breath, while he would be sound asleep irked him greatly.
Her poor condition made it increasingly difficult for him to leave her.
"Mmm-…" she breathed heavily "Father…"
Hearing her speak this gave Oliver's heart a start, and again his gaze snapped back to her face. The way she fitfully twitched about in her sleep, he assumed her to be having a nightmare. If there was something, anything, he could do aid her recovery and lessen her suffering, he would carry out such a task to his utmost, and provide her with every remedy within his power.
Remembering how his mother cared for him whenever he had fallen ill as a child, the Duke finally exited the girl's room. He made his way to Madoka's door, and knocked.
The following morning, Mai again found herself waking to the light of dawn. She was pleased to find that it was much easier to breathe than the day before, and hoped it meant the doctor's medicine was beginning to take effect.
Stretching, Mai pushed back the fluffy comforter, and sat up.
The first thing she noticed were the odd number of pales, full with water, strewn out around the room Mai counted five of them. Confused, Mai stood up slowly, not wanting to faint should she become too dizzy. As she listened closer, she could hear what sounded like water coming from the other room. Upon conversing with Madoka yesterday, Mai had inquired about perhaps being able to freshen up a little, and was surprised to learn that what she had originally assumed to be a closet was actually a large washroom.
Mai made her way to the room, and lightly knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Mai asked tentatively, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Madoka, is that you in there?"
"Just a moment!" announced the woman, her voice muffled but audible through the wooden door. "Good morning, dearie! I was just drawing your bath. We have lavender, rose, or gardenia soap for you to choose from. Tell me, which scent you prefer?"
"Uh…any will do, thank you!" Mai stammered. "Really, the type of soap is the least of my worries."
"Shall I surprise you then?" asked the woman.
"Please," Mai allowed as her stomach let out a growl.
"Would you care to eat your breakfast in the bath?" Madoka asked, returning to finish preparing the bath as Mai stood in the doorway to the washroom.
"May I?!" Mai exclaimed, failing to hide her excitement at the idea. Never had she been so spoiled before.
"Of course! I believe the cook will have it ready shortly. Let's just get you into the bath first, then I can bring it in to you," Madoka offered.
"It is alright, I am plenty capable of undressing myself now. I can get into the bath while you fetch my breakfast," Mai blushed, not wanting to be stark naked in front of anyone ever again, if she could help it. For all she knew, Madoka may have already seen her in the days she had been asleep.
"Are you really that hungry?" Madoka teased, laughing as Mai's blush deepened as she frantically denied it. Nonetheless, the woman was not pushy about the matter, and followed her given task, granting the Duchess some privacy.
Once she was alone, Mai entered the washroom.
Mai had used the washroom about two or three times before to relieve herself, but in the dark of night, and with only a candle to guide her. Now that the light of morning trickled into the room through large, elegant glass windows, which were foggy from the steam, Mai took the time to really take in the details of the space.
The entire room was made of what looked like marble, while the tub was pure white porcelain. The tub sat on one half of the room, where it sat by two large windows. The glass appeared to be almost hammered, giving the sunlight a shimmery effect. Beside the windows sat a wooden chair, with intricately carved swirls and patterns. On the other half of the room, a deep red carpet, much like that of her bedroom, lead up to the tub.
After unwrapping her tender limbs, which still burned somewhat due to the frostbite, Mai pulled her nightgown over her head, and slowly stepped into the steaming bath, testing its heat. She had been afraid that the heat may irritate her frostbitten fingers and toes. When she was certain she would not burn herself, she fully sank her body into the tub.
"This is heavenly," Mai inhaled deeply, loving the scents of the soap and lavender petals, as they cleansed and perfumed her body. It was then that Madoka knocked on the door.
"May I come in, dearie?" asked the woman politely.
"Yes, I'm already in the bath," Mai replied.
The woman entered, carrying Mai's breakfast, whose steam was somehow still visible in the foggy room.
"How are you feeling this morning, dearie?" inquired Madoka, handing Mai a tiny cinnamon roll, still warm from the oven.
"Better, thank you. My throat is not hurting as it was before, and I'm finding it much easier to breathe now," Mai explained in between bites.
"I see it helped then," stated Madoka happily, pouring Mai some tea and handing her another cinnamon roll.
"What helped?" questioned Mai, confused. "You mean the medicine?"
"Did you take notice of all those tubs of water about your room?" hinted Madoka.
"I did. Tell me, what is their purpose?" asked Mai, now on her third cinnamon roll.
"Last night they were filled with boiling water. The steam helps clear the sinuses, and makes it far easier to breathe," Madoka explained.
"How thoughtful, thank you," Mai said in appreciation, breathing in the steam around her. Her throat still burned a little, but nothing like the day before.
"It was actually Lord Oliver's idea," Madoka confided. "As a child, the Duke was often sickly. Lady Luella, Lord Oliver's mother, would instruct the servants to do this if ever he had trouble breathing. A doctor had told her of this remedy, and we have been using it in this household ever since."
"So he does have a heart in there somewhere," Mai deadpanned, hoping that if she was blushing Madoka would assume it was only the steam. Then she caught herself, wondering if her added remark had been too rude.
Madoka had only laughed.
"Despite his appearance, our Naru, as you have so dubbed him, is actually a very caring person when it comes to friends. He is by no means a social butterfly, but he is hardly heartless," Madoka assured her, pouring Mai some tea so that she could take her medicine. "May I wash your back?" Mai nodded, grimacing as she tasted the bitter concoction of grinded herbs.
"Will the tailor be coming again today?" Mai asked curiously.
"He was not scheduled to, but we can arrange for it. Do you suppose you're up to it then?" asked Madoka, taking Mai's cup of tea, and placing it back on the silver platter. As Mai began washing the rest of her body, Madoka started on her hair.
"Please do, if it is not too much trouble," Mai replied, not wanting to tell the woman how she was again suppressing what would no doubt be a horrible, heaving cough. This woman has been so good to her, Mai saw no need to worry her any further. "And if there is time, would it be possible to let me have a tour of the manor? After all, if this is to be my home until the spring, then I would at least like to learn a little about my surroundings," Mai inquired, praying she was not overstepping her boundaries.
"Are you certain?" Madoka questioned her. "The tailor is no problem at all, but I really think you should rest a bit more."
"I have rested enough," Mai complained, trying her best not to sound like she was whining.
"But you only just woke up!" Madoka reprimanded, reminding Mai a little of Ayako. Suddenly feeling homesick, Mai tried to remain positive.
"Perhaps all I need is a little change of scenery. Besides," Mai blushed, "I have yet to even thank him."
"Oh, so that's all it was," Madoka teased, pouring water over the girl's soapy hair to rinse it out, noting that the ends appeared to have been cut rather roughly. "You just want to hurry and see Naru again!"
"A-Absurd! I merely want to personally express my thanks!" Mai stammered, glad the woman was behind her and could not see how red her face probably was. "Oh, speaking of which, thank you for the book. I'm really enjoying it!"
The book Mai had found on her nightstand the other morning had proved to be a rather interesting time killer, though she only managed to read a few chapters in her book before finding herself fighting to keep her eyes open. The novel had intrigued her greatly, but Mai was still too drowsy to really take in the material. The book spoke of different types of hauntings, and how they might occur, as well as how a person might go about solving the problems that come with living in a haunted house. At first, Mai had thought it to be all fictional, but upon further investigation, found that the book's contents were hardly your typical mystery novel, as she had been expecting. Not only was Mai drawn in by how scientifically and logically each chapter was laid out, but by the calculating tone of the writer. The way the novel was written, it was as if the author truly believed in the paranormal.
"I'm glad you like it, but it was Oliver who picked it out for you," Madoka confessed, wrapping a warm, fluffy towel around Mai to help her dry off.
"Really?!" Mai was not sure why she was so happy about this.
"Yes, Oliver is quite the investigator," Madoka explained, helping Mai pull on a fresh nightgown.
"What does he do exactly? Surely a noble as wealthy as he must be has no need for working," Mai questioned, wondering if he just had a lot of free time.
"~I'll let Naru explain it to you himself. Besides," Madoka continued, deciding she could hold back the information no longer, "Lord Oliver has personally invited you to join him for dinner. As soon as you are well enough, that is."
"Truly?!" Mai exclaimed, turning to face the woman. "But I cannot see him until I have my dresses tailored, and shoes, and~" Suddenly, Mai had another coughing fit, this time unable to hide it from Madoka. But these coughs were different from before. The sounds of her heaving were much deeper, but thankfully did not appear as violent as they had been the day prior.
"Please, calm down dear!" Madoka soothed as she rubbed warm circles into Mai's lower back. "Naru will still be there after you recover, but do you really want to scare him as you just did me?"
Pitifully, Mai shook her head, as she fought to get her breathing under control again.
"How about this then, today, you rest, and I shall arrange for the tailor to come and take your measurements. By tomorrow morning, your dresses and shoes should be finished, and, if you are feeling up to it…"
"…I can dine with him?" Mai guessed.
"ONLY if you rest!" Madoka warned her, waving a finger in her face.
"Fine, I yield," Mai sighed in defeat, wanting to return to bed already. "I will rest today." And hopefully, see Naru tomorrow, Mai thought, before catching herself.
Wait…did she…? No, that was impossible. For her to want to see the man she had met only once so badly…did this mean…?! Mai blushed furiously at the realization. Duchess Mai Taniyama of Rosenwood, was in love with the Narcissistic Duke Oliver of Azmaria.
