Isobella paced around her foyer, her polished Mary janes clicking across the tiles as she did. Several of the maids and butlers under her employ, had attempted to calm her nerves and ask her what was causing her distress. Isobella had responded to the prying with growing irritation, everything from simple nodding, to a slap to the face. Isobella was never the strongest so the slap did little more than to send the message of, “leave me alone” to the staff.

  “What if she doesn’t come? What if the fat one shows up and asks if I don’t like him anymore? What if she’s early again, no, what if she’s late? Why do I feel this way? Everything is hot and my heart is pounding like a drum!”

  Isobella shuffled over to the front desk and pulled out the box of truffles, she had yet to eat one, there was no telling how many weeks or months it would be before she got more of them. Still, she felt like she needed something to calm her nerves, but that would only be a temporary fix. What would happen if she ate all six and still felt this way in week seven?

  “I can’t take it! I don’t know what to do! What if she’s mad, what if she thinks I’m weird. Wait, why do I even care what she thinks?”

  Isobella stopped spiraling after she heard the knock on the front door, she could do nothing but stare at it, running through every single scenario that could happen. She began to inch closer, her palms sweating under her gloves, but she couldn’t let her see her all wet from sweat, that would be humiliating. A second knock sounded on the door, a full minute later, she had taken too long.

  “What if she just leaves the basket at the door and leaves before I can answer! No I can’t let that happen”

  Isobella moved with a new purpose, opening the door, just a bit wider than she did the week prior. She felt relief, the sight of the blond girl made her feel like she was a hundred pounds lighter. Drasna returned her gaze, it wasn’t filled with anger as she had feared. If she had left Calathiel waiting as she did here, she would not be greeted with a smile.

  Drasna cleared her throat, “Good morning Miss Isobella, I was a bit surprised when you requested to have me bring you your herbs, but I enjoyed the walk down, so I don’t mind. What do you use it all for anyway?”

  Isobella didn’t expect such a warm and unbothered response, but she answered, "I make candles with lilies, and bake with the berries."

  “Oh cool, is that why you have so many blackberries outside?”

  “It’s one of the reasons…”

  “Hey so, is there a reason you asked to have me bring you your stuff? Not that I mind of course.”

  Isobella turned red again and struggled to answer, “You make me feel…..”

  Drasna cocked her head in confusion, barely able to hear the noble in front of her “I make you feel? Not unsafe or upset I hope?”

  “S-strange, I don’t understand it, but ... .I wanted to see you again…, I was rather rude last time.”

  “Oh! I didn’t mind at all, I just thought you were shy and didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  Isobella continued to look at the girl, the same messy blond hair and those confident purple eyes, the same color as her own captivated her. She opened the door a bit wider, allowing Drasna to see inside if she felt so inclined.

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  “Would you like to come inside for some tea?”

  “Wow, you must like me, I don’t even think you’ve talked to master Tao this much.”

  Isobella shifted her weight with uncertainty, “Is that a yes?”

  Drasna blurted out her answer, “Yes! Yes, I’m sorry I would love to.”

  Isobella felt her face burn hot as a stove top, she quickly slammed the door shut. She cast a few spells to make herself look normal before opening the door again.

  “Please come in” Isobella managed to squeak out.

  Drasna seemed to muffle a giggle before stepping inside the manor, she looked around taking in the surroundings. Isobella had invited many people into her home, it was a chateau hotel after all, but she’d never catered to one of the monks before. She kept a close eye on everything Drasna did, how she walked, what she looked at longer than a few seconds.Her rapid mental note taking ceased as they approached the living room, a dim room lit by purple candles and a fireplace. Isobella allowed Drasna to step in first and look around some more, before somewhat forcefully pushing her shoulders to make her sit on the couch, the one with the good pillows.

  “One of the maids will bring us something shortly, please get comfortable.”

  “You have an interesting place, it looks like a wizard lives here, its kinda cool, do you study any of that magic stuff?”

  Isobella went quiet, pondering the proper answer, “My father was rather obsessed with the occult. He attempted to gain power through a deal and sacrifice, however he made a mistake and his powers became my powers…he and my mom are no longer around.”

  Drasna shifted uncomfortably, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you talk about something so personal.”

  “I’m not bothered, I'm quite curious about things myself.”

  One of the maids of the chateau wheeled a fancy cart inside with tea and a few macarons, one’s Isobella had made herself to ensure their perfection. The maid silently poured the tea for them both, until she was about to leave.

  “Welcome to the manor Miss Drasna, Lady Isobella has been especially excited for your arrival.”

  Isobella’s hand shook, nearly spilling her tea as she looked over to her maid unamused, “Thank you, that will be all, and please report to the head butler for corrective discipline.”

  The maid frowned, realizing her subtle joke was not appreciated and she would be paying for it all week. As the maid left, Isobella took a sip of her tea and returned her gaze to Drasna

  “I use the black berries outside and the sunkiss berries you brought to make these macarons for my guests, if you came to visit more often, you could have them whenever you’d like.”

  Drasna sipped her tea and laughed, “That’s very kind of you, and I’ll admit these look tasty, but if you’re lonely and want a bit of company, I don’t mind visiting.”

  Isobella blinked with a blank face, “I don’t understand? You wouldn’t get anything in return?”

  Drasna smiled, “Do I need to be compensated to see a friend? I assume that’s what you really want, right?”