As Halios laid in his cradle, his eyes was drawn to the filtered sunlight that painted patterns across the room. He wrestled with the confines of his infant form, his thoughts were complex but his words trapped within the limits of coos and gurgles.
A sudden knock on the door announced the entrance of a young woman, her presence exuding a vibrant energy that instantly caught Halios' attention. She introduced herself as Helia, and her lively smile illuminated the room.
"Good morning, little one," she chirped, her voice warm and inviting. "I'm Helia, and I've been assigned to look after you."
Chapter 3: The Maid Named "Helia"
Halios watched as she moved around the room, her every action graceful and purposeful. Helia began speaking, her words flowing effortlessly as she talked about the weather, her humble beginnings as a commoner, and her journey to becoming a maid in the grand duchy.
"Can you believe I used to pick berries in the village?" Helia laughed, her eyes sparkling with memories. "Those were the days, I tell you. The sun on my back, the wind in my hair…"
'What an interesting life you've had'
Halios thought, a stark contrast to her tales of simplicity.
Helia continued, oblivious to the mental exchange occurring within the confines of Halios' mind. She spoke about her struggles, her dreams, and the day she entered the grand duchy. Each word painted a vivid picture that Halios couldn't help but engage with mentally, even as he could only respond with baby-like cooing.
As she chatted, her topic shifted seamlessly to the handsome knight named Angus, who, according to her, had the "strongest arms in the land." She giggled at the thought, seemingly unaware of Halios' amused mental commentary.
'I wonder how strong his arms actually are'
Halios pondered, his inner amusement contrasting with the innocent fascination Helia held for the knight.
The conversation danced on, covering a range of topics. Helia spoke of the head chef's stern demeanor, which she playfully described as the chef having
"more wrinkles than the duke's favorite book." And yet, she admired his skills, ahe continue to share stories of delicious feasts and kitchen mishaps.
But amidst the laughter and tales, Helia's conversation occasionally circled back to the grand duke and duchess. She spoke of their apparent coldness, their outward demeanor contrasting with their benevolent actions.
As Halios lay in his cradle, the room was filled not only with Helia's vibrant presence but also with the weight of unspoken stories and emotions. She spoke of the grand duke and duchess, her words carrying a bittersweet tone that resonated with a deeper truth.
"The grand duke might seem a bit stern," Helia mused, her fingers deftly arranging the folds of Halios' blanket. "But he's actually very kind, you know. He's just… reserved, I guess."
Halios followed her every movement, absorbing her words with a sense of intrigue that only grew stronger as she continued.
"And the grand duchess, oh, she's like a snowflake - beautiful and delicate,"
Helia's eyes took on a faraway glint, as if she were recalling distant memories.
"She's the kind of person who seems to carry the weight of a thousand secrets in her gaze."
Helia paused, her gaze unfocused as she seemed to be lost in thought. Halios could sense the depth of her understanding, as if she had glimpsed behind the façade that the duchess presented to the world.
"But you know, there's something really sad about her,"
Helia's voice grew softer, laden with a gentle sorrow.
"...she couldn't even hold you after she gave birth, poor thing. She went into slumber right after, and the grand duke, he's been by her side ever since."
Halios felt a twinge of empathy for the grand duchess, a sense of sorrow for the missed moments that childbirth had stolen from her.
"The duke, he's something else,"
Helia continued, her voice tinged with a mixture of admiration and sympathy.
"He refused to leave the duchess's side, not even for a moment. Can you believe it? He wouldn't even look at you before she did."
The room seemed to hold a heavy silence, as if the weight of the duke's unspoken love permeated the air.
"They love each other so much,"
Helia's voice carried a wistful note, as if she were speaking of a love story fit for legends.
"It's the kind of love that the greatest writers could only dream of capturing in their stories. A love that's beyond words, beyond time."
Halios listened intently, his thoughts and emotions intertwining with Helia's words. He felt a growing sense of admiration for the duke and duchess, a couple whose bond seemed to transcend the boundaries of their roles and responsibilities.
"I also pity the duke,"
Helia's voice held a compassionate undertone.
"I'm not sure he could live a day without the duchess. He's miserable without her, poor thing. But that's what love does to you, I guess. It makes you willing to endure anything, just to be with the person who holds your heart."
As Halios absorbed her words, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions - sadness for the duchess's slumber, admiration for the duke's unwavering devotion, and a profound sense of longing for a love that was as boundless as the grand duchy itself.
Helia continued her chores around the room, her voice filling the spaces with tales of everyday life, while underneath it all, the echoes of a love story played like a melody that only the heart could hear.
And as the room embraced the fleeting moments of the present, Halios found himself drawn to webs of emotions that Helia's words had woven with her stories, emotions of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable ties that bound the grand duke and duchess together.
Halios couldn't help but find it fascinating how Helia's perspective painted a multi-dimensional portrait of the people around her. He longed to respond with words that matched his thoughts, to let her know that his understanding ran deeper than his cooing.
As Helia continued her chores around the room, she changed him, fed him, and even bathed him with scented warm water that carried the fragrance of blooming flowers. He marveled at her efficiency and dedication, aware that her actions were driven by a caring heart.
The room brimmed with Halios' silent observations, interspersed with Helia's ongoing dialogue. Each moment held a blend of emotions, curiosity, and connection that transcended the barriers of speech.
'If only ...'
Halios thought, a sense of longing filling his mind as he watched Helia move around him.
And then, like a whisper in the wind, it happened. A quick realization unfurled within Halios, a thread connecting the puzzle pieces he had struggled to place. The words Helia spoke...the stories she shared, they were no longer a jumble of sound. He understood.
'I can understand…'
Halios thought, his realization tinged with a mix of excitement and revelation.
Helia, unaware of the revelation unfolding within Halios, continued her animated chatter. She spoke of dreams and aspirations, of the world beyond these walls, and of her unwavering optimism.
And within that shared space, amid the sounds of her voice and the scent of blooming flowers, a connection deepened. Halios began to see Helia not just as a caretaker, but as a bridge to a world he could now truly engage with.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the room, Helia bid him farewell, promising to return soon. Left to his thoughts once more, Halios reflected on the newfound connection he shared with the radiant maid, the unfolding symphony of his existence, and the journey of understanding that lay ahead.
**Starting to understand others**