Loud voices from somewhere outside the manor woke Amaryllis. She couldn't understand what they were shouting, but it seemed something interesting was going on out there. Just as she wanted to get up, a servant girl entered silently to open her windows, just as every morning. She didn't notice that Ama was already awake, so she was startled by her sudden question: "What is going on out there?"
The girl turned to Ama and blushed a little. "Oh, Lady Amaryllis, you are already awake! I did not notice, my apologies. I shall send Mia to you with all haste!"
With that she started towards the door, but Amaryllis called her back. "You didn't answer my question. What is the commotion outside?"
The girl seemed reluctant to answer and hesitated a moment, but finally spoke: "Oh, it's nothing, really. A new addition to the menagerie arrived. I shall reprimand the boys for shouting so much about nothing, they must have woken you!"
That was a plausible story, there were new additions to the menagerie arriving fairly regularly. They normally didn't involve quite as much noise, though. It must be a huge beast, getting the servants tending to the creatures all excited and shouting. Why had her father not talked about it beforehand? He was usually excited to announce when he managed to acquire a new animal.
"What kind of creature is it this time? It must be something interesting if they're so excited about it for sure!"
The girl edged closer to the door and Amaryllis was wondering why she was so uncomfortable. "Oh, I don't know. I should really get Mia now, maybe she can answer your questions."
The girl practically fled the room with that and Ama didn't try to hold her back. She was obviously not getting much more out of her. Hopefully her handmaiden Mia would have a little gossip to share about the new arrival. Maybe the girl was just shy about talking to her, she hadn't been at the manor for long and Ama wasn't sure if she had ever talked to the girl before. What had been her name again? Surely Mia had told her, but she must have forgotten.
Amaryllis rose from her bed and walked over to the open windows. Leaning outside a little, she could see a dark, closed carriage standing in front of the east wing side entrance. Not a sea creature then, the huge tanks for those were kept in the north wing, closer to the river so it was easier to refill them.
Mia entered the room behind her and she turned, smiling. "Ah, Lady Ama! Liza told me you had already woken. Here, I brought your red dress, I hope that suits you today?"
Ah, so the girl was called Liza. Yes, she remembered being told now.
Nodding, she slipped out of her nightgown and let Mia tie her into the dress. "What is the creature that was brought this morning? Have you seen it yet?" she asked excitedly. To her surprise, Mia was silent for a moment before answering. "No, I haven't seen it myself. But I'm also not supposed to tell you anything about it, I'm sorry."
Well, that was odd. Maybe her father wanted this to be a big surprise reveal? Was it a Horsecat finally? She had wanted to see one for ages, so she could imagine her father being a little secretive about it before showing her. It always seemed to make him happy when she showed interest in his collection.
"Alright then, I suppose I'll just have to ask father about it at breakfast."
Mia smiled, apparently relieved that Ama wasn't trying to get her to reveal more about the thing and held out a bow and a flower clip to her. "Which one do you prefer for today?" Ama looked them over and pointed at the flower. "I think this will look nice with the dress. Also, I'm feeling more in a flowery mood today, ready to go outside into the garden. The weather looks lovely!" Mia laughed and nodded before fixing the clip into her hair. "Alright then, have a nice breakfast!"
Ama thanked her and headed out onto the corridor. She didn't have it far to the dining room, where her parents were already sitting at the table.
"Good morning father, good morning mother!" she curtsied and took her seat, smiling when a servant set a cup of hot chocolate in front of her. Her mother smiled at her. "Good morning Amaryllis. You look lovely today!"
Her father just nodded, close-lipped as usual. After eating in silence for a while, Ama spoke up: "I noticed a creature must have arrived this morning. What is it? I don't remember you telling us of it yet, father." She left out Liza telling her the commotion was a creature arrival, wondering if the girl had even been allowed to tell her that much. She didn't want to get her into trouble and she could have deduced that herself once she saw the carriage.
Contrary to her expectations, her father didn't look all too happy. He gave her a stern look. "Yes, but you are not to go near it. It is kept in the upper floor of the east wing, which you are from now on forbidden to enter." She furrowed her brow, but nodded obediently. "Just the upper floor, though, right? I'm still allowed to visit the swankittens downstairs?" Her father nodded. "That is alright, you can go to the lower floor. I wouldn't want to keep you from the kittens." He smiled a little at that and Ama returned his smile. Her mother switched the topic, seeming unwilling to discuss more about the new creature: "What do you plan to do this morning, Amaryllis?". She focused her attention on her mother and answered: "I was thinking about going into the garden. The weather looks lovely this morning." Her mother nodded approvingly. "Just don't be late to your stitching lesson at noon."
They had finished eating and her mother stood up, thereby also allowing Ama to leave the table. She curtsied again and headed outside, following the stairs down and stepped onto the terrace. The morning sun was warm on her skin and she smiled. Sure, it would be nice to spend the morning in the garden, but now she knew that whatever exactly had arrived, it was so special that she wasn't supposed to see it. And she knew where it was kept. It was all a matter of how to get there unseen...
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