Chapter 130

Meredith.
After pointing out the trafficator lamps to me, Dennis finally showed me how to turn each side on. Then we went for a test run.
I kind of passed it.
He taught me about the horn and when to use it, as it was for different reasons, and then proceeded to warn me not to use it carelessly.
“The horn shouldn’t be used for expressing annoyance or aggression.”
I furrowed my brows. I was practically annoyed.
“Why did you have to pinpoint this to me? Do I look like a troublemaker?”
His lips twitched. “Because you have anger issues, my lady.”
He spoke respectfully, but I could feel the sarcasm dripping from his tone. But I couldn’t scold him or gnash my teeth at him.
He was my teacher.
—
“Congratulations, my lady!” Azul said to me with a big smile that reached her eyes.
Kira, Deidra, Cora and Arya followed up with congratulatory messages one after the other.
I was so excited about my new phone that I announced it and showed it off when I walked into the room.
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, and now, all my maidservants surrounded me with their excited eyes on my phone.
“This is so beautiful, more than Ms. Fellowes,” Deidra said with a smug smile.
“Of course, our lady should only have the best,” Arya said, a fat smile on her lips.
Filled with joy, I gave them permission to hold the phone and feel what it was like to have one.
“It was so kind of the Alpha’s brother to gift you this, my lady,” Azul could help saying to me as her fingers caressed my phone before passing it to Kira.
“I know. I was shocked at first, but wholeheartedly accepted it the next,” I chuckled, my eyes on my phone as it passed from one pair of hands to another.
Finally, Cora returned it to me.
“Do not let the Alpha or anyone else know I have a phone,” I said to them. “I want him to see it on me.”
They nodded, despite not understanding my reasoning.
Towards dinner time, Dennis’ call came into my phone.
Heat crept up my cheeks as my eyes settled on the device on my palms.
The ringing tone filled my room, prompting Arya and Deidra, who were in the sitting area, to come running into my bedroom.
I turned my head to them, winked and slightly shook my phone at them.
They palmed their lips as a chuckle escaped. Then they turned back and went away.
I smiled so hard that my cheeks were starting to hurt. Then, I answered the phone just as I had been taught earlier.
“Good evening, my lady,” Dennis’ voice greeted from the other end.
I smiled harder. “Good evening, Mr. Dennis.”
“It’s time for dinner.”
“Thank you for the reminder.”
“See you soon.”
Then the call dropped as a small sound reached my ear.
Finally, I pulled the phone from my ear and glanced at the screen, and the name, ’BF’, greeted me back.
—
I was woken up by a flapping sound the next morning.
At first, I thought it would go away, so I stirred in my bed, changed to another position and continued sleeping.
But it didn’t take time for the sound to reach deep into my sleep.
“Urggh!” A low groan escaped my lips, my eyes fluttering open as the back of my hand flew to my forehead.
I stared at the white ceiling for a while before slowly sitting up
Just then, a realization hit me.
Quickly, I pushed the duvet off my body, got off the bed and ran to the patio.
My steps halted as I stared at the beautiful bird in front of me. Its body had a green, blue, yellow and orange colour.
The bird flapped its wings, but as soon as it heard my footsteps, it stopped and slowly turned its head to me while swiftly adjusting its footing on the rail.
“Hey,” I greeted her, sliding my hair behind my ears as I turned on the light outside and carefully approached it.
Since it made a lot of effort to wake me up so early in the morning, I didn’t want it to fly away.
It took me a few seconds to understand that it was in a good mood and didn’t mind me touching it. It even let me carry it carefully on my palms and walk to sit on the chair right beside the small round table on the patio.
The bird’s temperature was warm, and then I lifted it directly to my line of sight, studying its knitted brows.
Its eyes were a beautiful green that seemed familiar to me, as if I had seen them somewhere in one of the magazines Deidra brings to me, or on TV.
“Are you fine?” I asked it, lowering my palms again.
It rattled a bit and then kept quiet.
It didn’t look fine.
It’s been a while since a bird came to my window. And this was the first time one was coming to me here in Duskmoor.
Back in Stormveil, many of them would flock to my windows and keep me company for most of my mornings and evenings.
They always came for water or food, and a few times, just to rest before continuing on their journey.
I don’t know why I felt bad about this bird, and coupled with the fact that it was sick, I knew I had to do something.
Slowly, I set her on the table and peered at her. “I have some water and nuts from last night. I hope you don’t mind?”
It chirped and moved its beak around.
“Good.”
I returned to my bedroom, grabbed the plate of leftover mixed nuts, and the glass of water.
It was halfway already, and it would be a struggle for her to drink from it, so I found something flat to transfer the water.
The bird was in the same spot when I returned.
It didn’t hesitate before eating what I had brought from it. It ate slowly.
Occasionally, I would glance at it to make sure it was eating properly.
But when I noticed the nut was difficult for her to break through, I felt bad watching her drink the water. She finished it.
I wished I had something else to feed it, but there wasn’t.
The bird shivered, and that was all I needed to lift it in my arms.
I hadn’t held her for long when the front door opened.
She rattled, moved about on my palm while moving her head about.
Slowly, I opened my arm and watched it fly away.
“Come back tomorrow morning!” I shouted desperately and watched until it disappeared from my sight.