══✿══╡after with belle ╞══✿══
As she had expected, nothing Belle knew about Aurelia’s foes came as news to Lydia. Until the last. “I… hadn’t thought of Atlas,” Yes, she knew that Lia didn’t like Atlas, for whatever reasons, and it had been a problem that Lydia had encountered when exploring the possibility of pursuing him. Her sister’s approval was everything, it dictated their potential relationship, and Atlas knew that. But what she had never considered - could Atlas’ awareness of the fact have provoked something? “As his closest companion, do you think of him to be capable of something such as this?” Lydia asked, though unsure of wanting to know the answer.
Lydia believed she had gotten to know Atlas, and they shared certain understandings. The person she believed to know wouldn’t have done anything to hurt Lydia’s sister. Or anyone, for that matter. But what she also believed was that Belle had a greater understanding of Atlas’ character. If Belle thought it to be possible, then Lydia would trust that word. Though it didn’t stop her from hoping for an answer shutting down that potential.
“Quite right, I believe it to already struggle with the one of me,” Lydia jested, aware of the disturbances caused especially in her debutant season. In the past her actions had generally been overlooked, as it was usually Aurelia causing the most chaos. Now it was just Lydia and no longer anyone to share the blame with. As Belle commented on the possibility of her mother taking pity on her, Lydia let out a small laugh. “If that is what you thought, Belle, I fear you think far too highly of my mother,” She exclaimed, making no attempt to sugar-coat the situation to her friend. “Pity is not a possible emotion.”
The answer Belle had given regarding her own suitors had not been very descriptive. Perhaps there had been nothing significant going on, or just something Belle wasn’t ready to tell. Regardless, Lydia gave her a smile. “Do not rush yourself to finding happiness, it shall come in it’s due time,” She told her, as it was words that Lydia herself wished to follow by. Lydia didn’t want to rush into something such as marriage that would be so permanent in her life. It was why she was so against the tons events that were intended to meet partners, and her mother presenting her suitors for the possibility of marrying. Such haste would never result in happiness, that is what she believed, and instead it comes from something that blossoms naturally.
As they entered the Wycliff stables, Belle instead suggested to search for a record book. “And this is why I needed your companionship in this,” Lydia remarked, as it seemed a far better idea than interrogating some stray groundskeeper as she had planned on doing. With an altered target, Lydia began searching the stables. Reaching the far end of the barn her attention was caught by a standalone shed that she found to be unlocked from a successful attempt at opening the door. The interior was solely lit by natural light, but it was sufficient enough to spot a set of shelves on the wall. To her surprise a ‘RECORDS’ label she found on the two thicker books in the shelf.
“It’s as though the universe had been attuned to this conversation,” Lydia commented to Belle who had soon caught up to her. Handing her one of the books, she let herself be filled with the slightest feeling of hope. “Let us both read through a book each, hopefully one of us shall find something,” She instructed, leaving hardly any room for a response as Lydia hurriedly began skimming though.
Lydia flicked through the pages once, twice, three times over hoping that she would find something she had missed. But after closing the book for the third time, she finally concluded - “No trace of Aurelia in these pages.” Her eyes fell on the one she had given to Belle, the final possibility of her theory being correct. “Tell me there are answers in that book,” Lydia pleaded to her.
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@Kristi Belle I have no idea what I just wrote I am so tired
@sunflowerjm Atlas
@benitz786 Aurelia