“Time for lunch,ladies gather round”, Kate called for the other attention. “I wonder what’s for lunch”, ladies mumbled to themselves as they sat on the rectangular table. The door creaked open, Jada walked in carrying a trunk.
“Oh my!”, Kate rushed to her. “Trust me Kate, it’s heavier than it looks”, Thud! She dumped in on the table. “Eww what’s that doing on the table, it doesn’t belong here.so do you”, a lady with reddish brown hair chuckled, the other ladies joined her.
“It’s a gift from madam Amelia”, a woman in her prime walked in. Straight long black hair, rectangular glasses rested on her straight nose. “Senior Alanna!”, the ladies stood up to offer her a slight bow.
“Eleanor such remarks doesn’t reflect good on you “, senior Alanna threw a glance at her.
“That’s not what I meant, senior “, Eleanor’s demeanor changed.
“I and Jada really get along”, she forced a smile. Hump! Jada snort. “That aside, there are six dresses in there for the most beautiful for your age group, in terms of physical appearance, etiquette and intelligence”,
“I heard some of you already have suitors from the western side of the empire and that’s great news, according to my list there are about twenty ladies without suitors, the top six best ladies would be sent to the central empire, all you have to do is attract suitable men to this village to produce the next generation. The names would be at the notice board before dinner”, Senior Alanna said.
The ladies were excited, there were murmuring on the table. “ do you think my name would be on the list”, a lady asked her friend who was seated beside her. “The probability would be low, we aren’t the top in the institution. The higher ups really wants the best to go to the central empire, I wished I tired harder”, she whined.
“Do you think Jada would be on the list?”, another lady who was eavesdropping asked them. “As much as I hate to admit it, she is at the top of this game and it irks me”, the lady snort. “Eleanor’s name would surely be written”. “You mean the second top student?, of course her name would be written”. They kept murmuring to themselves. A vein popped on Eleanor’s head when she overheard them calling her the second best, she wants to be at the top and Jada is on her way, she will do anything just to get her out. She threw a sideways glance at Jada, who was talking to Kate. Jada felt someone staring at her, she turned to see Eleanor eyes blazing in anger.
“You two really do not get along”, Kate chuckled. “You should also know that she’s the one calling for trouble”.
The meal was immediately shared amongst the seated ladies. “I still don’t understand the use of this institution, I mean why do I keep seeing the faces of people that doesn’t want to see me”, Jada grumbled. “I feel awful, I have no parents or have a relative, I look different... You don’t see anyone with a brown skin walking in the streets”, she whined. “That’s because you are unique in your own way Jada, do I always have to remind you huh! And for the institution, I really have no idea. Can’t we just learn at home, I really miss my parents, that aside I heard there are allot of handsome men in the central empire, they are also wealthy” Kate said taking a bite from an apple that was in the fruit basket.
“It would make the village expand, if I am correct, we lack allot of young males here”, Jada reasoned. “Yeah also that”, Kate agreed. Lost in her fantasies. “Hey snap out of it, we aren’t even at the central empire yet”, Jada snapped her fingers in front of Kate. “Tch, how disappointing”, Kate breathed out.
“Jada I assume you are done eating, come with me”, Senior Alanna called out. “Why me!” Jada cried out inwardly.
“The wildbane herd is finished, would you mind going to Mrs Anna’s store to get some”.
“Of course not”.
“I know I could always count on you Jada, now hurry along. Madam Amelia would be needing her tea before night falls”, Senior Alanna gave her a gentle smile.
One thing for sure Kate and Senior Alanna always treated her nicely.
Jada got hold of a shopping basket. The bright sunlight was almost blinding. Reaching her forward to block the rays of sunlight from penetrating her dark blue eyes. She observed the position of the sun.
Walking into the street, everyone that comes across her gave her pleasant smiles and greetings.
“Howdy!, to Jolly ville’s first beauty and brains”, A man riding a wagon greeted her tilting his hat. “You flatter me, Mr Harry”, Jada laughed. “What is ye doing outside the institute”, His accent thick. “Came to get herds for my madame”, She raised her basket. “Isn’t ye the sweetest child, now hurry now, we don’t want to keep Amelia worried about what happened to ya”,
He wiped the horses in front of the wagon to start moving. “It’s a pleasure talking to you Mr Harry”, She waved at him. Mr Harry waved his hat at her as he rode out of sight.
The door bell rang as Jada pushed the door to get in. “Oh Jada my child”, Mrs Anna smiled when she saw who walked in. “Madame Anna”, Jada hugged her.
“I suppose you came here for the herds”.
“Yes please, I need to grind them into tea bags before night time”, Jada explained. “I understand”, Mrs Anna nodded.
She walked into the storage room and came out briefly with half a sack full of dried herbs. Jada thanked her before walking out with the basket filled with herbs.
****
Jada knelt down as she brew the herbal tea for her guardian. The door creak open as Alanna entered with a list. She bowed at the sight of the elderly mistress who was busy writing on a parchment.
“My tea Jada”, She raised her hand gesturing her to hurry. “Madam Amelia, I am done with the list of the ladies traveling to the central empire”,
“Call the names out”, she said. “The first on the list is our own top student, Jada”, Senior Alanna said. Jada beamed with astonishment.
“She’s not leaving”, Madam Amelia dropped the bombshell. “But She is the top student madame”, “Who are you to question my decision?”, Her eyes flare in anger.
“Madam Amelia, this might be my only chance to get a suitable suitor” Jada pleaded. “Who says you are to get married, you have more important duties, like taking my title when I decide to step down or even better”, she took a sip from the steaming tea. “Hmm!, delicious just how I like it”, She hummed. Jada was dumbfounded.
“Put another student in her place, Jada stays and that’s final”.