Unbeknownst to Violet, a pair of light green eyes followed her every move once she was in sight of the dormitory. All the way up until the blonde woman disappeared around a corner of the building. At this point, Isabella York finally let the curtain close behind her and moved away with a heavy sigh left trailing in her wake. It wasn’t fair. That she should remain caged like a bird, now and in perpetuity, while others wandered free. 

After leaving the window, she walked back towards her bed to haphazardly fix the blankets from last night while her mind wandered back to the visitor. Who was that girl? Was she the handmaiden that was to be her secret tutor? Her father, for lack of a better term, had explained his plan on their trip here, to find someone who could help mentor her in the ways of etiquette and ladylike behavior. Whatever all that meant. Wasn’t that why she was at this school? To learn such things? Though she had to admit the other girls seemed leagues ahead of her in that regard. After a few minutes, there was a knock at her door, which made Isabella jump before her eyes snapped to it. 

“Hold on…” Another sigh preceded her movement to answer it and she paused after a few steps before reaching down and grabbing the handle. Just long enough to summon the energy for whatever interaction was to come.  

“Miss York?” A muffled voice from the other side of the door called out as if inpatient…or was Isabella simply imagining that?

Maybe so, but that didn’t stop her indignation blooming as she finally opened the door. “I said hold…on.” The last word came with much less intensity as her eyes went wide as she took in the sight of the stranger with piercing blue eyes. Isabella’s mouth hung slightly ajar and any further words died in her throat. The other woman’s expression was neutral and framed by flowing blonde hair on either side of her face. Wait…the blonde hair! So, this was the girl she’d seen from the window?

The growing silence was abruptly shattered then when the mysterious woman set down her bag with a thud. Subsequently, she grabbed the sides of her dress and performed a near-perfect curtsy. “Good morning, Miss York. My name is Violet Evergarden, and I am here to act as your handmaiden and tutor for the next three months.” When she stood tall, her hands came together to rest in front of her person as she waited for Isabella to say something. Anything.

For her part, Isabella could only stand there in awe for a few more seconds. So this was her babysitter? Damn, she didn’t have to be so striking! “Right, I guess you can come in,” Isabella replied before turning away from the entrance to move back into the room. As she did so, a hand coming up to indicate a second, smaller bed set up beside her own. “That’s for you. They moved it in a few days ago and you can set your stuff do–” Before she could finish, a cough welled up in her throat. Followed by another, and another until she couldn’t speak. Why now of all times!?

Seeing this, Violet moved swiftly from the door, raising a hand to offer some comfort or aid. “No! Don’t!” The words came out hoarse and, before Violet could lay her hand on Isabella’s back, the student swatted it away with her own. Her hand hurt something fierce following the impact, like it had struck something hard. Clutching it to her chest, her eyes went to the gloved hand she’d slapped, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “Damn it, that hurt! What’s with your hand?” While she waited in response, Isabella gently massaged the injured fingers. 

“Miss York, please refrain from using such language. It is not befitting a lady.” Violet kept that same expression as she offered the rebuke before lifting her hand and removing the glove. Now free, the polished metal fingers shone in the sunlight that leaked into the room. Violet then separated the fingers and closed each one in rapid succession before opening them again. “Both of my arms are prosthetics,” she noted as worked her hands. “I lost them in the war. Don’t worry though, it won’t affect my duties. I’m still able to do most things with ease.”

Isabella couldn’t help but stare for a few heartbeats more, curious about what the rest of the arm looked like beneath the dress.

“Miss York, though I don’t mind it, it is considered impolite to stare. Especially at something like this.”

Hearing the words brought Isabella out of her mind and her eyes back up to match Violet’s gaze. She cleared her throat and followed up the gesture by rolling her eyes. Great, is this what she had to look forward to for three months? “Yeah, yeah. Sure. Hurry up and get changed. Your clothes are already in the dresser. Right side.”

Violet simply nodded her understanding and proceeded deeper into their room, setting her bag atop the guest bed. “Very well, I will get ready.” 

The now-handmaiden chose not to unpack further and, without a word, changed into the school’s uniform. Finished, Violet subsequently moved to assist Isabella with hers. Only to be given an unpleasant look in exchange for her effort. “I don’t need your help, Violet. Go wait by the door while I finish.”

Once again, Violet did as she was instructed and moved to stand by the wall to wait for Isabella to finish. However, her eyes remained on the student and the simple brown dress she slipped over her undergarments. Unlike Violet’s, Isabella’s uniform bore the school’s crest, indicating her status as a student and not an assistant or handmaiden.

“Miss York, I understand my purpose here is to teach you, above all else. However, you should let me perform my duties. Both to keep up appearances and to get you accustomed to such things. You will have maids and staff you must interact with when you leave school.”

All Violet received in response was a silent grunt followed by a long exhale, while Isabella considered her suggestion. “Fine. I guess that makes sense. At least the first reason does…” Still, she continued on her own for now, hands attending to her wine-colored hair on her own. She wasn’t quite sure what Violet meant by interacting with future staff. Didn’t she just…you know, tell them what to do? Seemed pretty straightforward to her. She had already bossed Violet around easy enough and it had only been 20 minutes. “I didn’t think dolls did this kind of stuff,” she eventually started again. “Teaching people and all. I thought you only wrote letters for people.”

“We do not,” Violet confirmed with a shake of her head. “If it wasn’t for the request from the Drossel family and your unique circumstances, I most likely would have turned down this assignment.”

Her unique circumstances? Whatever Violet thought she knew; it was most certainly a far cry from the truth and Isabella wasn’t about to inform her. So, she remained silent as she finished her hair and the rest of her preparations for the day ahead. She didn’t know who the Drossel family was, but they were probably just as snobby as the rest of them. Finally ready, Isabella stepped up to the door, opened it, but paused before passing through so she could turn to look at Violet where she stood.

“Look, for the record, this wasn’t my idea. Just keep quiet unless it’s absolutely necessary for my education, okay?” Honestly, Violet sounded like a piece of work already. If she had to listen to her speak regularly, in addition to what she already had to put up with at the school, she may end up losing her mind. Before Violet even had a chance to respond, Isabella stepped through without so much as a backward glance to see if she was following. Of course, she was close behind the woman, and the sound of two pairs of boots soon filled the hall, adding to the chorus of students making their way to the school building for the day’s lessons. 

Once they exited the dormitory, Violet followed behind Isabella down a cobblestone path. One currently occupied by a steady flow of students. Overhead stretched a thick canopy of trees which provided shade during the majority of the walk. It was still cool out this morning, so relief from the sun wasn’t needed; however, come the afternoon, it would be appreciated. Especially as they transitioned into summer. Of course, the newcomer among the students was immediately noticed, evident by all the side-ward glances cast Violet’s way. Whispers could be heard all around them, and Isabella even noticed a few fingers pointed in their direction. Even with all the attention on Violet, her new companion apparently remained unphased.

However, while Violet was taking the looks in stride, Isabella was considerably more annoyed with all the attention since it inevitably passed on to her as well. So much for blending into the background! The looks continued as the pair made their way through the school building and it seemed like everyone, student and handmaiden alike, stopped whatever they were doing to observe them walk past. Isabella did her best to keep her eyes fixed on the pattern of the floor, but she could still feel their gazes. Thankfully, the classroom was coming up. All she had to do was make it inside and then she could retreat inside her mind. 

She was about to reach for the door when Violet suddenly moved ahead, grabbed the handle, and stood to the side, waiting for Isabella to pass through. For a few heartbeats, she could only stare at Violet, eyes blinking a few times extra. Once she snapped out of her shock, Isabella turned and continued through with a huff. The little interaction wasn’t lost on the curious sets of eyes either, and a fury of whispers erupted in the hallway. Which was only cut off when Violet stepped through and shut the door behind her. Isabella had been so intent on getting away that she hadn’t been paying attention to where she was going and she ended up running smack into Ashley Lancaster.

“Hey, watch it!” The words left Isabella’s mouth before she had a chance to reconsider, and her face turned a faint shade of red once her mind caught up. The tall blonde took the accident and the remark in stride, though. Not missing a beat, she smiled and tilted her head in greeting.

“Oh, pardon me, Miss York. I was just coming to see who was accompanying you this morning.” A polite smile graced Miss Lancaster’s lips as she spoke. The gathered group of women behind her all wore similar expressions, mixed with curiosity. 

Isabella’s own face contorted into something resembling a mix of confusion and disgust. Before she could respond though, Violet stepped in from the side to draw in the group’s attention.

“Who is that?”
“Did Isabella get a handmaiden?”
“She looks more like a princess than a handmaiden…”

Violet’s face remained passive as the soft whispers made it to their ears. In front, she performed another curtsy before rising and meeting the other woman’s gaze, blue eyes locked on brown. “My name is Violet Evergarden and I will be in Miss York’s employ for the next few months. It is nice to meet you all.”

When Violet spoke, the whispers died to nothing as all ears around them listened intently to what she had to say. Before replying, Ashley looked over to where Isabella stood, but only took a second to study her. Whereupon she returned her attention to the handmaiden. “I see. Violet, what a pretty name. I look forward to getting to know both of you over the coming months. Good day, ladies.” After performing their own bows, the group of women soon filtered off to their seats, Miss Lancaster leading the way. Now that the interaction was over, Isabella finally looked up and fixed Violet with a malicious stare. Without another word, she pushed past, her shoulder lightly brushing Violet’s as she went.

Class began soon enough thereafter. The teacher was a tall, slender woman who looked to be middle age judging by the streaks of gray in her dark brown hair. And after taking attendance, she started with the morning’s lesson. It didn’t take long for Isabella to once again become lost in her own thoughts, with the lecture flowing in one ear and out the other. Her mind focused on one thing and one thing only; her new handmaiden. Well, teacher? As if prompted by thoughts of the woman, Isabella turned her head, eyes glancing to the side to catch a glimpse of Violet in the back of the room. Sure enough, those blue eyes just happened to be looking right back when she stole the glance, forcing her to abruptly bring her head around to the front. Damn it, it’s like she’s always watching…