"Elder miss, you should not walk so much. You have just recovered from your injuries." Since the time they arrived near the lake, hazel's eyes were roaming around. She was looking at every nook and corner with expectations. Even when she heard the slight sound, her eyes filled with hope, only to get disappointed again when she found it was a rabbit or deer.
Her face filled with despair, which was taken as exhaustion by Elie, who was looking at her mistress with confusion.
"A little bit more! If you are tired, you can take a rest." offered Hazel with a smile but Elie shook her head. She was not worried about herself but Hazel. She did not understand why Hazel was too adamant in taking a walk here.
Elie looked at the sky that had already turned red yet they did not sit for a second to have their meal. She had thought that her miss wanted to have a picnic in the open air, as she was bound on her bed because of injuries, but now it did not seem to be the case.
Hazel finally sighed when she looked around the lake twice. She even crossed the place where the wolf used to rest, where she had been injured and where she had dragged the wolf for cleaning his injuries. Now she was sure that he was gone.
She sighed again as she wondered if the wolf would have been worried about her? Had he understood that she was not the one who had brought knights with her. Her thoughts drifted all over the time she had spent with the wolf and a smile full of longing formed on her face.
When she was about to turn, she heard the sound of grumbling from Elie's stomach. She blinked and looked at the embarrassed girl whose face was dripping blood. The girl was looking everywhere but at Hazel, when she chuckled hard.
"I apologize that I forgot we did not have the meal. Come let's have food before we go.`` Hazel knew that the wolf was already gone and there was no way to find him now.
"Good bye." she whispered in her heart as she turned and walked away with Elie.
"If you are not hungry.." elie wanted to tell that she did not mind being hungry for a while more. She felt embarrassed that she had forced her mistress to have a meal with her. But Hazel shook her head.
"No, of course, I am hungry too." she assured the young girl and Elie smiled shyly.
"This sandwich is very delicious." Elie's face brightened when she heard the small compliment from Hazel. This was the first time that someone had complimented her for her cooking skills. Even Amelia, the one known for being kindest and the chefs who were teaching her, had always told her that she needed to learn a lot. Her face bloomed like a flower after the rain. She had always thought that changing mistress was not a good idea as Amelia was known for kindness, yet she was not able to tolerate her. Then how would Hazel, who was known for her whims and rude behavior, would accept a novice servant like her.
She did not want to disappoint her family. Her father had been a reputable servant here for years.
"I am glad that I chose you, Elie. you are too good." hazel added and her face turned redder.
"You praise me too much, elder miss.'' Hazel shook her head. She knew that Amelia had turned to break the self confidence of the girl by always finding faults in her work. That was her old trick as Amelia had done the same thing with her too.
She knew if it continued then breaking the person had been easy. That was why she wanted to praise Elie for every good thing. So that she could get her confidence back. She wanted to be kind to everyone who had suffered like her.
"You know we should come out like this often, so that you will cook more for me." continued hazel, until Elie was dug in the ground due to embarrassment. She had never been complimented before and now she was buried in them.
"Miss, I can cook for you whenever you want, but I am afraid I am not as good a cook as you think." she replied in a low voice as she continued to look at the floor.
"Really, that would be wonderful. But I am afraid that it would be tiring for you!" elie shook her head, she would love to cook if others like it.
"Actually, I miss my elders! I always wanted to be a chef. I wanted to open my tea house." replied the girl as she tucked her messy hair behind her ears which brought a smile on Hazel's face. If Elie was sharing her dreams with her, that means she had finally started trusting her. She took a deep breath. At least, it was not completely a waste to come here today. Once again, she looked around with longing but she knew it was in vain to keep hopes now.
"Then, I will promise! If I ever get enough money, I will help you to open it." Elie shook her head, she has not shared her dream in hopes to get help. She contended that Hazel did not find her dream foolish!
Hazel did not reply as she knew there was no use of false promises, she would do it when she would be strong enough to support both of them. One day!
"lets go now. shall we?" asked Hazel when the darkness started filling the woods. Though it was not that late, the woods were deep and the light hardly reach there after evenings. Eli nodded and both girls walked towards the carriage. Hazel looked out for the last time as if she was bidding goodbye to an old friend before the carriage started for their destination.
Both girls chatted for a long time! Unbeknownst to them that two golden eyes were looking at them closely all this while.. A low howl filled the woods when the carriage finally went away.