Heart of Darkness

Angelica was sitting outside watching her students play in the garden. She was dealing with a little back pain and felt a bit scared now that she was on her last month and she could be giving birth anytime soon. She tried to console herself by looking at her students and imagining her child running around and playing. Everything would be alright at last. 

As she enjoyed the spring sun, a golden-haired woman caught her attention. She wore an old white dress and walked along the fence before opening the door and stepping inside. 

It was her. Roxana. Rayven had told her that she was a thief and now she was in the castle dressed as a man. 

Interesting.

Rayven had been annoyed but Angelica was amused and curious.  When they first met, she saw mischief in those blue-green eyes, but she didn't realize its extent. 

Roxana looked around at the garden and the girls as she walked in. She was a tall woman, with a perfectly sculpted body that was round in the right places. The kind that would entice men. Her golden hair was like the warm sun rays, tousled and slightly ragged but it gave her an edgy look. Especially with her prominent jawline. She looked cunning when serious but as soon as she smiled, she looked like the most friendly person on earth. 

"My Lady," her face lit up and she walked across the garden to her. 

"Roxana, I am glad you came." 

"I had a day off so I thought to come by." 

"Please sit," Angelica told her. 

Roxana sat in one of the empty chairs. "My Lady. I don't know how to thank you for helping Lucy." 

Angelica smiled. "It is my duty." 

"I am still eternally grateful," Roxana said. 

Rayven had told her to be careful, but Angelica liked this woman so far. She didn't know exactly why. Maybe because of her radiant energy or because she helped the girl or maybe it was something else entirely. 

"Did I come late or are you still having lectures?" She asked. 

"You did not come late. We are only having a break." 

She nodded looking around. "It is very generous of you to do this." 

"I have always wanted to. It is a joy." 

Roxana studied her quickly. "I can see that, My Lady." 

"So what do you wish to learn here, Roxana?" 

She became thoughtful. "I am not sure what I need to learn." She said. 

"Tell me what you can," Angelica told her. 

"My Lady, I have learned a lot of math by being in the trading business. I have learned the laws, not only of this kingdom but many others for survival. I have learned human behaviors and etiquette by observing, and different languages, cultures, and religions by traveling. I have learned the arts. The art of speech and even learned some medicine while on my travel." 

Angelica was impressed. That was more than she had ever learned. 

"I am not a fluent reader and writer, My Lady but I don't lack knowledge." 

Angelica had no doubt. 

"Then maybe I can help you with writing and reading." 

"That sounds good." She smiled. 

When the lectured began again, the girls watched Roxana curious and confused. "Alright girls. We have a new student. Her name is Roxana. I hope you get alone with her." Angelica said. 

"Isn't she too old to learn?" A girl asked. 

"No one is ever too old to learn. Life is a journey where we get to grow and expand our knowledge each and every day." Angelica said. 

"You can only be too young. Never too old to do something." Roxana said. 

Angelica smiled. 

"Are you married?" They asked her now becoming curious. 

"No. I am twenty-three and you are probably thinking again that I am too old to get married. But remember what I said." She smirked. 

The art of speech she had indeed learned. 

They proceeded with their lecture and Roxana was patient to learn. Again, when she was serious she looked cunning, but then she could suddenly become very entertaining, laugh and joke. She was the kind people would want to be friends with. Or even just have as a company. 

The girls loved her already. She has charmed them all and when the day ended they wanted to know when she would come back again. 

"I'll let that be a surprise." She told them. 

They hugged both of them before leaving. 

"The students are lovely," Roxana smiled. 

"My carriage will be here soon. I'll take you home," Angelica said. 

"That is very kind of you My Lady, but the weather is good. I'll enjoy the walk back." 

"Please call me Angelica." 

"Angelica," She said with her foreign accent that sounded seductive. "Thank you for having me. I'll be on my way." 

"Hope to see you soon," Angelica said. 

Roxana gave her an elegant nod and then went her way. She certainly acted very much like a woman. Angelica wondered how she was disguised as a man in a convincing way when she had that very womanly body. She must be talented. 

When she went back home, Angelica was happy to find her brother, Rayven and Skender. Her brother who had now become a man had wanted to live alone so she didn't see him every day like before. But he came by often. And Skender rarely came by so she was happy to finally see him. 

"Your Majesty." 

"My Lady," he stood up from his seat and offered her his hand to help her sit down. "I am only making your husband jealous." 

She looked over at Rayven who shook his head. Skender sat down again. "I hope you have been well," he said. 

"I have, thank you. How have you been? It is rare to see you these days." 

"I have been in good health. I'll try better to be seen more often." 

"That would be good." She smiled. 

"How is being a teacher going?" He asked. 

Rayven had told her that Skender might be drawn to Roxana. She could see why but she wanted to see his reaction. "Good. I just came from there." She turned to Rayven. "Roxana came by and joined us." 

"Roxana?" William and Skender said at the same time. 

"Yes. She came by the other day to help a little girl so I told her to come by my school if she wanted. She is quite talented and charming." 

Skender looked down with a thoughtful look. "What did she want to learn?" William wondered.

"She already knows a lot through experience. She seems to have been through an adventure. But she wanted to polish her reading and writing." 

"Or maybe she is trying to get close to you to steal," Rayven shrugged. 

Angelica chuckled. "If she planned to steal from His Majesty, then why spare the Lord of the manor?" 

William smiled amused. 

"Well, she won't be so lucky with me," Rayven said and for the first time, Skender lifted his gaze and glanced Rayven's way. They glared at each other for a moment, the tension between them thickening. 

"I am hungry," William said breaking the tension on purpose. 

"Yes, Let's eat," Angelica suggested.