Thread: To The Manor Born (Crystalia and Thomas_Waller)

Aria! She heard her mother call as she sat in the back room mixing some of the poultices that their apothecary sold. All of fifteen years old, Aria was one of the more filled out girls in their town. Her breasts were full and firm, often viewed through scooped necklines and cinched by the peasants dresses she wore. While one could never say that Aria and her mother Mary were rich by any full means, the apothecary did bring in substantial revenue and Aria could have dressed with a bit more finery however she was a simple girl. Hearing her mother call, she stood and wiped her hands on the cloth that rested nearby, pushing a few strands of her long multicolored blonde locks behind her ear. With feather-light footfalls, she stepped into the room where her mother waited with a customer. She had seen him around before, knew little about him other than the fact he was among the wealthiest if not the wealthiest man in the town. As she was taught to, she dipped her head low as a sign of respect and with her hands clasped together before her spoke to her mother in a soft voice, Did you need me, mother? Just a moment child, her mother spoke before bidding the Duke farewell in return and once again stating that she would have what he needed as soon as possible. As soon as he had left, her mother turned to her and began telling her which herbs she needed to take down and explained what would need to be done to process them efficiently for their purpose. Though Aria knew nothing of what they would be for, she moved effortlessly and began following the instructions while her mother prepared to gather further ingredients. When Mary left, Aria was left to her own devices to take care of the shop in her absence and continue to prepare all the other orders that they received. She was careful to note down each order and cost, keeping tidy accountings. There was no way she could have even an inkling of what the Duke had been thinking of her, nor would she have any understanding of such things as it was. Aria was pure, a young and untouched young girl blossoming and paying little heed to the things girls her age often did. She rarely associated with anyone her age, let alone entertained the notion of boys. Instead, she devoted herself to the craft her mother taught her and the things she would one day pass on to her own daughter when the day came. When the shop closed for the day, she remained late and was still seeing to the potion that her mother had asked her to ready when Mary returned at nearly midnight. Together, they set things to finish and went to their rooms located above the shop where they rested. Come morning, Aria awoke and took breakfast with her mother before being directed to go down to the shop and check on the potion to see if the consistency was where it was meant to be. Finding that it was, she carefully transferred it into a few vials before she set it aside in a wrapped package marked for Duke Wilton and stored it in its appropriate space. Opening the shop herself, her mother came down almost an hour later while Aria tended to the making of a remedy for a childs upset stomach and smiled at the customers, speaking with ease and a sweet disposition. She was friendly, relaxed and as the daughter of one of the most respected women in the village had been protected from much of the darkness that many had seen by her age. As Mary joined her, she prepared several things that were meant for delivery and then turned to Aria, While I mind the shop, you go ahead and make the deliveries. Neither needed to worry over pay as Mary always insisted when delivery was requested that payment be received first. Alright, mother. Aria said, smiling as she gathered the items and was on her way, making the deliveries and the rounds which were common to check on those that had a great need. It was nearly sundown when she finished and stopped by the well to take a drink of water before turning to head toward home, intending to make haste as she never liked being out once the darkness settled over the village and one couldnt see far with the dim lights that were lit in the evening.