A Taste Of Seduction

One thing was unique about Anastasia, she would be welcomed wherever she went. She was five months old when her mother left home with her after finding out there was no cure for her illness, she left to stop the disease from spreading. It was arduous for her to leave her daughter in the hands of people that didn't love her. She absconded with her baby, and unfortunately, she died in the woods but the first miracle that ever happened in Anastasia's life was when someone found her in a dangerous woods with a gold bracelet laying next to her.

Names were carved on the bracelet in the Arabic language and no one knew the meaning of the words.

An average woman took her in after burying her mother. She raised Anastasia until she was five years old, desperately she needed money to treat her poor son so she had to exchange Anastasia for gemstones. Lady Elmira Le Gregory was married to a nobleman, she bought Anastasia from the old woman and raised her in her household. Despite that Anastasia had been a disaster in her children's lives, Elmira couldn't let go of her, the powerful auras that prompted people to love Anastasia had been helping Elmira in her business, Anastasia had no problem in negotiating with merchants, she could have it all with a blink of an eye. Among the people in the Arendal village, Anastasia had the rarest, prettiest eyes ever. Bright green eyes with brisk black, long curly dark hair that reached her knees, a beautiful voice that every person loved to listen to, and a perfect body every man desired for. Anastasia was an epitome of a goddess in human form. Although with her little title, she was a bit of a coquette.

After the last incident, Anastasia was grounded for two weeks for making a man commit suicide. A young nobleman who had been secretly crushing on her confessed his feelings to her, Anastasia had no intention of marrying anyone as she was enjoying her golden time. She rejected the man which later resulted in a suicidal incident.

Anastasia was blamed for toying with the poor man's affection, to stop the chaos in the village, Le Gregory grounded her for two weeks hoping the rumors in the village would have died down by then, and today marked her last day.

Harper was Graciela's betrothed, their family was coming over to Le Gregory's household for a proper introduction. Although both children hadn't met, tonight would be their first meeting and Graciela couldn't wait anymore. She had heard a lot about him and she was enthusiastic about it.

“Do you have to doll me up for tonight, Marcia?” Graciela stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She couldn't conceal the excitement in her voice and her younger sister, Marcia couldn't wait to see how happy her sister would be when she met her betrothed.

“You have to be the jewel tonight, Graciela. Look at the mirror–” She steered her face to the mirror with her hands when Graciela tilted her head to the other side. “You look beautiful, just like a princess.”

“Unfortunately I'm not a princess.” She chuckled, putting a hand on her tummy.

“So do I? Come on darling, you're the princess tonight.”

“Only if that little wicked wench doesn't show up. I don't want to see her disgusting face tonight, I can't let her ruin my day again.” She said utterly while twisting her face repugnantly.

“There's no way she's getting out of the room. She's grounded for two weeks, and to be honest, Anastasia is the only one that follows every order in this household. Relax, nothing is going to happen. It's your day.” Marcia noticed her sister was panicking, she could cheer her up with a few motivational words and she hoped it would light up her heart.

Graciela locked her jewelry box and then kept it aside. She took a golden bracelet and hooked it around her wrist. She sighed loudly, feeling a tinge of nervousness. “I'm off to see my mother. She has to tell me how I should behave in front of Harper, I don't want to mess the night for both of us.” She strutted to the door, yanked the door open then pivoted her head. “Aren't you coming with me?” She lifted a brow at her.

“I'll pass. I need to dress up for tonight.” She shot her a wink, smiling brightly.

“Okay.” Graciela left. She walked down the hallway to Elmira's room. As she expected every servant in the household to be busy, they were all engaging in interior decoration. Graciela swirled around, dancing rapturously. A servant that was coming out of Elmira's room bumped into her on the way and poured the ointment on her dress.

“Oh my goodness!” She screamed exasperatingly at the top of her voice and her eyes widened as if they were about to pluck out.

The servant fell on her knees expeditiously, she clasped her hands to beg for what she did. “I'm so sorry my lady. Please forgive me, my lady.”

“You ruined my dress.” Graciela lifted her face using her finger so she could see what she had done. “What should I do to you?” She snapped furiously. She was infuriated by her silence which resulted in a hard slap across the servant's face.

“I'm sorry my lady.” She burst into tears with her head bowed.

“It was just an accident. Let her go, Graciela!” Anastasia interjected sternly. She wanted to walk away before but when Graciela slapped the servant it prompted her to interrupt.

“And who are you to tell me that?” She seethed infuriatingly. She pivoted her head at Anastasia who was standing behind them holding a garment.

“You weren't looking at where you're going. It was your fault that she spilled the ointment on your dress. Why get sulky over it?” Anastasia explained calmly. The servant stood up anxiously, she paced backward when she noticed Graciela was going to hit her.

“Anastasia!” She screamed ferociously.

Anastasia moistened her lower lip with her tongue and then grunted softly. “Stop screaming your lungs out when I'm right here in front of you.” She gasped and rolled her eyes irritatedly.

“What!” She gasped. She bounced toward her and lifted her hand imperiously to hit Anastasia.

“What's happening here?” Elmira interrupted instantly as she stepped out of the room. It was their noises that made her come out of her room half-dressed up. She looked at the servant beside the door and her expensive ointment container laying on the floor.

“Oh Mother, they ruined my gown. Look at my dress, Mother!” Graciela said dramatically while faking her tears.

“That's bad. You can just go back to your room and change your dress.” Elmira suggested, she shrugged her shoulders.

Graciela's head fell with disappointment, she expected her mother to side with her but Elmira wasn't the one that would get mad at Anastasia even if she was at fault. Graciela gnawed on her lower lip and clenched her fists tightly. “I don't have a new dress.” She seethed, winking at Anastasia surly.

“That's ridiculous. Anastasia, the dress I bought as a gift the other time, do you still have it?” Anastasia nodded her head. “Give it to her. That's the price for siding with a lowlife servant.” Elmira ordered and then returned to her room.

Graciela gasped, she widened bewilderedly. What her mother said sounded insulting to her title, she didn't know why she would tell Anastasia to give her a dress. A child she bought with her money!

Anastasia motioned to the container, she picked it up and faced Graciela. “I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier. I'll get the dress and bring it to your room.”

Graciela gritted her teeth while looking at her furiously. “You can keep the so-called dress to yourself. Since you're nothing but a child my mother bought you with her money, I think you need the dress more than I do. As no one has ever bought you a gift before, keep the dress so you can wear it on your engagement day.” She whispered to her while caressing her shoulder mockingly.

Anastasia's eyes became cold. She despised it when someone reminded her she was a child Elmira bought with her money. She took a deep breath to suppress her anger. After all, she couldn't do any, she was neither a servant nor a child in the household. She was just a woman with no title but had different roles in the house. “Okay.” She gave a feeble response then walked toward the door, unlocked it, and entered.

Graciela looked at the servant that was shivering nervously beside the door. She huffed disgustingly and chuckled when an idea of how she could punish the servant popped into her mind. “Anyone out there?” She called out for the guards' attention. Two men approached her, she looked at the servant and smirked. “Take her away and beat her up until you ruin her body. I want to see bruises on her body.” Graciela ordered.

“Yes, my lady.” They bowed respectfully.

“I'm sorry.” The servant fell to her knees, begging in tears.

“Blame Anastasia for that.” She gestured to the guards and strutted away confidentially.

They gripped the servant with alacrity and dragged her away. Anastasia heard everything since she was still standing by the door, she shut the door closely before walking deep inside Elmira's bedroom.

“I'm still serving my punishment, my lady.” Anastasia reminded her, she walked over to the bed and placed the garment on it.

“Isn't today the last day of your punishment?” She inquired. She donned her jacket and handed it to her.

“Yes, my lady.”

“You should join maids in setting the dining table. I'll be outside very soon.” Anastasia bowed a little before exiting the room. She was having a bad feeling which she couldn't decipher. She strolled down to the dining room, everything was ready. The maids were done with the preparation.

“Isn't Anastasia supposed to be in her room? I thought she was grounded from stepping out of her room after killing an innocent man. She has no shame at all.” Maids murmured to themselves. Anastasia didn't bother to respond, she ignored them totally while heading out of the house. Today marked the last day of her punishment, nevertheless, she hadn't stepped out of her room since morning until Elmira sent for her.

Everyone in the household blamed her for what happened but Anastasia wasn't to blame. She couldn't force herself to love the man, the only things she regretted were the harsh words she said to him and how she toyed with the man's affection.

“That's ludicrous. I didn't kill him, he was just tired of living. Why am I even feeling this way as if I killed him? All of you should just go to hell.” She murmured vaguely while heading to the lake outside the house. She sat at the lakefront and looked at her reflection in the water. The moon was so bright and the coldness she felt sent shivers down her spine. She was hearing someone's voice which prompted her to look to her left side. She saw two men standing not far away from where she was. She was curious but she couldn't stand to find out. She could tell they were having a dispute.

She looked away nonchalantly, took off her shoes, and dipped her feet inside the water.

“What if the woman doesn't want me? Father, I have a lot of love in me and I don't want to marry the wrong woman.” Anastasia heard the young man telling his father.

“Harper, Gregory is my great friend, and please just do as I say. You're going to marry his daughter and that's final.” His father walked away.

Harper ran his fingers through his hair frustratingly. He couldn't marry just any woman, he wasn't ready for marriage either. He looked vaguely around as if searching for something, his eyes caught someone sitting around the lakefront. He decided to walk over at least he could have his peace while his father chatted with Le Gregory.

He walked up to where Anastasia was, he stood behind her but Anastasia never moved. “Do you usually stare at your reflection in the water?” He queried ludicrously.

She laughed sneeringly. “That's ridiculous.”

“I caught a lady near the lake staring at her reflection in the lake. Just curious.” He shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

“That's a reflection of me, curious monkey.”

“Curious monkey?” He grunted softly. He hadn't seen her face but her voice was pleasing to hear. It was her back that was facing him.

She rose and dusted her gown. “Aren't you?” She looked up at his face with an irritative smirk on her face. When their eyes met, Harper was lost in her dazzle. He was mesmerized by her alluring face, staring at her intently. She wasn't comfortable with his stare. “That's the creepiest way of staring at someone even if there's something on my face.” She rolled her eyes insolently.

“Oh my! How do I compliment the most beautiful woman I ever met in my life?” He was overwhelmed. He moved closer with his gaze fixed on her.

She wrinkled her face perplexingly. “Huh? What's wrong with you?” Anastasia scoffed and attempted to walk away.

“Hey, wait up.” Harper hurried to her side and held her hand. “Are you from this house?”

“Yes. So could you please let go of my hand?” She urged politely and he quickly let go of her hand. “Thank you.” Anastasia walked away hurriedly but Harper's gaze was still fixed on her till she was out of his sight.

“I think I found her!” Harper exclaimed cheerfully. He returned inside, luckily he saw his father and Le Gregory walking alongside. He was able to catch up with them as they joined everyone in the dining room.

At first, Harper was confused, he looked around for Anastasia and all the faces weren't the ones he was searching for. “Are you looking for someone?” Elmira interrupted him.

He pulled himself together after assuring himself that Anastasia would show up since all the maids he had come across were wearing black and white uniforms, he was sure Anastasia wasn't one of them, and that put his mind at rest. “Of course, I'm not.” He drew the chair back and sat beside his father.

Graciela exchanged looks with Marcia. She was already loving the luscious man. He was handsome, he had gray eyes and thick brown hair which was styled backward. “Alright, everyone. Let's cheer for our friendship. Graciela, I hope you'll show Harper around the house after dinner.”

“Sure, Father.” Graciela looked at Harper who seemed lost. Everyone raised their glasses except Harper that was lost in a state of confusion.

“Cheers!” They said in unison. Gregory looked at Harper. “What's the matter?”

“Father, I think there's a misunderstanding here.” He enunciated vaguely. Everyone exclaimed bewilderedly.

“What do you mean by that?” Elmira enquired as she showed a keen interest in what he was saying.

He wavered because he wasn't sure of how he'd explain himself. “Someone isn't here. I mean a lady.”

Elmira lifted her brow then her eyes caught the empty chair. Anastasia hadn't come to the dining room. “Are you talking about Anastasia?"

“Is she not supposed to be here?”

Graciela was getting pissed off, Marcia put a hand on her lap and gestured to her to sit back when she attempted to leave. “Of course, where's that little witch? She was supposed to be out of her room by now since she had served her punishment.” Gregory scanned around for her.

“She's not part of the family. She's just a poor child my mother bought with her money. Why are you concerned, Harper?” Graciela said impatiently.

“Because I expected her to be my betrothed, not you.” Harper blurted out.

“What!” Everyone exclaimed bewilderedly. Graciela gasped and widened her eyes surprisingly.