Alessi’s pace down the art-filled hallway was level and smooth, the polished marble underfoot reflecting the soft glow of the ornate chandeliers that hung gracefully above. He turned his head ever so often to check and see if Natalia was still keeping up with him, her footsteps echoing softly against the walls adorned with vibrant paintings and intricate sculptures. Once assured that she was indeed right behind him, Less turned to head down the spiral staircase to the first floor, each step echoing with a gentle rhythm that blended with the distant sounds of laughter and the bustling activity of the estate.

Since it was Saturday, the maids of the manor were assigned to deep clean the entire estate, a routine that had become almost ceremonial in its execution. However brutal that sounds, it really isn’t all that bad when you consider the sheer scale of the Caballero family’s legacy. They have hired 150+ maids throughout the years, and the current roster sits at around a hundred. Each of these dedicated women had her own story, her own reason for being there, and while it was still a good deal of work for each of them, it wasn’t excruciatingly so. The manor, with its high ceilings and expansive rooms, could feel overwhelming, but the maids had developed a rhythm, a dance of sorts, moving in and out of rooms, dusting, scrubbing, and polishing with a sense of pride.

The air was filled with the scent of lemon-scented cleaners mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting from the kitchen, where the cooks were preparing a sumptuous lunch for the family. Alessi's father, a man who believed in treating his employees well, had always encouraged a positive atmosphere. He often said that if the maids were happy, then the manor would feel like home, and so he let them continue on with their work without the shadow of complaint or criticism hanging over them.

As Alessi and Natalia descended the elegantly spiraled staircase, he couldn’t help but notice the chatter that bounced off the walls as the two passed a few of the maids, this was normal as the girls had all bonded in some sort of way.

The two made their way to an older-looking wooden door that was located at the side of the spiral staircase. His eyes brushed over her form before opening the door, gesturing for her to go first. The weather was nice today, in the mid-seventies as his phone had stated before they left the indoors, a light breeze rustling through the young man's dark hair as the garden's floral scent met his nose. He visibly relaxed as he walked further into the large garden, which seemed interesting for Natalia as well… interesting. Alessi stayed quiet as he watched her stride on the pathway through the garth, his brows raising ever so slightly as she started naming off what he presumed as the names of the plants the two were passing.

“How long have you been a fan of greenery? It seems like you know quite a bit about…” He subtly gestured to the area around them, where vibrant ferns unfurled like delicate lace and sun-dappled leaves shimmered in the gentle breeze, “…everything here.”

A hint of a smile picked up on the corners of his lips as he watched her, intrigued by her passion for the flora surrounding them. That was an innocent enough question, right?

Natalia continued to partially lead the way, her bright glow slowly returning as they started to move deeper through the winding paths. Everything here just felt so calm and she didn’t quite understand it. His family had kidnapped her for ransom, but here she was enjoying a luxurious garden, foods prepared with care, anything she needed at her request. Was this all some sort of joke to mess with her mind? She would find out later, for now she enjoyed the sun’s warm touch and the aromas that swirled around her, the small bit of freedom she had. The deeper they got within the garden, the more the shine in her eyes grew. Soon she heard him speak, asking her about her knowledge. She smiled, looking at him for a moment before going back to the plants. “My whole life.” She began, her steps slowing to a stop as they stood by a large arrangement of roses. Her fingers reached out, gently cupping one of the large buds, “My mother adored nature, flowers, trees, mountains, everything. My father had built her a custom garden, we would go on hikes, a lot of my childhood was spent outside.” She added before continuing her steps again.

“My mother grew her own produce for our dinners as well as grew all the flowers and plants for the bouquets she would put around the house. She taught me everything, all my recipes, everything scientific about plants, how to use them in medicines. It was almost as if she knew every single answer you could have about nature.” Natalia continued. The two walked side by side, their steps slow, the pebbles below crunching softly. They were slowly starting to approach the old oak tree that loomed over the flora, its large limbs providing just the right amount of shade. “I got really sick one day, I was confined to my bed for months. My mother surprised me by growing my favorite plants and bringing them inside so I could still see them. She taught me how plants have life just like humans. If you watch carefully you can see them wake and sleep, drink, slowly grow just like a child growing up.” She added. As Natalia would walk, small little honey bees and a few butterflies would begin to hover around, sometimes landing on her shoulder or on her fingers as she stretched her hand out. It was as if she was the embodiment of light, of peace. Even in these strange and hard times for her, her body radiated.

They finally had reached the old oak tree, Natalia stopping and taking a seat on the bench. Her eyes looked around slowly, her chest slowly rising and falling with ease. It was just so relaxing, as if this place seeped a calm feeling over anything that stood. Natalia was quiet for a moment as she thought, replaying moments in her mind. Soon she spoke, her conversation changing from their previous. “I'm sorry for how I reacted prior” She said softly, her eyes looking to Alessi’s. She knew she had the right to react, to be terrified, but she hadn't taken a moment to see she had not been in harm's way. Now she had realized it.