Alpha Rasmus

"Madam, your health may not withstand this journey. Perhaps we should rest at an inn for the night and continue to the mountain tomorrow," suggested June Matron, her concern etched on her face as she looked at her mistress, the matriarch of Ayerswood Manor, Natalie Danvers.

Natalie, just past fifty, should have been a picture of grace and luxury, yet a lifetime of toil had aged her beyond her years, and her health was deteriorating. With a hint of bitterness on her aged face, she uttered, "We ascend the mountain today," followed by a fit of coughing that ended with her spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"June!"

Quickly, June Matron supported her mistress, who, despite her condition, suppressed the urge to cough and the taste of blood in her mouth.

Reluctantly, June helped Natalie out of the carriage. After a long and arduous journey, they had arrived at Rockhead Village, nestled in the mountains. The path ahead was treacherous, especially after the rain, and could only be traversed on foot.

Natalie, whose legs were not as sturdy as they once were, found the mountain path incredibly difficult, yet she refused to stop, not even for a moments respite.

At the age of sixteen, she had married Xander Shen, the third son of Ayerswood Manor. On their wedding night, before they could consummate the marriage, her husband was urgently summoned to war. He left and never returned.

Left a young widow, she bore the burden of a declining household. With all the men gone, she was the one who had to support the family, and she did so for her entire life.

Now, with Ayerswood Manor at the helm of the eight great families, she felt she had honored the memory of the Xander family and her deceased husband. Yet, in her time when she should have been enjoying her golden years, news arrived that her husband, who had been presumed dead for forty years, was alive.

Finally, they completed the mountain path.

Looking up, they saw the mountain slopes covered in blooming peach blossoms, clusters of pink against the green, like a cloud of soft fabric. The wind carried the scent of the flowers, and with it, the pink petals rained down.

The letter had described: "The peach orchard leads to a secluded path, a courtyard surrounded on all sides, with walls covered in blossoming trees."

And that was where he lived.

Following the bluestone path, stepping on the thick layer of peach blossoms and inhaling their fragrance, it felt as if they were in a fairyland. Who would have thought, just outside the capital, there was such an idyllic retreat.

Natalie had once dreamed of finding a tranquil place to retire to when she was old, but she had spent her whole life entangled in the affairs of the manor.

In front was a small stream, its surface covered with floating pink petals, a beauty that was almost surreal. A wooden bridge crossed the stream, and beyond it lay the courtyard.

Just as the letter had said, the walls were adorned with flowering vines in a riot of colors.

"Madam, are you sure...?" June Matrons face was filled with compassion.

"Weve come this far, I must see him," Natalie patted Junes hand.

Throughout her life, she had been steadfast and resilient in her youth, and in her old age, she was gentle and kind, living her life with integrity.

The wooden door was open, and as Natalie approached, she saw a tall man pruning a peach tree. He wore a simple green garment, his hair was speckled with white, but not much, and his posture was not stooped.

"Grandpa, I want that peach blossom branch!"

"Me too, me too."

Six or seven children ran out from the house, asking the man to cut them peach blossom branches.

These children, ranging from ten years old to two or three, both boys and girls, were chubby and adorable.

The man cut a branch for one, then another, playfully entertaining the children who spun around the peach tree in delight.

"You just spoil them, once you cut all the peach blossoms, will there be any peaches left this year?" A woman emerged from the house, dressed in a fine spring shirt, her hair dark and her face rosy as she helped the man down from the ladder.

"The joy of grandchildren, the pleasure of family," the man said with a smile.

When the man turned, his face was unfamiliar, and it took Natalie a moment to recognize the man she had married.

"June, is that him?"

June Matron sighed, "Its the third master."

"And the woman next to him, is she his wife?"

"At most, she could be considered a concubine."

Natalie gave a bitter smile, "Why do they look so much younger than me?"

June Matron felt a deep bitterness, "Youve held up such a large household, laboring all your life. They, on the other hand, live a leisurely life in this beautiful place. Theres no comparison, its impossible to compare."

The man cut another peach blossom and carefully placed it in the womans hair.

"Grace, you are still so beautiful."

Despite her age, the woman blushed at his words.

"By the way, a letter from the manor said that she is ill and may not have much time left. Are you not going to visit?"

The man held the womans hand, "Do you want me to go?"

"How could I want my own husband to see another woman?"

"Then I wont go. I never had any real affection for her."

"Okay."

The man held the woman, and they sat under the peach tree as a group of children played around them.

On the way back, June Matron saw that the old lady kept her eyes closed, which worried her.

"Madam, your health is not well, lets rest at the inn for a couple of days, shall we?"

Seeing the old lady did not respond, June asked again, but there was still no answer.

Panicking, she checked the old ladys breath and found that it had stopped...

"The old lady has passed away!"