The Arrangement

Chores and Covert Escapes

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the small cottage nestled amidst the trees. Birds chirped merrily outside, their cheerful melodies a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within.

Yet, despite the gentle beckoning of the dawn, Seraphina remained firmly ensconced beneath the covers of her bed, her limbs entangled in a tangle of blankets as she clung stubbornly to the last vestiges of sleep. For Seraphina was a creature of the night, who relished the comfort of her bed with a fervor bordering on obsession.

As the minutes ticked by, a gentle rapping sounded at her door, followed by the soft voice of her mother calling her name. "Seraphina, dear, it's time to wake up. Breakfast is ready."

But Seraphina merely groaned in response, burying her head deeper into her pillow as she stubbornly clung to the sweet embrace of slumber. The thought of rising from her warm cocoon and facing the day ahead filled her with a sense of dread, and she was determined to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.

"Five more minutes, Mother," Seraphina mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she attempted to block out the world beyond her cozy sanctuary. "Just five more minutes, please."

But her mother was not so easily deterred, and with a resigned sigh, she pushed open the door and entered the room, her footsteps soft against the wooden floorboards as she approached the bed.

"Seraphina, darling, you really must get up," Eleanor urged, her voice gentle but firm. "You can't spend the whole day in bed. There are chores to be done, and responsibilities to attend to."

But Seraphina merely groaned in response, her protests muffled by the pillows that surrounded her. "I'll do the chores later, Mother," she insisted, her words slurred with sleep. "Right now, all I want to do is sleep."

Eleanor's lips quirked into a knowing smile as she reached out to gently shake her daughter awake. "Come now, Seraphina," she said, her tone teasing. "Surely even you can't resist the smell of your favorite breakfast waiting downstairs."

But Seraphina remained unmoved, her stubbornness rivaling that of a mule as she clung tenaciously to her bed. "I can and I will," she declared, her voice muffled by the pillow. "Breakfast can wait. Sleep cannot."

"Seraphina." Her mother said, her voice full of warning

Seraphina grumbled in protest, her reluctance palpable as she reluctantly emerged from her cocoon of blankets. With a resigned sigh, she pushed herself into a sitting position, her unruly curls tousled and tangled from a night spent tossing and turning.

Eleanor couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her daughter's disheveled appearance, her heart swelling with affection for the stubborn girl before her. "Goodness, Seraphina," she teased, her voice tinged with amusement. "You look like you've been wrestling with a pack of wild animals in your sleep."

Seraphina shot her mother a half-hearted glare, her lips curled into a sleepy pout as she ran a hand through her tangled locks. "Very funny, Mother," she muttered, her voice tinged with irritation. "You try getting a good night's sleep with all the noise those blasted birds make outside."

But Eleanor merely shook her head, "You'll have to excuse me if I find it difficult to sympathize with your plight, my dear," she replied "Now, come along. It's time to tame that unruly mane of yours before breakfast."

With a resigned sigh, Seraphina dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the small vanity that stood against the far wall. As she gazed into the mirror, she couldn't help but grimace at the sight of her reflection.

Her hair was a tangled mess of curls and knots, resembling more of a bird's nest than a proper hairstyle. Stray strands stuck out at odd angles, defying her attempts to smooth them down, while others clung stubbornly to her face like vines in need of pruning.