CHAPTER 6

“Verena!”

She groaned, turning over and burying herself into her bed as Adeena tried to get her to wake up.

“It’s almost two and we need to get you ready for the ball.”

“We have hours, Adeena,” she argued.

“Not enough, up.” She tugged on her sheets before taking them off of her completely.

“Why,” she whined. She sat up in her bed slowly, taking her time, if only to piss Adeena off even more.

It worked since the maid was hissing in frustration while tapping her foot.

Verena sighed, “Can I have breakfast first?”

After Adeena left to get her something to eat, she made her way to her bookshelf and picked up the book she was reading the other day before taking up a spot next to the window.

Adeena came back with another servant trailing behind with a tray of food in hand. She met Adeenas eyes before moving them to the balcony. She nodded and instructed the maid to leave the food on the small table there and leave.

Verena got up slowly, eyes fixed on her back, her feet taking her to the seat on the balcony on pure muscle memory.

“I don’t know how you are like this,” Adeena wondered. “I heard the maids saying that Lyra hasn’t eaten properly in weeks for this day and that she woke up at four in the morning to start getting ready.”

“She’s Lyra. She is influenced by the latest fashions and talks, and thinks too much about what people will say.” She cast a glance at Adeena with a bored look. “I, for one, can’t bring myself to care about others' opinions. It hurts my head.”

“And if we are to talk about this, everything these ladies do hurts my head. They throw expensive tea parties, wear their finest gowns, the most exquisite food-and eat none of it, a waste-and sit down to talk about the weather and dresses.”

Adeena blinked. “You’re right,” she sighs. “I hear the other maids complaining about these and end up being more thankful than anything to serve you instead of someone else.”

“As you should.” Verena shut her book and took a sip of her tea. “Also, don't listen to her lies. Me and Cathan raided her stash of chocolate from the kitchen just last week.”

Adeena blinked, then grinned. “Is that where they went?” A nod.

She burst out laughing.

—

“Just a second,” Adeena mumbled, fixing up the last bit of her hair.

“You said that ten minutes ago,” Verena complained, desperate to get up from her seat that she had been confined to for the last hour.

“There,” Adeena exclaimed. “Done.”

There was a knock on the door as soon as she said that. Adeena let to see who it was, while Verena looked at her vanity mirror to make sure everything was perfect.

Satisfied, she stood up and turned just as Adeena said, “You’re about to leave.”

She nodded, brushing her hands over the skirt of her dress.

Adeena sighed. “I still wish I could go with you.”

“I could use your company over there over others,” she said. “But I’ll be sure to tell you about it when I return, alright,” she added when the sad look didn’t vanish from her face.

She smiled and nodded before ushering her out of the door. “I’ll be waiting then. But you need to leave now.”

She couldn’t help the little chuckle that escaped her lips before she made her way down the stairs where she saw her family waiting. Except Lyra. She groaned internally.

Lovely.

Her father smiled at her as she took the last step down. Her mother stood there with Cathan, grilling into him the many different rules the seven year old must follow which she knew would be tossed out the window the moment they set foot out the door.

His nanny stood a few steps behind, a girl not much younger than her. She stood silently, listening on, looking bored with the amount of ridiculous things which are to be followed. She seems like someone who wouldn’t follow some of them either.

Could she blame her? No.

Cathan only nodded to mothers pestering before finally cutting her off, “Can I really not come?”

Mother started telling him no, to which Verena and her father shared a bored look.

Finally Lyra came down in a champagne colored dress, which she had to say did look quite pretty on her.

And father, done with the endless stream of words and not wanting to hear more, ordered them all out and into the carriage.

—

“There you are,” Calista murmured, lopping her arm through hers while she was about to grab herself a drink from the servant carrying the tray. She grabbed two and handed one to her friend as the servant moved on.

“I’ve seen you take three rounds around the room for five minutes,” Verena said, taking a sip of her champagne.

“And you knew I was looking for you but didn’t bother to come up to me because?” she asked.

She kept her eyes on the room before them and answered, “I’d rather not walk through the entire room. I’d have to talk to everyone for ten minutes on the way.” A glance at her friend. “You took less time so it worked out did it not?”

“I suppose so,” she mumbled, sipping her drink. “When do you think the prince will come out?”

“I forgot that's what we were here for,” Verena sighed.

Calista pouted, “You could at least pretend to be interested.”

“Should I really,” she mused, just as they announced the royal family were entering. The words had everyone in the room stopping, pausing whatever they were doing and turning their gazes towards the grand staircase.

Had it not been necessary to stay at least fifteen minutes after the Royal family entered, she would have left before they even set foot on the top of the staircase.

But she couldn’t. So she stayed. And bowed when the King and Queen came. Dared to glance up at them from her spot in the corner of the room.

King Evan Hreghen of Miren was already looking at her. His head stayed put, didn’t turn. But she could feel his burning gaze on her even as he finally took the last step and on the floor of the ball room. And she saw one thing that stood out most in those dark eyes.

Anger. She couldn’t but let herself smile a little. Right as her father came forward and greeted the King. The reason the King himself could do nothing was because of her father. They were close, having grown up together. And even if they hadn’t, they need to be on good terms in order to run the kingdom properly and without conflict.

And if he did, she had enough hints hidden in their manor that her father would be sure to find out who it was. If he didn’t go to Esmery first, that is.

After the King and Queen moved on, the first Prince Alastair, came, having taken after his father in every way, a clone. The same scowling features, messy brown hair and hulking figure. At least he was good to look at, for others perhaps.

Her? She wanted nothing to do with this family.

Then the youngest prince, Prince Ade made the entrance to his own ceremony. Having taken more after his father as well, except for the hair. He had his mothers red hair.

He made up for it all with that grin he flashed every lady in the room that they were all swooning on their feet.

Even Calista. Calista.

Verena sighed and leaned against the pillar behind her, half hidden in shadows.

She had seen the looks she had received upon her arrival, and then an hour after before she escaped to this corner. From female and male alike.

There were only two kinds of looks. Jealousy and lust. She scrunched her nose in disgust. Even more so when she saw her sister subtly try to make her way to Prince Ade.

Heaven's sake. Make it worse Calista, she thought when she caught pale blonde hair close to the prince as well.

Lovely. Who would win, pretty Lyra, daughter of the duke with her brunette hair and green eyes, or Calista, daughter of Count Yseult with hair almost as white as snow and pale blue eyes, pale skin with rosy cheeks?

Calista had always struck as a snow princess. Enchanting in a way, something odd that made heads turn. Something different. Perhaps that's why she liked her. They had something in common, even if Calista was still normal compared to her.

Lyra, however, was not different, she was beautiful. And others may deem her confident with the way she carried herself, but Verena had seen the envious glares her sister cast at her. Her own elder sister was jealous of her younger sister, who would disappear from existence the moment she was given the chance.

You're not the one who should be jealous, Lyra, she thought. I’d give you all this if you wanted if it meant ridding myself of this life.

She turned away from the two ladies, feeling eyes on her. Of course.

Ladies try as they might. A man strikes for one he has set eyes for. How egoistic.

She didn’t bother holding any of the prince's gazes, though she certainly felt them on her, even as they talked to one another.

She searched through the crowd, trying to catch her father's eye. That's when she felt the air of disappointment.

Ah. The second prince did not come. What a surprise. He hasn’t shown his face since he was what? Ten? He hasn’t been seen since. Heaven knows where he went.

People don’t even know his name at this point. Either the King and Queen want it hidden or he does it himself.

Finally, she found her father talking to the king and some other noble family heads. Her mother is not far, with other ladies and the queen. She could have sworn she read her name on their lips. She rolled her eyes. Typical.

Her father glanced at her at last. Cast a glance around the room. Then ever so subtly nodded.

Go. Indeed, she thought, making her way around the room, as far from everyone as possible, and then out the backdoor and to the garden.

She kept walking, over the small bridge built over the small stream of water there. Far into the back of the garden.

It was a pleasant night, a half moon above them, the night sky filled with stars, a beautiful sight. Not appreciated as much, however. The quiet calm of the garden, the rustle of leaves on the trees alongside the path she walked, one could easily be at peace here. Long to stay forever if they could.

Finally, she was there. A fountain stood forgotten, four lamps far apart lit up the area, as they were the rest of the garden. She had found this spot years ago, and after discovering that no one came here other than gardeners in the daytime, she had chosen it as her own spot.

A small place, half the night sky visible, the rest hidden behind the branches of the old yew tree behind her. And nothing but the soft trickle of water from the fountain. She was content.

She sighed, walking around the fountain and sitting down before the fountain, leaning her back against the stone. She pulled her knees up, leaned in and first took her heels off. The lifted the skirts of her dress up until she found the pocket she had asked Sage to stitch in as well. One that went inches deep at the side of the dress.

She reached in and took her book out, the one she was reading this morning. This was the only thing she was looking forward to.

A quiet place, calm and a good book on a starry night. Bliss.

She smiled slightly as she opened her book to her marked page. Call her crazy, she loved this.

—

She might have been there for hours. Even more.

But then she heard footsteps. Hurried steps, the sound of shoes clacking against the stone path that led up to the fountain. It encircled the area around the fountain, a ring of grass in between stones.

She nearly groaned in annoyance, tilting her head back. Then she thought who would, from that ball room, come to the garden. Deep into it at that.

And with the fast pace the person had, male for sure, what with the slightly heavier steps, they seemed to be certain of where they were headed. Or wandering aimlessly.

She looked over her shoulder, when she heard him get closer. And then finally, the crunch of grass.

She blinked.

She’d never seen him before. And she was certain these past odious years had led her to have met every noble in the kingdom.

But the way he was dressed, the fine tailoring of his clothes, led her to believe he was one of higher rank. A distant relative of one?

He tugged a hand through his dark, messy brown hair in frustration. Then seemed to have spotted her because he paused, looking up at her.

Grey met sapphire. He blinked.

She didn’t react, showed nothing on her face as she turned herself backwards, resting her face on her hand, elbow on the stone rim, her book held open with her other hand on her lap.

“I-” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, I’ll-”

He turned away, but then reconsidered and asked, “Might I ask what you are doing here, Lady….?”

She raised a brow. “You don’t know my name?” He shrugged. She smirked, amused. “You either are not from here, or you’ve been living in confinement your whole life.”

“I suppose that means you are well known around here,” he mumbled. “Could I-” He sighed.

“You can stay,” she said, turning back to her book. “I was about to leave anyway.”

He sighed in relief, sitting down on the opposite side, resting his head in his hands.

“Thank you. I wouldn’t be here to begin with and my parents were not making it any better.”

She didn’t turn back to look but still asked, “I’m afraid all parents act this way in social gatherings.”

He laughed. A low breathless laugh. “My parents had more to nag me about, unfortunately.”

She smiled. “I pray for your sanity, then.”

Another laugh. “Thank you….”

She sighed. “Verena.” A pause. She knew what that meant. “Just say it.”

“Duke Ezlyn’s second daughter?” he asked and she heard shuffling, she looked over her shoulder to see him turned towards her from his spot.

She looked him in the eyes, and recognition sparked in them, along with something else. But it was gone before she could tell what it was.

Don’t say it.

“You look like….” He shook his head. “Nevermind.”

She turned fully towards him, confused. “Considering I haven’t seen you before, I was under the impression you weren’t from here.”

He chuckled but there was no humour in his voice. “Oh no, Lady. I am from here but I’ve been away for a while.” She raised a brow. “Alright. years.”

“Why the sudden return?”

“I had..unfinished business.” He looked at her again, tilted his head to the side. “May I ask why the daughter of the duke of all people is sitting alone in some unknown part of the castle gardens?” She saw his lips twitch.

She tilted her head to the side, observing him, trying to place him. “I find these things bothersome.”

He laughed, louder, more real but yet not. “Well, we have one thing in common then. What are you reading, Lady Verena?”

“Verena,” she said.

He smiled. “Alright then, Verena.” Tease, such a tease, the way he said her name.

She shrugged off the feeling settling in her. “Faction of Darkness.”

He raised a brow. “Avior Laxsus?”

“Have you heard of him?” she asked, surprised.

“I’ve read his every book,” he replied, excited. “His best one has to be-”

“Penumbra,” they said in unison.

For what had to be the first in years, she smiled at someone she didn’t know. Then again, in the topic of reading and books in general, she was happiest. As happy as she could be, that was.

“What’s your name?” she asked, getting up from her spot. She had been here too long anyway. Hours. And she’d want nothing more than to spend the rest of the night in her bed.

He smiled nervously, “Lets just call me Alec.”

“Alec,” she repeated, sliding her feet into her heels.

He saw and chuckled. “Very lady-like.” She didn’t respond and instead, put her book back into the pocket in the inside of her dress.

He laughed this time. “That’s a first. I quite like you, M’La-” She gave him a look, straightening her dress. “Verena,” he corrected, smiling.

“I should be going.” She made to go but he stood as she passed him. Heaven's sake, why was he so tall? Not that she wasn’t, she was taller than most girls her age and older but still.

“If I may ask-”

“You may not.”

“But I was only-”

“No.”

“Ca-”

“Are you daft? How many times am I supposed to say no before you understand?”

He smiled, amused. Well, there wasn’t much venom in her words either, but once was always enough for her.

She never had to repeat herself, especially with people being ridiculously cautious around her.

“As long as it takes for you to listen, I suppose. And in my defence, your hair is distracting as it is, but this jewellry-” He moved to trail a handover one of the invisible strings to which the small diamonds were attached, giving the illusion of stars. “Is certainly not helping.”

She pushed his hand away and took a step away. “Apologies,” he said.

“Go on,” she sighed.

“You know, I don’t think it’s important anymore. May I escort the lady back?”

She glared at him. “No.”

And left.