Children, especially young girls, are treasured highly, more than pearls,for they are no different from minerals yet can't be equalized to that of currencies.
They held their daughters like eggs, a small mistake could make them crack.
And so it would start slowly,pampering her,teaching her, showering her in wealth.
But they forget one thing.
This daughter didn't follow the norms. Her soul was rebellious; its enemy were cages.
They had built a cage of pearls and diamonds - silks and cottons - nobility and pride.
But she had the key that could turn them happy or ruin their fates.
Reya stared at the paper in her hands as she put on her clothes. The sun had not risen, and the faint whispers were ones of the finches on the branches and the cold air knocking at her window.
That night,it wasn't knocking out of sheer curiosity to envelop her in its freezing jackets; simply eager to see what news she'd write in the morning.
She began to pack swiftly,almost instinctively. She need not be told twice what she had to do. For she couldn't bear the thought of marrying Edgar while her blood cried for Alaric every night.
She tossed in gowns and anything else her hand could reach - just essentials to keep her afloat for as long as she stayed with him.
And no,she didn't think of coming back. Because she knew Valens hated rebellion and to rebel was to be disowned.
"You're up early," her breath hitched the moment her mother's voice came through,her body freezing momentarily.
"Why you up? Can't sleep?"
Reya neither reacted nor stopped packing. "I could, but I can't,"
"Why not? Considering marrying Edgar? Why won't you marry him?,"Meredith yawned,her red hair still uncombed and her velvety nightdress dragging behind her.
"Business associates aren't lovers,Mother!" she simply replied.
Meredith arched a brow. "Not lovers? You were trained to know the importance of alliances. He studied beside you. He would be crowned on his wedding day, and any woman would kill to rule Vire,"
"But I'm not just any woman,Mother! I have no interest in materialism. You're confusing power for love," Reya cut in.
Her mother stepped inside,the door shutting gently behind her with a quiet click. "You will marry him, and that's final! Your father keeps handling you like glass - too valuable to be broken, so you mistake stupidity for defiance. Poor girl!,"
Reya sighed,knowing arguing would be useless. No one was going to see her again when dawn broke. Still, she had to keep appearances to hide her plans under sheets.
"I can choose who I want to marry. I won't force my heart to wed Edgar due to your desire to be a royal, too. Aren't you satisfied with what Father has? " Reya said evenly.
Meredith glared at her daughter. She was getting on her nerves. How difficult was it to make her come to terms it was for her own good?
Just imagine the countless maids you would have disposed to you. Or the balls..the gems? Talk of the travels and certain privileges only a queen would have.
Not to mention, she was untouched. And still a blooming flower.
"What's with the bag then?," She peered,eyeing her suspiciously. "You're not thinking of running,finding love like some stories and thinking we would accept blissfully successful unions?,"
Reya didn't flinch. "Don't get worked up, Mother! It's for a business trip. You wouldn't want your face wrinkled due to worry,"
Silence enveloped the room as Meredith continued to stare at her daughter, who was tying her shoes with unnoticeable enthusiasm. She wanted to question her.
A lady on a midnight trip? Who does that?
Maybe the maids or the low class women with no dignity to care for,but Valen's heir?
"It is a business trip, Mother! Rest assured! We'll talk about Edgar over tea," Reya smiled at her. She didn't feel guilty she was running. She didn't feel the pain in her heart to think again.
All she knew was her own reasoning. Her father would let her marry anyone - even a blind man, but not anyone from Ravenswood. Not the Ravyns themselves.
Meredith exhaled softly,turned on her heel with a nod, and left her room, never looking back.
Certain her mother was gone,Reya slipped into the secret passage in her cloak with her leather bag slung over her shoulders.
Sometimes silence spelt doom,but who was silence to explain itself when it enjoyed deeds. The poor girl walked on farther into the cold night,unaware eyes were on her. Meredith knew,arms folded with displeasure at her audacity to lie to her face;nevertheless, she made no effort to move.
She did not stop her.
She did not let her daughter know she saw.
And she did not make it a goal to disclose it to her husband.
But a storm of misfortune had already clouded the house as soon as their light left.
---
---
By sunrise, the household stirred. The maids went on their routines,caring little to question Reya's whereabouts when they didn't find her in her room.
They all bit their tongues as they served the other members of the house and tidied up.
"Jewel?," Daren coaxed,his knuckles continuously rasping against the door - only to meet silence."Breakfast is waiting. Don't be mad at your father. Do come down. We need to talk!"
No answer.
Instinctively, he opened the door,meeting the sheets neatly folded. Her room tidy as always almost as if she had been around for a while. But what slipped his attention was the raven's feather in the wall.
Downstairs,Meredith sat calmly, sipping her tea with no care in the world.
"Have you seen the girl?,"
She refused to look up,inhaling the perfect aroma of the herbs included. Her beauty sleep was much more important than the stubborn girl she called a daughter.
"Yes?" she answered after a pause.
"Where's she?,"
"In the stables? Do ask the maids, why me?,"
Daren glared at her,stating a fact."Because you are her mother."
She did not answer,looking up with those bored eyes of hers. God knew how he married her with her ability to evade questions, looking as though she had no idea.
And sometimes he regretted it by day.
But a beauty like her was enough for him to agree to any arranged marriage even if it meant dealing with her mood swings.
"Nevermind! Carry on," Daren sighed,turning to sip a tea from his cup.
At that moment,a maid leaned close to Meredith, whispering in her ear a secret she knew was not to be heard loud. Lest her tongue was sliced for uttering blasphemy.
"Milady the--,"
"Not now," Meredith waved her off.
"It's important. Lady Reya hasn't bled in two cycles," the maid whispered,Meredith's fingers freezing midair.
"Again?"
"Lady Reya hasn't bled in two cycles. I fear she may be pregnant or... unchaste,"
Meredith swallowed hard,fear drawing on her face. The only thing she could think of was her dignity. Her reputation. Her face paled. A scandal? Right now?
But scandals walked faster and had already knocked on her door.
"Don't you mention this to the master!" She said, threatening the young lady who bolted out of her sight.
She rushed upstairs to Reya's chambers while the Queen's minister had arrived, arms laden with gifts - silk garments,gold coins,rare perfumes.
Minister Halveth, tall and elegantly dressed for a ball, made his way in. He was stout and more handsome than minister Caelis. Except for the faint, unmistaken arrogance in his eyes that screamed, "I am the best."
"I suppose the girl is prepared?," he smiled at Daren, who hugged him like an equal.
"Yes, she is! I'll go get her. We all know she's perfect for Edgar," Daren chuckled.
Meanwhile, Meredith rummaged through Reya's room,kicking drawers,overturning chests, and throwing her sheets and garments about as if she were mad.
And then she saw it. On the windowsill was a raven's feather and another on the wall. Two.
Where's the third?!
She flipped open her bags,then her jewellery. Hidden beneath one of the books was another raven's feather.
"Oh no..." She collapsed to her knees,gasping.
Downstairs,Daren was laughing with Halveth, shaking his hands as he looked over the gifts. To him, his daughter had made him proud. Really proud. That he didn't know if he should jump with joy or scream.
"Master! Master!," a maid ran panting to him,out of breath. "The news galore!"
Halveth chuckled. "Must be the wedding to Edgar. All folks must be losing it. Envious and ecstatic,"
She passed it to him. He read it. "Merchant Lord's Daughter Reya Valen Weds Alaric Ravyn in Secret Ceremony.
Ravyns welcome new bride,"
His hand trembled at the mention of Reya,his entire being wishing it was all a distasteful dream. But it wasnt!Then it came. First, a frown,then his heart. It stung too deep like a wound that got worse with alcohol. Then his vision blurred.
His heart betrayed him, and he collapsed.
Halveth leapt to catch him as the servants came running,shouts filling the house as a daughters rebellion had struck her father like lightning. Meredith rushed downstairs,forgetting to clutch her gown,tripping over it.
She cared less. Her husband was dying.
"Help!" she screamed.
But it was too late.
In just one night,she had slain her. Not just her reputation or her pride. But her marriage. And she graced her mother in black. And her father right to death