Reya walked into the large,crusted den of lions; steady steps guiding her reactions that was meant to appear calm since Alaric was beside her. The travel of steamed buns and exquisite delights in the air forced her senses to adapt to the atmosphere; evident the family were planning a rather extravagant breakfast that morning.
Awkwardness spread like frost - from the cold blooded matriarch to the docile man of the house. Everyone turned ashly pale,hit with disbelief.The usual cacophony sweeping the atmosphere halted at her presence, and the grand chandelier Evona had shipped for dimes - believed to hold light even in darkness and never stopped - flickered with fear upon sensing the tension brewing.
"Who is she?" Whispered a younger maid to her senior, carefully setting the dishes down.
"Hush! Focus on your work," replied a wrinkly,red faced lady. "She must be the new lady of the house."
They turned their eyes back to their masters, Lady Evona shining boldly in her velvet gown,probably with high hopes of enjoying a perfect day.
She stood speechless,dubious of what to make of the situation.
"What is this brother?," asked Selene, her eyes scanning Reya with curiosity,ecstatic at the turn of events."Is she a harlot from Shina?"
"Selene!" Evona muttered,glaring at her after taking quite some deep breaths. She knew her eyes were failing her this morning.
What was this?
This ...thing?
In Ravenswood?
In her household?
"Son," said she in a voice that felt foreign to her own ears. "I am certain this is a cruel trick right?"She chuckled.
"And if it's not?" Alaric uttered boldly,pulling Reya further inside,their footsteps aided with glances and whispers of the air.
"Alaric,you did not inform me of this! You know we need no ties with the people of Vire why would you--"
Alaric turned with a huff,"You asked for a Daughter-in-Law and I delivered. Besides,isn't this a cause for celebration?"
Amber curled on the divan,flipping pages unbiased, amused,and impressed at the turn of events. "Told you!" She returned back to her book with a chortle.
Evona cast her a look she thought was a glare; stumbled backwards, falling on the plush pillows wide-eyed.
Bastian,who had now regained his composure after battling with his own vision rubbed his temples in a sigh. "She's a guest. Show her some decency."
Looking at his companions,he came to the conclusion all were too disturbed to even speak. "Show the lady to her room," said he,gesturing to a maid with a curl of his finger.
Reya shot them a polite smile,concealing her inner turmoil. Her eyes moved about the walls,the beauty of the arts and intricate designs,feeling dejected. Once inside her room,she slumped into bed with the weight of her actions crushing heavy on her brows with its hands.
"I hope mother is existing,perhaps with a bruised ego," she giggled sadly. She sat up,touching the satin sheets with a smile. Back home, she used to sleep on five of those - Daren's obvious addiction to making his daughter comfy with soft bones instead of broken ones.
Being here was different from home, notwithstanding she would do anything to cope beside her husband.
"And father... he should be fine. I know. I'll write to him later,"
How sad was it that cluelessness had washed her eyes,making her blind to truth. All she said was simply a wish,one that couldn't be fulfilled even if the stars wished to.
She didn't know yet her father had become a chief guest under death's invitation,nevertheless something in her already ached.
That evening,dinner was served in calm and all the maids smiled eagerly ; seeing that much calm in the estate meant they were blessed. Evona was on her best behavior - always had been. And let's not forget Selene who couldn't seal her mouth even if begged.
Miraculously, the family's ghost - Amber was not locked up in her room and slowly munching on some baked goods before her.
Despite the presence of perfect delicacies ranging from the roasted fowl to the best wines imported from Anglica, the atmosphere felt colder than the snows of Mount Kaslewey.
Bastian cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence with a practiced smile. "I've heard quite a lot about you," he started,sipping from his goblet. " Far and wide we've heard of the brains of the Vires and the alleged woman of Prince Edgar,"
Reya offered a smile,pausing mid-bite. "You do flatter me,sir,but I fear to inform Edgar had nothing to do with me."
Evona shifted uncomfortably, muttering curses under her breath. She wished the roof would cave in and swallow Reya. She wished a chandelier - or a wheelchair- or a stone would crash down on Reya from the sky.
Worse,she envisioned herself proudly stabbing Reya with a fork out of anger.
Amber stayed quiet,eyes half-lidded and uninterested, cutting her meat with boredom. Though her face remained expressionless,upon closer look one could tell her eyes hid unshed tears. Cutting the meat was a pain as she subtly tightened her hold.
Selene,on the other hand leaned forward,winking at Alaric before turning to Reya."So you must be aware my brother has a...unique reputation? Or are you deaf beyond repair?"
Reya's jaw clenched,adopting a soft smile."Pardon me,but I deem it unacceptable to operate by rumours. He's proven to be...angelic and lovely."
Under the table,Alaric held her hand tighter,gazing at her like she were the most beautiful woman.
"I wonder if Daren agreed to this...arrangement. That man would end the world than let his daughter end up in my house," Bastian chuckled,betraying history he must have shared with Daren.
Reya's smile faltered for a split second. "It's a secret marriage. They had no---"
"Quite interesting!," Evona scoffed audibly with a boisterous laugh unusual for her usual countenance. "I had no idea my son fancied a harlot. Isn't that laughable?Daren claims to have the best daughter while hiding behind her intelligence to breed her for men's satisfaction. Quite pleasant!"
" I would prefer we don't discuss my father,Lady Evona. Should I not be the one concerned about your reputation of harboring prostitutes and scandals?"
"How dare you!" Evona rose,slamming her fists on the table. "I demand an apology!"
Reya remained calm,not batting an eyelash. "Forgive my insolence for stating a mere fact and---"
"Enough!" Alaric rose,rubbing Reya's back to calm her. "Mother, I request you exist with my woman and show some respect,"
Evona laughed,throwing her head backwards. Her day had turned out boring,but life was funny,"This wouldn't have happened had you married some noble's daughter, but you dare go in for a ..this...this...harl--"
"Mother!"
" She even has the audacity to talk back at me?! I'm done here!" Crimson with fury, Evona walked out dramatically; nose in the air, fists balled ; and,with one full force kicked the door open, walking past her butler.
-----
Upstairs where pain smelled like roses and nothing more of a garden,silverware clung as Amber pulled a dagger from the cabinet.
One had heard of cold heart,but feared being paralyzed by its iciness no one approached it. None dared to know,but this heart was bleeding.
Amber sat alone on the bed,her eyes fixed on the knife beside her. She traced the edge sharply with her fingers and smiled meekly at herself - not enough to bleed,close.
The door creaked open and there stood Selene,craning her neck to catch a glimpse. "Are you planning to take your life?"
"No," came the cold reply of Amber,unflinching.
"Only saying your books would miss you if you left."
"My life is too precious to waste on trivial matters,"
Selene rolled her eyes ,waltzing into her room with excitement at the prospect of meeting her suitors tomorrow. No one watched the tears that fell from her eyes like dew drops or the bloodied handkerchief tossed into the fireplace.
Meanwhile, Evona paced about her room finding it a trouble to fall asleep. She despised having Reya in the house: a girl who talked back at her had no fear to end her reign.
"Why won't my dear wife let me bed her?," Bastian sighed, lowering his cup and earning a snort from Evona when she turned to face him.
"He married a Valen." She hissed,hurling a glass at the poor wall. "A Valen, Bastian! From Vire! "
He sipped his milk in bed,unfazed. "You overreact!"
"She's Darens daughter! He had me ousted from Vire by the queen herself for illegal tradings. How can I survive under a roof with someone of his lineage?"
Bastian smiled,wrapping his arms around her waist;biting her shoulder,tongue trailing the mark before he left a kiss. That earned him a gasp. "Look at the bright side. She walked into the lion's den."
He took her hand into his. "With her,we rise," twirling her about,her frustration taking to dancing. "Her mind. Her power...All Ravyns."
" That is not possible! Daren would kill to have her back,"
Bastian laughed,tossing her a folded newspaper," Do the dead speak?"
She caught it,reading the headlines and enjoying the satisfaction of a perfect evening. "Daren is dead! Gone dead! Oh my!"
"Mhmm?," he kissed her on the lips." Think of it as killing three birds and the first is gone..the second is ashes now. And we have the third in our hands,"
"I see,"
For the first time since Reya appeared, Evona knew she would have to worship her now - temporarily.