Anna woke from a knock at the door. She yawned sleepily and answered, "h-hello?"
"Miss. Annabelle? Your father says you must go to the beauty parlour to get ready for the soiree with your sister," called a sweet voice from behind the door, belonging to the young slave girl Esther.
"Oh-oh. Yeah… The soiree…" She replied, falling back to sleep. Anna gasped and sat up suddenly. "The soiree!" She sprung out of bed and ran out the door, bounding for the beauty parlour her mother installed for Anna and her sister when they were young.
As the red haired girl sat in the ivory chair, one of Papa's slaves brushed out her hair chatted with Elsabeth. As usual, Anna was in another world. She closed her eyes and thought of the night ahead of her. The music, the food, the gowns, the bachelors… Anna's heart longed for nothing more than a night of romance and class. It would be perfect.
The door swung open and Papa walked in, already dressed in his suit. He carried a golden cane, hand-crafted from India. "Ah! There are my beautiful daughters!" His deep candied accent echoed through the parlour. He walked over to Anna and kissed her on the fore-head. She giggled and gazed up at his mustached face. His features were kind and soft but if you looked at him in the right light, you could see the harshness and bitterness behind his eyes. "Ruth. Go get my daughters and I some tea." He commanded the petite slave standing in the corner. She nodded and swiftly left the room.
Annabelle never really considered how Agdar treated the slaves. Whenever she went to her friend's manors for tea, they treated their slaves the same way. It was normal, and normal was good. But when she studied Elsa's expression, she could see the shame and anger burning behind her eyes. Elsabeth had lived 2 years in the Arendelle Manor before Agdar had bought the first slave from a Dutch trader. Idun did not approve of Agdar's decision but he insisted that they needed help on the plantation. Once Idun passed, Agdar grew angry and cold and took it out on their slaves. Elsa once walked in on Papa beating a slave, and never forgot the ruthlessness of his expression, the crazed fire in his eyes and the blood on his belt.
By the time Anna came out of her daydream, Ruth was back with a tray of tea. She quietly asked Elsabeth what she would like in her cup, but Elsa insisted she do it herself. Anna turned to her father for a reaction, but he only furrowed his eyebrows.
"Elsabeth. Ruth offered to make you a cup. A lady does not refuse an offer," he said with not a drop of kindness in his voice. Elsa pursed her lips and swallowed.
Anna scrambled to change the subject. Her odd sister would not ruin this day. "So, Papa, are there any suitors coming tonight?" She batted her eyelashes.
Agdar smiled and opened his mouth, but was interrupted by a high shriek from Elsa.
"Oh my! Miss. Elsabeth! Please forgive me!" Ruth had accidentally knocked a cup of hot tea into Elsa's lap. Elsa stood up quickly and began to pat the tea off of her lap.
"Oh, it's alrigh-"
"Ruth! You clumsy fool! You ruined Elsa's dress!" Agdar interrupted Elsa with an echoing yell.
"I'm very sorry, sir!" Ruth trembled, avoiding eye contact with Papa as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"Elsabeth, are you burnt?" He asked sternly.
"No, Papa. I'm alright!" She folded her fingers and pleaded with Agdar.
"Well, I'm afraid Ruth must be punished..." You could hear his Southern accent disappear. He began to walk toward Ruth, who was frozen with fear.
"No father!" Elsabeth pushed herself between Agdar and Ruth. "It was an accident! And Ruth is my friend, I won't let you hurt her."
"Well. At least we now know you are at least capable of making a friend," Agdar snickered, his sweet accent returning, and looked at Anna. She looked at her shoes. Papa cleared his throat. "We will resume this conversation later. Continue getting ready, and do not be late." He strode out of the room, and the door slammed behind him.