Hera's big brown eyes stared at her reflection in the mirror, as she fixed her crimson-colored hat onto her head. As she was about to tie the ribbon it was ripped from her head, which caused her to whip around her head. The only thing she saw was the small figure of her brother disappearing into the hall.
"Freddie!" she shrieked, tripped over her stool, then stood up and chaotically ran after her younger sibling. "Freddie, give it back!"
"Never!" he cried, turning around to see his sister's angry face. At this he laughed and faced forward again. They ran down one hall, then the other, until finally they ended up in front of Freddie's bedroom. He dashed through the door, shut it, and locked it just before Hera could grab the handle. Frustrated, she started pounding on the door.
"Freddie! Frederick, open this door right now! Freddie! Give me my hat!" She stopped pounding, reason being pure exhaustion. "Mother said I had to wear a hat if I wanted to go into town today."
Meanwhile, behind the door, Frederick was laughing until his stomach hurt. Hera was his favorite sister to bother. Adrienne was too patient, Marielle too scary, and Eleanora too uninterested. Hera threw a fit and freaked out, which Frederick enjoyed to the fullest extent.
Hera heard him laughing and stomped her feet, screaming now. "Goodness Freddie! You've had your fun! Now give me that-"
"Your presence is required in the Grand Hall, Princess Hera," a guard interrupted her screaming.
"I'm busy!" she shouted back.
"I'm afraid your father needs you there," he answered sternly. There was something about his tone of voice that made Hera almost frightened. And her father? Her father never called meetings-always her mother. The guard knocked on Frederick's bedroom. "Prince Frederick?"
"Yes?" he called from inside.
"Your presence is requested in the Grand Hall."
"Alright!" Frederick emerged, wearing a cheeky grin directed at Hera, reminding her of her hat. She narrowed her eyes at him, but they both followed the guard to the Grand Hall.
Marielle, Adrienne and Eleanora were already there waiting for them. Their father paced back and forth uncomfortably in front of them.
"I have some horrible news, my dears," he began. "Your mother...your mother...she's passed away."
You could have heard a feather drop.
Even Hera had nothing to say.