4- The Queen Bee
The Kyrrian castle at last came into view as the sun, a blazing orange, descended behind it in the pink afternoon sky.
The castle loomed proudly above them as they neared it. Most of it was made of white marble, which glowed brilliantly in the light. A web of turrets and towers were linked by bridges that were high above, silhouetted against the light. Elegant stairs lead up to the wide front doors and the large white columns were reflected in the moat that was spread out beneath the bridge that they now crossed in their carriage.
"Isn't it beautiful Daria?" Christine asked, waiting eagerly for her cousin's answer.
"Yes," Daria nodded. "It is."
She remembered arriving in a carriage quite similar to this one, that day, four years ago. She had been absolutely gob smacked at its size, the way it sat so proudly on the landscape with the sun bathing it in an orange glow.
Christine was beaming as she squealed in delight.
"I simply cannot wait," she breathed.
"I don't understand why you're so excited. You've been here more than once," Daria said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Daria, really, that's different," Christine said shortly.
"How so?" Daria questioned, her eyebrows raised.
Christine sighed impatiently. "All those other times that I came here with mother and father were informal. This is my Debut season," Christine explained, with wide, excited eyes.
Daria sat back in her seat and rolled her eyes at her cousin.
"Is my hair alright?" Christine asked anxiously, patting gently at her pale, blonde hair that was up in intricate webs.
"Perfect," Daria said honestly, scratching her nose absently.
"My gown?"
"Beautiful," Daria reported, looking out of the window.
"My breath?"
"Fresh as daisies," Daria replied with a smile that faded as she looked down at her own dress. Light brown. How drab.
"And I?" She asked, not really sure she wanted to know the answer.
Christine, who had been trying to find a nice way of saying 'Horrid', was saved the trouble as a magnificent looking carriage cruised ahead of them, a silver emblem emblazoned on its doors.
"Oh bother! Look who the cat dragged in," Christine said, going slightly pale as she leaned out of the window to catch a glance.
"Who? Who is it?"
Their carriage rolled to a stop a few metres from the entrance of the castle; servants were already unloading their suitcases and trunks as the door opened and the driver appeared to receive them.
"Are you ready?" Christine asked nervously.
Daria gulped. "I don't think I'll ever be."
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The room they had been lead to was fascinating, it was beautiful. Christine didn't seem at all mesmerised by it like the other debutantes that were flittering around the room, trying to take everything in.
"You'd think they'd never been here before," Christine said nastily. A girl in a bejewelled red dress caught her eye. "Oh help me, here she comes."
Daria followed Christine's glare to the red-haired, brown-eyed girl. She floated towards them with a sickly, sweet smile on her pasty face. Daria noticed the group of girls swarming around her as if she were their Queen bee.
"Christine! How pleasant to see you here," her voice was high, but melodic and Daria didn't doubt she was a good singer.
"Lady Porpentina," Christine said shortly, coldly, nodding in acknowledgement.
Daria sensed the tension between the two girls. She was uncomfortable from having so many people surrounding them, seeming to be interested in Christine.
"How…nice to see you here…" she sniffed. "Obviously, you're wasting your time." She didn't elaborate as she scrutinised Christine conspicuously and everyone except Daria and Christine waited with bated breath for her verdict on Christine's appearance.
"Mediocre," she said, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. She flicked her bright red hair and strutted off, her cronies buzzing around after her.
Daria would never know what possessed her, but it might've been the hurt look on Christine's face that propelled her to say, "I'm surprised she even knows such a long word. After all, there's only air up there…and fluff," she added, hoping her voice carried around the room. She immediately became self-conscious after everyone gasped and looked in her direction. Their looks seemed to say, how dare she!
Porpentina spun around, her skirts flying around her, almost smacking everyone in her path. Daria paled instantly.
Porpentina looked from Christine, to the girl who stood slightly behind her, holding a tatty, leather bag (that held Daria's prized possessions; her books, inks and paper). Daria had hoped she would think it was some other girl who'd retaliated, but luck was not on her side. She looked Daria up and down slowly and then smirked nastily, knowing that this girl wasn't worth her time. She could never get along with a girl who'd hastily brushed her hair and wore a despicable gown.
"And who are you?"
Slightly cleverer than you, Daria wished to say, and from the look that now marred Porpentina's pretty face, she guessed her wish had come true. The other girls looked horrified at Daria's bold manner.
"She's- she's my Special Companion," Christine stuttered, breaking the ice that had instantly formed between Porpentina and Daria.
There was a moment's silence as Porpentina digested this and then she laughed loudly.
"What! You need your nanny with you," Porpentina spat, as if having a nanny was a bad thing.
Daria was highly affronted. Now it was her turn to say, how dare she!
"I'll have you know…" Christine said, but her voice trailed off weakly as she noticed the looks aimed in her direction. She turned a pretty pink.
"What?" Porpentina drawled, "That you're a baby."
Daria and Christine were both saved from thoroughly smacking the girl by a large door opening ahead of them. A handsome man strode in. He was the epitome of richness, from the rings on each of his fingers to his knee-length, gold stockings. Daria's gaze, however, moved to the short, plump man with greasy, grey hair who stood by the other man's elbow.
"Good day ladies, we apologise for our lateness. We hope you'll forgive us," the first man said. "I'm the Lord Morgan Levin of Santoras for anyone who doesn't know," he said.
"How could we not?" Porpentina whispered and her minions giggled profusely.
"I'm sorry my uncle King Silas couldn't be here to welcome you himself, he went to his country manor with Jerrold last week and they seem to have been delayed," Lord Levin apologised, smiling.
"This is Freidman," he said, gesturing to the man beside him but didn't elaborate. There was a moment of silence when no one seemed to know what to do next and then Lord Levin said,
"Do rest tonight; you have a busy day tomorrow. Well, I'll let the servants show you to your rooms," and opened a door, to let in a group of servants.
"Oh, he is handsome," Christine said as they followed an old servant out of the room and down a long hall.
"I didn't really look," Daria said slowly, watching her cousin closely.
"How could you not? His deep, green eyes and his short blonde hair, all curly!" Christine breathed, like a lovesick puppy. "He's absolutely dreamy!"
Daria frowned, "I thought you were here for Prince Jerrold."
"What? Oh Daria, this is just a bit of fun…I hope you don't think Jerrold and I will become a couple. No, we're just very good friends," Christine assured, nodding to herself.
Daria was not so sure, but she didn't ask any more on that topic.
"And this Porpentina, she's the reason why you wanted me here, wasn't it?" Daria asked, already knowing the answer.
Christine squirmed. "Might be. Well you saw what she's like."
"Horrid."
And Christine was reminded of Daria's gown.
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Christine's room was the size of the whole first floor back home. Chandeliers were dotted around the cream-coloured ceiling, and detailed paintings lined the walls. The carpet was a rich red and was soft under Daria's boots. Christine didn't seem to notice the grandeur all around her; she sighed tiredly and fell onto her bed heavily.
"Oh I am tired," she said. "How do you like it Daria?"
"It is nice," Daria understated, pacing the room slowly as she scrutinized a painting of an old clan carrying out a ritual around a fire.
A door previously unnoticed by the cousins suddenly opened to let in a maid wearing a lopsided cap, fiery red tendrils falling into her face. She was short and plump, with a plain, round face.
"So sorry we're late ma'am and ma'am," the young girl said breathlessly, nodding at Daria and Christine in turn.
Daria smiled slightly.
"We're?" She asked.
"Oh, Lucy. She'll be 'ere in a minute ma'am. Got 'eld back by cook."
Daria nodded.
"Oi Lucy!" the girl suddenly yelled in the direction from where she had just come from. "Move it, or I'll 'ave your guts for garters!"
Daria heard a muffled reply. The look on Christine's face was priceless. It seemed to say 'why in the world is there a barbarian in my room!'
Daria snorted.
The red-haired girl turned to her with a frown on her face.
"O' course, I don't wear garters, but it's just a figure o' speaking innit. Like, I could eat an 'orse, I'm that 'ungry, if I had one, but I wouldna rea- 'ere she comes!"
A girl younger than the red-haired one walked into the room, her head slightly lowered, she bobbed a curtsey and said,
"Ma'am and ma'am."
"You must be Lucy," Christine said, jumping out of her bed and grabbing Lucy. "You can be my maid."
"Then I mus' be yours," the first maid said, she strode across the room and held the door open for Daria.
"Well, are you comin' or not?" the girl said, already impatient.
Daria hesitated, glared surreptitiously at Christine, who was smiling happily and slowly followed her maid.
In the corridor, she noticed a group of debutantes milling around, dressed in beautiful gowns. Really, who were they trying to impress?
"This is your room Lady…"
"Daria," Daria said, snapping to attention, she stepped into her room, which was opposite Christine's.
"And your name is?"
"'Ow rude o' me! I'm Sienna, ma'am, at your service!"
Daria observed her room. It was notably smaller than Christine's, but it didn't matter to Daria. Honestly, she thought, how much did one person need?
Her curtains were cream and were parted, letting in the dim light of the sky. In the corner, there was a small vanity table adorned with scents and flowers, much like in Christine's room. There was a large, mahogany wardrobe that Daria was sure she wouldn't need half of, chintz armchairs were dotted around the room. Windows lead out to a balcony. A long sofa sat comfortably across from her four-poster bed which seemed to be the centre of her room.
"Would you be needin' anythin' ma'am?" Sienna asked.
"No, thank you Sienna."
"A drink?"
"No."
"A bite to eat maybe?"
"No," Daria said. "You can go now."
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Afterwards, Christine arrived and they talked about anything and everything until Christine became tired and retired to her own room. She seemed excited for the coming day, the polar opposite to how Daria was feeling.
Daria sat in a comfy chair on her balcony, observing the stars. It was a habit she had picked up from her father. It seemed ages ago; decades when everything had been perfect. Her father's great love had been the stars and she remembered all those times they had camped out in the garden. She remembered how her mother complained and fussed, but she was always there…
Her mother. She didn't know what had changed over the years, but she had gone from a caring, loving mother to an almost indifferent one. Daria wouldn't admit it, but it broke her heart every time she thought about it. It didn't seem right that a mother wouldn't love her child.
Daria touched her face. It was wet. She shivered. She hadn't noticed the temperature had dropped. She wondered how long she had been sitting there. She ran a hand through her messy hair and wiped her runny nose. She felt stupid suddenly. Why was she crying over her mother? She brushed those thoughts away and decided she was hungry; she would need to find Sienna.
She knocked on Christine's door, but it was locked. Anyway, there was no point in disturbing Christine. She gave an irritated sigh and decided to retire to her room when she heard voices down the hallway. Daria hesitated, but her curiosity won over and she tiptoed down the corridor. The voices lead her to stand behind some banisters, hidden behind a grandfather clock. From here she could observe a young lady in her night clothes wrapping her arms around a black-haired man, who kissed her on the cheek quickly and smiled. He whispered something in her ear but Daria was too far away to hear. The other girl giggled quietly, innocently, but Daria knew better.
She was sick of their behaviour. Really, it wasn't right…and in the palace as well! Their behaviour was unspeakable!
She decided to leave, she'd had enough of this but before she could turn away a noise erupted in her ears. Daria jumped a foot in the air; she clutched a hand to her racing heart. Slowly, dumbly, she realised it had been the clock beside her. It was twelve o'clock.
She looked down to where the couple had stood moments ago and reddened when she realised they were looking up at her, almost accusingly. How embarrassing!
Daria looked anywhere but at them but at last she rested her eyes on the young couple. The girl still hadn't let go of the man, and had her arms rested on the man's shoulders. She looked at Daria with a bewildered look on her face. He had one hand on the girl's cheek and the other one had been used moments ago to tickle the fair-headed girl. He looked up angrily at Daria.
As if a sledgehammer had landed on her, Daria realised who it was.
"Prince Jerrold," she croaked, her voice echoed around the hall.
"Blast it!"
A/N:Yay! It's half term at last! I'm gonna try to update as often as I can, that's if I'm allowed to go on the computer (sisters, who needs them?) I'm updating this as I write this, so that's why it takes so long. Did you guys like this chapter, I thought it shouldn've been more detailed, but oh well. I had no idea what the chapter name should've been :( Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I love you!
Thanks to: li'l bling bling, brain-brat, iloveme2815 and...
chaos spirit:Thanks for the heads-up on all those mistakes. I think it's because I feel Christine and Eleanor are so similar, I get mixed up:- Hopefully, I won't do that again...
If you've read this please review because feedback would be appreciated:-)