Piper sat beside Reyna, her loose curls falling over her shoulders as she sat in her nightgown. Most handmaidens wouldn't have dared to do something like that, but the relationship between Reyna and Piper wasn't like most handmaidens and their princesses or queens. "Sister. I must ask." She began, taking in the way Reyna's dark look somehow darkened. "Why do you hate your betrothed?"
Reyna snorted, a very unqueenly thing to do. "I do not hate Jason Invictus. No one could hate that man I'm sure of it. I'm just hesitant. He seems to be under the impression that our marriage will end in love. That I will grow to love him and him to love me. He forgets that we are marrying each other for our kingdoms - not love." Piper looked at the other girl before speaking.
"Is that not what you have?" Reyna raised an eyebrow at her and she clarified, "love for your kingdom? Is that not why you are sacrificing yourself in this way?" Reyna sighed.
"This is not a sacrifice, Piper. It's a political move. One that should have died with my father but alas. I was promised to Jason and I must keep that promise. No matter how much it hurts." Piper hummed. She stared at Reyna for a long moment. "I hope that you will be able to love him one day. It seems awfully lonely to live without love."
Reyna looked at Piper out of the corner of her eye. "I wish I could be as optimistic as you sister. But there's something to consider: History is written by the survivors - especially the Queens." Piper gulped at the coldness in Reyna's eyes. Reyna looked at her properly. "My mother didn't survive, so I must do so for her. I have no time for optimism as a result."
Piper nodded. "Yes, my lady." Reyna smiled before grabbing Piper's hand. "Thank you. For your friendship." She said and Piper smiled back. "Thank you for yours."