Oh my god, we're getting another chapter within a month since the last update.
(Spoilers, but) Virtue01 gave me an idea of Osten pranking Eadlyn so long ago. I came up with this prank, again, so long ago.
Photo #126: Ahead of Schedule
Eadlyn only minded Osten's prancing when she was victimized. If any of her brothers or the Woodwork kids were being pranked on, Eadlyn didn't care as long as she wasn't involved in either the planning or the consequences. She always found it to be entertaining when she could watch and see the aftermath unfold. It reminded her that they're kids and they need to have fun.
Often it was a light in a mostly dull and duteous setting.
Except for this photo. She hates it because it was the absolute worst prank Osten ever pulled on her (and he's done a lot of weird ones). She looks mortified while holding her wrist up. If there was one photo she wanted to burn, it's this one.
-o-
Eadlyn wasn't sure what woke her up, but her eyes flutter open from a dream she can no longer remember. She rises out of bed, stretching her arms as she yawns. Her room is quiet, as she suspects, but she expected to hear her helpers rummaging in the next room or right outside her door.
Now it's quiet.
Eadlyn wonders what time it is. She could've woken up a bit earlier than usual. It couldn't be the middle of the night since she can see the sunlight peeking through her curtains.
She might as well get an early start to the day.
Eadlyn steps out of bed and straightens her sheets. As she glances at her nightstand, she watches the second hand on her clock tick for a second before she looks at the time.
It's almost noon.
Eadlyn doesn't register the time until the second hand ticks again.
She runs across her room, stopping at her vanity. In disbelief that she slept through the morning without anyone waking her, she picks up one of her watches. Same time. Almost noon. Eadlyn groans as she runs into her bathroom.
There was no way it could almost be noon. Her parents would be angry if she missed a whole morning of work. It didn't make sense. If it was that late into the morning, someone would've woken her up. Osten would've ran into her room blowing a trumpet if she was still asleep.
Eadlyn disregards those thoughts because it would distract her from getting ready quickly. She glances at her reflection a few times, tapping colour in her cheeks as she rushes brushing her teeth and brushing her hair. She isn't sure if she wanted to tie up her hair or leave it down since her only goal is not to look like she woke up five minutes ago.
"Ponytail it is," Eadlyn says as she bunches her hair above her head and binds it.
Eadlyn scurries into her closet and pulls out the first outfit she sees. Dark jeans, white button-up, and navy ballet flats. She considered adding a blazer but decided against it. When she scurries out, she stops in front of her vanity again. Eadlyn hesitates on throwing on some jewelry. Maybe a necklace or at least some earrings. She'd look more ready for the day if she had something small, like even a bracelet, on her wrist.
She ends up putting on another watch which, like the one she checked earlier, and it's almost noon.
Eadlyn isn't sure how to explain herself. She accidentally overslept? For all she knows, she was granted a day to sleep and nobody told her. She refuses to think the worst happened because that'll just be her frantic paranoia talking.
Eadlyn leaves her room and notices the palace is quieter than it usually is at this time. For a moment, she thinks it's the weekend and maybe that's the reason she got to sleep in. But no, yesterday was Wednesday and she knows that because she thought why couldn't it be the weekend while looking over documents.
Who knows, maybe she slept right through till Saturday.
Eadlyn almost knocks on Ahren's bedroom door to see if he's still asleep when the grandfather clock at the end of the hallway catches her attention. She takes a few steps closer to get a closer look and it's almost 7 AM.
That can't be right. Eadlyn's eyes alternate between the clock and her watch which says it's noon. The clock is still ticking and so is her watch so they're both working. She isn't sure which time is real or maybe she's still dreaming.
"Afternoon, Eady."
Eadlyn turns around and sees Osten grinning at her. Her brain processes him and then it hits her that all this was a prank when she sees him pointing their father's camera at her and not a trumpet. He must've changed all the clocks in her room to be a few hours ahead so she would wake up and think she overslept.
"Or should I say morning?" Osten says before erupting into giggles.
