Ok so FINALLY I'm writing again mostly because I have my own laptop! That means I have no excuse to procrastinate anymore. So I'll try to write more and thank you for reading my story. 3
- Professor Cow
A Lady's Duty
Chapter 3
Day 3 continued,
After the little heart-to-heart with my father, Chloe, who had been sneaking around the other ladies rooms trying to find more scandal to gossip about came tearing through the door. " Lady Fae! We need to leave this instant! We are late to meet the royals!" she exclaimed. My Father and I whipped our heads toward the brazen mantel where the clock stood ticking. Seeing that it was ten past the time we were suppose to be in the throne room, we dashed out the door one after another. It took us some time to get there because I was in attire I was inexperienced in how to move in. By the time we arrived at the doors to the throne room we were sure we were so late that we'd be booted out of the castle that instant, actually now that I think about that it doesn't seem like such a bad notion. Never-the-less I still at the time did not want to be chewed out by the Monarchs for bad first impressions. The guards started to open the door and Chloe whispered "good luck" in my ear before she scooted away down the hall. I stiffened not wanting to confront what was on the other side of the door but my father put out his arm and I took it and felt a tiny bit better as we strolled in to the throne room.
The relief that I felt when I walked into the throne room and the chairs on the dais were empty was short lived when I saw all the eyes of the other Lords and their daughters. The same scrutiny was in their eyes was that of every eye of every person I ever came in contact with that who lived elsewhere than the Plains. It made me feel like I was not like them. Like I was the odd one out. To my right was two girls exactly identical in all features. Their face and the rest of their bodies looked like they sprouted up yesterday and they had yet to grow enough muscle and fat to balance out their height. Their father was the distant opposite. He was pudgy and short, looking eerily like a pig ready for slaughter. To my very left was a girl with very dark hair mostly laying on her back. Her dress was impressive though, it was a very deep red with red gems running down the back and train. I assume because of her her type of attire her father is lord of the Mines. Farthest away from me was something that barely resembled a human being. It was a mountain of silk, taffeta, chiffon, bows and beads. She probably following all the latest trends, but how would I know? After waiting some time the other lords started talking, casual banter like "how the trade in your land going?". They seemed to not care they had left my father out of the conversation. It enraged me. The girls were the polar opposite. We were all just standing there staring at each other, judging. Because for them this is what they have prepare for all their life, snagging the best husband no matter what the cost. I didn't have to, my life would amount to something better. I would rule my land to the best of my ability. Of course I would have to provide an heir eventually, but at least I could marry below my station for love because they wouldn't be the one running the Plains. The mountain of dress was beginning to look very upset that the royals weren't here yet. My guess was she was Celia and she was in this for the win.
After standing for sometime in the throneroom a steward came out and announced," The Royal Family would like to apologize for the wait and would like to welcome you to their home." I heard the girls around me gasp slightly and stand up straighter," But unfortunately the King is a bit under the weather and the Queen refuses to do this meeting without him. So until further notice this meeting will be postponed, if you follow me and we will proceed to the dining room where we will have our luncheon." The men looked exasperate, the girls looked disappointed, and Celia was screeching at her father as we walked out of the room. I honestly was glad. The longer I could put off this meeting the better. The food was AMAZING. I don't have words to describe it! Although Elita and I aren't bad cooks we could never make anything that could compare to this. I tried so hard to eat slowly so as to not look like an animal. Also there was soooo many forks I didn't know what to do so I just took my best guess, but at least I knew enough to put my napkin on my lap. I mostly ignored the conversation until my father spoke up and said," Alexandrite, you have another daughter of marrying age, correct?'' everyone look a little taken aback by my father's speaking. The steward, whose name I learned was Hanson, became very alert at this comment. "Lord Alexandrite, why didn't you bring your other daughter?" He didn't seem to have an answer and stuttered out "I didn't feel like she would fill the Prince's needs and that the Price would find my other daughter Ruby much more suiting." he said a little to smug with his lie he conjured up. " Well you are not the prince therefore you do not know how he thinks, so you will have BOTH your daughters attend all events the Ladies will be attending while at the castle. Is that clear?" He sternly replied. Lord Alex mumbled an agreement. After this encounter everyone at the table, except Hanson, were giving us glares because we had just decreased their chances of being chosen to become a royal. I looked at my father and had his head held high showing them that he didn't care what they though so I did the right thing and followed his lead.
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