another snippet, Snake Family
The eldest triplet silently glared at the youngest for a moment before responding.
"There are no excuses for being late. Sit down." Her only other reaction to hearing the news of her aunt's death was to blink. Before looking down at their reports.
"Okay. I thought you would want to know. Otherwise. What is this meeting for?"
"We are in need of innovation in order to get us to the top in Q4 sales. I need you to think of several sales techniques for us to employ this month in order to reach our goals. Send me a report by end of next week." Her eyes never left the silver tablet in her hands. Lines of endless numbers and pluses and minuses spilled through the screen.
"Correct. Now leave." Her glare pointed up to her sister and back down to the current month's report, further furrowing her brows.
The youngest held back an exaggerated sigh and left without saying another word. The middle one finally spoke up.
"She seemed bothered by something today. I wonder what it was?"
"Who cares. Now let's finish entering these reports. Hurry."
The youngest, considered a garter snake in her family, seemed to be at the butt-end of jokes. There lies no venom in this girl, they would say.
She does not have the spine and severity of a snake, they would say.
She did not seem to mind it all.
Rasenvya, she felt, had more things to worry about than tired jokes and jabs. She was on a mission.
Prophetic dreams plagued her since she had become of age. Screams of horror and malice flooded her mind once she slipped into sleep. The same horrific night played over and over again until she woke.
She was doing her best to prevent such a tragedy. So comments on her demeanor were nothing to her.
Her aunt's death was a terrible development. Although Rasenvya did not know the woman personally, she felt bad that a member of her clan had passed. It also meant that her children would become bloodthirsty for her killer, a Multgi.
Tension was already high with border squabbles and economic change. Things that previously cost less were skyrocketing in price.
It was no longer feasible to do many jobs for the same expected pay as before. Having to nickel and dime for food was becoming the norm.
Rasenvya took it all in and tried to deduce if it was nearing the event in her dreams.
She knew not when it would happen, just knew that it involved the Multgi and her people.
Tensions getting higher and higher stacked worry in her brain. She told no one about this, after the first time. Before she learned not to trust her eldest, Rasenvya let her in.
Est'kaya laughed at her face. Told her she was an idiot and to focus on school. We must not bend to the same standing as the others, she would say.
Menmen was always quiet. People considered her to be the python in the family. Although she showcased no venom in her demeanor, she knew when to strike, and conquer. She would wind people down long conversations into either agreeing with her completely or getting shut down.
Rasenvya worried about her sisters. She hoped for their safety each morning she woke from her horrific dream.
She knew what she had to do.
She was prepared in many ways. She practiced the art of poison tolerance building. Each night she would go to the palace alchemy tower and sneak into their archives.
Her prophetic dream began with lakes of poison. Noxious gases bubbling on the surface. She knew her reasoning to be somewhat naive, but she needed to do whatever she could to ensure the safety of her family.
She started small. Cyanide was her first choice. Once that was down, she slowly moved to several other poisons. She had some close calls. People, already had made fun of her for being a sickly child, continued to make fun of her weak nature during adulthood.
Rasenvya held fast, and held her tongue. After she was sure that she was immune to a satisfactory amount of poisons, she began practicing traps and darts.
Woodcarving and sharpening became her favorite pasttimes. She would spend long hours in the furniture guild's shop practicing several techniques.
It was nice and quiet at the shop. It gave her reprieve from her terrible nightmares.
She knew that she would need to know the castle's layout and secret tunnels. Each night after supper when she was at the palace, before the nightly cleaning, she would try to get herself lost and found again.
By her 26th year she had memorized much of the castle. Had only a handful of spots she wanted to find. It took her several books and diaries offhandedly mentioning areas for her to gather all that knowledge.
During this time, Menmen had only paid half-attention. She was used to being ignored all the time. Est'kaya never had a negative comment to tell to Menmen, so she was usually in the clear.
Menmen hated any attention thrown her way. She regularly locked herself up in her tower to read, or paint. Her work was daintily done, each detail excruciatingly placed. She was known to not pay much attention to those around, simply not interested in any interaction.
So it was a surprise when she invited her younger sister out.
"Rasya, would you like to read with me today?"
Rasenvya was shocked to her very being. But she was in a hurry today, and had to decline. Menmen grew curious and tilted her head.
"What would you be busy with today?"
The youngest clenched her jaw for a second. "Oh, you know! just wanted to get some shopping done before the party next week." It was only half a lie. She was heading towards the shopping district, just not for that purpose.
"You can do it later. Read with me now."
Rasenvya grew worried about her sister's responses. She never acted this way. Ever.
"Are you okay? Is Est'ya okay?"
"We're fine. It's just we never spend time together. I'd like to start doing that now."
Menmen tried not to show concern on her face, and kept her tone light. Rasenvya grew even more worried.
"I'm really sorry, I do have to go. I will be right back and hang out with you, okay?"
"What's so important that you have to go buy it right now?"
Defeated, Rasenvya slumped her shoulders down. Her next and final opportunity would be next week. She would make extra sure that she doesn't accidentally bump into her sister again next time.
"It was going to be a surprise, but.."
"We don't need surprises. Tell me now."
"I was going to buy you the newest G'rag novel. I-"
"I know, I was about to say that I know a guy that got his hands on some copies, and I wanted to arrange a meeting with him."
Menmen chewed on the response for a moment, before narrowing her eyes.
"Our birthday isn't for a long time. Why now?"
Rasenvya almost had her. Just needed a little push. Victory this easy was always rare.
"Like you said earlier, we haven't been around each other very much. I thought I could bridge the gap with a book we could read together."
The middle one kept her stare for a moment. She only nibbled on the response this time, and looked like she was considering dropping it.
"I don't want to force the fifth book of the franchise on you. I don't think you've even finished the second book. Get me something written by Areta and something you'd like. We can read later."
Joy burst through Rasenvya's chest, but she carefully hid it.
"Sounds great, I'll see you tonight!"
Later that evening, Rasenvya was ambushed by her eldest.
"Why are you getting Mennie books? What is this?"
Rasenvya took a deep breath before replying. Clenched her hands behind her back.
"We don't hang out that often. I wanted an activity we could do together."
"So? She's busy, don't bother her with anything."
"She asked me first, before I got to ask her about it."
"Still. Leave her alone."
"She's my sister too." Est'kaya was visibly upset at the statement. Her face grew hot.
"Shut up. Go to your room. Or wherever. I don't care." A storm surged through her eyes and her chin began to raise.
Rasenvya didn't want to, but immediately backed down. "Fine." She turned and left without looking back.
Est'kaya let out a long breath. Her jaw was still clenched tight. She thought about how much longer she had to deal with the wasted space, time, and resources before her parents threw the piece of garbage out.
She loathed that her image was being shared with someone so incompetent, so weak and sickly. Comments from all sides of her clan constantly predicted that the weakly child's sickness would spread to the royal family, and it would need to be replaced soon.
Her mother's line had been grand and regal for hundreds of years. For it to pitter down to this wimpy state made Est'kaya seethe.
Once she made it to the meeting room, she slammed the door shut so hard it rang through the halls.
Est'kaya grabbed the nearest vase and threw it against the nearest wall. Stomped on the broken glass to bits. Threw the shards into a fire, fiercely stroking it to oblivion.
Hatred burned in her eyes as she stared at the remaining dust melt into nothing. Pops and crackles sparked bits of light all around. Her face illuminated and shadowed, she looked like an old fortune teller trying to peddle money out of customers.
Finally, she said a silent prayer in her head before getting out. Calm and normal again.
Menmen was on her way to Rasenvya's room at that moment.
"Oh, hello sister! How are you today?" Menmen assumed that Est'kaya had just finished berating a maid. "You never leave the meeting room so quickly. Was it Arna?"
"No. You talked to Rasenvya. Don't do that again. Okay?"
Menmen paused a moment before responding. She was not used to her sister's direct attention.
"Of course, she just thought I needed a copy of a new book. I told her no."
Est'kaya grew a little more impatient. Before she burst on her sister, she cut her off.
"Yeah, yeah alright. I'm going to bed, goodnight!" The eldest left before she couldn't hold her tongue anymore. Her jaw clicked and her chest felt really tight.
She let out a long sigh once she was in her room. It was mostly barren, save the great robe and cape that she had presented on the wall ever since she was officially recognized
as heir to the throne. She would not have access to the crown until her actual coronation.
Est'kaya was meant for ruling. She would be one step closer to returning her line to Estravya. To returning home.
Granted, K'ohostav was one of the wealthier nations created after her family was tossed out of Estravya. They still held land, wealth, and ability to rule. Just not in Estravya. That little fact burned in the back of Est'kaya's mind. Always.
She visited Estravya often, as most royal women did. It was simply the thing to do. Parties, business, entertainment all centered there.
Extravagant jewelry, rich holidays, and endless leisure time was a must there. It was every royal family's home country. At one point in time, before, they were in a rotating line of royal families taking charge.
It was supposed to begin with the dragons, but the sneaky snake hitched a ride off them and jumped onto the finish line first, causing a disruption in the order of rulers.
The Gods, uncaring of who goes first, granted the hotly debated snakes to rule first. But on the condition that their family and its line would be cast out first.
If any reason arises, be it flood or death or loss of crops they are to be banished. They can be granted land, promise to keep wealth, and rule, elsewhere.
The snakes were placed furthest away from Estravya, in K'ohostav. It was meant to be an insult, as it was a swampland. But it ended up becoming an immense source of pride for the snakes. They grew to be fierce, confrontational, and biting.
They also became a booming part of the economy instead. Mostly silver and gold. They say.
The snakes knew that they would never be accepted back in Estravya again after what the first one did, but they persisted.
Kept up the image that they were elite, powerful, and uncontested. The blight on their record would soon fade into a slight mark.
But the dragons, dogs, tigers, and pigs knew, and remembered. They scoffed and laughed at the snakes' attempt to seem regal.
The snakes persisted, and became the oldest, richest nation outside of Estravya. It helped that their family was the first to establish themselves on profitable land, with cheap labor.
K'ohostav, originally meaning "Land of Weeds" soon became "Land of Golden Vines." And mines.
Their neighbors eventually became the illustrious tigers. The tigers settled on calling their country K'ohrav "Land of Leaves," as they were able to negotiate naming rights. This practice continued with the other families.
The tiger family focused on cutthroat practices in the fashion industry. They quickly became a top contender for competing with Estravya, and eventually became the trend setters for any clothing choices.
Est'kaya was obsessed with keeping a perfect image. She ensured that she had an outfit for any occasion, and was constantly looking for new pieces.
Today she happened upon a blazer with silver vines etched into the cuffs, collar, and lapel. She considered it for a moment.
It was Multgi of origin. Stiff wool with the lace detailing and embroidery. It looked quite regal, grand. The price could feed several towns for years.
She felt the silver vines, checking to see if she could tell the material. If she was correct, it was silk lace dyed a shining silver. She considered it for a moment before signaling to her basket girl.
Without missing a beat, the girl jumped up and went to grab a merchant. Once he was present, the basket girl negotiated for Est'kaya. She did not speak to peasants.
After everything was settled, the basket girl looked towards her royal, hoping for a signal to get home. Her arms were growing tired and she was very thirsty.
Est'kaya shrugged and stood in thought for a moment.
She then shook her head and began walking towards her coach. She had the blazer on her arm, as it could not fit on her basket girl.
Once home, Est'kaya immediately went to her room, not wanting to deal with anyone.
Ignoring the pile of other items, Est'kaya quickly opened up her jacket and blouse so she could put a dress shirt and the new blazer on.
Her basket girl was there to help put pieces on if need be.
It was a silent transaction, between a royal and her maid. A silence that has never been broken, all their lives. The basket girl at first was aghast at such a request.
"Do not speak with the girl, she does not nor would ever speak to those lower than her stature. If it is found that you have said a word, a lashing will be administered. Alright?"
She understood well enough as a five year old could. She slipped up immediately, and was indeed given a lashing. It was held by the royal, same in age.
"We told you. Never speak to your future queen. You will learn her gestures, and learn to respond accordingly. Now, go see the nurse."
The basket girl was never asked her name, but she knew it in her heart. She was never seen directly, but was expected to always be ready to be beckoned and called.
It was a hard, difficult life for her and many of her peers. Her gesture lessons were harsh, and administered readily.
She knew not if her royal was happy in life. The basket girl used to have direct coworkers, who took care of the other two sisters. When they became of age, they were assigned different ranking maids after Est'kaya was determined to be queen.
Instead of basket girls they had chambermaids. They weren't expected to be there all the time, just to do chores and deliver food or items from the chefs, bakers, gardeners, etcetera.
They may accompany their royals on trips, but weren't expected to obey every command or wait on foot. They also were allowed to speak, which was nice.
The basket girl was Multgi of origin. Her dark tanned skin was peppered with old lash scars, pink and shiny. Her long, straight dark hair was considered ideal, so it was always cut for wigs and other things.
Multgi were direct neighbors with K'ohostav, and originally the influential nation in the region. When the snakes moved in, the Multgi were hit the hardest in terms of loss of status, wealth, and most significantly, people.
Children were taken from their mothers and used as servants. They were punished for speaking their language, practicing their cultural activities. They were told that they were savage, and needed teaching.
The Multgi have always been known for the quality of their sheep, and having quite easy land to live on. Their lovely, silky hair.
The most famous basket girl was Nayalria, who was allowed to grow her hair to her knees, and it was only cut to her chin, to keep her cute image.
But of course, her beauty had a time limit. She spent most of it maximizing her income to ensure a safe retirement. Stress boiled down her spine every day. Pain persisted in her knees. Ankles. Lower back. Neck.
Once taken over by the snakes, they have both prospered in wealth and suffered great inequality.
One could see a lavishly styled house across the street from a shack shed housing four people. Separated by a thick wall, foliage, guard towers, and guards of course.
One would say that there was an issue in that, but Rasenvya had more issues to consider at the moment. Her eldest sister had not left her room yet, and it was meeting time.
She wondered what she was supposed to do. Mennie obviously had not noticed yet and was not going to for… some hours maybe?
"Mennie, do you want to call Mother for me?"
Menmen froze at the word.
"I think so. It's 10 minutes past meeting time and Est'ya is still not here. Please."
Menmen shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Can we wait, like, an extra 10 minutes, just in case? I don't want to bother Mother." She began to wring her hands.
"What if the extra 10 minutes was what we needed to save Est'ya? What would we do without our future queen?" Rasenvya looked at her sister in the eyes, not backing down.
Menmen began picking at her fingernails. "Fine. I'll call Mother." Her lips quivered a bit before set into a firm line.
The moment Menmen entered her Mother's chambers, a chill immediately sprung down her spine.
She especially hated attention from Mother. Calling on her without notice would be a great excuse for negative attention.
Menmen steeled herself before her parents' thrones. As customary, shadows kept the audience from directly seeing their rulers' faces.
"Menmen, what are you doing here, and at this hour?" Her father spoke, breaking the silence.
"F-father, yes, Rasenvya felt the need to ask you for help. We have passed a quarter of the." She had to take a breath. "Hour, and Est'kaya still has not arrived for our meeting time. We are getting worried for her." Menmen barely squeaked out the last of the sentence, and was unsure if they had actually heard it.
"Est'kaya is missing? How have you not told us at once?" The question seethed through the air.
"How could you be so irresponsible as to allowing the future ruler of your country to go missing?" Mother immediately began berating her daughter. "For more than a second! How dare you not try to do everything in your power to make sure you know that she is safe?" Menmen just sat there, unresponsive.
"Why have you not come forward sooner?"
The question hung in the air, putting heavy pressure on Menmen's chest. Her neck muscles began to tighten. She barely choked an answer out.
"You don't know? How can you not?" Mother stood up, shadow covering more of her body. Her voice rose.
"You've known all your life that its only purpose is ensuring that Est'kaya reaches the throne unharmed. You know that it is your sole duty to make sure everything goes perfectly."
Mother took a step off her throne, threatening to expose her face. Shadow moved to the base of her chin. Menmen barely retreated, but it was enough.
"Menmen, you are to be punished. Severely. Should I see any hesitation on the punisher, they too shall be punished. You will watch. Leave."
Mother turned, sparing her child from seeing the broiling anger in her eyes, the twitches on her cheeks, the biting of her tongue.
Relieved, Menmen quickly turned around and booked it back to Rasenvya.
In tears, she reported that their parents were aware of Est'kaya's disappearance.
"I just checked her room, and it's pretty empty. I'm not sure what's going on, and we need to get some guards assembled and start a search party and-" Menmen put her hand very gently on her sister's shoulder, and nodded.
"Mother has it all taken care of. We should just go see if we can find her in one of the closets. I'll go check the one she usually goes to first." Before Rasenvya could respond, Menmen had already turned to leave.
"Est'ya?" Another cabinet opened to nothing. Menmen tried to stay positive. Tried to remember if her sister mentioned anything recently. Hoped that she'd be okay.
She concentrated and something about how the party was tomorrow, and her sister was fretting about some fabric not matching the main piece. She realized!
The middle one's main goal then became finding her younger sister. She ran through the halls until her lungs gave out. She was not as sturdy as she was when she was a teenager. Another thing to get used to when growing older.
She took to quickly walking, straining her ears for her sister's voice.
Her feet became sore, and her knees were complaining. She thought of sitting down for a few minutes, and calling for some attendants.
She paused for a moment when she neared a bench, but slowly began walking again.
Est'ya is probably in trouble, since she hasn't sent a message. We should hurry, and if it worsens there is no choice, she thought. The pain was slowly becoming unbearable though.
Rasenvya becoming missing is much worse, she thought. Tried desperately not to. But who would help her then?
Suddenly, rounding a corner the middle one ran into her younger sister, and instantly burst into tears.
"Rasya!" Was all she could sputter. Rasenvya wrapped her arms around.
"It's okay. Are you okay? Do you know anything?"
The youngest held her sister until she calmed down. Menmen began explaining.
"I think she's at the market, furiously waiting for her basket girl to coerce someone to some price." She paused, wiping tears away. "Who else can send messages to us?"
"Do you want to go check with me?" Rasenvya asked immediately, getting ready to go.
"I'm happy to, I need to make sure."
Immediately they saw two guards sitting on a bench, looking bored. A merchant sweating, furiously scribbling the price on a scrunched-up looking piece of paper. The basket girl, her basket at her feet, looking tired.
Once presented, for another time, Est'kaya, again, scrunched it up, stepped on it, and kicked it to the grass.
"Guards, why have we not been updated yet? What's going on here?" Rasenvya tried not to show her anger, but failed.
"Princess, we are not allowed to go alone. Once found, we are not allowed to leave the heir. We sent a hawk, surely our Queen must know by now that your sister has been found." The lead guard sighed. "Our duty is to ensure the safey of our future Queen, not to report to you."
Before she could respond, Est'kaya barked, "Leave, we won't have a meeting today. I'm clearly busy. Go do it by yourselves." Without looking in their direction, the eldest walked right up to the merchant.
She never said a word, never looked at his face; just glanced at the gold chain on his chest. Stepped on his foot. With brute force, ripped the chain and stuffed in her pocket.
Paid the price on the leathery paper he had graciously handed to her basket girl. It was barely legible, one could see that it was covered up with strikes and scribbles. Wrinkles and dirt.
The pitiful change she handed over rang cheerfully through the room. Although, one could take a second to realize that the chain she grabbed was worth five times as much as the fabric she was buying.
When Est'kaya saw that her sisters were still there, she scowled.
"Both of you missed a meeting. For that you will be punished." Walked right up to Rasenvya. Menmen could not look at either of them.
"If I ever hear that you are together reading or anything, you will be punished again. Understand?"
Rasenvya returned home, bittersweet. The dream was not starting yet. But it still burned to see her sister hurt her own.
A sob she didn't know she held escaped once she closed the door to her room. Her shoulders dropped their tense pose and ached considerably.
The youngest had to think of reasons why she'd need to interact with her sister without suspicion, and how to fit all the things she needed to in natural sounding conversation.
Menmen was staring at the family portrait Mother had commissioned a few years earlier. Est'kaya was at the front and center, looking rightfully proud of herself.
Mother stood on the left next to her eldest, her claws resting on the back of her child's neck. Their father stood next to his wife, right behind.
Menmen was beside him, at the same level. Rasenvya was the most difficult to spot, all the way in the back left of the portrait. Her arm was cut off by the frame. Her smile looked the most genuine out of the family.
Menmen wasn't sure what to do. She didn't think that Est'kaya would react so badly to the reading meetings. Headaches threatened to pop up, so she dropped the matter for the moment.
She turned and began walking to her room. Thought about what book she was going to start and hopefully finish that night.
Rasenvya woke the next day extremely irritable. Aches and sores plagued her joints and fingers. A constant headache rang in her ears. Her eyes were strained and burning.
She was extremely thirsty, and hated that the day was peppered with meetings and presentations. Her report was due the next day as well. She wondered what the minimum pages were this time.
"Her Majesty, Est'kaya, how many pages does the report this week need to be?" The youngest asked once she entered the meeting room.
"First, don't speak unless spoken to. Also, I do not hold that title yet." Without looking up, the eldest took a sip of her coffee.
"Second, you should have started and finished by now, why would I want sub-par reports brought to me by the deadline? I expect a first draft by lunch then an edited version tomorrow morning."
Rasenvya paused, waiting for the report length requirement.
"What are you still standing there for?" Before the youngest could respond, Est'kaya had already interrupted.
"Ugh, I want 17 pages this time. Sit down now."
Menmen looked up, surprised, when her sister sat down next to her.
"You're finally here! Let's get started."
Without missing a beat, the eldest barked in, "Mennie, how are the peasants faring this week? Do you think we can cut down food costs and put it towards infrastructure?" As she looked down the list of costs for the month, she began suggesting other cuts as well.
They don't need bonuses this month since productivity and quality has been stagnant for a while. Extra wages wasn't boosting anything as much as previously thought.
It would also make sense to cut some programs originally put in to help them, since none were being used at the moment. Tomorrow would be the day to cover different sales techniques that would get the country back on track.
Satisfied that they had made any difference, the trio concluded that it would be okay to finish until the meeting afternoon.
Est'kaya had a couple of hours to burn before the next meeting. She chose to go check on her prize horses, and make sure that they were ready to go for the dressage event that weekend.
Her best, Crumbcake, was the most prestigious stallion in the land. Est'kaya had the certificate that confirmed it. His bridle was handcrafted leather, replaced each time too many wrinkles appeared.
Her weekly ritual of grooming and replacing their equipment was Est'kaya's favorite of the week, besides new garment shopping.
The thought that all her hard work could be tangibly seen through her horses gave her great pride and joy.
Brushing their fur, polishing the bridles and shining their shoes gave her immediate satisfaction. It was as if her worries were melting away.
There were grave consequences for interrupting Est'kaya's personal time. It was only once a week, and for several hours. Which must be spent alone.
So she was flabbergasted when she found Mother holding her nose in the stable, looking disgusted. An opaque veil kept her eyes shielded.
"I don't want this to be heard by any passerby."
Est'kaya grew chilly, and nodded.
"It was incredibly childish of you to lose control of yourself with missing the meeting and while out in public!"
Circling her daughter, "you are reaching ruling age. You have an heir yourself, you better know how to present yourself better than a brat that needs stern teaching! I can't believe you are an adult in their third decade, with how infantile you have been!"
Est'kaya's face twitched between anger and confusion.
"Imagine the reasons the public could come up with in order to storm our castle. Burn your children. Every merchant you slight in public spews hatred lava and whomever has the misfortune to listen learns."
Queen pinched between her eyes under the veil.
"At least discern who you can just troll over. We need some merchants to fund your frivolous spending as we prepare for actual ideals." She glared at her mistake.
"The one you bothered just so happened to be my niece's betrothed's father, and he had rescinded the deal. My sister is seething, and blames me."
Seeing no reaction, the Queen nearly roared.
"If we are to take back Estravya, we need money for military and administrative upkeep while we establish rule. Diplomatic relations as well. The Snakes do not ally just on blood alone, like some weaker families. Do you understand??"
Things finally clicked for the Princess, and she kicked herself for not researching the people she took her anger out on. "My Queen, I realize-"
"I don't need verbal confirmation. I need to see you act now and think before you do something next time!"
Princess looked down at her shoes.
"You are to apologize profusely to the merchant and give him back his chain. Do not beg forgiveness, and bring Rasenvya with you to keep you in line."
Disbelief showered over her face, but she kept her mouth a firm line and nodded.
When Rasenvya came to pick her up from her room, embarassment anguished her face.
Without saying a word or looking at her sister's direction, Est'kaya stood and began walking out the door.
Rasenvya took the message and began walking to the carriage.
Both sat in silence on the ride to the merchant's shop.
The youngest then began talking about the family history of the merchant.
"I believe that they are from either a Hare or Cockerel family, I can't remember which he hails from."
"If he's a Hare, why bother apologizing? Things could not have sunk so low for our family."
"I'm pretty sure our cousin married a Cockerel, it only makes sense. It's the only name a sane person would consider taking, other than ours."
The Princess thought hard on whether she saw a hare or rooster symbol on the chain. She couldn't remember.
"I'm not talking to him if he's a Hare."
"I… I'm not sure we have a choice on that, if Mother asked of you."
"Since when do we need to start speaking with merchants, anyhow? Just because they married into a respectable family-"
"Didn't you hear what Mother said? We need money to keep Estravya when we take it."
Hearing Mother's words come from Rasenvya broiled the Princess' insides.
Before she could respond, they reached the shop.
Their cousin, dressed fully in Hare colors with picks in her hair shaped like rabbit ears, stood seething next to her husband.
Rasenvya stopped in her tracks and offered greetings.
"Good day, cousin. My what a surprise, you chose to wear the Hare colors?"
"Indeed, my husband has ancestors on the Hare side. I chose to honor our shared heritage."
Rasenvya smiled for a moment, and cleared her throat when her sister refused to answer.
"How interesting, and commendable to choose to venerate your husband."
The youngest glared at the eldest for staying silent.
"I believe that it is the honorable thing to do." Wife looked at her husband, to see his reaction.
"Speaking of honorable things to do." Rasenvya pleaded at her sister with her eyes.
Est'kaya stood stone-faced, looking at trees far off.
"We came here to apologize for unseemly behaviour towards your dear husband." Both princesses glared at one another, for speaking and staying silent.
"I want to hear it from our lovely Queen-to-be, Viper of K'ohostav."
Rasenvya offered a peace smile.
"One would consider that you have venom in your heritage as well. Although you may take on the name as a Liepreve, never forget that you come from a branch of our Snake family. Our Queen says her greetings and sends her personal apology."
The wife dropped her smile and grew cold.
"Apologize to my husband, or we will officially cut ties with the royal family and consider bringing our taxes to Prairieland instead of suffering insults here."
Rasenvya stared a dagger at her sister, and nearly burst.
"Take your taxes out of K'ohostav, and see how quickly your mother rescinds your inheritance."
The youngest princess stood aghast at what her sister was saying. The merchant wife stepped closer.
"I've no need of it clearly, and for you to refuse to respect my husband is grounds enough for us to throw support elsewhere. You may be future Queen but you forget you're nothing without our service and money."
Est'kaya stared, seething.
Rasenvya grabbed her shoulders, and shoved her into the carriage, apologizing on the way.
"Our Queen will write to you soon, and an offering may be made. I implore you to ignore this moment. We value your input."
Once alone, she nearly wailed. "Mother is going to kill me."
Est'kaya watched the trees fly by as they were on their way home.
"I can't believe she's throwing her inheritance away."
"The Hare woman. She could have taken the Cockerel name and titles. I know she's the youngest girl, but she could have taken her father's honor. She went with her husband's heritage? What's with the world right now?"
"Those titles are officially passing to her eldest brother. Ugh, who cares right now? What I cannot believe is that you completely threw away useful relations, when Mother explicitely told you to hold onto them like life depends on it."
"There would have been no issues had her husband been a Cockerel."
"Are you hearing yourself? How ridiculous you sound?"
"What's ridiculous to me is trying to kowtow to the lessers. We're not in finishing school anymore, there is no such thing as playing nice."
"You aggravate me with how shallow your thinking is sometimes sister. It hurts everyone you love."
Est'kaya felt like she was slapped.
"We're reaching real danger and you're here tithering about titles and names. Mother just asks that we take over relations. She is not going to be here forever."
Disdain grew on Est'kaya's face. She refused to reply and stopped looking in her sister's direction. Shut herself in her room after reaching the castle.
Rasenvya went to visit her niece. Est'kaya was the first to bear a child, and succeeded in producing an heir. Rasenvya suffered some miscarriages and the family concluded that it was too dangerous for her.
Menmen had twin boys (and previously two stillborn girls), and nearly died in the process so it was decided the same for her.
Niece had just cleared her finishing school exams and was resting at the castle before readying for university.
She was still unclear on what she wanted to study.
Rasenvya was curious about how her sister produced such a sweetling. Part of her knew that it was due to her sister not having a say whatsoever on her child's rearing.
Mother had a fang in that.
She hid in her niece's room for as long as she could, talking about nothing and trying to calm down. When a maid finally found her, she was instructed to visit her Mother's chamber.
She sighed and hugged her niece. Concerned, Ys'kaya held her aunt by the elbows and asked if she was going to be okay.
Aunt smiled reassuringly, and whispered that everything would be fine.
"I just received word that the Liepreves are packing house, set for Monacia. What happened?
Did my heir not properly appease her subject?
Did you fail to have them acquiesce to her apology?
Rasenvya broke down. "I tried. Est'kaya never listens."
"How can I trust that my realm is not going to fall into disrepair once I'm gone, if my progeny are incapable of basic domestic relations?"
"Have both of you learned nothing in either finishing school or university? What am I spending all that money for?"
Mother stepped down from her throne, revealing the bottom of her face. Her veil peeked through the shadows.
"Mother, please. Let me-"
The Queen's steps rung in the great hall as she walked towards her daughter.
Her eyes shielded, Rasenvya could not discern the level of anger.
"I expect that you find a way to reign her in, before she rips apart all the work I put into this takeover."
The Queen gripped her daughter's chin with sharp emerald claws.
"I will watch my grandchild ascend the throne if need be. I have no idea what's taken ahold of my Princess but clearly she is not fit to rule. Don't mention this to anyone."
Fear welled up in her eyes and she nodded, unable to say anything to her mother.
When she bumped into Menmen, the fear washed over her and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing.
"Are you okay?" Sister held sister, patting her back and sitting on the floor together.
"I've done everything I could, and, and every-everything just gets worse."
