RUST , RUSTED .

𝐈 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐌 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃

[prnced]

ALEYNA

❝      it   isn’t   hard   ,   aren’t   i   always   the   loveliest   ?      ❞   narcissistic   ,   perhaps   -   but   nonetheless   true   .   aleyna   dragavei   ,   through   the   blessing   (   or   perhaps   the   curse   )   of   the   gods   ,   is   divinely   beautiful   .   she   reaches   a   hand   out   for   sorcha’s   own   ,   grasping   it   and   granting   a   bright   smile   .   ❝      but   not   as   such   ,   you   i   adore   .   i   would   not   dare   to   do   such   a   thing   to   you   .      ❞

‘you  are,  dear.  the  sweetest  lily  to  ever  bloom.’  a  far  cry  from  her  own  brother,  or  even  sorcha  themselves.  lacklustre  and  pale,  their  sallow  skin  touched  by  death  reflected  no  light.  the  sun  never  once  comes  to  kiss  these  lonely  flesh.  but  from  time  to  time,  spring  would  come  and  paint  everything  in  a  sunset  hues,  orange  and terracotta,  unlike  mama’s  deep  scarlets.  it’s  when  the  youngest  is  tinted  with  blithe  spirit,  as  she  is  now.  ‘well,  at  any  rate,  i  won’t  be  wearing  white  anymore.  ‘tis  a  shade  for  virginal  brides  and  i  have  borne  from  my  own  body  two  children.  hardly  appropriate  anymore,  i  should  think.’  it  is  accompanied  with  laughter,  the  notion  of  a  virginal  bride  sound  so  antiquated  in  their  mind  for  even  the  unwed  aleyna  is  far  from  it.  still,  it’s   ingrained  in  every  one  of  these  minds:  gathered  like  sheep  in  this  room.

[prnced]

GENYA

❝    none   so   polite   for   royal   ears   .   ❞   there’s   a   hint   of   mockery   in   her   tone   ,   yet   it   is   all   in   jest   .   for   if   she   tells   him   ,   she   must   kill   him   and   all   that   .   there   are   some   things   even   the   prince   must   not   know   ,   things   they   couldn’t   bare   even   iris   knowing   ,   however   horrible   a   thought   that   may   be   .   the   king   surely   knows   not   of   what   goes   on   in   secret   beyond   his   gaze   ,   this   too   they   know   .   for   if   he   did   .   .   .      ❝   maybe   so   ,   but   often   my   choices   -   our   choices   -   are   not   our   own   .   the   choices   are   taken   from   us   .   ❞

'but  that’s  only  an  excuse.  one  always  has  a  choice,  just  sometimes  they’ve  not  the  courage  to  pursue  it.’  one  might  think  it  easy  for  him  to  say  :  a  prince,  raised  in  ivory  tower,  gilded  in  gold.  one  might  think  him  to  have  all  the  choices  in  the  world  but  truth  was  he  was  no  more  a  caged  bird  than  the  rest.  his  statement  too,  more  directed  to  himself  than  to  genya.  one  always  has  a  choice  :  he  could  run  away  and  disappear  from  this  earth.  but  he’d  be  hunted  down  and  separated  from  all  he  cared  for.  in  the  end,  loneliness scares  him.  he  could  kill  the  king,  plunge  a  knife  into  his  chest  in  his  deep  slumber.  but  he’d  be  executed.  in  the  end,  mortality  scares  him.  he  hasn’t  the  courage  to  act,  just  like  many  others.

[prnced]

MOIRE​

❝      i’m   pleased   to   hear   it   .      ❞     moiré   offers   in   response   ,   returning   her   gaze   to   sorcha   .   sweet   child   holds   so   much   of   moire   within   them   ,   a   once   sweet   apple   rotting   from   the   inside   fallen   a   the   root   of   a   tree   -   rot   coating   it’s   own   roots   .   ❝      if   only   it   were   so   simple   .   i’m   afraid   the   king   would   not   permit   such   a   thing   -   in   attendance   or   not   -   as   we   must   be   the   example   .      ❞   a   beat   .  ❝      and   perhaps   you   are   correct   ,   my   dear   ,   but   i   do   still   have   a   child   or   two   to   be   married   off   ,   as   you’ve   stated  .   this   only   serves   as   the   reminder   of   how   critical   the   correct   match   is   .   my   own   choices   have   been   .   .   .   rather   suitable   thus   far   .      ❞

and  i  am  pleased  you  are  pleased.  sorcha  bites  in  their  head.  mother’s  love  is  supposed  to  be  an  unconditional  thing  but  MAMA’s  love  never  was.  call  it  disturbed;  perhaps  they  went  of  the  straight  path  and  chose  to  wander  in  the  twisted  paths  of  the  woods,  but  sorcha  likes  that  mama  makes  them  jump  through  hoops  for  a  smile,  for  a  pat  on  the  head.  wouldn’t  life  be  much  to  lazy  and  content  without  a  bit  of  challenge?  ‘  it’s  a  shame  you  had  let  papa  chose  for  my  marriage.  it’s  plain  as  day  that  a  man’s  eyes  are  unable  to  see  as  clearly  as  ours ... as  yours.  though  ...  aren’t  vasili  and  euan  a  bit  too  young  ?  i  see  none  around  the  court  their  age.’

[prnced]

DAPHNE

she   will   not   allow   her   mother   to   ruin   this   day.   meek   &   fragile   daphne,   usually   cowering   beneath   her   mothers   gaze   stands   rigid.   fingers   tucking   in   as   hands   form   small   milkened   fists.   amber   gaze   fluttering   to   her   dark   haired   lover   a   distance   away   as   she   shifts   her   weight   nervously.   gaze   darting   back   to   her   own   hardened   one.

today   she   will   take   root   &   stand   her   ground.   the   weight   of   her   love   gives   her   courage   to   stand   before   the   lioness   known   as   her   mother.   she   raises   her   shield,   bracing   herself.   “   i   will   tolerate   no   ill   word   against   us   today.   ”   she   begins   with   a   hammering   heart.   “   i   love   you   mother,   so   much,   i   do,   this   you   know.   ”   spoken   in   truth.   “   but   please   allow   us   this   day   of   togetherness.   do   not   approach   him   on   my   accord,   please.   we   are   happy.   i   am   happy.   ”   teeth   sinking   into   her   lower   lip.   a   beat   of   silence   thundering   as   loud   as   her   heart.   she   tucks   away   the   little   crying   girl   that   threatens   to   spill   out.   “   it   will   not   harm   our   name   for   me   to   have   one   day   .”   (   always   selfish.   )   “   no   one   will   even   notice   us,   they   are   here   for   the   others.   ”   but   this,   daphne   could   not   guarantee.   though   she   truly   believed   a   lady   and   a   commoner   in   public   eye   would   go   unnoticed   given   two   matrimonies   of   love.   chest   swells   as   breath   is   held.   * @prnced​ ft. mom

a  sigh  fills  the  room  fully,  threatening  to  crack  its  four  walls  with  the  soft  yet  heavy  weight  it  holds.  nalini  turns,  her  scarlet  coattails  swishing  against  the  rug  of  the  room,  like  tail  of  a  dragon,  mighty  and  colossal  and  every  bit  as  threatening.  her  steely  onyx  eyes,  always  the  focal  point  of  her beauty  and  mystery,  found  and  caught  daphne’s  cowering  ones  like  a  bird  of  prey.  then  she  stays,  silent.  judgement  dripping  heavy  from  those  very  eyes  that  used  to  look  at  her  angel  with  so  much  love.

‘oh  daphne,  i’ve  much  more  pressing  matters  to  attend  to  and  you  come  here  as  if  you  and  your  current ... paramour  is  the  most  important  thing  in  this  whole  wide  world.  the  anastase  is  not  WELL -  PLEASED  with  the  predicament  your  brother  has  found  himself  in,   however  he  found  himself  in  it.  kadri  might  have  his  chances  ruined.  casimir  is  in  over  his  head  and  i’m  trying  SO  HARD  to  fix  every  mistake  and  to  get  everything  in  order  again  and  you ...  you  come  up  to  me,  making  everything  about  you,  as  you  always  have.  daphne,  i  know  you’ve  never  been  very  smart  and  i  know  you  to  be  unmindful  of  others  sometimes,  but  could  you  please  have  a  little  bit  of  compassion  for  your  family  in  these  dire  times  ?’

then,  with  a  dismissive  wave  of  hand,  nalini  concentrated  back  to  the  letters  of  reports  her  officers  have  sent  from  wenchika.  ‘on  second  thought,  there’s  no  need  for  my  permission  or  approval,  is  there?  just  do  what  you  want.  you’ve  always  done  that  anyway,  why  change  now  ?  i  am  now  certain  the  only  child  who  has  ever  put  me  in  their  consideration  is  dear  rory ...’  the  last  part  whispered  just  low  enough  to  travel  to  daphne’s  ears,  soft  enough  to  be  mistaken  as  mere  thoughts.

[prnced]

MADELINDE

@prnced​  ─   discord  starter  call

They are discreet, almost entirely separate for the evening. The only thing that connects them is the stolen glances across the room, the occasional hands that touch as they cross paths.  Madelinde plays her part well, with bright smiles and honey laced laughter as she pretends to enjoy the festivities, constantly keeping the anxiety that lives in her chest dormant. As the song ends, blue eyes wonder to meet his for just a moment before turning to her dance partner and excusing herself. Feet move quickly and purposefully towards the garden doors, passing the prince as she does so. There is one final glance before she vanishes into the darkness of the night. 

his  eyes  catches  hers,  blue  saphires  like  none  he’s  ever  seen  before.  yet  it  is  only  after  the music  ends,  and  people  starts  to  bustle  to  find  a  new  dance  partner  that  he  blends  in  with  the  crowds,  disappearing  towards  the  garden   doors  where  he’d  sooner  find  the  tails  of  her  dress.  it  was  blue  as  always  with  madelinde.  and  he  loves  her  in  blue,  as  it’s  the  first  color  she  has  drenches  herself  in  when  he  first  truly  saw  her. 

walking  behind  her,  servaos  stops  at  a  respectable  distance,  hand  clasped  behind  his  back  as  he  finds  himself  relaxing.  ‘lady  amice,  does  the  celebration  tire  you  already  that  you’re  finding  yourself  in  need  of  fresh  air?  why  you’ve  only  just  started  dancing.‘

[prnced]

ANDUIN

being hauled along felt a little uncomfortable, sure– the healing process of the wound on his abdomen still rather tender, but as he gazed to sorcha all he could do was let his lips form a slow smirk. with a glass of adi-knows-what in his hand, there was a slow swirl of the dark liquid before tipping it ever so slightly towards them.     “pretty sure i could sneak you out of here fairly easily. but here i was hoping to stick around and see if i can pick up on any whisperings for some future ammunition. come oooon, stay with me.”

sorcha  LAUGHS.  the  sound  so  free  and  unlike  any  other  that  came  out  of  their  painted  lips  :  always  with  a  lingering  darkness  and  thinly  veiled  threats.  yet  with  anduin  laughter  comes  easy  and  his  frame  always  serves  to  hide  their  smiles  and  joy  from  the  rest  of  the  world.  this  is  our  secret,  sorcha  would  say  to  anduin.  my  joy  is  only  for  your  ears  to  hear.  ‘well  i  guess  i  can  stay,  but  only  if  you’re  by  my  side  the  whole  time.  i  don’t  mind  turning  people  down.  in  fact,  i  quite  enjoy  it,  but  it  gets  tiring  after  a  while,  you  understand  ?’

‘do  you  have  anyone  in  particular  in  mind,  andi  ?  or  are  you  just  picking  up  crumbs  ?  i  swear  you’d  found  so  much  more  to  live  moving  to  trasnavda  with  me  when  i  was  with  the  dragavei  and  working  as  a  court  spy  .‘  and  maybe  then  i  wouldn’t  have  to  be  so  miserable  in  that  house,  sorcha  bites  back.

[prnced]

ISOLDE​

on the apples of her cheeks, frustration tinges the skin pink. the towering lord’s palm upholding hers clammy and his breath soured with ale and meat, he is far too near for her liking. his request to dance is a favour returned, for he is an old friend of her father’s. no matter the disdain bright in her eyes when he nears, he insists. so isolde bides her time, waits for the moment she cannot feel another’s gaze resting on her to drive a shoe heel into his toes. she never gets her chance.

sorcha’s delicate hand in her own the next moment, cool and smooth, swanlike arms dressed in perfume draws from her a relieved smile, genuine in how the corners of her eyes crinkle. ‘ oh, praise adi for you, ’ an apology for becoming carried away with frivolities rather than the watchful eye she’s expected to keep is bitten back. it will wait till afterward, she decides. ‘ my parents are fond of the man. ’ but a stranger to her, isolde spits out the explanation in annoyance. her shoulders relax before them ; yet, she catches herself. they are one she’s to protect, despite the ease with which she lets them lead her across the hall in deliberate, staccato steps. ‘ how odd, lady sorcha, ’ in humour, she tips her head to one side quizzically. ‘ what is my employer doing saving me in dire times? ’

‘they’re  fond  of  him,  but  you  are  not  !’  they  offer,  amusement  thinly  veiled  from  their  voice  as  terracotta  lips  parted  to  form  a  smile  and  at  that  moment  a  glow  appears  like  sunrise  on  their  otherwise  dull  skin  that  has  always  reminded  their  late  husband  of  gypsum  :  flat  and  colorless,  lifeless. ‘he  is  old  and  decrepit  and  i  am  sure  had  first  met  you  when  you  were  all  but  five.’  sorcha  knows  this  game  very  well  and  has  liked  to  partake  in  it  for  their  eyes  a  piercing  shade  of  the  ocean  and  their  gaze  overbearing  and  commanding. they  have  always  liked  seeing  powerful  men  trembled  before  them.

‘your  employer  is  my  brother. i  am  your ...’  sentence  trails  as  the  winterborn  let  their  eyes  caress  the  exposed  skin  of  isolde’s  shoulder,  trailing  up  until  they  once  again  met  her  eyes. ‘ ... friend.’  sorcha  allows  a  small  silence  to  settle  between  them  like  a  bird  perching  on  the  yew  branch  outside  their  window. yet,  never  once  do  they  let  isolde’s  eyes  escape  their  hold,  until  they  permits  it. head  ducked  to  hide  a  smile,  a  genuine  one  they  disliked  showing  others. ‘well  and  i  do  like  to  believe  i  require  less  protection  that  any  other  nobles  out  there. i  can  take  out  my  brothers  in  a  fight,  you  know  ?’  it  might  have  been  true. but  the  hands  now  resting  on  isolde’s  waist  have  not  touched  a  sword  in  so  long  and  fingers  have  been  more  well  acquainted  with  poisons  these  days.

[prnced]

FILOMENA

Her wife was not someone who apologised first, nor was she very good at it. It had been days since their last conversation, if a fight could be counted as one, that is, and though the Wenchikan lady seemed to be at ease sleeping with her anger, Filomena was not and was determined that today was the day they’d put matters to an end. ‘Nalini,’ her voice no longer pleading, it behest. ‘We need to talk about Kadri. No, we need to talk about you…and the kids. They are not alright.’  /  ft.  @prnced​

when  does  a  fairytale  ends?  when  you  start  to  live  it. because  life  is  not  made  of  dreams,  it’s  bricks  and  bricks  of  disappointment  layered  with  a  thin  cement  of  happiness. in  the  end,  of  course  they’d  come  tumbling  down. 

 a  sigh. nalini  closes closes  her  ledger  and  stands  up  from  where  she  is  seated  by  the  window  but  she  makes  no  move  towards  filomena. instead,  her  skirt  sweeps  the  floor  behind  it  as  she  turns  away  to  look  out  the  into  the  bleak  scenery  that  greets  her  beyond  the  glass.

 ‘what  of  the  kids  ?  are  they  not  breathing  ?  are  they  not  laughing  ?  are  they  not  sneaking  away  to  solicit  and  promenade  with  a  common  criminal  ?’  there’s  a  sharpness  in  her  voice. then,  turns  slowly  to  face  her  wife. voice  terse  and  eyes  cold. ‘i  think  they  are  alright,  my  dear.’

[prnced]

SILAQUI

@prnced​

“Hmm…your father looks rather pleased with himself.” Silaqui muses, leaning towards Servaos slightly, voice lowered in order to prevent anyone from listening in. It wasn’t as if Silaqui was speaking anything treasonous–they were far to smart to speak such thoughts out loud–but there was no telling what would be enough to earn his majesty’s ire these days. “Tell me, is any of this actually his doing?”

‘i  rather  think  he  always  does,’  sav  snipes.  an  almost  automatic  reaction  to  anything  related  to  his  immediate  family.  his  honey  curls  bounces  ever  so  slightly,  like  an  april  shower,  as  he  leans  down  to  whisper  in  silaqui’s  ears.  ‘any  of  what  .  if  you  believe  my  father  to  be  a  capable  man,  then  i’m  afraid  you’re  deadly  wrong.  he’s  a  pair  opportunistic  grubby  hands.  but  never  the  brain  to  actually  come  up  with  plans.  that’s  why  he  has  the  council.’  a  click  of  tongue.  frustration  flushes  up  his  porcelain  skin  with  a  tint  of  roses.  ‘ EVEN  THEN,  he  refuses  to  listen  to  them.  it’s  really  a  wonder  how  some  people  stay  loyal  to  his  royal  arse.’

[prnced]

GILCHRIST

‘Your jealousy is showing, my dear. Go achieve something in life, then maybe your Mama will love you as much as she does me.’ A smirk. Youngest person in history to be appointed as the master of laws, of course he had done unsavoury things to get there. Nothing to cry about. ‘Heard your husband chose death over an eternity with you. WELL DONE, you’ve outdone yourself once again! And to think the disgust in the young jarl’s face at your approach was your paramount success.’

'my husband had it coming, i'm afraid. he's very ... fond of sweet and fatty things, just living life like an overfed duck waiting for death to come. you know what that's like. you and tanguy ... and all the other bastards hainne sires. i really can’t keep track of you!' mocking  laughter  soon  turned  into  a  sharp  inhale  as  sorcha’s  lips  pressed  themselves  into  a  thin  line  at  the  mention  of  their  mama. it is a sting, sorcha had to admit, that moire with all her hatred for vrajiits, chose to favor gilchrist over her own children. trust a pichler to hit you where it hurts. ‘you think you’re so smart, don’t you, gil ?’ moves close to the blonde man whose features resemble his father so much, it makes sorcha wants to puke. ‘well, fly higher, little dove, for it will hurt harder when you finally fall from adi's grace. oh, sorry, or is it the dragola’s grace that keeps you in your post ?'

[prnced]

DANYA

mina is caught by surprise , the young anastase’s lovely face looming into view when she had least expected it . grey eyes take them in coolly , of course the princess had heard of their lord husband’s death along with most other within the court . “ no apology needed ,  my lady . ” her smile is graceful , slow to come but it remains all the same . she is no stranger to the perils of her new family . “ ah , your brother is too kind . it is he i should be spreading good word of far and wide . i could not ask for a better husband . it is with him that i flourish . ”

there’s  a  deeply  set  urge  to  roll  their  eyes  and  laugh,  oh  flatteries. they  make  any  relationships  feel  shallow,  but  it  is  perhaps  due  to  the  way  the  anastase  cubs  are  raised. mama  and  papa  never  are  close  and  cengiz  and  her  burned  —  but  not  with  the  passions  of  love. ‘too  kind  of  you  to  sing  him  praises,  should  you  want  to  complain  though  —  remember  i  was  there  when  he’s  still  pissing  himself.’  they  laugh  merrily,  thorns  and  pricks  though  sorcha  is,  their  brothers  always  manage  to  bring  a  delight  to  their  features  and  their  voice.

[prnced]

GENYA

@prnced​​​​​         /        ❝    what   a   terrible   party   ,   with   terrible   people   pretending   they’re   happy   here   .   ❞   a   sigh   ,   ❝   still   ,   perhaps   we   all   just   wish   to   escape   for   the   night   from   some   of   these   choices   that   we   make   .   ❞

‘and  what  bad  choices  are  you  trying  to  forget,  genya?’  there’s  envy  in  him,  for  genya  is  still  every  bit  an  active  duty  officer  and  he  has  been  removed  of  his  position,  if  only  to  play  prince  in  an  empty  castle. ‘escapism  doesn’t  work,  neither  does  repression. as  hard  as  it  is,  we  all  would  benefit  better  from  trying  to  accept  and  live  with  our  choices.’

[prnced]

@sapphvms​         /       'gilchrist.’  it’s  easy  to  spot  him,  even  in  drab  clothes  gilchrist’s  mere  presence  is  magnetic,  all  eyes  on  him,  all  breathe  held  momentarily. sorcha  supposes  he  gets  it  from  hainne. the  only  redeeming  quality  of  their  mother’s  brother. ‘were  you  invited  or  did  you  blackmail  someone  to  secure  an  invitation  like  you  most  probably  did  for  this  cushy  job  you’ve  got  in  court?  MY,  MY,  MY. master  of  laws  at  this  age?  ...  we  all  know  you’re  a  just  shady  shit  undeserving  of  such  position.’

[prnced]

@thrustfists​​         /       his  is  a  face  they  do  not  recognize  and  yet  he  smiles  at  them  and  approaches  them  with  a  look  that’s  most  unbefitting  of  an  adult. sorcha  often  sees  it  in  vasili  and  euan,  and  what  a  dreadful  expression  that  is  —  one  that  promises  an  earful  of  screeching  and  laughing  and  menace. ‘i’m  sorry  —  ’  they  stopped  him  with  their  words,  loud  and  clear  and  commanding,  like  a  war  general. ‘i  don’t  know  who  you  are  and  i  don’t  wish  to  speak  to  strangers  tonight;  i’ve  not  the  energy  to  pretend  being  nice.’

[prnced]

@parheliion​         /       a  rough  hand  pulled  anduin  to  the  side  where  he  was  met  with  a  pair  of  round  eyes,  a  hint  of  mischief  peeked  through  the  cracks  of  its  hardened  gaze. ‘are  you  sober  enough  to  help  me  ditch  this  dump  or  do  i  have  to  bribe  one  of  the  guards  to  help  me?’

[prnced]

@ecliipsxd​​         /       no  one  would  think  that  sorcha  is  able  to  smile  so  tenderly. the  look  on  their  face  now  more  angelic  than  the  wicked  witch  that  they  actually  are. but  it  is  only  because  varian  is  always  sweet  to  them  and  they  reserve  a  soft  spot  in  their  cold,  webbed  heart  for  their  siblings. except  for  artair. ‘i  heard  from  andi  that  you’ve  FINALLY  grown  a  backbone  now.  lose  it,  var.’  they  tease.

[prnced]

@midniightspecial​     /       ‘your  highness,  may  i  call  you  sister  now?  i  apologize  i’ve  missed  your  wedding. there  was  ...  a  funeral  i  couldn’t  get  out  of.’  they  speak  as  if  the  subject  of  their  conversation  is  a  stranger  and  they  smile  as  if  it  doesn’t  affect  them. ‘i’ve  heard  lovely  things  about  you  from  my  brother,  i  hope  you  continue  to  treat  him  well. anastase  men,  they  need  strong  partners  to  flourish.’