send STRAINED for a scene from my muse's past in which they interact with someone they have a difficult relationship with
The long corridors felt even bigger and intimidating than usual today. Paintings of ancestors long gone, windows taking over all the height of the walls, and here and there some furniture and plants to remind her that this place was, in fact, not haunted and left alone. Walking at her normal pace, followed by a silent maid with her head low, Sieryl knew that if she was alone she would have run away in the other direction. It wasn’t so much the place than the person she was going to meet that made her shiver. His majesty summoned her today, and she couldn’t refuse. Her steps were slow, the silence making everything go at an eerie pace.
Soon she got to the door and a butler who was standing there opened the door for Sieryl to enter the room, where a few people were enjoying tea in pure bliss. Something she hadn’t experienced those last few months. Certainly, they were all people she couldn’t bear to see, but couldn’t escape from. Stepping gracefully into the room, she bowed to the king, her step-mother who didn’t daigned looking at her, and her step-brother who was stuffing his mouth with cakes. The king took a moment before telling her to rise, as maybe enjoying the situation, or because he didn’t want to see how much his daughter was resembling his past wife.
-It took you long enough to come here, Sieryl.
-I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I will make more haste at your next summoning.
-Yes, yes, he said while moving his hand. Now that you’ve finally arrived, it is time to speak about your future.
-My future, Your Majesty?
-Of course, darling dear.
The woman finally looked at her with a fake smile and an air of contempt, her eyes sharp on the small girl that was the princess. Sieryl trembled a bit, wondering what this woman had decided for her, using her charms to sway her father.
-See, you’re an adult now, and it is time you think of marrying a man and bear children.
-And thus we have discussed much with your father here, and since you haven’t got any suitors yet…
-Kadra had the lovely idea of organizing a banquet to invite bachelors to meet you and make an offer for your hand.
The rest of the discussion fell deaf into Sieryl’s ear. An offer for her hand… Was she to be sold to someone? Is that what they were thinking of? Her face didn’t show any of the turmoil in her head, but she was feeling sick. So, that was how it was going to be. This was the grand plan to make place for the new heir of the throne, making the Adelevy line break for good. No words came from her as she bowed down to her father’s decision and went back, but she was nauseous, and once far from the corridors, found a patch of flowers in the garden to let it all go, once more, far from prying eyes…
((@icehearts thank you!))
