Amie could not concentrate on dressing as she could not stop herself from wondering what the king was saying to her father. She tried her best to keep her mind present and absorb all that was told to her about the ceremony. She had heard rumours of how different her wedding will be but none had ever had any information on the specifics. Now, listening to the details, she could not help but frown. Her wedding was going to be held on the coldest day of the year; were these rights the best traditions to obey considering this?
"You must remember that since the king had been crowned the root of the broken tree, his queen must be married in with such old rights. It will be a test, one you must not fail," Madam D'huile said.
Amie listened carefully and changed to her regular dress, then followed them down the stairs. She and her mother ignored the Grueviers as they showed their guests off. Only after their carriages rolled off their front yard, did they return to face this clingy family.
"Cousin, you will surely be beautiful on that day, I hear we commoners will be allowed to watch your procession and your rights," Amie saw her eldest cousin approach and say, the moment they walked into the receiving room.
"What do you mean Hana, how can we stand together with the crowd?" Mrs. Gruevier scoffed as though this was below them.
"But we dare not impose upon Aunt and Cousin to get us a seat as guests. Even though it would be an eye-opener to go to the royal wedding, Aunt and Cousin have too much on their mind, Mother," Hana replied.
"Yet here you are, despite acting as though a righteous one sensible enough to not grovel for an invitation. Here you are," Mrs. Krain did not bother to be polite.
"What do you mean Elaine? Someone from the family is getting married; it is only right that we come. Are you going to be so petty that you would not even give us an invitation?" Mrs. Gruevier asked.
"Yes. Yes, I will. I do not care for your little reasons for appearing there. If you can gain an invitation yourself; then go ahead, but this woman will not bother to spare curtsies just to give you an invitation," Mrs. Krain's raw words caused the Grueviers to pause. Even though they were shameless, they were not to the point of not recognizing an insult.
Hana's brown eyes immediately started to water, "Aunt, forgive our intrusion; that was not the intention. We thought since we were family..," she started to sob.
"Family? Your mother left me to freeze on her doorstep when I came to beg for money to feed my children. Even if you did not have the money, you could have opened the door and told me to go away," Mrs Krain fumed. This girl's crying face angered her more than normal.
"I'm sorry for my mother's actions Aunt; I thought this was a thing of the past. Mother said that Aunt is a magnanimous person who would not hold onto old grudges. She said Aunt was a graceful lady and would help us if we asked," Hana cried. Amie could not help but wonder why Hana was putting on this play; there was no way she was saying all this just to get an invitation. Right at that moment, at the corner of her eyes, she saw the king's figure and understood. This play was not for them, it was for him.
"Oh? Did no one tell you that this woman was stripped of her title? What Lady? This woman sold it to feed her children one faithful cold day. This woman is as petty as the pettiest that can be. No bone on this woman's body holds a sliver of an understanding spirit anymore!" Mrs. Krain said. Looking at the faces of the Grueviers behind Hana, who had their heads lowered to hide their smile, Amie felt funny. This was what they wanted; they provoked her mother to say such words so that the king would see what kind of petty person raised his bride-to-be.
"Cousin, I know you are not the same, please help us tell Aunt we mean no harm," Hana turned to her and Amie almost sighed out loud. She knew they were not going to leave her out of this play.
"No, I'm even worse. I'm not only petty, I'm vengeful. So, you better be careful around me," Amie said.
"But cousin, you are going to be the mother of the nation, you should be..," Hana started to say.
"So?" Amie asked and the house quieted. "Do you think the mother of the nation is chosen from a pull of those of good character? Even if I go on a killing spree, the king will still have to marry me. Right, Your Majesty?" Amie exposed the man enjoying the play by the corner with cold eyes and they all froze.