I turned in the sheets, staring at the empty side of the bed once again. The sun had barely risen, the sky still decorated in the pinks and oranges that I could never get enough of. "He left them open again," I muttered quietly. Of course he had, he would do these little things when he knew he had done something that would hurt me. I rubbed at the new bruises on my arms, staring at them before I felt the smile.
He had been mad but at least he had been open about it this time. He had given me a reason behind his sudden rage and that's all I could ask for after all of this. I pulled myself from the bed, flinching at the tenderness in my legs. It wasn't the first time he had been rough but saying no the night before was a bad decision in hindsight. I forced myself to my feet, walking towards the dresser and pulling the dress over the petticoat carefully.
There had been much to do and there was much to tidy up. The maids were reliable but the Count was very particular about how he wanted his parties. Being his wife, there was no choice but for me to look it over; every failure would turn on me in the end. I couldn't afford giving another explanation to my family why my face was black and blue.
I quietly trailed out of the room, the smile falling as I fixed my hair. The maids that were already awake and doing their chores bowed their heads, a few smiling. He had probably made use of a maid after he choked me the night before, it was the only reason they'd be so silent. My hand quickly fluttered to my neck, feeling at it and wincing. "Countess," I turned, staring at Maria as she gave a low curtsy before finishing her travel to my side, "I was almost on time."
"Maria, there is no on time," I stated. "You show or you don't." The maid smiled sadly at me as her blonde curls bounced with her nod. I was fond of her and everyone knew it but they would never know why. Those nights that were bad, where I'd be at the mercy of the Count's hand, she'd be there to pick me up.
I held my arm out, here finding its place in lacing with mine. "I'm sure the invitations were sent out to their destination in time?"
"They were, Countess. I made sure to deliver them myself," Maria nodded. I nodded and stopped when she subtly pulled on my arm. "Let me, my lady," Maria unhooked her arm from mine, dashing behind me and fixing my hair to its normal state. The buns she did were never too tight even as they stayed neat.
To Maria, it was to make me look more professional but I knew better. She had been witness to one of the Count's bad days when I would let my hair flow freely. Since that day, she had refused to do anything different with my hair. I didn't have the heart to tell her it wouldn't help later in the evenings. The simple hairstyle eased the maid's heart. A thick choker like necklace was strung around my neck and I blinked.
"Thank you," I nodded slowly when she took my arm again.
"The marks are very unattractive, my lady. I can't have them defame you for it," Maria nodded. I nodded, it was the only thing I could do to the honest statement. I had turned out lucky with this maid and more so with my status being married to who I was. "Might I be honest, my lady?"
"Have I ever stopped you before," I asked quietly. Maria stared and let go as we approached the dining hall, opening the door.
"I believe light blues do you little good. A vibrant violet or golden silk would make you more welcoming," she nodded quietly. I gave a twitch of my lips, reaching and petting her cheek gently.
"He likes the blue," I replied as I stepped in. The smile was gone as I faced the Count at the head of the table. His brother, his brothers wife, and a woman I hated sat there, leaving me to sit a bit away from my own husband. The room quieted as I walked and stood behind the lady sitting by the Count. The clear disrespect was evident as the rest stared at me.
I had a reputation amongst the nobles, one that I was secretly proud of while the rest looked down on me for it. My hand shot forward, grabbing the lady's ear and pulling her from my seat. "Good morning," I bowed my head to the Count before taking my seat.
"You're still as cold as ever," his brother joked.
"My seat is just that. My seat," I looked to the Count. His brown eyes narrowed as his thick fingers thrummed on the table in irritability. I had trained myself to know the warning signs and while I could have been tougher with the lady, this was as much as I could do without angering him too much.
"Lady Caitlin is a guest, my sweet," he hummed. I bit my tongue, both of us knowing full well what the blonde woman was as she sat next to me. She rubbed her ear, a small pout on her face.
"Who has been here for two weeks and should know better," I stared at the table as silence filled the room. His brother cleared his throat and continued his conversation with the Count as the food was brought forward.
-.-.-.-
I bowed my head to the guests as they stepped in, ignoring the uncomfortable looks they gave me. I knew I should have been smiling, greeting them warmly. I couldn't pull myself to do so as my mind ventured to Lady Caitlin. The Count has openly been sweet to her, subtly pursuing her for a few months now. It left a bitter taste in my mouth and unsettled me greatly.
I stiffened as my hand was grabbed, a man wearing a mask lifting it and kissing the rings that decorated my fingers. "What a lovely woman to greet us. The Scarlet Snow is very fitting," he praised. I felt my face heat a bit, my back straightening as I schooled the embarrassment with my breath.
"Good afternoon," I nodded. "Please, it's only a name given by rumors."
"Countess Farkas," the man hummed and motioned behind him, "I humbly ask that your voice ring true when you announce His Majesty." My eyes shot behind him, making eye contact with the emperor before they left the cold gaze. I pulled my hand away and gave a deep curtsy, praying the men didn't see the trembling of my legs at the strain.
"Forgive my forward was in the invitation, your majesty," I tried to push up to stand when he nodded and gritted my teeth. I couldn't push up, an intense burn keeping me in the position. "I will announce you to the best of my-"
"Stand up," the emperor ordered. I took a deep breath and released the skirts from my hand. The emperor was a sharp man and the few times I had seen his piercing amber eyes I could tell. I angled my hands as delicately as possible as I forced myself up. He stared at me, his face in a straight line.
He wasn't the most attractive man but what he lacked in looks he made up for in his leading quality. My own family, the House of Holland, gave many knights to him and there were none that weren't impressed with the emperor. "Countess Helga," his voice rang and I bowed my head, "I wouldn't miss an invitation so we'll written by a woman from a trusted family." I looked up quickly, blinking as the emperor took my hand.
"I am very flattered," I nodded after a moment. It was hard to register the compliment. I could feel his eyes studying me, the way they dug into my appearance.
"Announce me," he ordered. I bowed my head before turning and venturing into the parlor, lifting a glass and making it ring so the room quieted. I took a deep breath and set the glass down as everyone turned to me.
"His Royal Highness, our great sovereign, Emperor Arkasha Saxe has arrived," the room soon fell into bows and curtsies as the Emperor stepped from behind me. I moved out of the way quickly and gave another curtsy as he stood there for a moment. He held his hand out to me, my eyes staring at it as they widened a bit. He was asking for my hand? I glanced up while placing my hand in his.
He practically pulled me up from my curtsy before kissing the back of my hand. Count Farkas was soon standing next to me, a broad smile on his face as his hand roughly grabbed my waist. His grip was tight as he bowed slightly to the emperor.
"Your highness, I did not expect you to show," he chirped.
"I believed it was time to show my gratitude to the Holland family for their many years of service," the emperor nodded. I held my breath as the grip on my waist became much tighter. The Count hated my family for its ties to the crown and his reason for marrying me had shown within the first year of our matrimony. It was a sore subject for the Count who had married for those ties. I had been foolish in falling for his flirtatious approach, his colors more violent than my own had been.
"I assure you, your presence is a warmth to this humble house," the Count bowed again, his smile strained. I couldn't slow my heart down as the emperor nodded to the man. It was none of his concern but I'd feel the Count's wrath later tonight, feeling his hatred. It was mere minutes before the other nobles approached the emperor and acknowledged his presence. I was pulled with the Count, his face twisting into the angry expression I had come to know well in the past few years.
"What is the meaning of this," he snapped in my ear. I flinched, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
"It was- I only wanted good to come to our- your house in inviting him," I cursed myself as I struggled. It wasn't good enough and I could tell by how he looked around. The manor had been decorated in fresh garlands and flowers, everything had been shined and dusted, and not a single thing was out of place. Had he wanted more if he knew the emperor was coming and had I misstepped?
"And you didn't tell me," he grabbed my wrist and his smile spread across his face. It was sinister in nature, it always had been towards me. "Come," he ordered. He began pulled me down the hall and my body trembled as the walk became familiar.
"Please, it was in good intentions," I gasped.
"You're ill," he cooed softly. "I'll send Maria. You should rest."
"Count, please-"
"I'll reward you later," he snapped. I blinked as he began down a flight of stairs. His rewards and punishments were never well, the lines blurred between them. I wouldn't want whatever it was he would give as he walked me into the room I had grown so familiar with. I stood still as he turned and shut the door behind him, locking it and leaving me in the dark without even a candle in the windowless abyss of the room.