*Ana*
It doesn't take long for a maid to usher me to the correct table in the banquet hall. I watch the blond maid smile as she sets out my table. I can't tell if it's an act or she generally cares about her job, but I find myself unable to look away.
Our servants are never so cheery in Nochten. I find myself having to compare. Is this just how Dawny is? I can't help but wonder.
She reminds me of Maddie. I think as the maid finishes laying out my napkin.
"There you are, your majesty," Doxy speaks affectionately. "It's so good to have you back with us."
"Oh, ah, yes," I mutter, surprised. I have a vague feeling I have met this maid prior. Was it the last time I was here? I can't be sure.
It wasn't like I had that long to get familiar with anyone. I remember I only spent one day. But perhaps we did meet?
I wonder if Maddie could remember if I asked. I partially wonder if this is worth bothering her. Or if Maddie might even remember?
"Tea, your majesty?" Doxy, meanwhile, grabs my empty cup.
"Ah, no, I-" But the maid is quicker than I can decline. I can only sit in omission as I see the steamy brown liquid pour into my cup. It is just as unappealing as last time, but now the smell is worse. It makes me cringe as it reminds me of the previous time tea was on the menu.
"It's a fine blend from across the sea in the Dullin Dynasty," Doxy informs me as she pushes the cream and sugar closer for easy access.
"Ah," I try to look interested but just want her to leave. When she finally does, I scoot the cup out of my nose's reach.
There's no way I'll be able to drink this. I won't even begin to try it. Just having it near me makes me want to change tables. The smell bothers me that much.
Where is everyone? I have to distract myself. I find myself alone for once. Maddie is yet to come down. And Mykhol has been absent all morning.
"I haven't been alone in a while," I whisper at the oddly forgotten feeling. It has been some time.
I can't help but find it somewhat uncomfortable. It's a little funny. Who would ever guess I would grow used to having people around?
Perhaps I should have it taken away? I look back at my cup. But would that be insulting? What if I appear rude in sending it back?
Like Nochten is to its coffee, Dawny is to its tea. And the last thing I want to do is reject their hospitality. But what then?
I can't drink this, and the smell is wretched. I sink. It's quite a dilemma. But I am not the only one in my battles.
"You did that on purpose!" Two boys began to bicker at the table across from me. They seem to be manhandling a pastry with an intense fixation.
"Just ask for some more." The one scuffs and leans in to bite from one end as if to show victory.
"No- Stop!" The other cries, completely distraught. "You can't eat the last one!" And he reaches to pull it from his hands. But the attempt is weak as the other swats him away.
"It's mine!" He huffs a mouthful of bread. "Let go of me!"
"Give me back my croissant!" The other leans further over the table to try to pull it free.
"Stop fighting! Both of you!" A woman, I assume their mother hisses with exasperation, but the boys do not heed her at all. Instead, they seem to take this as a challenge.
"Give me it!" The first slaps the other's hand to make him drop it. But the second only jerks his hand back.
"No, It's mine!" He snarls, but the other only grows further desperate.
"Just give me half!" The first pleads while pulling on his arm. "We can split it."
"No, I don't want to!" The second only jerks his arm free to get away. But the jerk is too much. Thanks to the butter, the bread is slippery, and the boy loses his grip, and the bread goes flying. We watch the croissant fly across the open space wobblingly in awed silence.
"No-" Both boys watch as the croissant begins to decline towards its destination. It's A destination I don't need to follow as it becomes clear where it will land. It's headed straight for me.
"Ah," I give a soft gasp as the croissant lands. It falls mere inches from colliding with the tea.
Any closer, and I would have been doused in it. I half-mindedly stare at the wobbling tea. It brings the smell back up, and I feel myself gag a little. But I will count myself lucky.
At least I'm not bathed in it. I will count my blessings. But I seem to be the only one who sees the golden lining.
"Your Empress," Their mother is quickly mortified before glaring at her sons.
"Philp! Tommy!" She quickly slaps the sides of their heads. "I told you not to rough house!"
"Sorry, mama," Tommy, the smaller one, looks down, sincerely regretful. But the other, Philip, lifts his head as if offended.
"Ma-" Philp protests and looks at me to pause for a moment. He then returns to his mother."What you'd do that for? I didn't throw it-"
"Forgive my sons, your highness." The mother I now recognize is Lady Davish, who stands up. She pushes down both their heads.
"Hey!" Philp begins to protest, but Tommy shushes him.
"Don't make mom angrier," Tommy warns. But Philp doesn't seem to take warnings well.
"Ma! My head hurts-"
"Apologize to her majesty." Lady Davish snapps.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty."Tommy immediately does. But Philp again is slow.
"Ma, I didn't do any-"
"Way to go, Philp!" A familiar voice cries from far back. I turn up to find the speaker. It is none other than Nicoli.
"Brother," I breathe, seeing him between Father and stepmother. He is currently giggling and pointing at Philp while our Father chuckles. They seem to have enjoyed the show. Queen Belinda, however, is less amused. She smiles before flicking her eyes up.
"Oh," I quickly turned away to find a pair of blue ones staring after me. They spark before I see Nicoli's smile widen.
"Ana!" Nicoli shouts, getting up. But not before Queen Belinda's hand shoots out for him. She pulls him down into his chair.
"But Mama," Nicoli whines, but Belinda just smiles with a nod to his plate as if to say, finishing eating.
"Fine," Nicoli huffs and pulls up his spoon, but not before throwing a great pout. King Alexander, meanwhile, looks over to give a gentle nod my way.
"Oh," I quickly scramble to return the gesture. My cheeks burn as I find myself growing happy at the subtle greeting.
But just as I am already happy with being acknowledged, Nicoli surprises me again. He is up and leaning over to whisper something to Father. Whatever they say, both stop to glance up at me with a nod.
Are they talking about me? I perk up. What could they be talking about?
Is it something terrible, or is it good? I wish I could go over there and ask-
Or not. I quickly feel some pressure come from beside them. Queen Belinda has yet to greet me, but I feel it. Her eyes are watching me closely.
I'd… rather not deal with her. I quickly retreat at the idea. I should just be happy that they greeted me. I think and lower my eyes down to my new bread friend.
"Can I have that back?" It takes me a moment to realize someone is talking to me.
"Oh?" I blink up to one of the boys. He is standing with his hand out. It is the one called Philp.
"Well," Philp goes, looking directly into my face. "Can I have my croissant or not?"
"Oh, I-" I stutter, finding his gaze too direct for comfort. I don't think I've ever had someone stare me down so- well, besides Mykhol. "Um, yes-"
"Philp! Have you no shame? Get back here-" Lady Davish snaps, but Philip shakes his head.
"No, I want my croissant." Philp is firm and ignores her command.
"Like I said. Can I have that?" Philp looks from the bread to my hair. He doesn't even hide the curios stare."What's wrong with your hair?"
"Oh." I lift my hands to find a horrible surprise. The headdress- I didn't wear it. I've left it behind with Maddie.
Oh no, I sink into my chair, suddenly aware of everyone staring.
"Uh, here." I avoid my eyes as I shove the bread over. "This is yours, yes?"
"Yeah." Philp picks up the bread, and I think it will be over. But I quickly find I'm wrong. Philp stays and openly stares right at my hair.
"Yes?" I have to force myself to meet his eyes. Why is he still here? "Do you need something else-" I start, unsure what else that could be.
"Your hair-" Philip pauses as if considering something."It's kinda-"
"Anastasia!" Mykhol's voice booms as he enters the hall. His face grows animated at finding me before growing sharper at seeing Philp standing nearby.
"There you are." Mykhol quickly strolled over. "I thought I missed you."
"Who's this?" Mykhol smiles wide to show his fangs as he looks at Philp. "Did you make a friend, Anastasia?"
A friend? I am baffled at the concept but quickly shake my head.
"No, this is-" I turn to introduce him just as Philp abruptly turns.
"Bye." Philp takes his bread and rushes back to take his seat.
"Oh?" I can't help but watch the boy turn his back on us. What just happened?
Was it- is it my hair? I consider. He was saying something about it just before.
Maybe it made him sick? I think and move to touch the loose strands. Again, I wish I could do something about it. I feel very aware that anyone can see it.
I can't believe I forgot to put it on. I sink more in my chair.
"Ana, you…" Mykhol, meanwhile, is still standing. His happy grin fades into a frown as he looks down at me. Or should I say, at my dress. "That color..."
"Good morning, cousin." I am relieved to now have someone else at the table. "You slept in."
"Have I?" Mykhol answers with another look at my gown. He seems to want to say something but holds his tongue. Instead, he moves to rub his head.
"I seem to have taken too much wine last night," Mykhol confesses. "I've yet to recover."
"You were quite drunk," I note. "You even forced me to drop my book."
"Oh?" Mykhol laughs. "How terrible of me." Still Laughing, Mykhol looks me over once more before pouting.
"Not wearing it today?" Mykhol reaches to take up a loose strand. He curls it around his finger like a strange habit I've noticed. But I don't mind it as it's one of his lesser invasive acts.
"No, I thought I'd miss breakfast, so I ran over." I go feeling slightly foolish. "I can't believe I forgot."
"It's nice."
"What is?"
"Your hair today." Mykhol moves to hold up a piece to his lips. He gently kisses it before looking at me. "I like it when you have it down."
"Oh?" I stare after him, unsure how to respond. Only a moment before, Philp acted so strangely about it, too.
Is my hair different today? I can't help but be confused.
"Cousin, are you still drunk?"
"You- how dense. Really." Mykhol breaks into a laugh. "I guess that's a good thing, though." Mykhol continues taking his seat.
"It makes you kinda cute."
"Cute?" I blink, utterly confused. Mykhol must still be very drunk, indeed.
"Cousin, I think you should drink water." I go and push up a cup. "You need it."
"I need a lot of things." Mykhol laughs on. His laughter seems rather loud, but I assume he must be a happy drunk.
Well, at least he's having a good time. I am trying to be content; I am no longer alone at the table.
*Nicoli*
As Mykhol laughed at Ana's confusion, Nicoli couldn't help but pout, watching them. They seemed to be having a good time over there. Nicoli wished he could be there, too.
It's not fair. Nicoli looked on, seeing the teen hold Ana's hair. He wanted to touch it, too. How pretty it looked today. And look, Ana wasn't wearing that red thing on her head.
"That boy," Nicoli could hear his Father grumble. He, too, was staring after them.
Does he want to touch Ana's hair too? Nicoli thought again, looking back to the two. The teen was a vampire by the color of his hair and eyes.
Cousin Mykhol. Nicoli identified. The very same cousin Ana tried to hide away from in her letters. But now they seemed much closer.
I guess that's good. Nicoli had to contend, but not without feeling something inside pull. It was funny, but something seemed off about the teen.
Weird. Nicoli could only shrug at the unfamiliar feeling. But he was quick to forget it over something more substantial.
"Papa?" Nicoli piped up, ready to start, but he needn't try because King Alexander was already motioning for Johan.
"Right away, your majesty," Johan knew what to do. Nicoli watched the man move surprisingly quickly for someone his age.