Yvanna jumped awake, her body tense and taut from her hellish dreams. She looked around confused when she saw that she wasn't in the carriage anymore. They'd reached Harkburg? And she'd slept through all of it?
She tossed the heavy green and gold blankets off of herself and looked down at the nightgown she was dressed in. And she'd also been changed.
Her hands flew to her face and felt that the veil was still tied tightly around her head. As soon as he consummated their marriage, she'd be free of it. She swallowed the bit of bile that rose in her throat.
She'd held her head in her hands, why had she pushed him? He was a king, and her husband. And from Nothad. Why couldn't she just be respectful?She shrank at the memory of how furious he had looked and how frightening his grip on her wrists had been.
She stood and paced further into the room to distract herself.
She knew very little of Nothad, but so far she was enjoying their fashion and style. She'd always loved furs but she'd never been able to wear them too often because Viland was warmer in all seasons compared to Nothad.
The room she was in was made of smooth stone bricks. Bearskin rugs were stretched out along the floor to keep some heat in. Two large couches were placed in front of a roaring fire; their green velour fabric contrasted by the varnished wood was very pleasing.
She looked back at the canopy bed and wondered if she was in the king's room for a moment. But she quickly shook her head. He likely had an entire wing to himself.
She began exploring the room and smiled at each new thing. There was a very old looking harp in one corner of the room, and a tall glass vase in another with delicate, ornate painting on it. The mantle above the fireplace was covered in small bric-and-brac. The small wooden painted girl was what interested her the most.
She nearly dropped the figurine into the fire when a knock sounded on the door.
"Your highness?"
She swallowed, "Yes? C-come in."
The large wooden door opened and a woman stepped in, along with four other women.
Yvanna smiled nervously and walked closer to them, "Hello."
"Good afternoon, your highness." They all curtsied.
Yvanna smiled again, "You needn't do that."
The first woman merely smiled. Yvanna estimated her age to be in her mid-forties; the streaks of grey in her brown hair signalled that she was aging, but the vibrancy in her face told of her youthful energy, "How does her highness find her room?"
Yvanna had never enjoyed when servants or anyone spoke to her in such a manner, but she answered her nonetheless. "It's lovely, thank you."
The woman bowed her head. Yvanna guessed her to be the head maid, or at least a maid of some high standing. Her dress was simple but of finer quality than most servants.
"I am Jessica, these are your ladies in waiting, and these are your personal maids." She gestured to the women behind her. Yvanna smiled and nodded at all of them.
"Your highness, would you like for us to draw a bath?" One of the maids asked.
Yvanna was about to shake her head when she realized she felt rather filthy. She nodded and smiled, "I would love that, thank you..?"
"Lorraine, your highness." She said, bowing her head.
"Thank you, Lorraine."
The two maids left the room before Yvanna could ask the name of the second one.
"Would you like some tea, your highness?" One of her ladies in waiting asked.
"I would love some, thank you." She didn't actually feel like drinking anything at that moment, but she felt it was rude to decline.
She sat on one of the green couches and she asked them to sit as well. One of the ladies in waiting had left to fetch some water for the tea.
The room descended into an awkward silence. Yvanna smiled kindly after a few moments and looked to the lady in waiting that had stayed, "And what is your name?"
"Vivian, your highness." The woman smiled. She looked the same age as Mirella, who was twenty-three. Yvanna was but nineteen.
The room once again descended into an awkward silence as Yvanna racked her brain for ways to begin small talk. She'd never been the best at speaking. Mirella excelled at talking others up and keeping conversation alive.
She cleared her throat, her cheeks burning at how she was supposed to be Mirella. "Um, I'm afraid that my knowledge of Nothad is still very limited. Could some books perhaps be brought so I can read them?"
Jessica nodded, "Yes, I will have some books selected for you. Your personal library is also available if you wish to browse in it."
Yvanna's eyes lit up, "Yes, oh, I'll certainly have to take a look at that."
"Another thing, your highness." Jessica started, "Is that many of your wedding gifts must be sorted through. Some of them could spoil, and some of them are living."
Yvanna's eyes rounded, "Oh, um… send them here and I'll begin sorting through them once I'm finished bathing."
Jessica nodded and the tea was soon brought. Yvanna attempted to chat with the three women, but she continued to stutter and found herself more and more flustered.
She sighed as she stepped into the bath chamber.
She was about to remove her veil when she remembered her black eye. She looked at the two maids, "Would you wait outside, please?" She asked hesitantly.
The two women curtsied and left the room.
Yvanna breathed a sigh of relief and untied the veil from her head. She looked in the mirror and her brow creased at how terrible she looked. Her one eye had a dark circle underneath it, and the other was a dark purple with green rimming some of the bruising.
She looked away with a grimace and removed her dress then her corset and undergarments. She slipped into the tub wearing her shift and dunked her head below the warm water, hoping it would somehow heal the bruise.
The swelling has gone significantly down, she supposed that was thanks to the king.
After stepping out of the bath she dried herself and slipped on a thick fur-lined robe. She smiled and hugged the material closer. Securing the veil on her head she stepped from the room and began to organize her gifts.