The light of dawn pours down the window when Radelaine was awoken still sluggish in her bed. She looked over the candle on the wall of her nightstand now half its size, she realized it is time to get out of bed.
"Hmm, I woke up rather early." An early riser, Radelaine that is. She covered herself with a blanket and snuggled her pillow.
Today is the awaited banquet in the King Council Carteph's Palace of the Kingdom Takèif. The kingdom is only a quarter smaller than the size of the fallen Kingdom of Acairè but twice bigger than the Kingdom of Xuediv. These three territories used to be under one ruler and the land is named Shaoghal.
As her feet wore the slippers underneath her bed high off from the floor with a thick mattress, finally deciding not to get too carried away to sleep from the comfort of her pillow. She then reached her hand unto the bed about two meters next to her.
She pulled slightly the blanket to wake up the still fast-asleep Geiyra.
The two daughters of Lord Derktse together with his wife Lady Madelra were invited to a royal banquet hosted by the King Council Carteph himself to celebrate the new court law imposed in the whole land of Shaoghal that he boastfully created himself. It's not very usual to be hearing the word Shaoghal, it's been a divided kingdom for centuries after all.
They had to leave first thing in the morning for they live in the town far north side of the Palace, Kilruin Town. It wouldn't be right for them to be late for such a gathering.
Radelaine held the wrist of Geiyra and slightly taps it on her peaceful sleeping face.
She was not affected at all so she did it again. This time a harder tap, could be a slap.
"Aah! Radee!" Radelaine chuckled as she saw how Geiyra got scared out of her wits.
"Come here you." Geirya in annoyance chased her sister and before she could leave her bed, Radelaine already went for the stairs giggling as she flee away from Geiyra.
Radelaine could not understand where her strength is from in the early morning as she was quickly nearing her when she herself almost wobbles getting down the stairs.
Before Geiyra could finally get a hand on Radelaine, they were interrupted by the hushed voice of their father slightly echoing through the hall.
"Young ladies." Said their father from downstairs still dressed in his sleeping robe with squinting eyes.
The sisters couldn't help but freeze in their spot. If it was their mother they could've easily gotten away with it.
"But father, Geiyra was chasing me," Radelaine said mischievously to her father despite being stiffly scared.
Radelaine knows Geiyra's fear for their father. She just somehow wants to tighten up bit by bit the long-torn bond between them that has been there for years.
Lord Derktse is a father who likes to impose genteel modesty on his two children. They are nearing the age of marriage and in the eyes of Lord Derktse, he will soon find the best suitor for his girls. Forbye, their history together wounded them both.
"Get dressed, we will be on the road not for long." The two girls quickly head back upstairs to flee their father's presence. Good thing they were dismissed right away.
"Radee! Why would you say that to father?" Said Geiyra as she grabbed her arms cutting down the chase Radelaine did. Her jaw is tensed and is jutted slightly forward.
Startled by Geiyra's reaction, she answered, "Father knows we are just playing around. Don't worry. We should hurry! I'll have to wear the emerald long gown mother tailored for one of us." Radelaine left Geiyra once again by the stairs.
One can assume that she left to have Geiyra chase her again and make fun of her but it was more like an uncomfortable Radelaine fleeing the situation. Seeing how vexed her sister was all of a sudden, she tried to play it cool.
Geiyra switched up into confusion after she realized what her sister just said seconds ago.
"I thought I was wearing that." Geiyra's head tilted and her brows wrinkled as Radelaine rushed up to their room passing her like nothing happened and said, "I'm not serious Geiyra." She laughed hard holding her stomach as she looks over to the right where two helpers came to help them get dressed.
"Radee..." Geiyra said as she sighed in relief.
Radelaine knows she has her eyes on the beautifully beaded emerald silk ball gown their mother tailored for one of them. Radelaine could never do that to her sister.
Moments later they were already off their castle-like house where there is a round tower on the far right edge, a vast garden in the front, and a hectare of the garden forest at the back where Radelaine and Geiyra like to spend their free afternoon exploring — there could still be more to explore.
The walls of their house are decorated with climbing vines that are changed over the changing season. Lady Madelra particularly adored this season's shade of vines, the sable-colored flowers that give off the subtle vibe of fall.
"I expect both of you to be polite and with grace when we reach the palace. You could be talking to your husband when we get there, who knows." Lord Derktse said admonishingly to his daughters whilst in the carriage on their way to the palace.
"Yes, father." Hesitantly they answered in unison. Against their will, their father is now looking forward to a day like this. Although it was said gently and in no ill manner, they are unsure about becoming a wife.
Lord Derktse despite being a father whose presence shouts nowhere near comforting, is still a father who has great hope for his daughters' future, especially for Geiyra. As noblewomen, they are bound to wed noblemen. It is only right to match one that treats them admirably.
"You can enjoy ladies, but not too much." Their mother, Lady Madelra said with a comforting smile to redirect their father's pressuring remarks, knowing that the sisters are looking forward to this day.
"Yes, mother." They answered trying to not let out a sigh out of respect for their noble father.
Radelaine looked at Geiyra and saw how hearing what their father said weighed her down. She looked at her with an assuring smile despite not really knowing what assurance she can give.
They thought this is going to be the day when they get to see how extravagant the world outside their house is. But how can they now? Thinking about what is about to happen, Radelaine leaned to the glass window beside her and lets out a little sigh. She made sure she sighed when her father wasn't looking.