Rhiannon's eyes blinked open, the morning light filtering through the thin curtains. She yawned and stretched, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. As she tried to take in her surroundings, she heard an eerie whisper, causing her to pause.
Soft plopping sounds echoed in the room, and Rhiannon wondered when the roof had begun to leak. But it wasn't raining, was it? Confused, she slowly opened her eyes toward the direction of the noise. Suddenly, her body froze in shock. It was her mother again, standing in the corner of the room. Her left hand was dripping with blood and falling on the ground.
Rhiannon held her breath, wondering if she was still dreaming. She rubbed her eyes, hoping it was just a figment of her imagination. But no, it was real. Her mother was backing her and staring at the large family portrait in her chamber.
Rhiannon wanted to see her mother's face, all the questions that had been bubbling in her mind had been replaced with a yearning to just hold her mother in an embrace. Tears began to form in her eyes as she slowly walked up to her mother, her feet barely making a sound on the carpeted floor. The fear that had initially gripped her dissipated, replaced with a desperate need to hug her mother and never let go.
As she got closer, she raised her hand to tap on her mother's shoulder, but just as she was about to touch her, the door of her room flung wide open. Her old nanny and handmaid stood in the doorway, their expressions a mixture of confusion and concern.
Rhiannon turned to face them and then looked away, feeling embarrassed and confused. She didn't know what to say or do, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Her mother had vanished, leaving behind a chilling memory.
The room was silent, and Rhiannon could hear the faint sound of birds chirping outside. The morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on the room. The plopping sounds had stopped, and the room was peaceful once more.
"Mama!". Rhiannon whispered, more tears dripping from her eyes.
The old nanny and maid stared at Rhiannon in shock, their eyes widening as they took in her appearance. They could see the tears in her eyes, the fear on her face, the way she had slowly walked up the portrait, and how her hand was paused in mid-air.
They exchanged worried glances, both realizing that something was not right with the young princess. The maid took a step forward, her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. "My lady, are you alright? What happened?".
Rhiannon blinked, her mind still reeling from the sudden appearance of her mother and she pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She winced in pain as she felt reality and then she sighed.
She turned to face the maid, her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. "My... my mother was here. She... she was bleeding and staring at the portrait."
The old nanny gasped, covering her mouth in shock as she gave a side glance to the maid. She assumed that Rhiannon's mental illness was acting up. "Oh dear, this is not good. We must fetch the royal physician at once. Your Highness, please sit down, we'll call for help."
Rhiannon felt a sense of panic rising within her, realizing that they saw her as someone who wasn't mentally okay. She didn't want to be treated like a fragile porcelain doll, but at the same time, she was scared and didn't know what to do.
"Nothing is wrong with me". She whispered but nothing changed in the look on the faces of her old nanny and maid.
Rhiannon felt a sudden sense of anger bubbling up within her as the old nanny and maid exchanged concerned glances, treating her like a fragile doll that needed to be handled with care. She gritted her teeth, feeling frustrated and helpless.
"I'm not crazy!" she shouted, glaring at the nanny. "My mother was here, and she was bleeding. I saw her!".
The nanny took a step back, her eyes widening in surprise at Rhiannon's outburst. "Your Highness, please calm down. We're here to help you."
"I don't need your help!" Rhiannon snapped, feeling a sense of frustration building within her. "I need you to believe me! I'm not crazy!"
The maid stepped forward, her voice gentle as she spoke. "Alright, my lady, please, we're here to dress you up for the day. Let us help you get ready, and then we'll call for the physician if necessary."
Rhiannon's face contorted into a scowl as the maid and nanny tried to dress her up. "I don't want to go anywhere!" she shouted. "Just leave me alone!"
The nanny and maid exchanged worried glances, knowing that they couldn't simply leave the princess in her room all day. "Please, Your Highness," the nanny pleaded. "We need to get you dressed for the day. You can't stay in your room forever."
Rhiannon reluctantly calmed down, feeling a sense of exhaustion and defeat wash over her. "Why do I have to get dressed?" she asked, her voice quiet.
The maid hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Your Highness, do you not remember the discussion we had with your uncle yesterday?"
Rhiannon frowned, struggling to remember. "What discussion?"
The nanny spoke up, her voice gentle. "Your uncle told us that an important figure is visiting today. A king from the neighboring kingdom."
Rhiannon's eyes slightly widened in surprise, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. "Why is he coming here?"
"I have no idea, my lady". Amelia said. She continued, her expression turned fearful as she spoke. "Your Highness, there are rumors about this king. They say he's cruel and evil. Some even say he's a devil."
Rhiannon gritted her teeth in anger as she listened to the maid's words, she felt a surge of defiance rises up within her. Was her evil uncle trying to sell her off to this man? She shook her head to chase off the thoughts from her head. But she knew her uncle was a hypocrite who always acted righteous on the surface. He wouldn't dare sell her off just like that without pulling tricks for the fear of ill words against him. Still, the thought of being married off to such a cruel king made her blood boil. She couldn't let it happen.
And just as she was lost in her thoughts, her maid spoke again. "Your Highness, I must warn you," the maid said, her voice trembling slightly. "Your uncle has threatened to burn all of your mother's possessions if you do not appear before him today."
Rhiannon's heart sank at the thought, feeling a sense of desperation wash over her. The last time she had refused to appear before her uncle, he had burnt down her father's robes. She couldn't bear to lose any more of her parents' possessions.
With a scowl, Rhiannon rose from her bed and began to let the maid get ready to dress her. She was still angry, but she knew that she had to face her uncle and this king.
Rhiannon waited patiently for her maid to prepare her bath. Her old nanny who was also present, bustled around the room, laying out Rhiannon's garments for the day.
The maid entered the room, carrying a large pitcher of warm water. She set it down on the floor and began lighting the candles around the room, casting a soft glow that highlighted the elegant furniture and tapestries adorning the walls.
While the maid was busy with the candles, Rhiannon's nanny went to the bath and began adding oils and herbs to the water, making sure to get the perfect combination of fragrances. She knew that Rhiannon loved lavender, just like her mother did, so she added a few drops of lavender oil to the bathwater.
Once the bath was ready, the nanny helped Rhiannon undress and get into the tub, while the maid brought over a stool to sit on and a basin of fresh water to wash her with. The warm water was a welcomed relief to Rhiannon's tired muscles, and the fragrant lavender oil calmed her nerves, getting her ready for the day ahead.
While Rhiannon was soaking in the tub, her nanny went to the dressing table and began preparing her clothes for the day. She carefully chose a gown that would flatter Rhiannon's figure and complement her complexion. She laid it out on the bed along with a pair of matching slippers.
The maid then helped Rhiannon out of the tub and wrapped her in a soft towel, while the nanny fetched a brush and began to dry and style Rhiannon's hair. Once her hair was done, Rhiannon sat at the dressing table, while the nanny applied a light layer of makeup and perfume.
As Rhiannon stepped out of her chambers, dressed in a beautiful gown, she suddenly felt a wave of displeasure wash over her. She couldn't bear the thought of appearing before her evil uncle in a dress that made her look like a typical princess.
With a sudden burst of inspiration, Rhiannon declared that she wanted to appear like a demon, a force to be reckoned with. Her nanny and maid were greatly taken aback, but they quickly set to work, rummaging through Rhiannon's wardrobe for something more suitable to please the princess they had been serving for years.
After a few minutes of searching, they found a black gown with intricate lace details and a flowing skirt. The gown was dark and sinister, perfectly embodying the demon-like persona that Rhiannon desired.
Next, Rhiannon applied dark makeup, with smoky eyeshadow and bold, dark lipstick that contrasted starkly with her fair skin. She also added a few accessories, like a pair of silver earrings in the shape of bat wings, and a black leather choker with a silver pentagram charm.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, Rhiannon was taken aback by her appearance. She looked stunning, with her striking features enhanced by the dark makeup and the flowing black gown. But more than that, she exuded an aura of power and confidence, like a badass princess ready to take on anything that came her way.
With her new look complete, Rhiannon strode confidently towards the court, ready to face her uncle with newfound strength and determination. As she walked, the train of her dress trailed behind her like a cloud of darkness, leaving a trail of awe in her wake, while her old nanny and handmaid just snuck glances at each other and saying nothing as they followed their mistress.