When one sees something pretty one comes with an urge to own it, so it is natural that I want him
Time passed by the blink of the gods
Watching the child with expectant eyes.
After the maid was arrested to be later charged for her crimes and the couple from that night on till Tamiel turned three, had let the child sleep beside them. Of which they were countlessly and repeatedly been told that what they were doing is a serious disregard for noble etiquette.
"Sir-"
"No" Melkmiell had already attained enlightenment on just how to deal with his knights: Turning them straight down.
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"My lady"
Mildred looked at her head attendant silently with a smile.
"L-lady Mildred..." Lin hesitated, unsure how to tackle this issue "Is it not time for Lady Tamiel to have her own room? Surely you can now rest easy at your own home now that Tamiel's caretaker was imprisoned-"
The lady abruptly raised her hand to silence her, looking at her attendant with a steel gaze.
"And where do you think my dear daughter was poisoned?"
The poor woman stood there being 'slightly' harassed by her lady's undying motherly love, or stubbornness.
The devoted mother had also found her solution: Talking off their ear till they go silent.
With the couple being this adamant the retainers could only quiet the mouths not to speak of what was going on in the family. Although they do spot a mocking or pitying gaze from occasions, the tongues had already waggled.
With the help of their retainers and their stubbornness, they were able to have.
Tamiel slept beside them until she was three without brewing strange rumors as do people in noble society.
Though none shall be spoken of the battle that commenced when the servants and retainers had tried and valiantly succeed to take away Tamiel from the overprotective parents. Some scars were earned that day, sacrifices had been spent.
But there had been a reason as to why they were given the leeway to do so.
The poison that was given to Tamiel was a rare poison from another country. The poison takes the person's mana and make it leak out of their skin, causing the person to get weaker as their body excretes more as time passes. Till the victim finally die of regression, ending up in dust as the mana holding their entire being gone.
By sleeping with her parents whom have high levels of mana she was slowly able to recover by constantly being fed mana from day to night. Only being taken care of her needs by Mildred's head attendant, who had the highest mana capacity other than Mildred and Melkmiell.
As Tamiel's health recover the family rejoice as she progress normally.
But outside the walls the other families was ready to give their condolences, giving gifts of grief in a mind of ignorance. The recovery was kept quiet so Melkmiell could be given less overtime and so Mildred would be excused by invitations and socializing.
It was then her father stuck to his daughter almost obsessively. Whenever he is home, Tamiel will be sitting on his lap. When he works at his desk at home Tamiel sits beside him and quietly watches him in her highchair. Fiddling with a paperweight, a pen, or opening and closing a book, she always watches Melkmiell as if fascinated everytime.
When they had finally proclaimed that Tamiel had indeed recovered she was now six years old, and so they had thrown a party in celebration.
The garden of their manor was filled to the brim with flowers, ready to welcome spring with the abundance of life. Walkways were covered in flower petals with their vibrant colors as if to entice. Tents for the guest and food were lined with roses, emitting their delicate smells. It was the quiet before the storm, the doors were open yet the family was waiting for one more person.
Melkmiell stood there in light clothing. A crisp clean polo and a light green vest embroidered with gold thread to depict leaves, pairing it nicely with his black pants. A small array of tiny flowers tucked in his breast pocket to be befitting the theme.
Mildred was all tulle and wind. Her dress a light pink was with a tight bodice yet a skirt that seemingly flows by the slightest of breeze. Her wide sleeves were similar with her skirts, ruffles and lace hid her arms from view. Silver embroidery shone in the silhouettes of flowers, only when they've catch the light did they show. Hair bundled up in braids to form a bun, encircling it was small flowers in the lightest shade of pinks.
The other children of the family was also there to celebrate the health of their younges.
Corie Luxz Milishriil stood proud with a wide smile, similarly dressed lightly like his father. A moss green polo adorned with a leaf brooch at the collars, shining gold against the soft beige of his vest. As similarly embroidered in a shade lighter of the color of his vest to paint the picture of lilies. His long green hair tied carelessly in a bun. His wild and fierce looks along with his gold eyes, hair and tan, he was the splitting image of his father.
Sianne Gael Milishriil stood there talking with a butler to make double checks, his attention to detail that was inherited from his mother as was the stern and sharp face.
His light golden eyes were stern yet warm with ease. His only aspect that was unruly was his wavy long hair, his scalp gelled into submission but his ponytail was puffed and wild as if alive. He was the only one with a coat, his suit a stark white with the only color would be the light yellow polo. Embroidery lined the cuffs and edges as if gilding it in gold.
Sianne looked at his father "Is it really wise to throw a party? Tamiel might have it difficult to talk with her health restricting her noble education"
"Yes" Corie agreed to his little brother "The pride of our family may be too heavy for a female child with the age of six to manage" His booming voice loud even when he tried to be quiet.
Sianne could only internally roll his eyes
"Don't be sexist, you idiot. The queen already stated the new era of equality, don't go making remarks that would challenge the queens own word" Yet he only stayed silent, his brother's views won't easily change by being said so.
"Do not worry" But his mother was the one to answer and to defend the honor of the only daughter "My daughter is a quick learner and with an excellent memory. Truly she is blessed by Gildistien"
"Thank you mother" A childish voice echoed from up the stairs, drawing the gaze of the the family. Tamiel stood there on top of the stairs with a cool and blank face.
Her wavy black hair that was long enough to reach her hips, hung plainly without decorations. Dark gold eyes watch with silence, in her eyes she could see colors in people. The soft yellow of joy from her mother. The bright orange of boisterous pride from her eldest brother that dominated the other swirling colors. And the light blue calm in her other brother, tinging only at the edges that was mostly green hues. Melkmiell was covered in multiple colors, all equally on display. Colors of pride, fear, anxiety, and joy.
Tamiel could only smile at her father as he climbed the stairs to escort her down. And him sharing back a knowing smile "I will do well not to disappoint you, father"
"I will never be disappointed with you as long as you are my daughter" When her father held her tiny hand the paleness of her skin looked radiant against his tan and her black dress.
A black dress not befitting such a colorful and bright party. The fabric hugging her arms and her tiny waist, the black plaid skirt laid down to drag looking like a black waterfall. The only other color besides black was gold. Unlike her family who wore of flowers and leaves, her's was of bare trees of winter with birds perched with glaring and watchful eyes.
As like the most of the family who was predominantly knights that preferred practicality, they had all mostly forgotten of frills and long puffy sleeves that ordinarily they would be required to have because of their status. And so they had switched to intricate embroidery so they would not be condemned by society. The quality of their clothing, all though you would need to be face to face to truly appreciate the full beauty of it, was enough to let them get away from all the trends.
"Forgive me for the delay" Tamiel said as her father carefully guided her down, the faces of her family clearing away the blur as she got closer.
Sianne was looking out in the distance "All is fine, they haven't arrived yet. But what did you forget to have you hurry up at this moment?"
"A mana core" She had said plainly, squinting her eyes to see further up in the distance "I'm a tad nervous" the last part was uttered quietly, yet all had heard.
"Thank you, father" Reaching down the steps did when the first guests near enough to hear it's carriage.
They walk in silence to meet their first guest, though it was awkward it was so Tamiel could arrange her thoughts.
She smiled at the understanding of her family. The once loud family, gave her moments of silence when she needed to calm herself. Understanding that her mind worked differently, expressed differently, loved differently.
"Mother, Brothers," They all look to her "Father..." She took a deep breath to steady herself "I am proud to be a part of this family, and today I will show this"
They all gave their brightest smile, though the brothers looked smug for some reason unknown to her "I'm going to show those bastards that the Milishriil family is still going strong" they had both thought.
The whispers and the pitying gaze had obviously struck both the brothers pride.
With a gentle and noble smile the Milishriil family face the start of the spring party.
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Tamiel spoke with guest whilst her hand that was tucked under the pocket of her skirt, fiddles with a mana core. A rare type of stone that is a condensed large amounts of mana, holding about enough power to blast her entire manor to ruins. Drawing power to her body from the mana core, her pulse and breath was steady and calm.
"... indeed, I will give your complements to our gardeners. They had tirelessly worked to bring the very imagine of spring to life"
A crowd of adults surrounded her, skirts and pants of pale hues piled on the lady in black.
"You have such an interesting dress. Whoever tailored it?"
"Such glossy hair, would you give me your routine?"
"You're quite a studious one, aren't you?"
"Do you have an interest in botany, Lady Tamiel?"
"Is your health well for this heat?"
"You have a gorgeous home, Lady Tamiel"
"Does being a scholar peak your interest?"
Tamiel expertly answered and parried back her own questions against the intimidating adults. Only when did the herd thin out did she was able to escape to the sidelines, using the excuse of her health to remove herself.
Tamiel sighed as quiet as the rustle of the wallflowers behind her "Do you not like the crowds, Lady Sariel?"
Sariel whipped her head to fast that it made her dizzy. Cupping her hands against her mouth she froze up, indecisive of what to say.
A girl in a pink dress stood there with shaking knees. Her mind had been previously been in the clouds, counting seconds till she could go back to the tables where the chocolate was served without acting unladylike.
Tamiel paused to think. Acting infront of adults are easy as they expect you to act like them unless you want to be treated like a child, however a child can be impulsive and have a quiet erratic behavior pattern unlike adults.
"Ah, ah, ah. Oh, no it's Lady Tamiel. Ah! Brother where are you? Help me!!" Sariel could only wish the return of her brother to come and save her, forgetting the rules of etiquette her mother had instilled in her.
Tamiel forced a soft smile on her lips and fully faced Sariel "The most important connections right now are connections from the same age group as me. Adults won't do things for a child or someone younger than them without a reason, meanwhile a child as the same age as me may do things as they tend not to think too deeply. There is also a prospect of nurturing a deeper bond that I can use and depend on when I grow older"
First she practiced the tactics her mother had instilled in her on noble socializing and networking "Lady Sariel, do you take a liking to the party? My mother and I are quite fond of flowers, so we were so delighted to have this theme. And it had come spectacularly, if I may say" Show your own opinions so the other party will offer them in return, making them invest in a conversation.
"Ah, y-yes. Lady Tamiel" She says stuttering and lowering her head, then pales as she realized her mistake "Forgive for my imutence, I mean iminence, ah, um, my mistake" Sariel squeaked pitifully.
The other children that was hesitating on approaching Tamiel, had watched the poor girl with snickers and whispered jabs.
Tamiel notices them from the corner of her eyes when she heard one of them laughed out loud, her gaze zeroed back to Sariel.
One of the things Tamiel was most praised on was her mature mind, many praised her intelligence and simply thank the gods.
But Tamiel oddly was the most suspicious of herself. How can a child have a such a control of her own emotions? How can she process more without it being overwhelming? How can a person so young be so cunning?
Gods can only laugh at her questions.
To Tamiel the sky always looked at her mockingly, as if she could see the shaking shoulders of the gods as they laugh at her ignorance, or that she simply hates the sun.
Tamiel made her smile more softer, waiting for Sariel to speak.
Sariel bowed and curtsied with a ungraceful bob of her head "My name is Sariel Cael, daughter of Marquess Sil Cael and Marchioness Vena Cael. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Tamiel" Sariel pat herself on the back for going through the very first time she introduce herself without anyone guiding her to "I did it mother!"
Tamiel curtsied in a more elegant way to purposefully attract it to Sariel's attention.
One of the other rule she was taught was that as a duke's daughter and daughter of one of the greatest general, she will be in the majority of the parties she will attend will have the highest status other than the royal family. And as befitting of that status Tamiel has to act like it and make sure not to let anyone forget or undermine her, especially in socialization "You are to be superior in every way. You must lead and act as a high ranking noble should" Words her mother had always hammered into her.
Tamiel looked at Sariel in the eye, her smile not faltering with it's mock of softness "And I am Tamiel Estelle Milishriil, the daughter of the Milishriil family. Plaleased to be an acquaintance, Lady Sariel"
Sariel then forgot what to say next "Ah, umm, yes"
"Stupid, stupid, stupid" her panic was in clear view to Tamiel.
Tamiel regarded the wobbly, sickly yellow surrounding Sariel quietly. This feeling is something Tamiel rarely felt, but to her it is one of the most hideous feelings of all.
"Are you enjoying yourself? Our garden is vast, have you seen it all?" Tamiel gestured to a servant holding her umbrella.
"No I have not, lady Tamiel. I do not fare well in physical exercise" Sariel cringed at her own words. She is not the one who should say that but Tamiel, as the whole reason for this party was to celebrate her recovery and good health.
Talking before the apology was out of Sariel's mouth, as she already grew tired of talking to her "Come let me escort you around. I'll let you borrow one of my parasol so we can mosy about"
"Mosy?" Sariel pondered on the unfamiliar word.
Tamiel opens her black parasol, giving Sariel the pale pink one, one that she hates the most for it's color.
"Thank you" Sariel took the parasol and together they walk the gardens. Passing people Tamiel nodded and smiled at the guest as Sariel fumbled a moment later.
Sariel was too embarrassed from stumbling on a simple greeting to anyone who passes by, the explanation Tamiel gave about the garden was met with quiet agreement as was the grandeur of the gardens was ignored by Sariel's sinking in her self loathing. And it was just as Tamiel had planned. Lower their self-esteem, make them indepted to you, then finally take them into your circle to control them.
Manipulation was what the books called it. Tamiel was fascinated by it, she was fascinated by the human heart, the hierarchy that rules in the crowd, and the invisible control of another person.
To Tamiel manipulation was as easy as breathing. It is convenient, it is simply too easy to pass. Most people are tools to use to Tamiel "So come dance for me, Lady Sariel"
Tamiel looks at Sariel, her disappointment was only expressed internally "Such a shame to be blessed with beauty but not a mind to use it"
And it was because Sariel was beautiful. Sariel had big hazelnut eyes, they were expressive and ever so pure. Long reddish brown hair with soft curls, the same shade as a redwood tree. Her face was alight with freckles, Tamiel could see some on her neck and guess that those freckles extended to the other parts of her body. She looked the very picture of innocence and purity with her puffy pale pink dress and the pink ribbons braided into her hair. Tamiel could only chimed once again in her mind "Such a shame"
Tamiel finally spot the other children that was previously rallied back to their parents after they saw how Sariel acted, using her as a example to not to be. With the other children she can do the next step of her plan.
Tamiel continued talking to Sariel until they spoke first. There were three of them, all from different families.
"Greetings, Lady Tamiel and Lady Sariel" All had curtsied and bowed to each other. This is the start of the true fight in socializing, and Tamiel's blood simply boiled with excitement.
"My name is Manuel Gil Cadra, first son of Duke Palid Cadra and Fiana Cadra" A boy with straight orange hair and dark green eyes spoke first, he strode confidently in front of her with a sightly arrogant smile.
"I'll have to stifle that" Tamiel made a reminder in her head. The yellow pride was almost neon, enveloping the boy.
"How I am delighted to finally meet you, Lady Tamiel! I am Hilda Baen, the first daughter of Marquess Mest Roy Baen and Gilda Baen. I can't wait for us to be friends!" Next was a dainty looking girl with light blue hair in a bob with seafoam eyes "Loud, over friendly, and hilariously fake. She'll be annoying to deal with" A sigh could only be heard in the internals of her mind. She was surrounded in gray, her colors ever so changing like a chameleon.
Then finally a boy with purple curly hair strode up with a bouncy gait, his orange eyes looked sleepy and bored like a cat "Riss Camei Werin, Lady Tamiel. Son of Marquess Soy Werin"
"Stubborn and unbending, though that problem will be solved by our status-"
There was red arrogance, green pride, and pink curiosity. Tamiel was curious of the pink but ignored that detail.
A shy voice sounding like tinkling bells interrupted Tamiel's train of thought.
"Go-good morning, I am-"
"Hah?" Manuel stepped foward to Sariel, interrupting her introduction with a voice carrying a twisted amusement.
Sariel froze like a mouse trapped under a tiger's gaze.
"Why are you introducing yourself first? The one with the highest status introduces first then the others lower in succession" Manuel had explained as if reciting from a book he had known well.
Hilda opened her blue fan to cover her mocking smile, but her eyes was enough that the fan had failed it's purpose "Ha! She doesn't even know that. I suppose what can we expect from a family of who has a successor so frail and sickly" Her tone was entirely different from when she had first spoken.
"Wasn't his name Loques?" Riss spoke almost lazily "I hear he is quite a socialist"
Hilda laughed while Manuel scoffed "As if he could do anything else but that. A family of knights having a head as a scholar"
Hilda laughed again, though it was obviously fake.
Tamiel had decided that she hates Hilda. From how she almost lather sweet words to you to get friendly then sting you when she realizes that you were lower than her. The way she keeps going close to both of them and laugh at all of their comments Tamiel had deduced that she was playing the field for a fiance. She is the most troublesome kind of 'friend'. Plays the soft girl act and hides behind boys to protect her.
Tamiel would applaud her for having such a solid manipulation tactic if it weren't her laugh and actions were hilariously fake.
Meanwhile Sariel was tearing up hearing people insult her brother, her hands grasp the parasol and her skirt tight.
Tamiel watches her, maintaining neutral till he comes. Her face was fastened with a slightly worried face but still standing in place .
"D-don't talk about m-my brother like that!" Sariel stuttered out of rage and fear.
"Pardon?" Riss towered over Sariel, his eyes still lazy but the glint in his eyes looked positively alive with arrogance and irritation "Who are you to talk to us like that?"
Sariel, bravely enough for Tamiel to note, had answered back "And h-how YOU dare speak of my brother that way!" Sariel from her sway of her emotions had shrieked the last word out, making someone snap along with their fan.
Hilda had already raised her fan to swing at Sariel, the fan a blue blur to Sariel's cheek.
Then Tamiel finaly saw him "The heroes always arrive late"
Tamiel pushed away Riss and had caught the fan with her other hand, her black parasol dropping to the floor to expose her skin.
In the sunlight you could see on her skin was a faint fog with the colors of an opal, shimmering like starlight dust.
"Stop at once" She said with a play of valiance.
"Sariel!" He was finally here. Hugging his little sister who was crying against his white ruffled shirt, the shaking of the pink parasol was the teller of that fact.
"Talk to my sister again, and I assure you will regret it" He looked menacingly to them, the rumors Tamiel heard of him being especially protective to Sariel was true.
"Go. Your presence is distasteful" Tamiel had finally said to make them go with bowed heads.
Loques still followed them till they were out of sight with his glare, while Tamiel assessed him from his toes to the tips of his hair.
Loques Cael, the eldest son and heir of a Marquess family of knights. His pale skin was an indication of his fragile condition as was said in the rumors. But what the rumors failed to mention was how he was exquisitely gorgeous .
Long silver curly hair that was tied in a ponytail, his face was framed by tight curls
His eyes were different colors, the right eye a pale green swirling with gold, the left a baby blue. Tamiel had looked and glanced at everyone that had visited, and he was the most beautiful one of them all.
Loques was covered in rainbows, covered in a veil with yellow pride.
"A liar. A good one at that"
Tamiel had discovered that good liars have a veil on their auras. She sees this when someone lies to her, but right now Loques' veil was constant and steady, marking of his skill of lying.
When they were out of sight Loques had sighed and then finally noticed Tamiel.
"Forgive me and my unsightly behavior, Lady Tamiel" He bowed with easy elegance, his little sister still wrapped around his waist.
"No, it is my fault for letting it go that far, Lord Loques" Tamiel said with a shake of her head.
By mentioning his name he realizes something "Ah"
"My name is Loques Ca-"
"No, no. There is no need. I could see that you are Sariel's brother"
His smile was warm but was clearly not genuine "Yes, I am. I give you my thanks for standing up for my sister. Come and say thank you, Sariel" He nudged her to look at Tamiel.
Tamiel was picking up her parasol when Sariel finally spoke "Thank you" she muffled against her brothers chest.
Tamiel smiled softly yet inside she was cackling. There was one reason, and one reason only for Tamiel approach Sariel out of all of the children, and it was because of her brother.
Loques Cael, a sickly heir to a family of knights. Smart and studious, socializes enough that he could potentially already have a network. He is older than Tamiel by 3 years but that was silenced and it was disguised that he was still 6 because he grew smaller than most, but now by his fake age he is taller than most of the kids. This fact was only known by Tamiel and her family because Tamiel's mother was there when his mother's water broke, witnessing and helping his birth to see his unique eyes. After this event the family Milishriil and Cael were close but my only by the head women of the families.
With Loques Tamiel can absorb his family into the service of hers. With reports of Mildred's attendant that states that there is quite a potential for this boy to rise up the ranks despite his frail body.
Tamiel had loosely held her parasol in a tilt, enough for her gentle smile to be exposed to the sun.
To Loques Tamiel looked positivity glorious, but her black dress and her calculating eyes were enough for him to realize that she was not an ordinary girl. Her mystery and strange kindness was making a stir in his mind.
"...hank you"
While both was lost in their heads, Sariel finally stopped crying.
"Thank you" This time it was heard by them both.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, Lady Tamiel" Sariel jumped to her and clasped Tamiel's hand, looking like she was about to cry again.
Tamiel smiled "Worry not, Lady Sariel. It is but the bare minimum for a friend"
That had unleashed the dam in Sariel's eyes.
Behind those eyes of the heir held something that couldn't be read, but he continued to act as a loving brother.
"Any friend of my sister is a friend of mine, if I am to impose" Loques smiled back at Tamiel, not noticing her smile just went a tad breaking her mask of friendly innocence.
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Meanwhile Melkmiell was receiving his head attendant's report on his track on Tamiel.
Melkmiell laughed when his attendant told of Tamiel defending a bullied girl "That's my girl. Valiant and noble"
"Indeed" His head attendant, Cavil nodded in agreement, entirely misjudged of what he had witness.
"Tamiel was always a bit of a quiet one, so I was quite worried if she could ever make friends" Clapping Cavil on his shoulder heavily with an overjoyed smile "But now my worries rest. Tamiel has more than enough fire to burn a town down, she can handle socializing"
Melkmiell almost laughs from joy and raises his glass of wine "To my daughter's first friends!"
Both of them raised a glass and drunk, a man could not be more wrong and right in the worst way possible in the entire history of humanity than these two.