In a blue ballet tutu, Angelica moved with elegance, replicating the flowing nature of water and air, while the stereo box played a classy melody that echoed throughout the mansion's assembly hall. Angelica's mother and tutor watched as she performed, both enjoying the performance that Angelica is displaying. Angelina made sure to capture the moment with her high quality camera.
"Oh how I can not wait to see the compilation! Smile Angelica!"
Angelina was obviously more happy than Angelica. She couldn't stop thinking about earlier. The breathtaking fight between her brothers flashed in and out of her mind like a vivid dream. Her right cheek moved up until…Thud!
"Angelica! I told you to watch out for the wall!"
Angelina exclaimed annoyingly, as she now stopped recording and turned the stereo off. The Tutor had raised concern for Angelica, seeing as though she had been moving non stop for a while now. The Tutor had first cleared her throat and placed both hands together to form a ball before addressing the Queen.
"Your Majesty, perhaps Angelica has gone weary-"
Angelina quickly interjected.
"Oh nonsense, I will not take any excuses. Angelica has a big performance coming up, I have to make sure all is in order."
The Tutor bowed her head and took a step back, realising that her voice mattered little. I mean, who would have been brave enough to tell the Queen that the performance would be in the following year? Not the tutor, that's for sure. Angelina pressed record once more now, calling out to her daughter.
"From the top now, I want a flawless video."
Angelica walked in the centre of the room with a huff.
"Mother, I do not want to continue this…"
Angelina raised her head from the camera's screen, pausing it and raising a brow at her daughter.
"Hm? Are you perhaps tired? Hmm, you may take a break. Maids! Go fetch my daughter a drink!"
The maids who stood at the assembly door had heard the commands of their Queen, and hurried to carry out their task in acquiring the princess's favourite drink. But Angelica shook her head saying.
"I do not want to do ballet anymore."
"Huh? Why not? Ballet is the best thing you can do as a princess. Oh I get it, you want to focus more on becoming a musician?"
Angelina said, confidently ignoring the true meaning of her daughter's words; already on her phone to order a new instrument for her daughter, scrolling down the long list of high quality tools.
"Maybe you should try a trumpet next, or even the drums? Oh no that's too manly. Oh!"
Angelina's eyes perked up at seeing a violin, she had realised that Angelica had yet to play one, it was always just the piano that she had been practicing, so a violin would give her a breath of fresh air. Angelina smiled, but Angelica frowned.
"NO! I do not want to do the instrument playing! I want to do what brothers were do-"
Angelica was harshly cut off by her mothers snap.
"Enough! I will not entertain such a foolish thought! A princess has no business getting involved in scruffles! You will sully your clothes and get injured!"
The room became deaf, the tutor knew she would be in for a nightmare had she spoken up, and Angelica couldn't think of anything to say in return now that she was being yelled at. So instead, she shrunk her head like a turtle, and sheepishly spoke.
"Apologies mother."
The silence was interrupted by the clicking of a maid's shoes, who had come in with a glass of fresh peach juice and a straw that looped twice upwards. The maid spoke panickingly with slight gasps of air in between.
"Your majesty! Forgive me for the delay, I-"
Sensing the tension in the room, it was hard for the maid to carry on talking, or rather she didn't want to potentially dig herself a grave. The Queen's unkind gaze pierced the maid's skull and shot a cold chill down her spine. She then proceeded to stretch her arm out to grab the glass and take a sip before dismissing the maid who quickly took her leave. Then she glanced over at Angelica's tutor and told her to leave also. Now she moved over to her daughter and picked her up with an arm, giving her the drink. Angelina only wanted the best for Angelica, though she was harsh, it was necessary in order to keep your child out of harm's way right? Especially in this world.
She stepped out of the assembly hall with Angelica in hand, walking down the corridor as electric candles lit the way. The carpet down their path was obviously a crimson red that glimmered from the candle lights, and the walls were decorated with white wall paper that had blue splashes on it. Over that, were a range of artistic and photographic paintings. One being the Chióni family: The mom, father, daughter and two sons, sitting with each other in formal wear, all smiling except Angelica who was only just a baby at the time. Angelica's mother now spoke to her, in a softer voice than before.
"Angelica honey, I understand you might have grown bored of doing the same things for so long but, you have to realise that these things are necessary to become a well mannered princess. The world was not made for a girl like you to desire a hard working dream. Oh well I suppose being royalty is hard work!"
Angelina laughed aloud.
"What I mean is, a job outside of Everlasting Chióni is pointless now. Though I would hardly call it a job."
Angelica looked up at her mother as she said this, wondering what 'job' she could have been referring to. Whatever she meant, it had only made Angelica curious. Reaching a twin front door, Angelina twisted the door knob, and pushed the door as a whip of the city's cold air hit her face. The first thing they noticed was the significant change in scenery. The front yard was drowned in white soft wool, and small white paint fell from the sky.
"Summers over already? Maybe we can take a trip near the equator for more sunshine."
Angelina had thought to herself.
"Do you remember what I told you about your father? How he died 6 years ago during the war? He decided to become a warrior, and perished for it"
Her mothers words made her think about her father, what kind of person was he? She could only make assumptions from old pictures that she has seen throughout the mansion. No one ever talked about him after all, it was quite rare for her mother to even bring him up, and she did want to know more about him. Grasping at the small interval, Angelica asked.
"What was father like?"
"Why do you want to know?"
Angelina Responded
"It has been a long time, I can hardly recall much."
She continued, not wanting to further talk about her deceased husband. However she had brought it on herself, and wanted to also stop her daughter from talking about being a fighter.
"Him and I were polar opposites I believe. Always had compassion on people, good or bad, and he was quite difficult too. I could never change his mind once he had decided on something."
Angelina took a deep breath and began to exhale slowly. She ran her fingers through her daughter's hair to loosen any knots that she may have had.
"His skin was thick, but his heart was gentle. A shame really. His kindness got him killed. All because he chose such a silly path for himself."
"War is not still happening, right mother?"
Angelica curiously asked.
"That is correct."
Her mother responded.
"So why can I not be like brothers? If we will not be fighting in a war, then why will you not allow me?"
Angelica knew what she said might have ticked off her mother, which it did, evident from how her mothers hand began to suddenly grip her hair while she was stroking it. But she just had to know why her mother was so against it.
"I believe it is time for bed."
Angelina stepped back into the mansion and closed the doors before beginning to walk towards Angelica's room. But Angelica continued to persist.
"But mother-"
The Queen snapped in.
"Enough! I do not want to hear another word!"