-8-
"It was not so imperative that you stick to the time frame Miriel. Of course, I am delighted you did."
Two weeks after their meeting, Miriel stood in the princess' room, waiting as the maids prepared the princess.
She stifled a yawn creeping up and straightened.
"I dared not extend my stay, your highness Elle. I might have never left if I dawdled."
After ten days of near utmost work, they barely settled enough for her Uncle Yorn to manage after she left. Two days of travel and rest later, her eyelids still drooped.
"Worry not, if that happened, I would have arrived to escort you myself."
'And bring a bunch of soldiers we cannot handle.' Miriel rolled her eyes.
The princess wore a light blue nightgown, sitting in front of the mirror as the maids finished her hair and makeup.
"What say we spend the day idling in the garden, or perhaps shopping in the city?"
"
You have matters to attend, your highness."
"Boo." She pursed her lips and frowned. Her maids glared at Miriel.
Miriel shrugged.
The previous day, the princess informed her that Miriel would be her chaperone.
Miriel resolved to be stern and austere in her task.
"We must hurry, your highness Elle."
"Very well." She clapped her hands."Let us choose my dress."
Her maids moved to the wardrobes and opened them all, displaying an array of vibrant colours.
"Your highness…"
"Now, Miriel, is it not important that the princess be impeccably attired? It is vital that we consider each dress fully."
Miriel sighed.
-
Miriel stood near a stone wall outside the castle hall with imposing doors behind her. Lamps were fit to the walls, tapestries and drawings were framed between lamps, while soldiers dispersed to their posts.
She leisurely crossed the hallway, attired in a light-brown dress, scanning the walls and stopped before one particular tapestry.
The wrap and weft of many differing colours colluded to form a scenic image of the capitol, nearly spanning the wall's height. In the image, a white sun covered the castle, its white light extended to the corners of the image. The once vibrant colours were now dull from washing.
She reached her hand out but retracted it. The tapestry was hung higher than she could reach. And it was faintly pungent.
Beside it hung the portrait of an aged man with white blooming hair, depicted with oil and framed with dark wood. The portrait was only half as large as the tapestry beside it.
There was an array of similar portraits after the first, which Miriel followed. There were depictions of men, women, youthful or old, even adolescent, each with white hair. After the last portrait was a painting as large as the tapestry before.
It depicted a man standing to the right of a woman seated on a chair, his hand on her shoulder. The man had a resplendent crown on his head, while his hand clenched the hilt of a sheathed sword, tip resting on the carpet.
The woman held a baby on her lap. She had a delicate crown on her head with white jewels adorning her neck. To her left stood a girl with her soles on the floor and heels on air.
The man and the baby both had white hair while the woman's hair was more grey than white. The girl's hair glowed a clear platinum blonde.
It was apparent that the girl was an Allesol in her younger years. A younger, more troublesome princess.
Miriel shivered.
She heard wood shriek and turned to the doors.
The princess left the hall and waved when she saw Miriel. She wore a blue dress, with a diamond pendant on her neck.
"Did you enjoy the artworks Miriel? You ought to join me in the hall, you might even like his majesty if you met."
Miriel hastened to the princess, her heels muffled on the carpet. She stood next to the princess and stared at the lengthy hall through the opening.
At the end, above a few steps, Miriel could vaguely make out the figure of someone sitting on a throne. Their head a white dot even from a distance.
"The other ladies will be waiting, your highness. We should not tarry."
"We shall go then." The princess nodded. "Lest they bemoan like oxen."
"Princess!"
The princess strode confidently, palm to her mouth as she giggled.
Miriel followed with a scowl.
-
There were ladies in elegant and colourful dresses seated by a table beneath a gazebo. The gazebo stood in a garden blooming with flowers and a clear scenic view to one side.
Most notable, of the table, was Princess Allesol, smiling as she chatted with the ladies.
The way they moved their hands, covered their laughs, sipped their tea, even to their slightest expressions and reactions; their etiquette was impeccable.
Miriel stared intently at the gathering, standing beside a pillar. Though she could not hear the chatter, her eyes captured their motions distinctly.
"Does your master have such meetings frequently?" She asked, turning to the girl beside her.
"How frequent is frequent, Lady Miriel?" The girl replied.
Miriel glanced at Niact, then turned to the group.
Niact wore a black dress reaching her ankles with an apron covering the front to near the end of her dress. Her black hair was tied in a bun.
"As frequent as everyday or once every few days." Miriel said.
"Then once every few days." Niact replied.
Miriel clenched her palm on the pillar and pressed her lips.
"Either I am mistaken, or it seems the princess's maids dislike me. Did I get that right, Niact?"
"Excellent observation, Madam." Niact's grey irises were glued to the gathering, while her face betrayed no emotion.
When she was alone, Miriel caught glimpses of them glaring at her often. Nonetheless, their conduct was flawless.
"And why might that be?"
Miriel was unaware of what she had done to earn their scorn. Was it really the bits with the princess being dramatic?
"I believe you would best answer that question yourself." Niact replied.
Miriel parted her lips, then covered her mouth with her palm.
"I would not be asking you if I could. And why must I? Is it something I must figure out myself?" She glared at Niact.
"No, Lady Miriel. It is because we cannot."
Miriel's eyes widened. Niact turned to her and met her gaze.
.
"Even we do not know, madam. The girls guess, but they only guess."
She turned to the gathering while Miriel stared at her.
"Vien says we are jealous of Miriel." Niact continued. "Jill says we are envious. We asked why but Vien just smiled and Jill just stomped her feet on the clothes harder."
Niact's face still betrayed no emotion. Her pale lips were straight and her eyes were focused.
"If you don't know why, at least rein yourselves in…" Miriel trailed off. She turned to the gathering and noticed the chatter had stopped.
The princess stood, followed by the ladies, and they all bowed.
They left one after another, until the princess alone remained.
"Let us accompany your master, before she tears up from solitude."
"After you, my lady."
They made for the gazebo.