Aurora's brows twitched, shrills and screams of agony piercing its way through her ear, not able to withstand it anymore she kicked off the quilt, got down from the mattress before stomping towards the window just to be met with a horrific sight.
Her hand immediately flew to her mouth and at that moment, she slowly felt tears trickle their way down her cheeks. Infront of her were humans, same as her but clothed in dirty rags with chains dug deep into their flesh. They were up to seven of them and all were covered in blood and then again she heard the scream that had let her do nothing but twist and turn in her sleep, a soldier had just used a rope studded with razor sharp spikes known as the iron maiden's kiss against a man's back.
And this couldn't help but make Aurora wonder what wrong these people must have done to be tortured with such a tool. Being whipped once more, the prisoner's scream echoed loud and Aurora's eyes suddenly met with his. The air stilled for a moment and all Aurora could envision were a pair of dark orbs gazing back at her emotionless and she was instantly stunned. This man was obviously in pain but his face showed nothing of the sort, aside from his screams and clothes covered in blood, you'd never imagine he was the one being whipped.
Unfortunately, with another strong hit from one of the soldiers, the man fell to his knees but never once took his gaze off Aurora until he was finally dragged away with the rest.
"Such a shameless man, he's being punished for his wrong doings yet still has the guts to lust over our lady!" Tessandra's voice suddenly rang from the right, immediately frightening Aurora.
"Oh my goodness!" She placed her hand over her heart and after calming down immediately pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why did you scream so loud Tess? And when did you even enter my bedchamber?"
An apologetic look immediately flooded Tess's face. "I sincerely apologize my lady, it was no intention of mine to frighten you, I just wasn't quite pleased with the fact a peasant dared look at you in such a manner.. and I entered your chamber a while back, I saw you gazing out the window and decided to take a look."
Aurora chuckled before settling down at the edge of the mattress. "You worry much Tess, his gaze is rather the opposite of what you just said.." She furrowed her brows. "They seemed rather.. emotionless, for all we know he may not have even taken note of my presence."
Tess waved her hand in the air before moving on to select a gown from the wardrobe. "Who is he not to notice your presence? You're the most beautiful lady in the whole of Everia."
Aurora arched her brow. "Ashwood is understandable, Everia? Now you flatter me way too much."
"Aha! This will be perfect!" Tess suddenly brought out a beautiful indigo dress and excitedly showed it to Aurora with a wide smile. "What do you think my lady?"
Aurora smiled. "It's nice."
Tess nodded, proud she had chosen something up to her lady's liking. "Since you prefer to freshen up on your own, I'll take my leave now." Aurora hummed but suddenly called the latter back. "Tess?"
"Yes my lady?"
"He's not a peasant, none of them are. He may be of a lower class, but we're all humans, aren't we?"
Tess respectfully bowed. "Yes my lady, my apologies, I'll mind my words from now on." Aurora smiled and the latter finally exited. Tess had been appointed to be her personal maid when she was fifteen and since then, they've been ever so close. Tess was the only person who made her feel that you could actually have a true friend who isn't with you because you're the dutch's daughter and she appreciated that.
A little nauseous from the putrid smell of blood still lingering in the air, Aurora quickly made her way towards the bathing area and dipped herself into the warm water, she stayed still for a while, her eyes closed and somehow.. she couldn't get her mind off the man she had met eyes with earlier, there was just something about him.. she wondered what he must had done to get himself punished in such manner.
Was he a thief? A murderer? Or perhaps a r#pist?
Upon these wonders, an intrusive thought suddenly popped it's way into her head and she couldn't help but immediately sit upright. "Visit the dungeon?"
"Who's paying the dungeon a visit?"
"My lady." Aurora quickly wrapped her arms around her burst before lowering her head respectfully. Charlotte smiled and settled down on a stool beside the tub. "We're not in public Aurora, there's no need to address your own mother so formally. So who's paying the dungeon a visit?"
Aurora shook her head. "No one, you must have heard wrong my la–mother."
"Maybe I did. Anyways, I brought you your garmets to change into after you finish with your bath, I want to dress you up personally." Charlotte smiled. "There was no need for that, Tess already brought me–" Aurora's gaze suddenly dropped to the dress in Charlotte's laps and a frown appeared between her brows. "You know we plan on attending a ball tonight mother? The first ball of the year?"
"Yes dear. I know that."
"If I may ask, why then did you pick a red outfit? Wearing a red dress to the first ball of the year only means.." She trailed off, realisation hitting her. She gazed up at her mother with tears clogging her eyes. "Mother.."
How could she..
Charlotte pouted her lips and slowly wiped away Aurora's tears. "You dare shed meaningless tears and make your pretty eyes turn red dear? You should be over the moon." Aurora immediately pulled her face out of her mother's reach. "Over the moon that you plan on making me a pawn just like you're doing with Alethea? Oh I'm definitely over the moon!"
"Do not raise your voice at me child!" Charlotte arouse from the stool, her demeanour suddenly changing. "I am your mother and you'll do as I say, now hurry up and get dressed, the carriage is awaiting us outside."
Clenching her fist underneath the water, she replied. "Yes, my lady." Charlotte's gaze swept over her before she exited without a word. Aurora's shoulders immediately dropped and she felt like her whole world would soon too, she knew that this day would come, but she didn't except it to arrive so soon and that without any warning.
Arriving at her bedchamber, a knock soon followed suite and Tess walked into the room with the same gown Charlotte had brought for Aurora to slip into. Fixating an angry stare on the gown, Aurora tightly clenched her fist. "Why wasn't I informed that lady Charlotte planned on showcasing me off as a chunk of meat to those hungry lions tonight?"