Tessandra's eyes nervously darted. "My lady, I don't understand what you mean." Aurora stood up from the mattress and harshly grabbed the gown from the latter. "You know exactly what I mean Tess!"
She suddenly paused, her anger and annoyance freezing for a second before her brows rose in realisation. "Wait a moment.. don't tell me you knew all along? I'm supposed to be your friend for goodness sake Tessendra, why didn't you inform me that woman was planning my debute tonight?!"
Tessendra lowered her head, unable to respond and this made Aurora scoff loudly. "Now I fully understand why I was being exceptionally taken care of. The chef added more vegetables to my food saying it'll make me healthier, but that woman must have ordered them to do so-so that I could properly fit my gown for tonight!"
"And you.." She continued with a hurt expression. "You knew how badly I wanted to escape these walls, how I had yearned to finally experience what is called freedom, for goodness sake you knew that I wanted to run away before I was brought into society, yet you, my friend still kept-"
"I'm not your friend my lady, I'm just a mere maid, it seems we both have forgotten that." Tessendra cut in, her head still lowered.
Aurora paused but then arched a brow. "You don't want to be my friend all of a sudden because I confronted you about what you did? This is very childish." Tessendra shook her head. "No my lady that's not the reason, you have all the right to scold me about what I have done, I should have informed you earlier and I sincerely apologize for not doing so, but unfortunately we cannot be friends anymore, you didn't do anything wrong, I just-"
"Get out." Aurora suddenly spoke, her fists clenched by her sides, she faced Tessendra completely with eyes clogged with tears before shouting at the top of her voice. "I said get out of my chambers this instance!"
Tessendra slowly bowed respectfully before exiting, leaving the latter all alone in her bedroom. Aurora tiredly slumped to the bed, her eyes narrowing into space. "Why am I ever so unlucky?" Her voice came out as a whisper, her question referring to no one in particular.
A sudden gush of cold breeze blew past the velvet curtains and into the room pushing down the satin red dress her mother had given her to the floor. The gown landed just a metre from her feet and Aurora couldn't help but gaze at the clothe in utter disdain.
"She wants to hold a debute on my behalf and announce that I'm now ready for marriage? Well then, we shall see how that unfolds."
•••
Tessendra hastily walked through the large halls, her palm clasped over her mouth and tears running down her cheeks. She suddenly bumped into someone and upon seeing it was Lady Charlotte, she immediately wiped her tears and lowered her head respectfully. "My apologies, I didn't see you there my lady."
Lady Charlotte was a rather tall woman, her features were sharp yet soft at the same thing and her divine curves did nothing but compliment her tall figure even more and so she easily and greatly overshadowed Tessendra's presence. "Why would you when you're obviously blind." Lady Charlotte spat and the latter did nothing but meekly lower her head.
After a while of checking if there was anyone close by, Lady Charlotte took some steps towards Tessendra. "You did as I instructed?"
Tessendra nodded. "Yes my lady."
"Was the clothe sent to her bedchamber?"
Tessendra nodded. "Yes my lady."
Charlotte arched a brow. "And you made sure you destroyed that so called friendship you had with my daughter?"
Tessendra swallowed a hard lump before meekly nodding. "Yes.. my lady, I did."
Lady Charlotte nodded. "You made the right choice. Your only duty here is to serve my daughter not chit chat with her, she'll make friends with people of her rank at her debute tonight, is that clear?"
Tessendra was about to answer but a voice suddenly echoed from behind. "Is what clear?"
Lady Charlotte immediately smiled upon seeing Aurora. "I was just making sure that everything was prepared for the guests who may wish to visit after the party."
Aurora hummed and brushed past Tessendra, completely ignoring her existence. "And what of father and Alethea, won't they be also attending my debute?" She asked, sarcasm laced in her voice.
"Aurora.."
Aurora faced her back to her mother. "You sent my maid to deliver the red gown you wanted me to wear this evening, I'm no fool my lady, I know that wearing red to the first event of the year, which even so happens to be my debut, means that I'm now out for marriage."
Charlotte pursed her lip. "I do not consider you a fool my dear, I knew at first glance you'd understand what was happening but I had to do this Aurora, you should be out by now, you should even be married."
"I have no money to my name, nor do I work or even attend a school yet you say I'm old enough to marry at the age of 19."
"First of all, you're not penniless, I and your father's money belongs to you too and secondly, you're a woman Aurora, women should not work nor go to schoo–"
"You mean women do not have the privilege to work nor go to school?" Aurora cut in and sighed. "Let's forget all of this shall we? You want me as a pawn, well then here I am because it seems no matter how much I try to decide for myself, you always end up making it obviously clear that I have no rights to my life." She held back the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks at any moment before walking towards the door.
"You may think of me cruel now dear but you'll thank me for securing a good future for you later on." Charlotte spoke, her chin raised high.
Aurora could only roll her eyes before continuing towards the door but was soon suddenly stopped by her mother again. Charlotte's eyes suddenly narrowed suspiciously. "Hold on." Aurora faced her mother with an arched brow. "If you keep on talking we'll surely miss–"
"Why do you have such a large coat draped over your gown? Aurora, show me your dress this instance." Charlotte cut in.