Sun walked out of the doctors office feeling completely violated. The taking of her blood hadn't been so bad, actually. In comparison to one particular test, none of the others seemed that bad. It was the damn pelvic exam. She wasn't an idiot; she knew what that was for. Had her oh so illustrious brother ordered that test? Did he not know it couldn't even be one hundred percent accurate? She had thought virginity testing was a thing of the past. Apparently not among nobles. And she resented the implication that she was a whore. Or that any of her worth was tied into her virginity.
She still had some time before her next class, so she figured this would be a good time to look into finding a legal practitioner to free her from her guardianship. What Kalys was doing - had already done - had to be against some kind of law.
She tracked down Nick and the pair headed into town. They had to ask random people on the street for someone who could help, but eventually she found herself sitting in a barrister's office filling out some forms while Nick waited outside. The man was very pleasant and helpful. Even offering to help her out for free. She thought she was very fortunate indeed.
After an hour or so with him, she headed back to Perdition with a spring in her step. Nick noticed the happiness she was radiating. She really didn't want to be apart of this family. They met up with Zen for lunch and told him all about it.
As they walked through the halls of Perdition, she noticed other people looking at her differently than usual. It had taken her a long time to become just another student that no one gave a shit about. She didn't like losing that progress. What she'd done to end up in Perdition had somehow gotten out—not the entirety, but enough to make gossip run rampant. Inaccurate gossip.
The fear in their eyes had made a bit of a comeback, the disdain as well. She preferred the anonymity.
The other students were giving the trio a wide berth. Had they heard about her killing during her demonstration? Surely not; only the boys knew, and they wouldn't have told anyone else. Neither would anyone who was there.
Was it her earring? The supposed symbol of her status? She had seen how people did the same for Kalys this morning. Was this another downside to being a noble bastard? She couldn't wait until she was free. She was actually quite excited about it. To not have anyone able to lord their power over her the way they had.
However, it was short lived, and it all came crashing down around her as soon as she walked into the estate that evening. Kalys was standing at the entrance of the manor. Though his face remained impassive, she could tell there was something off about him. There was something in the energy he was putting out.
"There is a dinner tonight with the elders of the clan. They wish to meet you. Your handmaid is waiting to dress you appropriately. I have also taken the liberty of changing your name. Officially, you are now Sun Illusen."
He handed her a piece of paper he pulled from his Revenant coat. Confirmation of the change.
"You changed my name!? Don't you need permission for that?"
"No," he said simply. "Now, to other matters."
He held up a few sheets of paper; it only took a second for her to realise what they were. The 'offness' she had sensed was his suppressed fury. She was actually a little afraid. She didn't know this man; she didn't know what he was capable of. And if he decided to kill her she highly doubted anyone would hold him accountable. How had he gotten ahold of those forms? She had only filled them out today!
"There is not a barrister in the world who would do this for you. No one would dare," he told her, his voice colder than she was sure was the norm. "You are apart of this clan now. You will conduct yourself accordingly. You should consider yourself lucky-"
"Lucky!?" She hissed. "You hurt my family; you dumped me in this place with no thought for my feelings on the subject. You're taking what little freedoms Perdition allowed me, and now you've taken my name. And you forced me to go through a degrading violation at that doctors appointment this morning. If you wanted to know whether or not I was a virgin, you could have just asked me, not have some doctor shove their fingers and tools into me, you arse."
She was visibly shaking with rage now. Her hope was extinguished.
Kalys could not believe his ears. No one had dared call him an arse to his face before. For a brief second he wasn't sure what to do; he wanted to slap her, but he would never raise his hand to a woman outside of training or battle.
"My name is Sunshine Farron; my family gave me that name, it's a name I share with them, and I am keeping it," she said, her words dripping venom. How dare he change her name? Was he trying to strip her of all that she was? And she wasn't much to begin with.
"I have allowed you to keep Sun, and you are an Illusen, not a Farron. I suggest you get used to it." He turned away from her to make his way down the hall. "Your handmaid is waiting for you in your room."
This time she couldn't hold back her tears as she turned away from him and stormed off. It was a complete miracle she was able to find her room given her turmoil and blurred vision. She charged in, slamming the sliding door shut and giving Mika a fright.
"My lady, is everything all right?" She asked as she rushed to the girl.
"Why is he doing this to me?" Sun asked her.
"Who?"
"Kalys fucking Illusen."
"What has he done?" Mika took her hand and led her to the bed and sat her down.
She looked unsure. "Anything I say to you, you don't repeat it to him, do you?"
Mika looked a bit surprised at this. "Not unless I thought you intended harm to him or yourself. But short of anything life-threatening, then no, anything you tell me stays with me."
"I do want to kill him," she said.
Mika just gave her a sympathetic smile as she brushed some hair out of Sun's eyes and hooked it behind her ear. The gesture was comforting, almost motherly.
"You're only saying that because you're angry. Now what has he done to upset you so?"
She poured out the whole story; instead of getting angrier as she had when talking it over with Zen and Nick, she became more depressed because now she knew she had lost. This man was too powerful, in every aspect. The barrister must have gone straight to him and ratted her out. What a bastard.
"Why does he even bother? I don't want to be here; he doesn't want me here, and I'm pretty sure the rest of his family aren't going to want me here either. Why can't he just leave me alone?"
Mika rubbed her back soothingly. "You are his sister. Nobles can take blood bonds very seriously. And since he decided not to make you disappear, being of noble blood you have a claim to the wealth of the Winter Clan. And anything you do, regardless of whether or not he acknowledges you, is going to reflect on him. This is going to sound harsh, but you are a loose end that needs to be tied."
That really did sound harsh.
"You're terrible at comforting people," she said, laughing a little through her tears.
"At least I got a smile out of you. Sadness doesn't suit you, Sunny. Now, dry those eyes, and let's get you ready for this dinner. This is a very important one. The rest of the clan sees you as just a savage bastard from the slums. And they think your brother is a fool for believing otherwise. We need to show them who you are."
"Who I am, or who Kalys expects me to be?" It wasn't really a question.
Mika shot her a look, conceding the point. "I guess you need to choose whether you want to be the savage bastard from the slums or someone worthy of being an heiress of the Winter clan."
"I choose slum bastard," she replied flatly, making Mika laugh lightly as she got started, shoving a dress and shoes into her hands and telling her to get dressed.
After that, she did her hair and applied make-up—nothing heavy; she had already figured Sun was the kind of person who wouldn't feel comfortable in it. She outlined her eyes with black and gave a light amount of dark blue shadow. For her lips, a thin layer of gloss. Her cheeks were already naturally rosy, and her skin was fine; no amount of make-up would hide the small scars on her chin and eyebrow, so she didn't bother with any kind of foundation. Mika stood her up and did a final examination of the girl.
"There," she smiled. "You look beautiful. No one can say you don't belong here."
"I'm sure that won't stop them," Sun muttered.
"Maybe not. But that is no excuse not to try and make a good impression. Come, I'll walk you to the dining room used for guests."
"Thanks, Mika. I don't suppose you could stay with me during the dinner? Moral support?"
Mika gave her a smile. "Sorry, Sunny."
"Yeah, I didn't think so."
"Now, mind your speech. And as Lord Illusens sister and next in line, you will be seated on his right. You will be the second-highest ranking person in the room. On his left will be your grandfather, Jinn. You may be higher in rank, but he is a very important and well respected man. Be courteous and polite with him at all times; he is not a man you want to disrespect."
Sun nodded, suddenly feeling a lot more nervous than she had a minute ago. Mika stopped as they saw Kalys standing in the hallway, hands clasped behind his back, head down, and eyes closed as if in deep thought. He really was ridiculously attractive. It was a little unfair if she were honest.
"That is the dining room," Mika whispered to her. "Good luck."
"Thanks. Goodnight, Mika."
Mika gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before disappearing back the way they had come. Sun took a deep breath and glided towards her brother. He opened his eyes, his gaze connecting with hers.
"Good evening. I apologise if I have made you wait." Apologising to him felt a bit like chewing glass.
"You haven't," he said, scrutinising her. "You look lovely."
It was delivered tonelessly and sounded more like an obligatory compliment than anything with any real meaning behind it.
Looking him up and down, she realised this was the first time she had seen him out of his Revenant uniform. He cut a handsome figure in the black formal suit and frock coat he was wearing.
"The elders are being seated now. Including our grandfather," he told her. "I would have preferred you meet him alone and in more comfortable environs, but the family wanted to meet you as soon as possible."
He had no say in it?
The doors to the dining hall opened, and he escorted her into the room. Tonight's dinner was more like what she had imagined breakfast would be. A ridiculously long table and a lot of people. They all stood at the siblings entry. She could feel their eyes on her as she walked with her brother to the head of the table. Surprising her, he pulled her chair out and indicated for her to sit. She did as he silently commanded. Everyone else sat as Kalys took his seat. It was so quiet she feared those nearest her would hear her heart beat pounding against her chest.
Was she supposed to introduce herself? What happened now? Dinner wasn't supposed to be this complicated. She looked at the man across from her. He was like a replica of Kalys, only much, much older. She wondered if Kalys felt like he was looking into the future every time he looked at his grandfather. He wore a similar ornament in his ear, but less intricate and shorter than Kalys's and her own. Her eyes flicked over to Kalys for some kind of hint at what to do next. He saved her from having to do anything just yet.
"This is Sun, my sister, and our newest family member."
Sun politely inclined her head in greeting to everyone. She hoped that was enough. Though with these people most likely nothing would be enough, she thought acidly.
There had been an almost warning tone when he'd said 'my sister' and she briefly wondered if it was for them or for her.
After he had spoken, Kalys indicated for the servants to begin bringing out the food.
"Kalys has told me you are in the Revenant program," their grandfather said to her, drawing her gaze up from the table.
"I am," she confirmed.
"Should she not be pulled from the program?" A woman down the table asked Kalys. "Perdition is hardly the place for a young noble woman." She practically spat those last three words. Being forced to admit Sun was noble must have been torture for her. Sunny smiled on the inside. Outwardly, her countenance remained blank.
"Sun wishes to remain in the program," Kalys replied.
"She is very far behind; should she not be devoting her time to her other lessons and completing her duties as Lady Illusen?"
Was it common in this family to be talked about as if one wasn't in the room? If they could say these kinds of things to her face, what did they say behind her back?
"She has worked hard to get as far as she has; I see no reason to strip that from her. As for her duties as lady of the house, we have not discussed that yet. As you should all be aware, she only learnt of her heritage yesterday."
It felt like much longer to Sun. And what duties were they talking about? Was this on top of all her extra lessons and her Revenant training?
"I see you have the Ravens Eye," the man beside her noted.
She could only stare at him in silent question.
"Your left eye," he explained.
"We have not spoken of it yet," Kalys told him. "There has been little time."
Her eye had a name? She looked to Kalys, which he met with a silencing one of his own.
"Should that not have been priority number one?" Someone else from down the table asked.
She didn't like these people knowing something about her that she didn't.
"It was," he answered. "Until this spectacle was called instead."
Sun could detect just a hint of scathing judgement in his tone. So maybe he hadn't had a choice in this then. The Clan Head still had to bend to the will of others at times it seemed.
The duration of dinner wasn't as hellish as she had anticipated, and she found both Kalys and Jinn curbing some of the heat directed her way or discretely showing her which utensils to use or how to eat something particularly complicated. Nothing about eating should be complicated. What was wrong with the rich?
Her 'relatives' seemed divided in their opinion of her. Some were openly disapproving of her very existence, others indifferent, and a couple were curious about her. Kalys and Jinn were the only ones who seemed supportive.
She took it silently. Thank the Gods these people didn't live here.
It did cross her mind to cause a scene, to be a right bitch about it all in the hopes Kalys would just disown her. He didn't seem the type to admit he'd made a mistake, though, and he could very well make life much more unpleasant for her than she could for him.
When dinner was finished, Kalys stood, indicating for her to do the same. She bowed politely to everyone, giving a sickeningly sweet smile, and followed her brother out.
Out in the hallway she expected some kind of reprimand, but none came.
"Come," he commanded.
Goodie...