*Ana*
"Good Morning, King Alexander, Queen Belinda." I fight against my dry tongue as I take my seat between Nicoli and Father. Quickly folding my hands in my lap to hide the trembling as I shift against the hard metal seat.
"Thank you.. for inviting me."
"Of course," Father returns pleasantly enough, but something makes his smile lessen around the edges.
Perhaps because I'm sitting here? I squeeze the fabric of my dress. But as Father continues to watch me in a quiet stare, Stepmother moves for her cup easily.
"So glad you could come." She starts with a dainty sip of tea before flicking a sharp but quick glance my way." Although it'd be nice… if one sent word before showing up. Don't you think?"
"That, oh!" My back straightens up. "Yes, that's true…and I would have." My eyes drift down to my shoes. " but I…was more worried about getting here late." I explain, breathing against a tight knot forming in my stomach.
"I apologize." I dart my eyes up to only quickly fall back down as I see Father is still watching me. That's all he's doing for now, but what next?
He won't do anything in front of the party, will he? The thought flashes across, making my stomach clench again.
No, no, he wouldn't, not with so many young and impressionable girls around. Right?
But Father must be mad. I swallow, again shifting in my chair, feeling the back of my dress stick to the sweat on my legs. The sun is high and bright, not hot like Nochten, but I'm starting to regret wearing all this fabric.
"Ana needs tea," The blond perks up abruptly. "She doesn't even have a cup. You, there. Get a cup for her Empress." She points a finger to snap after stepmother's maid. ""And Make it quick."
"Make it…"Julia drops her jaw an inch before raising a brow at the girl. But Belinda just nods before flicking a hand just to go ahead.
"Do as Hidi says, Julia." Belinda sighs, pressing her lips after, as if not liking the situation in general. "Get a cup and a plate."
"I…yes, Your Majesty." Julia bows and leaves as Nicoli sits up in his chair with a start.
"Hey, who said you could call her that!?" Nicoli bristles up."She's Ana to me. ONLY. Not you." Nicoli points back at her, then to add emphasis, Nicolis scoots his chair closer, leg bouncing against mine, in his chair.
"Nicoli?" My heart quickens when his hand takes mine under the table fingers curled over mine.
"Who says I can't call her Ana?" Hidi retorts, biting a head off another rabbit. But just as she makes to throw it with the rest, something changes her mind at the last minute, and instead, making her turn.
"We are friends, no?"
"Friends?" I blink as she hands hold over the decapitated cookie as if wanting me to take it.
"But I-"
"You are not friends." Nicoli jumps out of his chair to grab the cookie right out of her hand and toss it haphazardly into his cup. A quick huff of satisfaction runs over him before he's back and smiling at me.
"What kind of tea do you like, Ana?" Nicoli continues bouncing in his seat as he looks over the table. "We have a bunch. I'm an oolong guy, myself."
Tea again? I can't help but slump my shoulders.
"Oh, but Nicoli, I don't like-"
"I'm fond of green tea, personally." Hidi steals up another cookie to again displace its head between her large teeth. "It's supposed to be good, they say."
"I wasn't asking you." Nicoli rolls his eyes but receives a quick tap from Belinda's fan, making Nicoli cry out before retracting his hand and holding it to his chest. But Belinda only raises her brow before turning back to Hidi.
"I like green tea as well."Stepmother chirps pleasantly, and then she does something I didn't know she could do.
Stepmother…can look nice? I slightly widen my eyes at the once thought-impossible sight. But there she is, sitting and smiling amicably.
Is she …trying to impress her? I can't help but think that's what is happening. But that only drives more questions. Who was this girl? And why would stepmother ever trip over herself to make a good impression?
I don't believe I know this girl. I glance past Nicoli to the blond. She's a giant, that much I can see. But after that, I am clueless about the girl at our table. But whoever she is, her stepmother finds her important.
"But then again," Belinda, meanwhile, picks up, her smile sweet as she made to pat the girl's hand.
"Almony has such refined teas as well. "
Almony!? I sit up hearing the country before looking back at her anew.
Is this blond one of the many daughters of Queen Bratha? I try to remember, but honestly, their royal bloodline is quite confusing with the number of wives. Not to mention the number of blonds in that bloodline. But I have to admit it does sound fair.
Yes, maybe that's why. I conclude just as an arm reaches from behind me.
"Your tea, your Empress," Julia announces, placing the fine cup and saucer down without sound to the tablecloth before I know what's what.
"Oh, no, I-" I turn to start waving my hand, but it is too late. Steaming liquid streams down to splash and bubble into the cup, filling to the brim. There wasn't even room for cream or sugar.
"That will be all, Julia." Belinda retorts, and the maid bows, stepping back to leave me staring after the brown liquid.
Not again. I hunch slightly as my eyes look at my reflection. The small blob of red and white rippling with each move on the table. That already makes me a little woozy. Let alone the smell.
That unique odor of damp soil hits my senses like a punch to the stomach. And as subtly as I can, I try to scooch my chair back as if that can help. It does, a little. But once again, I have no time to relax before another cookie is shoved into my face.
"Here, Ana," Hidi beams with the earless rabbit, I guess she just bit the ears of this one instead, in front of my nose. "Try this."
But before I can even try to respond, Nicoli is up and over again.
"What did I just say!?" Nicoli snatches the cookie to whip back into the bushes. "Stop calling her Ana!" And in the same motion is smiling back to me.
"Here, Ana," Nicoli prompts, taking up some flaky pastry. "Try this instead.
"No, no no." Hidi slaps his hand away to offer a green macaroon.
"Ana prefers this better,"
"No, she won't!" Nicoli smacks the macaroon to fall onto the table with a thump.
"Nicoli," Belinda cries in disbelief, but Nicoli doesn't even pause when he lifts a finger at Hidi.
"Stop calling her Ana! You don't know her. I'm her brother. So I can!"
"Please, I-" What is happening right now? I look over both stunned as Nicoli sticks his tongue out for Hidi to only move her thumbs to her temples and wiggle her fingers back.
"Nicoli!" Belinda, meanwhile, snaps her fan tersely. "Stop that right now." But neither of them seem to notice her. Nicoli just moves to press up his nose for Hidi to do it right back.
"You two!" Belinda is raising her voice before I hear him.
"You sure are popular,"
"What?" I immediately jump in the seat before realizing Father is watching me again.
"Look at how they fight for you." Father goes on steadily, his lips upturning. "Not that I blame them." He winks.
Was that…meant to be a joke? I blink, bewildered, back at him, but Hidi's newest taunt steals both our attention back and over.
"Does little Nicki want a macaroon?" Hidi sings, dangling a pastry over him.
"No! Stop it!" Nicoli snaps, jumping onto the chair to swat at her hands.
"Say ahh~"
"You -oh!?" Both widen their eyes as Nicoli's hand slaps the macaroon free from Hidi's hands, setting it to fly over the table and end right in the center of my lap. Making us all pause to look down at it for a beat.
"S-sorry, Ana," Nicoli finally stammers, shifting stiffly to climb down and sit in the chair.
"Ja, sorry, Ana," Hidi adds, but Nicoli whips his head back at her, but this time, Hidi just waves her head as if to say to call a truce. For now at least, she settles back in her chair and lets the table rest for a moment.
Is this…just a normal event in Dawny? I can't help but mildly remember something similar happening before
It was a croissant. I recall and lift the cookie to take a bite before quickly looking back at it. The blond was right.
I am pleasantly surprised to find that I do like this. And I quickly eat the rest before cleaning my fingers on the napkin and looking back over.
"Um, Miss?" I start. "You were right. That was good." I go before pressing my lips. "But, I'm sorry, I can't seem to place you. Are you one of Queen Bratha's daughters?" I venture just as I hear the snort come from beside her.
But just as quickly, Stepmother is whipping her lips with a napkin.
"Do you not know?" Belinda asks evenly.
"Should I?"
"Oh, only if you want to keep good borders." Belinda chuckles into her fan.
"Borders, Ja." Hidi nods with a thought, but that only furrows my brows.
"I don't…"
But Stepmother laughs again.
"How do you not know her majesty?" Stepmother pauses to shake her head after me. "She's Queen Hildenberg of Almony.
"Queen?" My eyes snap back to the blond before furrowing my brows deeper. "But… isn't that Queen Bratha?"
"You mean Mama," Hidi intercepts. "Ja, it was."
"Was?"
"She decided not to work anymore." Hidi shrugs as if that was nothing special. "So now I'm the queen."
"You are…" I blink once, then twice, taking the energy to compose myself as the information clicks together. But as soon as it does, I sit straight up.
"I apologize. I don't remember hearing the news." I rush the words."I…did you already have your coronation? I'm sorry I-"
"Oh, don't worry about that." Hidi waves a hand. "Mama would not have invited you."
"She wouldn't?" My brows crease at that, not sure what it means. But I'm quickly back on topic. "How long ago?"
"I've been playing queen for about a year. No big deal." Hidi shrugs again. "Even her majesty didn't recognize it so quickly. Right, Belinda?"
"Oh? Uh.. yes." Belinda shifts up at her name. "I had no idea you were"
"See?" Hidi simply chirps, turning back over. "So be glad we meet now." And with that, she props onto her elbows to rest her head in her hands before grinning at me.
"Nice to meet you, Anastasia."
"And I, you," I nod in greeting. "Queen Hildenberg."
"Ah, Hidi, please." Hidi corrects before leaning back to smile after me. "Hildenberg is only what Mama calls me. So, please."
"Hidi, then." I return, finding my lips curl up a little back at her, finding her surprisingly…disarming? But before I can even ask anything else, Nicoli is at it again.
"Enough!" Nicoli snaps, yanking me to his side protectively."I'm warning you!"
"Nicoli!" Belinda taps her fan again, scuffing, clearly not wanting the whole event to start again. But Hidi giggles.
"So feisty,"
Nicoli presses his fingers into his ears.
"La la~ I'm not listening."
"Nicoli!" Belinda fumes again, "Please, both of you, the guests are -" Belinda pales, seeing everyone looking at us again, a murmur of whispers and giggles following.
"And so much fun!" Hidi just laughs again.
"Both of you, please." At the same time, Stepmother tries to reel in the show that is Nicoli and Hidi. Something nudges my feet from under the table, having me look back in time to see Father sliding a plate over.
It's tiramisu. I widened my eyes slightly, and a small slice of cake pressed my way. The robust smell of the coffee-drenched dessert instantly comforted my nerves.
"Your mother didn't like tea either." Father only tones, noting the still untouched cup.
"You…noticed?" My mouth slightly drops, as I don't think anyone did. Not even Nicoli.
"Here," Father goes on, sliding a spoon into my hand.
"Thank.. you." I nod stiffly, curling my fingers around the silver before turning to dig into the cake. The spoon cups a small piece that I press between my lips, and again, I can feel the sense of comfort and familiarity run over me at the taste. But this doesn't make sense.
He should be mad at me. I know. I disobeyed. I broke our promise.
So…why the cake? I can't help but look after Father, trying to understand as he just returns my gaze. A soft smile shifted up to rest on his lips as his blue eyes softened after me.