The soft afternoon light filtered through the large bay windows, casting a golden glow on the cozy reading nook where Nora sat with her head buried in the novel in her grasp.
The leather bound book in her hand was ornate, it's title embossed in gold lettering, promising a grand tale of noble families, romance and intrigue .
She had been engrossed for the past several minutes, earnestly following the ups and downs of the storyline but at a point, the corner of her eyes crinkled, her brow furrowing in confusion as her fingers griped the pages a bit too tightly as she resisted the urge to slam the book shut.
She flipped another page , her eyes narrowing as she read on . The illegitimate stepdaughter, unacknowledged for years had suddenly been granted everything, as long as she wants it even outshining the legitimate elder sister, Peizhi.
The author seems intent on painting the illegitimate stepdaughter Xiliu as a noble and righteous lady , a victim of circumstances constantly misunderstood and ultimately triumphant while the legitimate daughter, Peizhi a dutiful and virtuous daughter who had always upheld the family honor in any circumstances despite her ego was pushed to the side , relegated to a lifetime of resentment.
Nora's lips immediately curled up in distaste, she could feel the slow burn of anger rising in her chest.
How could the author even justify this, Peizhi had done everything right even sacrificing her own desires for the good of everyone and yet and at the end , she was casted aside like a piece of forgotten furniture.
"Unbelievable"!. Nora muttered under her breath , flipping the book over to the first page to check the author's psuedonym . "Anonymous huh, what a twisted coward". She huffed angrily.
Just then ,her nanny Lizzy entered the room carrying a tray with a fresh warm milk and a plate of cookies.
She placed the tray on the side table with a soft click and glanced at Nora, instantly sensing her irritation.
"Is everything okay, Miss?". Lizzy asked, concerned as she took her seat opposite Nora.
"This is utterly absurd". Nora sighed as she closed the book with an audible snap, leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed over her chest.
"How can this author expect me to believe that someone else could enjoy and inherit the fruit of other's labour without a justifiable cause while the latter who worked for everything get nothing in the end ".
Lizzy smiled softly and handed Nora a cup of warm milk which she accepted with a huff, glowering at the book now resting on her laps.
"Well". Lizzy began, her tone light as she carefully considered her choice of words not wanting to hurt Nora's passion.
"Perhaps the author has a fondness for the latter character, what if it's the author's favourite?. Sometimes, book aren't about who's deserving but who captures the reader's heart".
Nora tool a sip of her milk and raised an incredulous eyebrow at Lizzy's words.
"Favourite". She scoffed. "You think the author has a soft spot for this character, that's ridiculous. Even though, does being the author's favourite means she deserves to have everything handed to her at the expenses of others, what about fairness?, What about justice?".
Lizzy chuckled, glancing at the book that had caused an argument. "Miss, it's just a storybook. And besides, sometimes authors writes from their own very perspective and they have their own biases. Maybe the other characters represents something or someone the author values or even perhaps might be the author's source of inspiration".
Nora scoffed, setting aside her cup with much more force than intended.
"But, that's exactly the problem here Lizzy. The story isn't supposed to be about the author's personal whims . It's about the characters and what they represents. Peizhi did everything right and deserves everything right but the author chooses to romanticize this tragic Xiliu. It's infuriating".
Lizzy smiled as she watched Nora's expression soften slightly as she vented her frustrations. "I can see why you'd be upset Miss, but we can't understand the author's train of thoughts afterall". She shrugged.
"I understand". Nora sighed, rubbing her temples as she leaned back further into the cushion.
"It's just that . . . Peizhi devoted her life to her family and in the end what did she gain?. Nothing, she's made to look bitter and jealous while Xiliu swoops in as if she's some kind of angel . It's just not adding up, the author is merely trying to force sympathy where it doesn't belongs".
"You've always said a good plotline makes you feel something, don't you?". Lizzy asked and Nora waved her hands dismissively.
"Oh please. Not this kind of frustration, a good story should inspire or make you feel happy and cherish the author's dedication, not make me want to throw the actual book out of the window".
Nora sat in the silence, her mind wrestling with the plotline and characters and the more she thought of it, the more the unfairness of it all gnawed at her.
She couldn't bear the idea that a character who had given up everything was at the end casted aside simply because the author has a fondness for the rebellious, green tea bitch of a sister.
Then she turned to face Lizzy who was going through the book, her voice laced with determination. "You know, if I were the Peizhi in the book, I would definitely rebel and seek control of my fate , not to be painted as what I'm not".
Lizzy laughed as she dropped the book on the table. "The plotline is indeed something though, not the usual plot of the legitimate child winning all over the other but Miss, Peizhi couldn't do anything. Her fate had already been decided by her god, the author. Just like God, the creature of all living beings, author's are also the gods of the characters they've created".
"Hmmph. I don't agree though". Nora sighed as she took another sip of the milk. "Lizzy, get me another book or I'll be angered to death if I still have to mull over these".
"Okay miss. I'll get you something that's more of your liking".
"Great then". Nora sighed in relief as Lizzy left the room, her fingers brushing over the cover of the now abandoned novel laying on the table.