For most of the day, Nymeria stood motionless in front of the mirror, her grey eyes locked onto their own reflection. It was as if she were caught in a silent dialogue with herself, a gaze that held a depth of emotion she kept buried beneath the surface. As she scrutinized her own features, a small army of maids worked tirelessly around her, their fingers expertly weaving through her once fiery red curls, now subdued into an elegant style. The process had been long and arduous, but Nymeria paid little attention to their efforts. Her mind was elsewhere, drifting far from the reality of the situation. This transformation was not something she had sought or desired, yet she complied without protest. Not because she was indifferent, but because she loved her parents deeply and wouldn't dream of rebelling against their wishes.
Despite the storm brewing within her, Nymeria's face remained a mask of calm, her posture relaxed and poised. She was the picture of a dutiful daughter, a role she had perfected over the years. The turmoil she felt was hidden beneath layers of practiced composure. No one outside the family would suspect that beneath her serene exterior, she was grappling with the weight of expectations and her own reluctance.
Now, as the family traveled towards their destination in a luxurious coach drawn by sleek black horses, Nymeria found herself staring out of the window, watching the world pass by in a blur. Her thoughts were tangled, a chaotic swirl of emotions she couldn't quite articulate. Her mother's voice broke through her reverie, gently pulling her back to the present. "We know you don't agree, Nymeria, but this will be good for both you and us," her mother said, her tone soft but firm. Nymeria knew her mother's intentions were well-meaning, even if they felt misguided. "At least try," her mother added, a plea hidden beneath the words. “ofcourse mother.”
Nymeria turned to meet her mother's gaze, forcing a soft smile to her lips as she nodded in quiet acceptance. Her brothers, ever the jokesters, exchanged mischievous grins, their eyes sparkling with amusement at their sister's predicament. Despite the teasing, Nymeria knew their actions came from a place of love. The Vero family, outwardly stern and unapproachable, was, in truth, a close-knit unit, bound by an unspoken understanding and fierce loyalty to one another. Nymeria valued this bond more than anything, even if it meant surrendering to a future she hadn't chosen—one that might involve marrying a man she barely knew.
When they finally arrived at their destination, the family initially stayed close together, a united front in the midst of unfamiliar faces. But as the evening wore on, Nymeria noticed how her brothers and even her father subtly maneuvered to keep most of the men at bay. Their overprotectiveness was almost comical, and Nymeria had to stifle a laugh at their antics.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the man her parents had encouraged her to 'try' with. His presence beside her drew her attention away from her family's protective circle, and she turned her head slightly to acknowledge him without fully disengaging from the crowd around them. "That would be nice, thank you," she replied politely, accepting his offer with a gracious nod.
Wearing a gown, as was expected of her, restricted Nymeria's movements, making her feel less at ease than she would have liked. The fabric, though beautiful, was a constant reminder of how far removed she was from her usual self. She would have much preferred the freedom of her armor, but her mother had ensured that Nymeria wouldn't even consider wearing anything less than the finest dress for the occasion. The very thought of her daughter attending in anything but a gown would have horrified her.
"Yes, it seems they do," Nymeria responded softly and with a silent sigh when the man beside her greeted her with his comment. Her mind was still far away, contemplating the futility of her situation. When he returned with a cup of punch, she decided to speak again, her tone soft yet composed. "There isn't much to be done except to go along with it until they leave us alone."
This time, she fully turned to face him, executing a perfect curtsey as etiquette dictated, though the gesture came a little later than it should have. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Umbra."
@Tiberius Umbra
Despite the storm brewing within her, Nymeria's face remained a mask of calm, her posture relaxed and poised. She was the picture of a dutiful daughter, a role she had perfected over the years. The turmoil she felt was hidden beneath layers of practiced composure. No one outside the family would suspect that beneath her serene exterior, she was grappling with the weight of expectations and her own reluctance.
Now, as the family traveled towards their destination in a luxurious coach drawn by sleek black horses, Nymeria found herself staring out of the window, watching the world pass by in a blur. Her thoughts were tangled, a chaotic swirl of emotions she couldn't quite articulate. Her mother's voice broke through her reverie, gently pulling her back to the present. "We know you don't agree, Nymeria, but this will be good for both you and us," her mother said, her tone soft but firm. Nymeria knew her mother's intentions were well-meaning, even if they felt misguided. "At least try," her mother added, a plea hidden beneath the words. “ofcourse mother.”
Nymeria turned to meet her mother's gaze, forcing a soft smile to her lips as she nodded in quiet acceptance. Her brothers, ever the jokesters, exchanged mischievous grins, their eyes sparkling with amusement at their sister's predicament. Despite the teasing, Nymeria knew their actions came from a place of love. The Vero family, outwardly stern and unapproachable, was, in truth, a close-knit unit, bound by an unspoken understanding and fierce loyalty to one another. Nymeria valued this bond more than anything, even if it meant surrendering to a future she hadn't chosen—one that might involve marrying a man she barely knew.
When they finally arrived at their destination, the family initially stayed close together, a united front in the midst of unfamiliar faces. But as the evening wore on, Nymeria noticed how her brothers and even her father subtly maneuvered to keep most of the men at bay. Their overprotectiveness was almost comical, and Nymeria had to stifle a laugh at their antics.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the man her parents had encouraged her to 'try' with. His presence beside her drew her attention away from her family's protective circle, and she turned her head slightly to acknowledge him without fully disengaging from the crowd around them. "That would be nice, thank you," she replied politely, accepting his offer with a gracious nod.
Wearing a gown, as was expected of her, restricted Nymeria's movements, making her feel less at ease than she would have liked. The fabric, though beautiful, was a constant reminder of how far removed she was from her usual self. She would have much preferred the freedom of her armor, but her mother had ensured that Nymeria wouldn't even consider wearing anything less than the finest dress for the occasion. The very thought of her daughter attending in anything but a gown would have horrified her.
"Yes, it seems they do," Nymeria responded softly and with a silent sigh when the man beside her greeted her with his comment. Her mind was still far away, contemplating the futility of her situation. When he returned with a cup of punch, she decided to speak again, her tone soft yet composed. "There isn't much to be done except to go along with it until they leave us alone."
This time, she fully turned to face him, executing a perfect curtsey as etiquette dictated, though the gesture came a little later than it should have. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Umbra."
@Tiberius Umbra
08-22-2024, 04:12 AM
