Novella had been preparing for this meeting for weeks; ever since her father decided he'd put her name in to meet Kaczor Tilani. Etiquiette refresher courses, when her stepmother slapped her she made sure to leave no evidence...
The perfect dress was picked out. The perfect hairstyle. The day of the meeting arrived and Ella spent the majority of her night preparing, gaggles of maids in and out of her chambers to prepare her hair, dress her, perfect her appearance.
Whatever she wore had to fit the amulet. Her father rejected four outfits before they finally chose the right one.
Their travel time was swift; across the city, to an elaborate estate. Ella walked quietly behind her father, hands clasped in front of her, head bowed. However, her father left her the moment he saw the head of House Tilani's husband.
And she was given no direction by either of them, as they disappeared into a study. Eyes widening, Ella tried not to panic, or cry. On one hand, it was a relief that her father was gone. On the other, she didn't know where to go—
A lot was riding on this being a match. Her father wanted her gone. But he also wanted her to be useful. And here... she'd be useful, as a spy. He'd told her, if there was no deal struck, she'd be left to the streets.
If that happened, she'd go back to the military, early. She was on leave, at current, having served for the last handful of years.
Another moment of panic, before she started walking. Looking for an open or cracked door, holding her breath as she finally found one and stepped into the room. She exhaled softly, face-to-face with a woman.
Curtsying, she lowered her gaze,[q]Are... are you Lady Kaczor?[q] Because if this wasn't her, then she'd screwed up already. She stayed in the doorway until she received verification.
The perfect dress was picked out. The perfect hairstyle. The day of the meeting arrived and Ella spent the majority of her night preparing, gaggles of maids in and out of her chambers to prepare her hair, dress her, perfect her appearance.
Whatever she wore had to fit the amulet. Her father rejected four outfits before they finally chose the right one.
Their travel time was swift; across the city, to an elaborate estate. Ella walked quietly behind her father, hands clasped in front of her, head bowed. However, her father left her the moment he saw the head of House Tilani's husband.
And she was given no direction by either of them, as they disappeared into a study. Eyes widening, Ella tried not to panic, or cry. On one hand, it was a relief that her father was gone. On the other, she didn't know where to go—
A lot was riding on this being a match. Her father wanted her gone. But he also wanted her to be useful. And here... she'd be useful, as a spy. He'd told her, if there was no deal struck, she'd be left to the streets.
If that happened, she'd go back to the military, early. She was on leave, at current, having served for the last handful of years.
Another moment of panic, before she started walking. Looking for an open or cracked door, holding her breath as she finally found one and stepped into the room. She exhaled softly, face-to-face with a woman.
Curtsying, she lowered her gaze,[q]Are... are you Lady Kaczor?[q] Because if this wasn't her, then she'd screwed up already. She stayed in the doorway until she received verification.
02-18-2024, 09:30 PM