After my bath, the maids strapped some sort of belt beneath my gown—apparently to help with comfort. Comfort, my ass. {Note to self. Start yourown sanitary line, cuz this, it ain'tit.}
Expressionless, I strolled through the courtyard toward the greenhouse—Mother's usual retreat. She'd asked to see me once I was ready. I was not sure what she meant, nor did I have the time to think about it, because for some reason, the walls felt alive today, like the house itself was watching me. Servants' gazes lingered longer than usual. As if, they knew.
{I wouldn't be surprised if they did know, gossip spreads faster than disease in Noble society after all.} I kept calm, but having all those eyes on me, made my skin crawl. {Probably just hormones,… just breathe through it. Can't believe I havetogothrough this a secondtime.}
Inside the greenhouse, sunlight filtered through the glass, making everything look soft and golden. Mother sat before a table, set for two. A small brunch waited on the table, and the empty seat was obviously mine.
"Iris! Don't just stand there," Mother called warmly, gesturing me over. "I had them prepare you something, seeing as you missed breakfast."
"Oh, Thank you." I said, sitting down.
We ate in silence, Mother watched me closely, I locked eyes with her quite a few times, I couldn't exactly read her gaze. Which was strange since Mother was usually the easiest.
After the meal, she served my favorite—honey-lemon tart. The scent was divine, tangy and sweet. It made my mouth water. I had abit of a sweet tooth, but could never have desserts, my stomach just didn't want to co-operate. But this one, was where we called truce.
"So…" Mother smiled, a little awkwardly, folding her fingers neatly together. "Aren't you curious about what happened to you this morning?"
I paused mid-bite, spoon in mouth. {Right… that. Should I be panicking?, Pretending to be shockedorsomething?.} I swallowed, playing it cool.
"I assume you already know what it means?" she asked gently.
"Yes," I said quickly. "I've read about it before."
"i'm sure. And what exactly do you understand of it?" she pressed. "As your mother, it's my duty to educate you properly. As my own Mother did me."
{Did she tho?, Aren't noble mothers supposed avoide this topic like it was cursed, or something.}
"Well…" I began slowly, eyes darting to the ceiling. "It's… normal. Just something that happens. And you're supposed to… stay clean."
Mother tilted her head. "That's all?"
"It was… an uncomfortable read, so I didn't exactly finish the book."
"Oh, I see. "She leaned back, studying me. "Do you have any questions? Or… are you feeling any particular way?"
{Yes—Mother. mortified. Mostly that we're having this conversation.}
I shrugged, pretending to think. "Hmm. No, not really."
.><><><.
Mother explained what she could. what she knew, luckily she left out the icky making baby parts, probably for another day How ever, her knowledge was limited. As expected. they weren't experts in that area.
{Maybe i should read a book aboutit.}
The rest of the day passed as uneventful as any other—except for one glaring absence. No Theo.
He wasn't in the music room, or his quarters, or my garden. He didn't even show up for our nightly tea. The same thing the next day. And the next.
By the end of the week, I was ready to scream. I didn't know I could be this impatient.
{Ishe ... Disgusted by me now?, is thatit?}
My heart sank at the thought. "I should've never let him get that close! Men are all the same—grown or not!" I wailed dramatically.
"Milady, this is a lesson, not a therapy session," Sir Karlot muttered, unimpressed.
"What color are my eyes, Sir Karlot?" I demanded, ignoring him.
He sighed. "True blue, milady."
"It's so deep today!, You know it was light blue only this morning, I'm so hurt! Why won't Theo see me?!"
He gave me a flat look. "Are you truly that fond of your brother? You rarely mention him."
"I know! It must be hormones or something. The effects of becoming-a-woman must be twirling my emotions."
He closed his book. "Whatever it is, please try to focus."
I slumped dramatically against the desk, cheek squished against the wood. In truth, I wasn't that distraught—I just needed his help.
Sir Karlot sighed again. "Alright. I'll ask Miss Hughman to arrange a meeting between you two tomorrow."
My head shot up. "Really?"
"Yes. Now stop being so… unlike yourself."
"Of course, Sir Karlot!" I grinned.
He groaned. "That's even worse."
{Sir Karlot and Miss Hughman were secret lovers—though no one knew that but me.}
.><><><.
"So you're saying Princess Lora foresaw the start of Iris's cycles, but thought it was a prophecy of spilled blood?"
Sylvester—lay back against his pillows, with Lauretta's head resting on his chest as he twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers.
"Yes, I feel certain about this" She said softly. absently tracing the gold embroidery on his shirt "I'm not saying you should drop your guard, but she said to be careful for the holder of power in the family, and this happens the very next morning. Tell me that's just a coincidence."
Sylvester was silent for a moment, his eyes thoughtful.
"Iris is the century child," She continued "if she doesn't hold the power of the family, then..." she paused. looked up at his reassuring eyes "it's you."
Sylvester remained silent for a few more seconds, he reasoned, weather he should offer her a lie to ease het mind, or the painful truth that his own life was a small price for hers?. His voice was a low rumble when he finally spoke. Lauretta," he said, voice low. "I'm not going anywhere." He assured "You would be lost without me."
She lifted her head, brow arching. "Excuse me?"
He smirked. "You haven't exactly proven to be the wisest of the bunch."
Her gasp was immediate. "If I'm so stupid, why did you marry me then?"
He chuckled and caught her by the waist as she tried to rise. "And where are you going?" His tone softened, teasing.
"To beat you senseless," she snapped, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. "How dare you say that."
"I spoke only the truth. I needed a beautiful woman to have my beautiful babies, and you were a fine example of perfection" Still teasing.
" Really?," she scoffed–blushing faintly "You know what?, I will be sleeping in my chambers tonight, let go of–"
"Mm, you're always too easy to pick on."
"Easy?!" she sputtered. "I'll have you know—"
"What?" He leaned closer, his grin turning mischievous.
"I come from a line of–"
Before she could finish, He rolled her beneath him with one smooth motion. She laughed despite herself, one hand tangled in his hair, the other gripping his neck as his lips found hers.
"Were you seriously about to brag about your Father, again."
"You're a terrible man. He's not." She turns her gaze... avoiding his eyes.
"Ah..I see, So.." he brushed his lip along her neckline. "Are you inlove with your father?"
She moaned soft.
"Lauretta," he murmured between kisses. "Answer me love"
She liked the way he called her name when he wanted to play his games, and she hated herself for it.
"You..., you're right."
He paused. pulls away — just enough to see her face whole. "I am?" He asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yes." She answered, cupping his face in her hands "I wouldn't be much without you," her voice choked, tears weld up along her eyes. "So don't you dare get yourself into any kind of danger, understand?"
He smirked, "oh, you're such a baby..." As he kissed both her eyes. A familiar gesture—a promise. " I promise it."
The rest of the house slept peacefully—except their room, where muffled whispers and intimacy tangled under sheets.
.><><><.
When the night darkness deepen in Iris's bedroom, two shadows slipped through the walls, carried by the dark itself. One lingered by the door. The other went closer, standing at the bedside.
It placed a hand on the blanket and whispered something low, in an unrecognizable language.
The world tilted. She sank—slowly—into the darkness of the sheets, though her body never moved.
After she disappeared. As silently as they came, the figures vanished.
The room was untouched.
They had what they came for.