The morning sun bled through the curtains of a modest home beyond the hills. While the elite simply walked off on their corridors,lounging off in their beds - the less privileged had to rise for their daily bread.
The sound of soft fabric brushing against wood filled the air as Millie dusted the parlor while her daughter Margaret carried firewood into the fireplace.
"I sewed the rose gown,do try it later," her mother said,folding the hem of a lace cloth. "You look prettier than I when you do wear it. "
Margaret gave a faint smile,pushing one log on top of the other, breaking the large chunks into pieces. She tossed the smaller ones inside,lighting a fire on them. "Can you please close the door? The fire goes off by the wind,"
"You could've done that when you entered," Millie muttered.
"I was with the logs," Margaret replied,moving anyway to shut the door with her leg,crouching before the hearth again and lighting a match - which successfully coaxed the fire.
She rose to adjust her hair,reopening the door to step out when her mother's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Where are you heading?"
"Out!"
"Where?"
"Anywhere my feet will take me,"
Her mother sighed. "Then do mind yourself around Lord Alaric. He's with wife now,and its bad news associating with a man of his status"
Margaret turned,feigning confusion. "Why?"
"As I said earlier,he's with wife!"
Margaret gave a small laugh,tying her shawl around her neck. "Oh,you meant his trophy wife. He may adore her for the audience,but you do know love does not survive the neediness of our society,"
"And you do?"
"Only the wise do. A woman needs power to secure her fortune not love. I don't care being one of his many conquests, "
Millie frowned. They had lived quietly for all these years not until her husband left her for a younger woman after piling debts on them.
Lord Alaric had been their angel,having saved them from the cages only to realize he now visited her daughter with costly intentions. "Safety isn't found in the arms of a married man,Margaret. You should be wise. You could be branded a whore once he's done with you, leaving your reputation in the sands."
Margaret shrugged,turning back to the window where the faint sound of a carriage stopping reached their ears. "No one will care if I leave after having what I want. Besides,didn't you teach me to be remembered by power than forgotten by it?"
Millie opened her mouth to reply,rather closing it and frowning at her daughter's audacity to speak back at her. As she turned for the kitchen, a knock on the door halted her steps. From Margaret's excitement,she could easily tell who it was.
"My lord!" They both bowed as Alaric entered.
Margaret's hands trembled with excitement, a blush dawning on her features as her eyes caught his.
"Lady Margaret, " said he,turning to her. "I thought we might walk for a while. The air is quite pleasant this morning,"
Margaret smiled the more,her heart skipping beats. She avoided her mother's furious glare,turned her attention to the dashing lord and escorted him outside while her mother looked on with disapproval.
----
Meanwhile,in the halls of the cool chambers of the Ravyns household,Reya stirred awake.
Her heart had been tormented again after having heard Alaric had gone to visit his mistress while he had clearly lied to her face last night. The maids moved about her chambers,one pouring tea and another arranging flowers in a vase.
"Milady," Betsy murmured,"you should eat. You barely had food last night. "
"I'll be fine," Reya gave a smile,too foreign than she realized. She had believed Alaric last night only to rise and hear he had been away to visit Margaret.
What other excuse was he cooking?
Reya reached for an old leatherbound volume she had packed when fleeing Vire - one she hadn't opened since she left home. And hadn't also thought of Vire in a long while.
Her chest hurt,thinking of her father's stress and dismay already.
"Betsy?"
"Hm?"
"Bring me paper and ink. "
Betsy hesitated,frowning,"But Milady, I hope you are aware that letters from Ravenswood never reach Vire"
"I know," Reya smiled,"But I'm a Ravyns too..they'll send it out,"
The maid reluctantly obeyed,handing over Reya what she needed. And when she began to write,tears fell.
"Dear Father,
I know I fled. I hurt your pride and our reputation as Valens by marrying Alaric. Everyone treats me right here. And he loves me so,treating me as the only woman of his life"
Her tears dropped onto the parchment, smudging the words. Her heart hurt,this time because she knew she was lying to herself. Alaric had changed subtly even if it was hard to notice.
"Pass it to the courier. I want it delivered to my father. House of Valen," she handed the letter to Heather,who nodded,taking her leave.
------
That same morning,Evona sat at her desk,legs crossed on her seat as irritation flickered in her eyes as she sipped her jasmine tea slowly.
"Oscar," she snapped,"why has it taken you decades to get me a freedom warrant? I can't purchase outside Ravenswood freely without one. Do you know the money I lose?"
Oscar adjusted his spectacles nervously,stammering ,"I am working on it m-milady. Its..it needs something..groundbreaking if you want the Queen of Vire to approve of your warrant after your charges of--"
Before he could finish,a maid entered and bowed,"Milady,there's a letter for you"
Evona frowned,"Throw it on the table. I'm in no mood this morning for mere pleasantries whoever it may be. "
The maid placed it down and left,disappointed.
Oscar,always the nosy person,picked it up and opened it,"It's from Lady Reya. Your Daughter-in-Law. To House of Valen in Vire."
Evona's interest was piqued instantly, snatching the letter from Oscar. All letters had to pass through her before they reached its owners and this Daughter-in-Law of hers probably had no idea. She skimmed over the letter with amusement,rereading over and over and then bursting into laughter.
"Call the maid back,"
The maid reappeared,trembling slightly.
"Good work!" She tore her jewellery from her neck,throwing it at the maid who hurriedly gathered it. "Reya sent it?"
"Yes,my lady!"
Evona only smiled,folded the paper beautifully and slowly but gently..with pure elegance..lifted it above the candle flame. The edges darkened first, curling,folding then turning into ashes.
The room filled with the scent of burnt paper and ink.
She finally turned to the girl. "Tell Lady Reya the message is sent"
"Yes,my lady!"
The maid quickly bowed and left the room,leaving Oscar confused. "How is the message sent if you burnt it?"
Evona chuckled,"Ah,this girl made my morning. Besides,her father was a good man. I only did her a favor..sending the letter where it belongs."
Oscar wried her eyebrow,"And where is that?"
Evona only took a sip of her tea,eyes glinting.
"To the graves!"