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XX Deryn xx#403A60
"So, how many types of lace are under consideration for the wedding?"
"Far too many," Deryn replies, taking the bait for a distraction from their previous conversation. "I had never considered the importance of lace patterns before. It's quite fascinating."
They go on like that for a bit- from lace to beading to the length of the dress and the height of her shoes and if the dress should be white or in the deep violet of her kingdom - and Deryn feels the smallest hint of anticipation settle beside the anxiety in her chest. She almost feels excited.
She quietly wonders how long that excitement will last.
Scaring her errant thoughts away for the moment, Bertrand leans close to whisper in her ear, as if they were children again, keeping harmless secrets from the stifling adults surrounding them.
"I’m not supposed to tell you, but the king has arranged the arrival of some new books for you, as a wedding gift." He says, piquing Deryn's curiosity. She'd nearly forgotten the tradition of wedding gifts. "I know there’s still plenty in the library you haven’t read, but he got his hands on some new serials from Edra and I think he desperately wants to gain your favor."
Deryn tries to picture King Merle trying to impress her, and it makes her stomach twist strangely.
"I don’t know why he told me- should have known I’d tell you the first chance I got..."
"Well, you are rather predictable. I'm sure His Majesty would not have told you if he truly meant to keep it from me. He is your father, after all. He knows you better than I do."
Deryn and Bertrand share a laugh at that, then continue their stroll throughout the gardens, small talk trickling into quiet commentary on the beauty of it all. They walk close together, tripping on each other's feet and giggling like children over nothing, and Deryn can't help but think:
I can get used to this. I will get used to this.
Anxiety still curls in her gut - a snake, hibernating, waiting to strike - but right now, Deryn feels content, as if their marriage might not be the disaster she imagines it to be in the dead of night.
Only time, perhaps, can tell.
XX ❋
Dinners with the Poirier royal family is far more lovely than Deryn had ever expected.
Back home, she often ate her meals in her library or the half-barren gardens, with only the stone-faced Callum or her wait-staff for company. When she did take meals with her father, they were cold, quiet hours, tension hanging heavy in the air and no warm conversation to be heard.
The first meal she'd eaten with Bertrand's siblings had been a bit... overwhelming, to say the least.
Of course, the members of the royal family did their best to keep a regal air about themselves, but as in many situations throughout the day, during meals they often failed spectacularly.
Ainara and Bertrand would argue through strangely polite methods over absolutely trivial things, smiling tersely all the while. Branson would talk animatedly about anything he could get Deryn to appreciate - which was everything - and sweet, dear Alouette, still only a child, would do her very best to be acknowledged, sometimes leading to bits of food strewn about the table.
Prince Corbett was the only royal child who ever managed to retain his dignity, and watching him try to convince his siblings to do the same was always a source of entertainment for Deryn.
It was a wonderful experience, in Deryn's eyes, and though in the beginning the King and Queen chastised their children for being improper at the table, as time passed, the pretense of perfection began to fall. Deryn even caught them smiling at their children's antics on many an occasion.
It was wonderful, and eye-opening, and Deryn wouldn't give it up for the world.
"So, how many types of lace are under consideration for the wedding?"
"Far too many," Deryn replies, taking the bait for a distraction from their previous conversation. "I had never considered the importance of lace patterns before. It's quite fascinating."
They go on like that for a bit- from lace to beading to the length of the dress and the height of her shoes and if the dress should be white or in the deep violet of her kingdom - and Deryn feels the smallest hint of anticipation settle beside the anxiety in her chest. She almost feels excited.
She quietly wonders how long that excitement will last.
Scaring her errant thoughts away for the moment, Bertrand leans close to whisper in her ear, as if they were children again, keeping harmless secrets from the stifling adults surrounding them.
"I’m not supposed to tell you, but the king has arranged the arrival of some new books for you, as a wedding gift." He says, piquing Deryn's curiosity. She'd nearly forgotten the tradition of wedding gifts. "I know there’s still plenty in the library you haven’t read, but he got his hands on some new serials from Edra and I think he desperately wants to gain your favor."
Deryn tries to picture King Merle trying to impress her, and it makes her stomach twist strangely.
"I don’t know why he told me- should have known I’d tell you the first chance I got..."
"Well, you are rather predictable. I'm sure His Majesty would not have told you if he truly meant to keep it from me. He is your father, after all. He knows you better than I do."
Deryn and Bertrand share a laugh at that, then continue their stroll throughout the gardens, small talk trickling into quiet commentary on the beauty of it all. They walk close together, tripping on each other's feet and giggling like children over nothing, and Deryn can't help but think:
I can get used to this. I will get used to this.
Anxiety still curls in her gut - a snake, hibernating, waiting to strike - but right now, Deryn feels content, as if their marriage might not be the disaster she imagines it to be in the dead of night.
Only time, perhaps, can tell.
XX ❋
Dinners with the Poirier royal family is far more lovely than Deryn had ever expected.
Back home, she often ate her meals in her library or the half-barren gardens, with only the stone-faced Callum or her wait-staff for company. When she did take meals with her father, they were cold, quiet hours, tension hanging heavy in the air and no warm conversation to be heard.
The first meal she'd eaten with Bertrand's siblings had been a bit... overwhelming, to say the least.
Of course, the members of the royal family did their best to keep a regal air about themselves, but as in many situations throughout the day, during meals they often failed spectacularly.
Ainara and Bertrand would argue through strangely polite methods over absolutely trivial things, smiling tersely all the while. Branson would talk animatedly about anything he could get Deryn to appreciate - which was everything - and sweet, dear Alouette, still only a child, would do her very best to be acknowledged, sometimes leading to bits of food strewn about the table.
Prince Corbett was the only royal child who ever managed to retain his dignity, and watching him try to convince his siblings to do the same was always a source of entertainment for Deryn.
It was a wonderful experience, in Deryn's eyes, and though in the beginning the King and Queen chastised their children for being improper at the table, as time passed, the pretense of perfection began to fall. Deryn even caught them smiling at their children's antics on many an occasion.
It was wonderful, and eye-opening, and Deryn wouldn't give it up for the world.