Chapter Text
“Tetia! You have a letter addressed to you.” Qifrey called out to her, holding a heavy envelope in his hand with other letters in a pile.
Tetia looked up from the fireplace, confused on why someone would write to her. Perhaps family? No. It couldn’t have been since she was a bit estranged from them. Couldn’t have been anyone from here it would be a bit strange to mail something to your own house.
“you have mail from someone..? Do you know who mailed it to you.” Richeh looked at her as she drew her pre-prep circle in her palm quire.
“No, but I’m so happy someone wanted to write to me!” She laughed awkwardly brushing her fingers through her bangs
She ran up to Qifrey slipping the letter out of his hand. It felt firm and a bit heavy from the others. She used her fingers to open it delicately afraid of damaging it. Richeh, Coco and Agott huddled around Tetia curious about the mysterious letter addressed to their fellow apprentice.
Dear Tetia,
I’m writing to ask you for your presence at the Ezrest Castle, ever since we had met at the Silver Eye Festival I haven’t be able to not think about you. I would like to see you once more. If you would like of course you’re welcome to stay at your atelier. But you could indulge in my letter I would be delighted. I believe it’s called a “Date”? I’m not sure it’s quite silly. But I hope this letter finds you, your welcomed to stay for dinner and I will provide a way back to your atelier.
Yours truly, Prince Eoleo Ezrest.
“The prince?! Tetia? When did you meet the prince at the festival it was so chaotic?! I can’t believe he’s inviting you to the castle?” Coco was the first to react, shocked by the letter.
“Well,.. I met him while I was looking for brushbuddy. We swapped cloaks since the guards were looking for him. I felt a bit uneasy about what he said afterward but he’s a good person at heart, but he liked my staff so much he bought some.” Tetia recalled the memories of when they had first met.
“He speaks very highly of you, my brother told me so. Makes it sound like he’s in love with you Tetia..” Richeh spoke up as she remembered the conversation she had with her brother about the Royal Family.
“That’s silly Richeh, How could someone fall in love with someone by meeting them only for a couple hours. You didn’t even get to know them.” Agott looked at Richeh confused by her conjecture.
“Says you Agott..” She mumbled under her breath before being glared at by Agott.
“Tetia, if you aren’t comfortable going with this boy. You’re welcome to decline his request. I’m sure the prince would understand if you had other plans.” Qifrey reassured Tetia she wasn’t obligated to attend just because someone higher up had asked kindly.
“No no, I feel like it would be rude to decline! Plus I’ve always wanted to know what the inside of the castle looked like!” She swayed her head, trying to express her curiosity of his life.
“Well I might as well go get ready!” She loudly announced to the rest of them before skipping her way up the stairs into her room.
As she sat alone with her thoughts, doubt filled her mind. She looked down at her hands interlocked with eachother, picking at the cuticle around her thumb.
It’s not that I don’t want to see him.. I just. Dose he really only want to be my friend because of the royalty pact between The Royal Family and Witches. Was it the desire to become a witch? He seemed so happy to wear my cloak and hat.- I wonder what kind of witch he would be if I had showed him how to draw spells-
“Snap out of it Tetia! You know teaching outsiders magic is forbidden!” She slapped both of her hands to her face, knowing the implications of thinking of forbidden magic.
It hurt to know the barrier between them could be easily solved.
She stood up trying to pace around her room, attempting to get these thoughts out of her head. As she did this, Tetia picked up a small bag to carry her pen, palm quire, and other miscellaneous items. Looking around her room for her cloak she carefully placed it over her head onto her shoulder adjusting the black ribbon to her arms. Placing the matching cap on her attire, completing the outfit. Her looked at herself in a mirror seeing the uneasy expression still stuck onto her face. She attempted to poke and rub at her face to force a light smile.
She heard Qifrey calling out to her from below. She walked down the stairs, holding tightly onto her strap of her bag.
“You alright dear? You look a bit unsettled.” He held the door open for her, to see the carriage awaiting them out the door.
“Yes! Thank you for your concern Master! I’m doing alright- just a bit nervous to meet the Royal family.” She laughed off her worries.
Qifrey looked at her with concern, guiding her hand to the well cushioned seat. They both sat down right beside one another.
She sat close to the window looking out at the passing scenery, the wild grassland, the beautiful landscape filled with animals. Oh how she wished to have a rule a kingdom with such beauty.
The loud music and clattering of people voices filled their ears, it seemed they were heading close to the kingdom.
“Are you sure that you’re 100% alright going to The Prince house? If you need someone to come get you don’t hesitate to send me a flying spel-“ Qifrey muttered quickly worried about his apprentice. Considering the incident of the Sliver Eye festival. He couldn’t risk her getting hurt or even worse getting involved with the Knights.
“Master! You worry too much! I will be fine but thank you for your concern.” She giggled holding his hand reassuring his troubled thoughts.
“Your right Tetia, i apologize for my sudden distrust. Thank you for being back to my senses.” He placed a soft smile on his face, holding her hand tightly suspiciously.
“Thank you for your thanks!” She let go a bit nervous from his sudden grip onto her hand
“This is as far as this carriage can take you two.” The person spoke with a firm voice, they both looked outside to see the large and beautiful entrance to the stairs leading up to the castle.
Qifrey held the door open once again, holding Tetia hand as they trailed up the staircase. It felt grand and a bit much for a castle but Tetia adored the view on the town folk.
Before they could continue forward they were stopped by a loud voice yelling to them.
“Who are you! And what is your purpose here!” A guard yelled to them with a large sword in hand placing directly in front of their path.
Tetia jumped back almost falling over with the sudden voice yelling at her. She lost her footing onto the cracked concrete stairs flailing her arms in the arm hoping to catch herself. Qifrey rushed to grab her but another pair of hands wrapped around her waist swiftly and gently
“It’s alright, they’re with me.” a gentle and soft spoken voice whispered near Tetia’s ear. Feeling his hand leave her waist. Her face flushed a little thinking of the implications of where they landed
“I apologize for their behavior, I’m glad to see you once more, My dear friend Tetia.” He grabbed her hand with his soft hand bringing it closer to his mouth. She watched with her face getting redder each second. His lip grazed her knuckles placing a small kiss onto them, his lips were wet almost like a damp pillow.
Nothing could have prepared Qifrey for such a shock like this.