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The opera house had always been Bela’s favorite room within the castle. Years ago, she’d often sit for hours with Mother, learning new pieces to play for when Mother Miranda arrived. The keys felt delicate under her blood covered fingers, each note so soft. Bela enjoyed the peace the opera room brought, only the sounds of Mother’s instructions and the notes filling the area.
As of recent events, Mother had become increasingly stressed with the pressure Mother Miranda had put onto her. Bela hardly knew anything about the entail Miranda discussed, however she did know it fell upon the small human infant that rested in Mother’s chamber. The blonde had only seen the child when her mother carried her into the castle, the little thing fast asleep. The innocence was something unheard of within the castle. That’s what made Bela curious.
The hall to Mother’s chamber was filled with various different porcelain vases and decor. Bela bared her fangs playfully at a passing maid as she danced through the halls, watching the maiden squirm in fear. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she watched the sight.
“Careful little one, Mother wouldn’t like it if you spilled wine upon the floor.” she hummed, earning a small whimper from the maid.
“Y-Yes Lady Bela…” the maiden stammered, gripping the wine bottle with what looked like her life.
Pleased with the response, Bela continued on her way to her mother’s chambers, twisting a golden key she kept in her pocket into the keyhole. The door opened with a click, and Bela smirked in satisfaction. Her mother was downstairs in a meeting with the Duke, which gave Bela plenty of time to see the guest of honor.
Her footsteps echoed quietly through the chamber as faint cries from the crib could be heard. Bela raised a brow as she slowly strutted over to the crib, peering in at the baby inside. Young Rose laid quietly within the silk blankets, crying softly as she glanced up at Bela.
Bela raised a brow at the sight, waving to the child. “Well that won’t do now will it, little…”
She paused before spotting the name engraved to the crib.
“...Rosemary. A gorgeous name.”
Reaching up towards the blonde, Rose sniffled. Bela smiled at the sight before gently lifting up the child.
“It’s a shame Mother Miranda needs you, you’d make the perfect little sister,” she playfully teased the infant, booping her upon the nose.
Rose’s nose twitched due to being poked before she reached her small tiny hands up to Bela’s bloodied face.
“I can’t believe I’m talking to a baby,” Bela laughed softly to herself before gently twirling the child around.
It was peculiar to Bela, Rose showed no trace of fear within her. It was different, something the blonde wasn’t sure she enjoyed or found foul. Peering over at her mother’s vanity table, Bela reached for the black eyeliner that rested in the top drawer. Holding Rose’s head firmly, she used her freehand to begin sketching the same symbol she had upon her own forehead onto Rose’s. The infant did not cry but simply wished to grab the eyeliner from Bela to chew on.
“Stay still! You’re going to mess up, mortal.” Bela hissed, before finishing up the flower.
Satisfied with her work, she held Rose up to the mirror.
“Perfect. A little flower for a little Rose.”
A tiny smile broke out upon the infant’s face as she reached for the mirror, causing Bela to tighten her grip so that she wouldn’t fall. A strange sense of pride filled the blonde, causing her to raise a brow at the little one within her arms.
“I wonder why Mother Miranda desires you so badly? You’re merely mortal…” she pondered, lifting Rose up higher.
Frightened by the height, Rose began to squirm in Bela’s arms, crying softly once more. The blonde’s eyes widened as she moved to quickly cradle the child.
“You’re alright! I have you,”
Thinking to herself, an idea struck Bela as she began to carry her out of the chamber.
“Actually, I know what might calm you down.” the blonde whispered, hurrying through the halls.
The walk to the opera house was rather short in most cases, however with a crying infant within her arms, Bela felt as if it took forever. The door to the opera creaked as the blonde opened it but she paid little attention to it. Rose had begun to occupy herself by gently playing with Bela’s hair as they walked, still crying. Bela hurried to the piano before sitting the child next to her, carefully to pull her hair from her tiny fingers.
“Just listen, okay?” she insisted to the tiny child, who simply blinked back at her.
Taking a deep breath, Bela straightened the pages of her music book, its pages filled with small notes in red pen from Mother. A small heart outlined the name of the song, a nursery rhyme Mother would play to Bela and her sisters. Focusing on the pages, Bela began to play, her fingers dancing upon the keys in the candlelight.
Rose began to sway as the song progressed, bopping her small head to the music as she peered up at the blonde next to her. By that time, Bela began to hum softly to the song before quietly singing for the child. Rose’s cries fell silent as she watched in awe. The child attempted to sing with the blonde, however it came out as mostly infant blabbering.
Bela smiled at the gesture as she finished her last note, gently reaching to grab Rose’s hand.
“Perhaps one day I’ll teach you how to play like my mother taught me, little Rose.”