Work Text:
lady pearl, the fairest in all the land. she lived only the finest life, surrounded by everything she could have wanted. yet she felt something was missing.
she was already assigned to marry a suitor; a fine, tall, handsome man named alejandro, or alex. alex and pearl had been friends since childhood, and they were fond of each other, but not romantically. alejandro already had a boyfriend, but this was a secret—after all, it was the victorian era.
but out of obligation to produce heirs and continue the line of their wealthy families, the two agreed to marry when of age. neither very much minded, but pearl still felt trapped.
the only person pearl felt she could confide in was her personal maid, sophie. sophie was endearing, sharp, and a good listener. she told the best jokes, and could light up rooms. her eyes sparkled and shone, drawing others to her to hear what she had to say. she was also very sarcastic at times, which humored pearl.
pearl would often lament to sophie about her troubles, and while sophie listened, she couldn’t help but feel a small bit jealous. after all, pearl lived a luxurious life. she never had to worry about money or a home. she got to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and got to meet important people, and say important things. everyone listened to what she had to say. she had a good education. pearl was smarter than most adults she knew, even though she herself was only eighteen. sophie longed for a life like pearl’s.
sophie lived a dull life as a maid’s daughter. she had been assisting her mother’s work since she could remember, and had moved to pearl’s family’s estate when she was fourteen. the pay was good, they got free housing (even though it was dark and poorly maintained), and sophie had found a friend in pearl, but sophie still longed for something more.
one day in question seemed as it would be a day like any other. (it was not.)
sophie was up before the sun to sweep her chambers and head up to pearl’s room and bring her breakfast.
when sophie came in, pearl was staring out the window, her sheets rolled up, covering the fact that she was only wearing a brassiere, but leaving her back bare.
“oh, apologies for barging in—“ sophie started.
pearl smiled. “it’s fine, come in, soph.”
sophie nodded, leaving the breakfast tray next to pearl’s bed.
“what are you thinking about?” sophie asked.
“wouldn’t it be lovely to love someone, sophie? it’s just so romantic, isn’t it? devoting your life to someone eternally,” said pearl.
sophie thought for a moment. “of course. i’d love that. but you are getting married.”
“yes, but not to someone i love! i fear i’ll never have the life i desire. i mean, i don’t know anyone who cares about me romantically.”
by now, pearl was out of bed, and sophie was assisting her getting dressed, specifically lacing her corset.
pearl continued, “someone who’d— ah!”
sophie had tightened the lace, making pearl yelp.
“someone who’d go to the edges of the earth for me! and stick by me! and wake up with me every morning and tell me how beautiful i am, even when i’d wrinkled and wasted away.”
“well, m’lady…i mean, i’d do all those things for you.”
sophie had finished lacing the corset, and pearl was in her dress, ready to go.
“i know, sophie,” she said, “you truly are my dearest friend. that’s why it pains me to tell you this.”
sophie tensed. “tell me what?”
pearl leaned over and gave sophie a peck on the mouth.
“that,” she said, and ran off downstairs.