Chapter Text
It felt as though it was a dream, staring at her from across the room and watching her stir the spoon in her cup. The way she leaned forward as she lifted up the cup to her lips. The delicate way her hair would fall over her face and how she would elegantly tuck it back into place.
She was beautiful to put it simply.
The beauty mark under her right eye and on her lip was mesmerizing. They were striking features against her pale skin. They were calling her attention in a way that was not very common.
Euphemia was used to darker complections, brown eyes and warm glowing hair. She knew of the sun, she had never witnessed the beauty of a star. Euphemia didn’t even know stars could glow as brightly as the moon.
“Euphemia, do not stare. We do not know their customs, you are being rude.”
Her mother’s words were odd in the language of these people who they have come to visit. Her mother had never liked speaking in their tongue, she finds it too barbaric. The way there sounds cut and take, no softness she liked to say.
“Si, Mamá,”
“Use their words, or they will punish us for keeping secrets. They do not care for our blood.”
Euphemia knew what she wanted to say. They were barbarian people who did not know the right way to rule a kingdom. It was why they were looking towards them for help. They need them to hold the standards of true royalty, blessed by the gods like it was meant to be.
Touched by the sun and the light of their gold, blessing their kingdom with riches unimaginable.
That was their history, that was everything she knew and yet here was someone who did not hold blessing from the sun. She didn’t have the warm hair nor did she have the gold skin but she still radiated light. She still glowed in the sun when it hit her skin.
Diamonds, that’s what she decided when she watched the light move when she leaned back in her seat and read the book in her hands. If Euphemia was gold, then this beauty was a diamond. Euphemia didn’t have many diamonds but she loved all those she did have in her possession.
She would love to have that particular diamond added to her collection.
“Face forward, you are here to meet your potential husband Euphemia. Show your royal blood.”
Her mother's words were exhausting. The same thing repeated since she had been woken up right at sunrise. Dressed in creams and reds, colors of marriage and fertility.
This day had been planned for many months, and beyond that. Since she was born she knew that it was a possibility, she was raised with the knowledge of it happening.
There had been hope though. If she were to reach maturity before an official engagement was offered then she would be free to do as she wished. She only had one more year before she would be allowed her freedom, now she was trapped.
It wasn't the worst thing to have happened, considering that she knew of others, daughters in her family, that married as young as their first cycle. Euphemia was happy that her parents hadn't decided that for her.
Still her heart was hammering as she looked from the woman sitting in front of her to the door that led beyond the sitting room. She didn't know much about what went on in the discussions between men, she did know they like to do it with a glass of scotch in their hand and a cigar in their mouth.
Her father was one of few men she knew that didn’t indulge in such vices the way she knew others too. Even her mother had her poison of choice, so she often wondered if it meant her father held more reason when dealing with others.
It was hard to tell with her father. He had little in the way of expression, but she knew that as his only daughter, he would do everything he could to make sure that Euphemia would not want for anything.
So all she could do in this moment was sit and wait and hope her mother grew bored of looking over her shoulder as she sewed her thread over and over on the cloth.
Embroidery was one of the few things she could enjoy since they've been called for. One of those things she could get to weaving the lace veil that Euphemia would wear to her upcoming wedding.
Truthfully she just wished she could rest. Her fingers ached and her eyes were growing heavy with each stitch she added. Small mistakes that were slowly becoming more noticeable. It would be messy if she didn't take them it out now.
And as if she was being blessed by the gods her mother was being called by the lady of the house. A tall woman with gray hair made it seem as if her mother was younger than what she truly was. Euphemia wondered if her mother would ever hold graying hair like that, or if her dark hair would remain ever present until her dying days.
“It’s considered rude to stare. If the queen were to see you compose yourself in such a way, she would have a few words for the king.”
Euphemia couldn’t help but jump at the voice, her head turned back to the only other person in the room. The girl, the pretty one who was still flipping through her book as though she had never spoken in the first place. Her eyes, silver Euphemia discovered, looked up and looked at her with a hint of curiosity.
“She has influence over the marriage agreement. It’s best to keep on her good side.”
Euphemia nodded her head once.
“My name-”
“I already know who you are. There are no secrets in these walls.”
Euphemia only stared at her as she stood from her seat. Her skirts shifted around and let Euphemia see that hers was much thinner than the full skirt she had been raised with. Would she be allowed to dress in such a way when she married.
“I am Walberga, and for as long as you're here, I will be the one to help you navigate our court.”
Her eyes were beautiful. Silver eyes with long dark lashes were striking against her moon pale skin. Euphemia felt as though the air was stuck in her lungs the longer she remained looking at her.
“Come, I’ll show you around the palace. It’s rather easy to get lost.”
Euphemia feared she was already lost in her eyes.