Chapter 12. It is your kingdom
At the same time, as Sephora taking a flight out of the Raven Kingdom, and over to the Ancient Forest, to calm her mind and straighten out her thoughts, Lyla the young servant harpy was helping Seraphina finish her hair and make-up before the late lunch, where the twin princesses were supposed to have their formal introductions with the suitable male bachelors who had already arrived so far.
Really, Seraphina had used the exercise of finishing getting dressed and ready for the occasion, as an excuse to talk to Lyla honestly and frankly. Among all the servants, Lyla had remained in the castle a short while now. With their mother's cruel and cold disposition, alongside her temper many servants often quit, died or went missing after several months.
Being of similar ages with Seraphina and Sephora, the twins always entrusted her and spoke to her like she was a princess like them… or rather, they spoke to her honestly the way they would each other, like a friend.
You could easily say that the girls were friend. However, their mother would never allow it. Considering that Lyla was indeed, just a servant girl after all and Seraphina and Sephora were Raven Princesses of the entire Raven Harpy Clan. The twins were aware of this and hid the friendship through trivial means (such as situations where Lyla could help out with hair, make-up or general handmaid work) this way they ensured that they could still be friends without worry or fear.
Seraphina had been honest with Lyla and told her of her worries and her fears. The pressure she felt on her shoulder to secure a political match that secured the future of the Raven Kingdom to the best of her abilities. While being worried of her mothers puppeteering.
The Raven Queen was known for her scheming ways. What wasn't fully known, was the extent of those schemes and just how her daughters fit into them. It was presumed that she had always left her daughters out, deeming them to be too precious to her.
During the conversation with Lyla, Seraphina had revealed her worry and reality very clearly, "I know my mother will pick her own suitable mates for both me and Sephora. We've been excited about this since we've been children, getting ones lifelong mate is something so huge and it should be exciting."
Saying nothing Lyla continued listening, intently. As her eyes shifted between meeting Seraphina's black perfect pools in the mirror and back to styling the princess' hair for the occasion.
"Mother," Seraphina put an emphasis on the name, as the servant girl continued brushing her hair and began to style a strand, "She will make it seem like I have a preference for one of the young males, I know it for sure. With how she works, it'll likely be the worst match-up personality wise possible but she'll just say to us that it is the best match for the Raven Clan's future… you know she doesn't ever fully tell us about the politics right?"
This had taken Lyla by surprise. It had always seemed as if the twins were aware of the political and ruling affairs. At least, this was how the Raven Queen, Lady Nox had made it appear. The servant girl's dark ruddy eyes narrowed a little at this, before she responded calmly, "Isn't it your Kingdom, Seraphina?"
Her words snapped some surprise into the eldest twin.
Lyla continued, "You and your sister are in line to be our next rulers. Yourself specifically as the elder twin… and the one who is closest to perfection, to the Raven Queen's beauty herself. If you two, and you yourself are not aware of how the Clan is running, and of Clan politics. That is a call to worry for us all. It's your job to be aware and it is your duty to voice concerns and voice your own opinions. Isn't that what it is to be a ruler?" The servant girl had stopped styling Seraphina's glossy black, shiny, hair. Pointedly looking at her in the mirror.
The message was clear. Do your duty. Stand your ground.
This took Seraphina back somewhat. It took some further moments to snap from the trajectory that this had taken her in her own thoughts. Eventually she uttered an almost inaudible, "Yes. Lyla, yes, you are absolutely right. I can start with this lunch greeting."
"That sounds more like it, and more like the future Queen I hope to continue serving one day. You know…" Lyla teased lightly, as she returned to finishing the remaining parts of the up-style hair do. It was as intricate as the black, feather pattern, lace which clung all around the eldest princesses body, "I did serve some young males and their chaperone's this morning."
"Hmm… then tell me everything Lyla!" Seraphina was going to ensure that she made the best use of her information, "the more prepared I am, the better I am going to be for handling the esteemed guests and male suitors. I would love to help Sephora too but she isn't here and mother will be furious if she's less than she already is for such an important event… I can only fight a battle on one front right now and that's dealing with my immediate future. Sephora will have to wait and I can only hope that she will return herself to the castle promptly and in good condition for this afternoon's events." By the end the eldest princess was rambling.
She didn't fully believe that her sister would return on time, and if she did. Sephora had a track record of seeming to do everything that mother could possibly despise, detest and use against her. Mother really did give her a hard time already, more specifically over her pale coloured eyes. It wasn't Sephora's fault she was born with such light blue eyes.
There had even been a time that Seraphina had, had to stop her sister pouring a well of ink into her eye as a child. While she cried about how ugly she was to mother for her to be born with such an irredeemable feature for a raven harpy. At the time, Sephora had thought that the ink would dye her eyes black, like Seraphina's… or at the very least make them darker than they already were.
Her imperfection was something their mother had constantly pressed into her. That she was lesser. It didn't always seem as if it impacted her, but Seraphina knew otherwise. They were twin sisters after all and they had a good sense for each other and the other's feelings and wellbeing.
Lyla, responded to Seraphina's request to give her the details of the guests she had already met and those that she was tasked with the care of during their stay.
The oldest princess listened intently to every word that her friend and handmaid said. Remembering all of the details.
Some time later a knock came at the bedroom door.
"I'll get it, please just stay and finish spraying your make-up with setting spray." Assured Lyla, pressing the air twice with her hands. Rushing to the door with prompt speed, before Seraphina could say anything to protest.
"Hello?" The servant girl, answered as she threw the door open with a little too much force. More than was needed. It looked rather comical.
The other servant girl from this morning stood, looking shy and sheepish she answered, "Lady Nox requests her daughter in the dining room, as promptly as possible. Master Fielder also requests that we fetch more blood wine while I was leaving the room. May I request your assistance?"
Lyla and Seraphina shared a glance with each other before there was and answer. Both were thinking the same thing and they both knew exactly what it was, it is time.
The servant nodded her head and repeated the blue hue raven servant's request into the room. Despite knowing that Seraphina had heard it. Things such as this were mostly to keep up the formal appearance of being Princess and Servant. Finally she turned back to the other servant girl and replied, "Of course!" With a beaming smile and with that she left the room.
Not before ushering a final, "I will see you in the dining room, my lady." With a final formal curtsy before taking her leave with the other servant.