My room was just as I left it. Not only was nothing out of place, but the covers, floor and shelves remained spotless. The books were dusted and my desk had all its stationary in its proper place.

‘We made sure you den remained the way it was, in case you ever decided to visit,’ Cressa explained. ‘He won’t admit it, but father was the one that ordered all the staff to keep it this way.’

‘Of course, he won’t,’ I responded. ‘Bet he has some of my essays hung up somewhere secret.’

‘Mother is coming soon. She’s getting dressed.’

‘Oh, screw the formalities. We need to act bit more like the commoners.’

‘Your father wouldn’t be happy with that,’ I heard my mother’s voice say.

I turned around to see her. She was as beautiful as ever. Her Red hair was tied up into a bun, the suit and shirt showed off her slim figure and the tie rounded off the look with style. She looked every bit of an upper-class woman.

‘I’ll leave you two alone while I get father,’ Cressa said. I nodded and she bowed to mother before taking her leave.

‘Good evening, mother,’ I said.

‘So good to see you, Lyvia. It’s been ages!’

‘Aha. It has, hasn’t it?’

‘How’s your husband?’

‘He’s been doing well. Oh, have a seat, mother,’ I suggested as we both headed for my bed. ‘Unfortunately, he couldn’t join me.’

‘That’s a shame. I haven’t seen him – Jett, was it? – since the wedding.’

‘The very same wedding where father didn’t turn up?’

‘The very same. He’s actually keen on meeting the man you fell in love with, but he’s as stubborn as an oyster. I think it’s how his people dress that turns him away. He definitely won’t like what you’re wearing right now.’

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I sighed and looked down at the lilac dress I was wearing. There were frills at the ends of it and the upper-half was a tad revealing, compared to what most aristocratic women wore. I understood why, but I wasn’t ready to back down and change, even if my wardrobe was right next to the bed.

‘Father’s a patriarch through and through. He wouldn’t accept that this sort of thing was normal from where Jett is from.’

‘I concur. But after your many rebellious feats, I think you’re slowly getting to him.’

‘Sorry, mother,’ I apologised.

‘No, no,’ mother said with a grin. ‘I’m enjoying it. Keep it up.’

An entourage of maids in suits entered the room. They bowed on either side of the entrance. It meant only one thing. Father had arrived.

He was joined with Cressa at his side. His beard was trimmed to a magnificent degree. The scar above his eyes a trophy of his hunting days. The greyness of his hair shone under the dim lighting of the room. He was as fearsome as ever. I could understand why people were afraid of him.

'Good evening father,' I greeted, standing up in respect. 'Look. We have matching dresses.'

‘Lyvia Everdeen! What in Drinzil are you wearing?!’ My father was fuming.

‘Oh, this dress was a gift from Jett,’ I replied, twirling it around.

‘I don’t remember raising my daughter to behave and dress so manly!’

I could hear the not-so-hidden giggles of mother and Cressa (and a few of the maids for that matter). I almost caught it too. But instead, I decided to give them a show.

‘Father, you do realise that I am no longer an Everdeen. I am a Zetter now. His culture is different to ours and I have embraced that.’

‘Preposterous! They’re a bunch of savages that laugh like a pack of guldoons whenever I cross the border. How dare they mock the master of the Everdeen household!’

‘Uh, father. That may be because you dress like a woman from their point of view.’

‘Nonsense. This dress is the epitome of manliness. Calling me a woman is the polar opposite of the truth,’ he defended. ‘I do not accept your husband or his kin!’

I knew I was getting under his skin, so I continued my onslaught. He wasn’t going going to get away with insulting Jett either.

‘Or maybe because you can’t stand the fact that your daughter’s purity was ravaged by a foreigner. A commoner no less!’

‘Lyvia!’ mother interrupted. ‘Let’s not get into a fight now. You too, Ernest.’

‘Yes, mother.’

‘Sorry, Jane.’

‘Now, Lyvia,’ mother continued. ‘I’m sure you didn’t come here just for a friendly visit. It’s not like you. Did you need something from us?’

I smiled. I was meaning to bring up the topic at some point, but mother brought it up instead. She knew exactly was I wanted. How typical of her. With everyone here, I sat down on the bed next to mother. Auntie Rae already knew what was going on. The only people who didn’t were the people in the room.

‘Well,’ I began. ‘There’s a project I’ve started to work on. It’s called Aquaria.’