CHAPTER 7

THIN ICE

Spring comes and passes, a fleeting and serene feeling welling up in my heart. Crescia has to continue his migration during the winter months, but he pinky-promised to visit me again next year.

I look out the window and swiftly feel danger approaching my forehead. I don't react quickly enough though and a ruler meets the top of my head with a thwap. "Pay attention to the lecture, Aeriea."

Tears well up in my eyes from the sting. Damn you Aristole, so strict even in this cold... Remembering that tonight's menu is roast lamb, I silently curse him to faint from the frostbite so that he'd miss out dinner.

"Proper ladies shouldn't be having such rude thoughts."

"You're really a mind reader aren't you?"

"Nonsense. Alas, it is too easy to read the emotions on your face. As a noble, you should train to hide your facial expressions more."

"That..."

His eyes became dark holes that'll suck me in if I don't agree... So scary.

"...I'll keep that in mind."

*

Let's see. Today with Aristole, I learnt more history and overarching realm laws. Then I had etiquette and dance lessons with my caretaker, Ms.Anne. Nothing about the Fairfolk today unfortunately. Too bad, since I find it the most interesting topic.

Daddy's usually always busy, but even mommy's been engrossed in something lately too, so she hasn't been playing with me much. 

There really isn't much around for entertainment other than my imagination. But even I feel like I'm getting too old to always be running around outside by myself. Maybe I should go read.

Mmm, that sounds so mature of me. I nod proudly.

"..."

I look out the window into the garden. Seeing my reflection in the glass, I realize something.

Wow, Aristole is right. It's super easy to tell how I'm feeling, huh? I feel like I lost in some inexplicable way.

Sometimes, officials will visit our home. Regardless of the topic of conversation, my parents usually have a dazzling smile plastered on their face. 

No wait, now that I seriously think about it, it's not always a smile. Hmmm, how do I explain it...? I guess something like, they always have the appropriate expression on. 

I try pushing my mouth up into a smile.

...Ow ow ow, my face muscles are cramping.

*

The sound of winter.

That was my first thought when I awaken to the sound of jingling bells and horse hoofs this chilly morning. Light filtering through the lace blinds, I lay motionlessly in bed for a minute and observe dust floating through the air without a worry.

Finally waking up, I realize snowfall doesn't actually make a sound. Toes touching the hardwood floor, I note how cold it is before walking over to the window. Peering outside, I see a carriage pull up into our driveway. There's snow gathered everywhere, a picturesque scene of glittering white momentarily blinds my just-woken eyes.

A servant opens the carriage and out steps a peerless beauty. Silver tresses cascade down as she lets her hair out from a bonnet. Its shine and color seeming to camouflage itself with the snow. 

As regal as always, I think. 

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Donning a midnight-blue dress and white fur shoulder cape, her head suddenly turns and piercing eyes make contact with my own.

"!"

For some reason, I reflexively hide below the window.

A-As I thought, she's scary... I'm a bit afraid to look out again now... 

I peek above slowly. 

Lady Amaryllis is no longer looking at me, she's walking in alongside her husband. 

Oh. Their children aren't here... Well, it's not like I know them well anyways. But, maybe I could've played with them a little.

Pouting, I call in a maid to help bathe and dress me. By the time I finish and head down for breakfast, I see Sir and Lady Amaryllis seated at the dining table talking to my parents.

Walking up towards them, I recall the manners Aristole literally beat into me. "Be sure to greet guests properly!" I feel slight trauma at these words echoing in my mind.

"It has been a while. Sir Amaryllis, Lady Amaryllis." I give a bright smile and flawlessly curtsy.

Hearing a soft sigh, I confusedly look up. H-Her eyes are so cold! Wh-Why!? Didn't I perform my greetings perfectly!?

The husband looks at her with an equally void expression. But it kinda seems... Deadpan?

No no no, I must be imagining it.

"Our sons are so uncute..." She's looking away and sighing.

S-She's still going on about that!? Cold sweat runs down my back and there's a silence for a few seconds.

My daddy coughs and they seem to snap out of it.

"Hello again Aeriea, you have grown so much already in just two seasons." Sir Amaryllis nods once.

"Yes, you are as cute as ever." Lady Amaryllis delivers with a blank face.

Once again, her words don't match her looks. 

Seating myself, a butler lays a morning porridge and berry compote in front of me. While a maid pours some black tea, stirring in a teaspoon of milk and sugar. "Thank you." I smile and dig in.

"Well then, let's get to business." Daddy begins. Sir Amaryllis looks at me for a second and blinks once.

"It's alright, my daughter is used to listening to these types of conversations.” Daddy easily waves it off, “Anyways, my wife has been tirelessly following leads on those rogue mercenaries."

My parents let me listen in to business and political talks whenever I happen to be around, because they trust I won't interrupt and instead gain some experience in such dealings.

"Currently, I'm looking into a tip that there's been suspicious activity in Harthrow." Mommy looks to be absentmindedly stirring her tea. "The Irvines and Freys are worried about having criminals breaching their territory."

"Yes, we would also like to resolve this matter quickly."

"If at all possible, we'd like for a permit to cross into Harthrow territory in order to investigate and apprehend these rogues. I think it would be the swiftest and most efficient course of action."

My mom has a business smile on her face, but I can tell she's troubled. "Indeed, it would be ideal to have your kind deal with your own..."

My daddy flawlessly providing support, "But, you must understand that would make our neighbors... Uncomfortable."

"Of course we expected such a response." Lady Amaryllis' eyes suddenly drop ten degrees. "However, our kind has laws to judge our own since time immemorial. As such, these laws which govern us cannot be abstained."

I see... This has to do with judicial overreach.

Normally, it doesn't matter if a citizen is originally from a different area. Even if a crime is committed in another territory, the punishment is up to the discretion of the nobles ruling that land.

But... I guess from their wording, it's more complicated than that, huh? 

In the back of my mind, there was one of Aristole's more arduous lessons tugging at my brain. Only the loose connection between their last name - Amaryllis, and the word ‘royalty’ coming to mind. What else am I missing...?

Oh.

"...In other words, you'll go regardless won't you?" Daddy's face becomes grim.

Mommy lets go of the spoon in her teacup. The clink resonates in the empty dining hall. There's a tension so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

He continues, "If you send your own Knights, the Fairfolk most likely - no, will definitely  interpret it as an act of aggression."

I swallow my saliva. With my daddy as the Minister of Interspecies Relations, I am suddenly conscious of the tightrope my family is treading...

"...Today, we only came here out of respect and deference to your ruler, King Freyjr, as well as to your family, the Newlyns. For you have always been fair and diplomatic in your governance. If possible, we would choose to solve this in abidance with realm laws governing all species. However, this is not a matter that the other conservative aristocrats will budge on."

I feel a cold sweat, completely unlike the one from before, begin to form on my brow. My arms and legs begin to shake and shiver. 

W-What is this? I look up timidly and see a dark aura from the couple in front of me.

"!" I immediately look back down.

"Aeriea." A calm voice breaks me out of my swirling thoughts. Mommy is calling out to me. I look up, she has on a collected and dazzling smile, "You should be continuing your studies at this hour."

Hastily, I sit up. My legs are shaking, but I can control it enough to at least walk out. At the walkway, I hesitate and look back one more time. Their cold, frost-blue eyes glint in the morning light like daggers. Threatening to sever the peace long built up by my family and other reigning nobles for years.

I look away and run as far away from there that my wobbly legs can take me. Feeling like a newborn lamb, my knees finally buckle. 

Radiating that much power and fear. There's no mistake about it. A force of compulsion that's birthed only by true, unadulterated power... Something that can only be used by those at the top of the Kindred.

In more common human terms... The Amaryllis were the royal family of Vampires.