The Legend of Snow

Looks and Lies

"Fragrance darling, would you come downstairs for a moment?" Says the cold yet oddly sweet voice. 

"Coming Auntie!" I say checking in the mirror one last time before heading down the polished spiraling staircase. I realize how fast I'm going and slow down. Chin up, we can't have you looking like some hooligan from the third ring. Echo's my grandmothers voice. Her advice always penetrates my mind. Like an engraving of her personality lives inside me. At least this 'engraving' keeps me out of trouble. As I near the bottom of the stairs, my grandmother's voice speaks again. Smile, your on camera. I'm not though. Auntie always insists acting like it. Paparazzi could show up any second, even without them, people are always watching. Looking up to the Alaska's. Especially since me and my grandmother live on top of a hill. A well maintained hill might I add. Gardens and roses, Fountains and statues. We are one of the richest families in Negru and being rich comes with it's ups and downs. Though we don't mention the 'downs' to the people. We aren't supposed to be relatable. We are supposed to be looked at. I make it to the bottom of the stairs. My face blank and my poise perfect. Cleanliness is next to godliness, and darling, we are the gods. 

"There you are my dear. You have a visitor." Only then did she invite the fellow waiting by the door to come inside. Hospitable, yet not friendly. I have so much to learn from her. I am perfect. She is a goddess. I watch as the boys eyes travel up to the ceiling. Pillars holding up beautiful marble arches. And chandeliers filled with perfectly clear crystal. My pastel blue High-low skirt lightly drags behind me as we walk. 

"Sit here my dear" Says my grandmother coolly. I watch as the boy sits down slightly frightened. I squint my eyes ever so slightly as I assess him. Formal wear, yet not fitted to him suggesting it is not his own suit. Young face, deep red hair, tense form. He is probably cold since we keep out mansion at lower temperatures. So I'm betting he is a fire judging by his hair and temperature preference. I look down. His shoes are worn down considerably. They don't match the well, unused suit. Perhaps he borrowed the shoes from a different owner than the suit. A person with a suit that beautiful surely has more than one pair of shoes, yet this boy didn't ask for this man's shoes. That must mean he is nervous and unsure. Perhaps he is poor. Since he had to pull in multiple favors from different people. I look back into his eyes. He is looking me up and down as well. My perfectly curved features, soft white skin, icy gray eyes, silvery-white hair that slowly fades to gray.

"Yes...?" I say politely tearing his attention away from my body and back to reality. I look down the hall and notice Lumi walking towards me.

"I uh... have come with a gift." He says his voice slightly quivering yet his face remaining calm.

"Oh?" I say crossing my leg over the other as my little icy blue dragon sits beside me.

"It is a token from the lord of Ducam." He says getting on his knees and presenting a small box to me. His head bows as I take the velvet box from him. I open it slowly and inside is a glistening bracelet. Carefully carved small diamonds attached to a beautiful white band. I close the box again. 

"Thankyou" I say with a slight smile.

"Yes my lady" He says getting up and standing awkwardly. I join him and lead him to the door keeping my dignified pace.

"Thankyou" I say to the delivery boy as the guards close the grand doors.

Once the thud of the heavy doors echo my grandmother speaks up. "Gratitude is for the poor. We have nothing to be grateful for, since all that we have is expected."

"Yes Auntie" I reply "But what about manners?" I say taking my eye off the velvet box and looking up at her.

"Manners" She say grabbing the box from my hand "Are to make us look civilized, not common"

"I-" I say reaching for the box. She pulls it away shocked, and then smiles. 

"Did you really think you are going to keep this? I think it's a bit of a disgrace since I am the one who raised you, trained you and taught you all you know. Shouldn't I get the diamonds? Plus, you could do better than the lord of Ducam."

"Y-yes" I say a bit taken-aback. 

I watch as she raises her eyebrows. "Did I just hear a stutter?"

"No." I say calmly taking a hold of my emotions again.

"Good. Because you are special..." Her tone and facial expressions soften as she walks towards me. She caresses my cheek. "You are a star Fragrance.... and stars live in the heavens, not among ordinary people" I feel a sense of pride well up in me. "You must go big and hit hard. Otherwise.... Nobody will remember you. You will just be as special as a child from the 3rd ring... You are destined for greatness. Take what you can get, and if you don't have it... take it from someone else. Do you understand." 

"Of course" I say smiling a bit.

"We have money, power, authority you name it. But the thing that matters most is-"

"Looks and lies" We say in unison.