Persephone and Hades: Victorian Edition.

Prologue I : Persephone

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Persephone's Point of View
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"Persephone, the girl destined to be the "Goddess of Spring", was known as a "miracle" child. Persephone, the girl who's the "jewel of the Empire" with her captivating looks, any man would want to marry her. Persephone, the girl who has an "intelligent, wise mind."

Persephone was drowning in these rumours, she'd have to match the rumours to save the face of herself and her parents. She was sick of putting up with an act, however, it's the walk of life she's in. She was placed and destined to be here at this certain time.

The rumours were swallowing her up whole, she could see it clearly... But if she asked for help, would anyone help her?

Demeter was born as her mother, also a stunning goddess known to be the "Goddess of Agriculture". Demeter was loving towards her daughter; she always wanted the best for her and wanted to see her flourish in power. As the Empress, Persephone was naturally going to be her successor, along with a husband, of course. She had a high social status which being an Empress contributed a lot, as well as her looks - Demeter with deep cambridge-blue eyes, slightly suntanned skin gave her a soft looking face, she had golden locks reaching down to almost half of her slender, small waisted body, showed that she had the looks fit to be an Empress. Her kind-natured personality made her approachable and a pleasure to be around. This is how she wants her daughter to be like.

Zeus, her father on the other hand, had striking features, with a well-proportioned bronze body and a few whispers of grey and white in his pale-blonde hair symbolizing age and wisdom, he looks like the sun. Fit too, to be the Emperor and ruler of all. However, he was still a kid at heart, the sort of cheery, considerate, and admirable Emperor, which made others feel comfortable around him.

Both parents look fitted to their role. But Persephone doesn't like hers.

Persephone wonders why her parents act differently in front of her than in a ball? Her mother - Demeter; although she knows she adores her, but she thinks she's too overprotective, too overbearing. Always comparing Persephone with someone else, like one of her friend's daughters. She knows she adores her, but she never really pays attention to what she feels like, or the smaller things, she is too obsessed with the rumours that Persephone had to match to. Persephone knows what she wants her to do but even if she says her true feelings, what will she say back?

Her father, as the Ruler, finds his daughter as an opportunity to join with other families as soon as her debutante is over by marrying her daughter off to a suitor; perhaps a prince from another country. He takes control of everything, from her daughter's education to expenses for the debutante. All the education is going well, by making her remember suitors and their names and the family tree and the best etiquette to have when greeting someone.

Persephone must let this be, since she's a princess, she doesn't have any right to complain because her parents are doing this for "the best". Nonetheless, she still wonders what life would be like if she was not the princess. If she did not have to meet expectations and rumours?

Finally, the time has arrived. The time for her to join the social status and show everyone the expected beauty, for her to gain a ton of letters from suitors across the Empire and possibly from other Empires too. The time for her debutante and her crowning as the official "Goddess of Spring" since she is of age.

The dress was dazzling, the fluffy rose volantes and ruffles, decorated with a golden trim of enchanting patterns, which altogether make an impression of endless shady rose waves with a dash of the mark of royalty. The dress looked resplendent on her. Her lady-in-waiting and best-friend Hecate along with other maids prepared her make-up, her accessories, and other small things. Soon she was nearly all to go, she wore accompanying pink gloves which had almost the same trim as the dress, with a white feather fan in one hand.
Hecate brought out an astonishing diamond necklace, it seems like the Empire's most prized possession. A necklace worn by many generations which never rusted out through these years. Persephone thought: "So this must be father's gift for me, in congratulating my debut and crowning". As she nodded, Hecate hurriedly put it on for her, and as she glanced towards the upright mirror, she looked at herself in awe. Her heavenly hair brushed neatly and put up in a trendy, comfortable hairstyle which consisted of difficult braids and a bun that looked like a flower. She looked at her face, she decided she is not like that, but is a porcelain doll. Her plump, rosy lips joined with her high cheekbones complemented her soft glowing face, so full of life. She had long legs and a thin waist, mostly inherited from her mother. Followed by the additional tanned skin from her father.

She looked ethereal.

As she entered the hall, she was greeted by silence as the music stopped which made people stare at her like an alluring painting. She could admit, she felt a little uncomfortable but she withstanded it. Crystal clear sounds could be heard from her heels as she made her way down the stairs to the centre of the room to greet her parents, on the way she heard whispers of her name being scattered across the ballroom. As taught in her etiquette classes many times, she curtsied towards the thrones where there were three seats, two of them occupied, meaning the last one was for herself. As she lifted her head, she glanced round at the room, greeting, and introducing herself out to the overpowering audience - other nobilities, who were gods and goddesses. Catching her eye was a dark, attractive figure, standing closer to her father. A close friend perhaps? Or a distant relative? She never had seen such a dark aura around a person nor had seen him in the books and portraits she had studied, and slowly she became more and more interested in that person.

She took one last look at the male, and suddenly...

She met his eyes.