𝕳𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖘𝖘 - (Ranboo)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒

Hertha couldn't fathom the sheer problem Brea was. The girl indulged all of her time with Ranboo and so violently pushed Hertha away. Hertha felt worn down by the woman's constant energy to outdo everyone - when she so happily ran to the prince and wrapped him into a hug while Hertha read out a letter Venus had sent to the pair. After the girl insisted on also listening to the letter privately written for only Hertha and Ranboo, Hertha drew her line and declined, walking away with a frown chiselled into her features. Moments like that were a recurring theme, and unfortunately, a long-lasting recurring theme - three weeks.

It didn't help that by after the first week, Venus stopped writing ominously. Just an abrupt ending to their exchanges. Hertha wanted to give the princess her benefit of the doubt, and just assume she was busy. It didn't bother her all too much by the second week. She walked down the hall by herself, daydreaming when Alecto joined her, "she's with Ranboo in the library, he's trying to read but she keeps talking. I don't think I've ever seen him so quiet..." they shuddered while Hertha huffed in exhausted amusement. There wasn't much the girl actually wanted to say - Brea was a dry topic which served negative values of interest to Hertha. "Want me to deliver your letter to Venus?" Alecto offered innocently enough,

"No, it's okay. There isn't one to send. I haven't been receiving anything anyway." She explained as they roamed the green halls. Her voice felt shallow, like it was missing what it had to to show she was Hertha. Alecto rubbed her shoulder and continued their roam quietly. Life was quite boring without her prince with her.

"Ms.Despoi... Lady Aurbrea calls for you." An anonymous voice called from behind, when they turned around, it was only a servant, looking displeased.

"I'm flattered but I decline. I'm not being summoned by anyone other than Venus and people of that calibre. Not a girl with a superiority complex." She swatted away formally and continued her walk.

"Hey now, that's no way to talk about a guest." Another voice scolded. A familiar voice with an overall comforting accent, though Hertha wasn't fond of it herself. They turned around once more and saw Dream, "I'm back! Good and bad news. Good news, gotta tell Tubbo his mimic potion works! Bad news; Brea's talking about you." He sang and hopped over, wrapping an arm around Alecto and Hertha before both pushed away from the creepy intruder.

"Is this a thing he does? How long have you been doing this?" Alecto asked, forgetting themself around the prince.

"A while, long enough to know you call our darling Hertha here; Mademoiselle Despoi!" He cheered and clapped while Hertha rolled her eyes.

"I don't speak... French, right? Yeah, French. I don't know how to speak French. Do you, Ms.Despoi?" Alecto suddenly asked.

"Yes, I do. But I don't speak it often anymore, since everyone I knew was bilingual and we spoke English with foreigners." She explained and stretched.

"Well I don't know anything about French, except I know Mademoiselle is Ms, and oui is yes," Dream said confidently, with a fruitful tone as if he had taught Alecto anything, "maybe I should call you Madame Despoi, since you've hubbed up Ranboo." Dream sighed and rested an elbow on Hertha's shoulder as she laughed.

""Hubbed up"? Alright Dream." She sighed in amusement and let his arm stay there.

"You're right. Anyway, let's talk about your revenge." Dream sighed. Hertha realised that where the royal family of Styx couldn't help her - Dream could. He didn't care, he wasn't one to feel he owed anyone anything usually and something as small as revenge wouldn't serve much more of a purpose to him than, say, turning over a blank page.

"Alright. Revenge as in with the nymph? Nothing there to bite back at - I can live with a little bit of bad talk. However, if she tries... anything... I know who to come to. Does that mean I like you? No," she quickly added and shot a glance at him, "does that mean I hate you? Hate is a strong word! But I know I'm not fond of you." She decided and picked up her dress, the standard black layered dress she had been wearing since she got to the kingdom. There wasn't much to fashion herself off of, the place was limited on resources and even where there were contacts to other trading units, it seemed that clothing wasn't a top concern. Not that Hertha minded, she wasn't interested in dresses all too much.