𝕳𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖘𝖘 - (Ranboo)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓

The next morning, Hertha woke up and did as she usually did. For a brief moment she had forgotten the grave mistake Brea made the night before and changed into the classic knee-cut dress she wore when helping around the castle. She swept with Preta, Alecto and Hygelac accompanying her as they usually did in the mornings when the rest of the family was still asleep. After that, as she often did, she hurried to Morris, the cook.

Only when she saw Brea at the table beside Ranboo did she remember the sour taste which lay at the back of her throat. But there was a slight change, Brea smiled nervously - almost apologetically at Hertha and offered she sat with them. Hertha, slightly disgusted by the switch of attitude, continued to serve the family before deciding it was only appropriate that she sat with them. What sort of a hostess would she be if she so rudely ignored a guest? Her intentions aside for Hertha's humility and longing to impress Hesia. She sat across the table, next to Erena, which ended up being the furthest politely possible from Ranboo - politely because she could have just gone to the other very end, but then it would have been blatant, wouldn't it? So Hertha sat, for the first time in a month and three weeks, with the family, and served herself. She ate quietly with the tense atmosphere of the table, she remembered Venus mentioning how she did the same when she ate with Technoblade - how a "harsh and thick silence hung over" whenever they ate, and "the tension which overcast probably ruined the food for Philza". Venus always had a way with words. Hertha couldn't help but feel scorn when she thought of how Ranboo told Brea what he did. No, Hertha couldn't blame Ranboo for the spilling of the situation anyway: the man was a pushover, so easily swayed by a few words and crocodile tears, a baby would do a better job holding their ground. It was the fact that Ranboo confessed he thought Venus was dead. Had he no faith in the woman? The strong, powerful and witty princess who had survived everything from borderline neglect to nearly dying to her father's hands. Would he truly comfort Hertha with words such as "she's fighting for you out there" and more worthless nothing, only to tell Brea (of all people) that he truly thought she could have been dead? It felt worse than an affair.

How could he?

She couldn't even enjoy her food for what it was, she just wanted to smash the plate in front of her and cry. It had been so long since Hertha felt she was dependent, and though she was glad she experienced the level of independence she did, she only wanted Venus back beside her where they would lay out in the open and talk under shelters hand-crafted for their privacy. With roofs no star could show through and no whisper or giggle they shared would be heard. And just then, did she regret not enjoying her final travelling days to the fullest with Venus. There was a new guilt which overtook her - how left out did Venus feel when Hertha suddenly expressed emotion for Ranboo, those emotions she had killed off when sleeping out with Venus?

"I'm sorry to disturb you all - but we cannot find Ms.Despoi anywhere! We've been searching for her to serve her- oh..." Hygelac's shoulders slumped at the sight of Hertha sitting at the table, she looked slightly distressed, which worried the guard. In the soldier's opinion, she looked like she was going through something, "u-uh... Sorry... ma'am. Are you... okay?" They whispered and stood by the door instead of just sticking their head in and calling. The whole table turned to look at the woman, who cursed herself for looking the way she did, and probably looking worse when being asked if she was okay.

"Do they need me?" She asked and quickly stood up, taking her plate with her. Her guard paused before nodding slowly, "s-splendid!" Her voice cracked, "I'll be with you shortly, let me put my plate away." She excused quickly before rushing into the kitchen where Morris greeted her in surprise and watched her leave.

As soon as the hall door closed behind them, Hertha sighed shakily and pulled at her face, relieved she got out of the situation but also distressed she was put into it in the first place. Hygelac rested an arm at her shoulder and they both walked to the outer walls of the castle, still a part of it but what most people saw through the gates dividing the white castle from the rest of the village. Behind them was a large expanse of marble, promptly halted by the next quartz wall for the rest of the castle's intricate architecture to express. They looked over the castle grounds and into the village where the townsfolk went about their days ready to work or enjoy themselves with their loved ones. It was a pretty sight, quickly ruined by Brea's voice instilling the image of herself in Hertha's vision.