Butterfly King

2

TW: body shaming. mentions of food habits (unhealthy)

Calithea's Pov:

I smoothed the side of my dress nervously as I looked into the mirror in front. 

Layers upon layers of silks mixed with netting and the intricate embroideries upon each of the thousand layers of cloth that were practically piled upon me were just so suffocating. No matter how annoying it was, I still marveled how they had managed to piece together so much fabric to make such a mockery of an outfit, it was genuinely such a waste. 

Not to mention the 8 foot train that the dress had. How were they expecting me to even walk? 

Looking down at my elbow lengthed lace gloves I sighed. 

This was the most ostentatious dress i'd ever seen and I'd never hated an outfit so much. 

but I guess that was the whole point of this sham of a wedding. To be ostentatious. To show the world just what The Crofts were. 

My fathers only purpose in life was status, he cared more of what people thought of him and less about the actual state of the country. 

He had failed to make alliances that would have helped him, so now hes using me as a trade to make things right. To consolidate his power and to make the whole world believe he had power. 

When in reality, he lost more than he gained. The money he had to pay, 'compensation' he claimed after throwing a fit when looking at the contractual papers that my soon to be husband had kindly sent, was said to be enough to leave my father financially unstable. 

Not that I cared. In fact I found it rather amusing to see him throwing a tantrum, but to think he proceeded with it due to the false status benefit he would receive, sickened me. He gloated to me how this clause of him handing his wealth over would be kept a secret. Therefore no impact was to be made on his personal status. 

I balled my hands at my side. What an utter fool. 

I was broken from my thoughts with a dissatisfied click of the tongue. 

I turned to see a rather sour looking Martha glancing at me with bleak distaste. face caked with makeup, bright red lipstick with a harsh matching shade of blush that made it look as if she were permanently flushed. I never understood why she caked on so much makeup, in fact i would even go as far as to argue that the very very few times Iv'e seen her without, she has looked rather pretty. 

But looking at her attire, of a bland black knee length dress as was customary of all maids to wear, I did sometimes think it was an attempt to brighten her appearance. 

"I guess it'll do." She commented. 

I bit my lip, waiting. Watching first as she glanced me up and down. I knew something was coming, there always was. 

"But if you weren't so big." She sighed in disappointment. "I told you to loose some weight before the wedding, so you wouldn't humiliate yourself. but no you just had to be a greedy pig and eat. I mean, I can see your stomach sticking out from all the way here." 

My eyes widened and my hand instinctively went to my stomach. 

I had just started my period yesterday and during the week I normally get bloated a little. I didn't think it was that bad as I had taken a de-bloating drink today morning. 

Martha scoffed watching my surprised expression. 

"Don't act like I did something wrong now. I'm just telling you the truth. I feel bad for you soon to be husband, poor guy. Thinks he's marrying a beautiful princess when in reality all hes getting is a fat, ugly one."