Left for Carnage (Twisted Wonderland x Reader) (PAUSED)

Chapter 16: Get Ready

Note: Hello everyone! I apologize for the late update, but there have been several blackouts due to storms where I live so it was a bit complicated to write the chapter, since I wanted to conserve battery power. But I'm back!

Also! If you lose track of which character is which or want to get a better definition of concepts that are in this work, you can check out the masterlist on my Tumblr that holds a link to a lore list!

So, without further ado, please enjoy this chapter that kicks off the Savanaclaw arc :D

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WARNING: this chapter contains mentions of psychological and emotional abuse (reader's father)

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You lean your head against the ceramic tiles of the shower wall as hot, almost boiling drops of water fall on your back, washing away the sweat that has accumulated on your skin from your sleep and the dirt that has clung to your body. Your eyes stare blankly at your bare feet, countless thoughts swimming in your brain, forming a complex tangle of emotions that gives you a headache.

With a sigh, you tilt your head back so that the water hits your face and blindly reach out for the blue shampoo bottle that sits on a metal rack attached to the wall. Today is the day you can't afford to make any mistakes, not only because of the mission but also because this will be the first time you'll formally attend a public event of nobility as an adult.

Your first public event as a young adult should've been your debut party, an event in which teenagers belonging to noble families are formally introduced to society and essentially their parents declare that they can be invited to other events without the need to bring a chaperone and they can begin receiving marriage proposals. In case the family lacks sufficient funds, are of lower class or multiple children of the same family are of age, they attend a communal debut party held at the royal palace and can even have the possibility to be sponsored by the Empress which opens a huge road of opportunities.

While your three eldest siblings had their debut party as it was organized by your mother and Sigurd got his as he used some of the inheritance money that Aunt Frøydis left for him, you didn't have that opportunity, since your father flatly refused to organize the event, calling it a waste of time, money and food.

No matter how you proposed the event or how important you said this party was, it was always met with a firm "no" accompanied by a mumbled insult or a "get out of my sight". So after a while you gave up and the opportunity disappeared as you became much more focused on your work in the guild.

The lack of that debut party, your family's isolation after your mother's death, and your father's refusal to accept invitations to parties and events have left you with very little experience interacting at such events and moving within social circles inside the nobility and even in society itself.

Of course, you are not completely ignorant of what goes on there and how to interact with people in general. You have complete etiquette and good manners, and your experiences on missions and in the guild have made you better at interacting with strangers; telling stories around campfires, and dancing in the mess hall with companions and friends after an expedition, has begun to break your shy and quiet demeanor.

However, fear gnaws at your innards, as interacting with the nobility is intimidating. These people have too much time on their hands, so building relationships with other nobles for business and obtaining higher positions through talking is their daily bread and butter. They have a very sneaky way of getting information out of you and manipulating your deepest weaknesses to see what reaction you elicit. A shout, a hesitation, or a half-hearted insult can spread rumors like wildfire and can cost you your connections, your position, and even your business.