Of Cinders and Snow

1 ~ Who's this?

"Laleigh have you seen the new young man who's came to town?" Emily asked sunbathing next to me while also fanning herself to make sure she didn't get to overheated
"No I have not," I answered, wincing softly as I picked my finger on my embroidery needle
She opened her eyes and looked at me. Smiling as she says, "Really? It's all the rage amongst us young ladies down in Heartshire."
I rolled my eyes, "well it doesn't shock me, all you all seem to do is throw yourselves at every young gentleman that passes."
She sat up and gasped dramatically before snapping back, "well at least we're trying to find husbands. What do you do all day?"
"Cook, clean, embroider, play music. I'm getting quite good at the guitar."
"Laleigh that's what being 13 through 15 is for. Getting good at primitive tasks. 15 through 25 is for flirting and gawking at men."
Then she stood and glanced over the estate looking for whom Icould only assume was my brother before she says, "speaking of gawking... I'll leave you to your simplistic, boring life."
Then she started off toward Oscar, who was talking with father and Emily's father, Mr. Williamson.
Mr. Williamson is my father's beta, and head of Heartshire's military. When I was a girl I would call him my uncle but as I grew I was asked to stop doing that as it made my father very uncomfortable. Emily and I have grown up together, she is two years my prior, so she likes to give me life advice that hardly ever listen to and never absorb.
She is really the only prominent young lady in my life though, so I tend to look at her as an annoying, but caring elder sister.
Emily was now clinging to the arm of her father and batting her eyes far too much for my liking at my elder brother. So I stood and joined the group. Oscar seemed relieved at my company, as he is, and always will be, majorly uncomfortable with Emily's flirting.
Oscar is five years my prior, so Emily's flirting makes him wildly uncomfortable.
"Yes, Luke, Mr. And Miss Lee will be staying with us." Dad states, only acknowledging that I joined the group by a gentle rub on the back
Mr. Williamson nodded and looked at his daughter who was watching him with an eager gaze. Therefore Luke sighed and asked, "Could Emily stay here on the estate with you all?"
Oscar and I sent our father a pleading look. Pleading him to say no. Alas he got the message and said, "if her intent in staying with us is to flirt with Mr. Lee, I'm afraid I must decline."
Emily's cheeks turned a nice shade of rose before, not thinking before she spoke, snapping, "Well it's not like she's going to flirt with him! So no courtship is going to come out of it for her! So why can't I give it a shot?!"
The cruel gaze my father gave her sent chills down my own spine, but Mr. Williamson said sharply, "I believe it's time we go. Let's go Emily. Now."
She was fuming as she stormed off. Her father apologizing profusely to mine before chasing after his daughter.
I shook my head and said quietly, "well."
But father turned to me, his gaze changed to a smile and he says, "my flower, how was your day?"
So I smiled and said, "Excellent, the house is clean, dinner is on the stove, and I still found time for music and embroidery."
He nodded and Oscar asks, "did you read anything today?"
"No, Emily gets bored when I read, and unfortunately I had to entertain her."
Father and Oscar laughed before I ask, "who is this Mr. Lee? Why is everyone in such a buzz about him?"
So father says, "he's someone important from the palace. he's just passing through my pack."
I nodded and said, "I see."
Then Oscar teased and nudged me saying, "But it wouldn't hurt for you to flirt a little Laleigh."
I scoffed, "I will not. If a man is going to love me then he will love me for me. I will NOT put on a show for any man."
Then I walked away to the sound of Oscar and my father's laughter.