Sins of the Father | Sebastian x OFC (Caroline Rookwood) | Ominis x Garreth

Ch 57: Seen and Not Heard

Caroline

*

Caroline peered out the window of the ship her father sailed for the gala. She stood, overlooking the rolling hills of Feldcroft and Rookwood castle in the distance. The floating lanterns she and her mother conjured floated along the sandy banks of the valley and rows upon rows of gondolas lined the channel between the shore and the little island. She could see flicks of colors from the gowns and decorations, the patterns gleaming even with the late rays of the setting sun.

'Colors,' she sighed, her gaze catching along the mask on her armchair.

It was simple in its oval shape, intended to hide the curve and structure of the wearer's face—a simple black to draw more attention to the wearer's figure, hair, and all finery adorning them. But Caroline grimaced, brows knitting as she turned it over—its lack of laces and ribbons only solving to hide the wearer's face with a single button along the mouth.

'Seen and not heard.'

She gaped long and hard when her father happily presented her with the mask at dinner some days earlier—her hand reaching for the glass of wine to take several gulps while her mother scolded her father for such a choice.

'Brazen' and 'demure' were pitted against each other, their voices clamoring. When their voices became strained, when words began to reach a higher and higher pitch, Caroline had enough—her jaw hurting from clenching her teeth.

She uttered a simple and harsh 'thank you for the gift, father' before marching off, not bothering to ask permission to leave the table.

A knock echoed against her door, pulling her from her thoughts and her voice was hollow as she bid them to enter.

Illuminated by the setting sun, her father stood, top hat held in hand once more looking apologetic in a dark violet waistcoat.

"Father," she nodded to his reflection, watching his every step as he entered her drawing room, "Good evening."

He was silent as they stared out the window, and Caroline could see his eyes flick nervously to the growing crowd on the shore and back to her.

They had seemingly been at odds the past few days, the tension between them growing as the Solstice approached. Moreso when she or her mother would lament at the pity it was that the event was not being held at the castle—trade secrets, her father claimed before disappearing behind his papers with a scowl.

"You look beautiful tonight, princess," he said, a small smile straining against his lips, "I love the hair—did your mama—"

"No," she said, inclining her head towards him, "Mother was busy with last-minute preparations with Tessie. I did it."

"By yourself?" He asked.

"Yes, Father," she turned to placate him with a tight smile, biting down her quip— 'It's called magic after all.'

He sighed, "Princess..."

Caroline surveyed him—noting the darker bags under his eyes, the new wrinkles adorning his face, and the dimness of his eyes. Whatever happened to her papa when he began to work harder only made him more unapproachable. Each bark, each bite, and order to do as she was told quietly had pushed away the figure that she knew as 'Papa'. And in its place stood a tall man, cold and prone to anger—a man she had come to know as 'father'.

But where her father had become a constant in her life in the past few years, Caroline was always startled and unsure by the appearance of her 'papa'. Much like she was now.