Bride Of The Shadows

Chapter 5: Hobby

Hermione led Celeste up the stairs, towards her bed-chamber. Her hands clamped together and her eyes concentrated on the ground as if some sort of intriguing stuff existed there. She hadn't stopped trembling, and her heart palpitated in her chest as she heard the sound of Celeste's footsteps behind her.
Celeste, on the other hand, had her gaze fixated on the pallid-faced princess. Her body movements were inaccurate and she was visibly shaken. She wondered what must be the cause of it.
When Blair had mentioned to her that she had a child, Celeste was expecting to see a dashing princess, confident and upright just like her mother. But this one was out of the question. She was disappointed.
How were they going to have fun, if she wasn't free? If she clamped her hands together and stared around cautiously like something was going to devour her at any moment.
Could her condition be helped?
If so, Celeste was going to help her out of her good nature, and partly because, there existed a good friendship between their mothers.
Sighing, she moved closer to Hermione, where they had ascended the stairs and had taken a right turn. In their view was a large door and two guards- looking amiable stood by the door. They bowed once the princess and her visitor inclined forward.
The door was opened and Hermione found herself in the four corners of her room with this new friend of hers.

The door was opened and Hermione found herself in the four corners of her room with this new friend of hers.
Blair, her mother had purposely shooed the two of them away, so they could have fun. But her concept wasn't very welcoming by Hermione who was now looking at the other princess.
Celeste stared unbelievably at the interior design of Hermione's room. She could beat her chest that Hermione had great taste, and with one glance, she could tell, the princess fancied the color 'Yellow'.
"This is much better than my room," She remarked. Twirling. Her gown swayed in the air.
She eventually stopped and glimpsed at Hermione, who was still shaken by everything.
"It's alright to take a look, right?" She inquired.
Celeste face-palmed herself internally, this was out of her nature. She would have bounced on the bed which looked extremely bounce-able and would have rummaged everywhere. But her mother's teachings came right in time, and she refrained from doing anything of that sort.
"Y--yes" Hermione responded, stuttering.
Cool. Celeste thought as she walked across the room, from the dressing table to the large wardrobe. She pried it open to lay her eyes on several yellow gowns, and a few sharp colors. 'Woah' she thought, gaping at the designs of the cloth.
Next, she moved to the windows, where fresh butter-cup flowers lay, they were yellow also and they smelled really nice.
In the chamber, there was a large sketch pad, resting against the donkey chair, and beside it was a palette of a variety of colors. Celeste noticed that the brush was clouded with colors, which made her believe that the princess had previously been painting.
Before she reached for the sketch pad, Hermione had dashed from where she stood and jerked it away from where it lay. She held it tightly against her chest.
Celeste, whose hand was in the process of prying the book open, found her hand hanging mid-air. Her lips parted in surprise as she hadn't expected that speed, at all.
She retracted it to the side with a smile forming on her lips, "Is that a no-go area?" she asked.
Hermione didn't respond.
"I'd like to see what you paint if that is alright with you" She spoke. Her voice, amiable.
Hermione only stared, with her round gray-green eyes. She then saw the princess tilt her head to the side and say, 'Please'. Hermione swallowed, her grip loosening against the sketch pad she tightly clung to her chest,
"C---come"
Celeste beamed with joy. She followed Hermione, and they settled on the bed, sitting on the edge. "This must be your hobby" Celeste asserted.
Hermione nodded in response, her hands moving against the sketch pad.
She began to flip through the pages, revealing her beautiful works to her new friend.
Celeste gasped. This was magnificent! Who had taught the princess to paint like this? She was a professional!
She didn't conceal her thoughts from Hermione, and the praises she gave, brought a smile on the girl's face.
She was even very beautiful when smiling- Celeste noticed. ノ
Aha! This is her new work, she thought to herself.
Hermione painted various pictures, landscapes, seas, animals, and even people. All was her talent, no one had taught her how to do it. And she was happy this new friend of hers was interested in her work.
"My father knows how to paint too, and it's his hobby" Celeste didn't forget to drag her precious papa into the conversation.
"Is it your father who taught you how to paint, is his hobby painting too?" The girl continued to engage her in a conversation. This was definitely the longest conversation she had ever been...
Her father, Zephyr. How was she going to explain that his hobby was being around Blair, teasing her every single chance he had.
In front of the kids, he acted normal, like every fatherly figure, and wasn't too stern but he was a completely different person when beside their mother.
Her father's hobby was pestering their mother and not painting, she thought to herself, looking down at the portrait she had painted on the sketch pad while they were in the garden.
"No" She finally answered.
"W--what's your hobby?" Hermione looked to the side, meeting Celeste's eyes.
"I like to study. I'm a genius at maths" She responded, looking proud.
"A-listair is like that a-- also"
Celeste's eyebrows crimped, her eyes narrowing, "Who is Alistair?"
"My brother"Just then, a gorgeous prince emerged from the door. Celeste turned to look and her eyes widened at the sight before her, he was tall and incredibly handsome. It was as if a different type of light was cast on him, as he neared her. His dark raven hair shone, and his gray eyes were narrowed.
He stood confidently before them.
"He is Alistair?"
Hermione nodded, while Alistair sent a sharp glare to Celeste. "How dare you speak my name just how you please?" His cold voice reached her ears.
Huh? Celeste saw him lean forward and she held her breath, "I am older than you, and I deserve respect" His voice was commanding.
Celeste breathed out, "Just a year. What's so special about it?"
"Something is special about a whole 365 days I senior you with" He spoke, his lips curling into a dark smile, "Dont you ever regard me without respect" He threatened, and she saw a glint of red flashing through his eyes.
He then stood to his full height, his hands inserted in his pocket. "Mother said I should see if you two are doing well" He uttered with a smile. "Looks like you're coping" He directed at his sister.
Whereas, Celeste was gaping at the prince. Cold and dangerous! She liked it! Oh, she couldn't stop squealing internally!