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IRONSIDE, MOUNTHELL 45 AP
DIANNE II
Six days had gone by since Princess Amaryllis and her son landed in the north. Dianne had returned to her more usual behavior. Her initial fears had given way to a bit more indifference over the course of the week due to her and the prince's constant interactions, but the words spoken during their shared— and forced— morning supper a few days ago continued to sting in her memories.
She would be lying if she said she didn't dread the upcoming wedding, for the promise of love was more uncertain now than it was ever before. But she would keep a facade throughout the ceremony and do her best to keep her face rid of the doubt that was in her mind as the sake of her family relied heavily upon it.
“ You look beautiful, Dianne,” her sister, Avelyn, said as she pinned a lacy white veil onto Dianne's crown of silky, midnight black hair.
She tilted her head as she faced her reflection in a gold framed mirror. The sunlight from the windows hit the pearls and jewels on the accessory holding down the veil in her hair just right, making it glint. Her gown was made of the finest fabrics in the north. It was a soft gray with black rose vines coming from the front bodice, going around the waist and then trailing down into a cascade of roses in soft red and black at the train of the gown.
Even now, on her wedding day, she looked the image of a true northern woman, almost like a princess born to one of the Old King's from the north. She planned to act like it, too, as a princess would, now that she would be married to a prince. It was only right, Dianne thought.
“ Your sister speaks honestly, you look stunning, my child.” When their father spoke, the two girls stopped what they were doing to face him.
Kind words and compliments never suited the man, and so Dianne grimaced at them. The lord's small smile fell flat by the response of silence from his daughter's, yet still entering the room despite it.
“ Leave us,” he said as he walked past Avelyn, not even bothering to cast his eldest daughter a glance when he spoke since his eyes were peeled onto Dianne. Avelyn left the room when her sister gave her a small nod of approval, and the father and daughter eventually stood alone.
“ You look just like your mother did on our wedding night,” Lord Calden walked around his daughter in small circles, looking her up and down. Dianne kept quiet. “ She was very kind, and gentle, whereas you are not—.”
“ Why me?” Dianne blurted, interrupting her lord father. “ Why not Avelyn?”
Dianne knew the answer to that question, and yet it had felt better to have pretended otherwise. “ As much as I care for her, Avelyn is a bastard. And it would have been disrespectful for me to even offer such a request to a prince. In the eyes of the law, you are my only legitimate daughter.” She nearly flinched when her father paused in front of her, reaching his hand out for her soft, diamond-shaped face.
