Time Lapse

Chapter 13 ~Mock-Rite~

Lady Erys woke to the gentle caress of sunlight filtering through her open curtains, casting a warm glow on her luxurious velvet silk sheets. She stretched languidly before slipping into her best dress. She wanted to stand proud while displaying Atlas's skills at the rite and sought to make a favorable impression on her parents, the formidable heads of the Rime family.

As she descended the estate's ivory-floored halls, Erys kept her gaze lowered, her eyes tracing the intricate mosaic patterns beneath her feet. Her mind buzzed with strategies for approaching her parents, particularly her father. The concern wasn't for her mother but rather for her father. Now that she was the last child left and the only daughter, there stood no chance for Erys to leave-none other than for a political marriage, of course.

Approaching the grand doors, she was met by Shal, the head maid, who stood impassively, barring her entry. Erys and Shal exchanged no greetings, nor did they ever. Shal had never acknowledged Erys with warmth. Any attempts at reconciliation on Erys's part were met with silence, leaving a persistent chill in their interactions.

"Do I need to remind you who I am?" Lady Erys's words cut through the air like knives. She pressed her weight against Shal, attempting to force her way into her parents' chambers.

With a swift, practiced movement, Shal scooped Erys up and tossed her back from the door. "Do you have an appointment, your lady?" Shal finally spoke, her voice steady and indifferent, showing no favoritism toward anyone in the Rime family.

"Do I need an arrangement to consult with my mother and father?" Erys's spiteful retort was underscored by her attempt to stare down Shal. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to match Shal's imposing presence, but it was a test she had never passed in her twenty years under Shal's watchful eye.

Just as the tension between Erys and Shal reached its peak, the bedroom door swung open, and Lady Arabella, Erys's mother, stepped out. Shal immediately stepped aside, her Mary Janes clacking against the tile, starkly contrasting the silence that had filled the hallway.

Lady Arabella rarely left her chambers without a full dress, but today was different. The change struck Erys and Shal odd. Shal tried coughing awkwardly, "Your Lady, it seems Lady Erys would like to meet with you and Sir Reynard. Shouldn't you..."

"Oh, excuse me. I think I just got excited since we haven't had a rite in years." Lady Arabella blushed, slamming the door behind her. In these moments, Shal and Erys covered up any spots that might seem 'immodest' of Arabella Rime.

"Yes, Erys, what would you like to talk about?" Arabella asked, opening the door back for her daughter. Shal turned away, trying to hide her frustration. It always opened opportunities for Erys, while Shal believed it would be best to be harsh on the only daughter.

"I'd like to discuss today's rite with you and your father. Can I come in?" Erys pleaded with puppy-dog eyes. It never took much convincing for Arabella to break under her only daughter's spell.

"Ah, yes, sweetie, please come in. Today's a good time; your father is in a good mood. Everything seemed so exciting after these two guests showed up." Arabella opened the door in full, bringing Erys inside their office. Sir Reynard was seated at his desk.

The chestnut-colored wood wasn't too dissimilar to Erys's hair, which was something that always irked her for reasons she couldn't quite explain.

"So, Lady Erys, You came to speak to Lady Arabella and me?" His voice was raspy and creaky, as if all the years of smoking were finally catching up to him. Reynard's olive-toned skin always showcased his whites better than any other man in his forties. Meanwhile, his skin was darker than Arabella's, something Erys didn't inherit from her father.