Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 30: Kingsrose

The Kingsrose estate stood as a spectacle of grandeur, showcasing the pinnacle of Lumen architecture with its gleaming facade. Two end towers curved into the middle like bookends keeping the main bulk together, while a third tower soared behind the lower central mass, casting a long, slithering shadow into the front courtyard.

The interior was no less impressive. Penelope Kingsrose's extravagant manor exuded polished perfection. From the draping staircases to the glass cases displaying ornamental placements, each side of the hall mirrored the other.

It seemed more like a museum than a home to Esther. Too sterile, too clockwork, all detail seeming to follow a strict schedule. Even the staff maintained an organised rhythm, sticking to the left as they moved and resting their hands on their stomachs when empty-handed.

Every worker they passed bent their heads, momentarily pausing their work to present themselves as humble and obedient. Ralph appeared to relish the attention, conducting himself with an air of superiority and directing his spectacled gaze a notch higher than others, but Esther despised it. In an attempt to be polite, she returned with them with her own small bows, but after the first few puzzled responses, she stopped making eye contact altogether. Since they were unfamiliar with being on an equal footing, she worried that her attempts at reciprocation might be misinterpreted as rude rather than empathetic.

Instead, she focused on the sophisticated patterns of the surrounding decorations, searching for something to appreciate. Although lavish to the extent of being utterly impractical, the golden roses held a delicate yet deadly promise. The slim stalks beckoned her with their innocent beauty, but the deceptive thorns concealed a sting that awaited those who ventured too close. She wondered if the metallic sheen was natural, if horticulturists had painstakingly spent years cross-pollinating and infusing to create a gold flower, or if they had been painted to appease the opulent aesthetic of the place.

To test her theory, she skimmed her fingertips over them, but no residues or flecks came off at her touch. The surfaces felt silken and velvety, a subtle shimmer pulsing within the fibres of the petals.

At the disapproving cough from Ralph, she withdrew and returned to his side, shooting him a peeved glare for interrupting her fascination.

"Conduct yourself with decorum while you are under this roof," he warned. "As a representative of the industry families, you must behave accordingly. Show respect to your betters. Until your skills are called upon, you are to act as if you are purely ornamental."

He halted at the base of the left staircase and rotated on his heels, griping as she almost collided with him. "There is protocol you are expected to adhere to."

"Obviously," Esther retorted, earning herself a narrow-eyed scowl. She waved for him to continue, her lips pressed together in a silent pledge to let him speak uninterrupted.

Ralph boosted himself up onto the lowest step of the staircase, refusing to allow the irritation to deter him. "You are to address your charge as Miss Kingsrose, unless instructed otherwise. When walking, remain on her right-hand side and a couple of paces back. Under no circumstances should you touch her, except in cases where it is absolutely necessary, and you must comply with every command you are given." He held up a finger to block any premature response from leaving Esther's mouth. "Without question. Do you understand?"

"That doesn't seem too difficult to grasp," Esther replied, her sleek ponytail splaying down her shoulder as she tilted her head. "But understand?" Her gaze swept the staff and the lavish ornaments that they would never be able to afford with ten years of wages. "I will never comprehend your ways."

"That is confirmation enough for me." He stepped back down. Her piercing green stare challenged him in such a way he almost took her up on it. However, he was a mere cog in a larger mechanism, and he approached his responsibility with great diligence. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted by an unusual interloper who disregarded the traditions and customs of his people.