𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄━︎━︎E. Grimhilde ✓︎

❝CHAPTER NINE❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 Day and for some reason unknown to her, Ilaria was extremely nervous. She sat in her room, silently panicking as she awaited the arrival of her aunt and the other royal families. From her window she could already see some of them gathering and that made her nerves even worse. She wasn't even dressed yet. She wanted to wear something nice for her aunts arrival. Although Mirana liked to dress in all white, she knew Ilaria wasn't that person and she also knew that Ilaria wasn't really a fan of dressing up. Which meant if Ilaria dressed up her aunt would know she was trying too hard and so that left Ilaria frustrated.

She opened her closet, standing there with her hands on her hips. A huff left her lips as she pulled out a red shirt with black shorts. It was hot outside, and Ilaria knew she would suffer in the summer heat if she tried wearing a dress. Finally she put on the red shirt that had a black outline of a heart and her black shorts. She grabbed her leather jacket, knowing she truly couldn't go anywhere without it even if she would suffer in the heat. She put on her shoes and put on a heart necklace along with a few bracelets before running a brush through her hair and letting out a sigh. She looked at herself in the mirror, decided it would have to do, and finally left her room.

The courtyard was bustling with families reuniting, smiles radiating on everyone's faces, laughter that echoed all around. Ilaria searched the crowd, looking for a familiar head of white hair but a frown pulled on her face when she didn't see her aunt anywhere. Was she not coming? Had something happened that made her not come last minute? Ilaria felt disappointment settle deep within her chest. She truly had been looking forward to today.

     "Darling, you look worried? What's bothering you?"

     Ilaria spun around and came face to face with Mirana. A wide smile bloomed on her face and she instantly launched herself forwards and wrapped her arms around. Mirana chuckled, hugging her niece back. "I thought you didn't come."

     "Oh my sweet girl, I would never do that to you." She pulled back enough to look at Ilaria's face. "You've grown so much since I've last seen you." She placed a soft kiss to the top of her head and Ilaria finally pulled away. They began walking, Mirana seeming to glide along the ground as she walked. "How have you been? Our phone calls have been few and I feel as if I've grown behind on your life."

     "I've been alright." Ilaria admitted. "I've been helping out the new kids, nothing too exciting. Oh! Ben and Audrey broke up finally."

     "Darling what have I told you about praying on other people's downfall? It's not nice." Mirana chided before a smile curled to her lips. "But that is a relief to hear. I never liked that girl anyways. She was always too. . . hm, what's the word I'm looking for?"