A Heart in Flames #2 (Howl's Moving Castle fanfiction)

Chapter 18: Disciplined Authority

She wanted to fly away. She wanted to fly so far away that no one would ever find her. She'd hide in the clouds and pass through the skies behind the cotton pillows or maybe a good magician could turn her invisible; then no one would see her or ask her for anything. Then, she would be free.

Free at last.

Sophie scoffed. She'd never be free. With her father's recent passing, she lost any hope of escaping this deranged marriage. She pleaded with him for years, begging him to find another way. She didn't love Owen; she didn't even like him. And while her father's attempts always failed, he at least consulted their mother about proposing a new arrangement with the Royal Sorceress.

Yet with every plea she gave him, he only looked at her with hopeless eyes - he knew the decision had been set in stone.

Now, he was gone; she had no one running to her defense. The only thing she had behind her was age. At fifteen years old, the wedding couldn't proceed for at least another three years, even though the groom was royalty. Sophie offered her gratitude for that to the late King Edward.

Ellis Hatter and King Edward - both dying suddenly on the same day. As another strange turn of events, the coronation for King Roland proceeded the very day that Sophie's mother determined what she would do with her three talented daughters.

"Well, your father didn't leave us with much money." Honey said, her eyes shifting between piles and piles of papers and documents - bills and fees and payments. Sophie sat on the couch quietly, her two sisters on either side of her. Lettie held Sophie's hand tightly, their father's untimely death still haunting her. Martha sat cross-legged, her knee bouncing against Sophie's straightened posture. Sophie thought about Martha's seating position and how unfit she was if she were ever in the presence of royalty.

But Sophie hated pleasing royalty.

Honey dropped the papers in her hand onto the coffee table and sighed with exhaustion. She looked up to her girls with torn eyes. "I can't pay for your schooling anymore, girls."

Martha's bouncing knee dropped. Lettie's grip tightened. Sophie lowered her gaze. Though she had already completed most of school, she sympathized with her sisters who still had a few years to go. Lettie was extremely social with her classmates and friends, so this was a true devastation.

Honey turned to Martha first. "Since you're at an age where you still need schooling, I know of an alternative that might just work."

Martha brightened her spirits. "Really?"

Honey nodded. "Mrs. Jarrod is an instructor at Wessex Boarding School in Kingsbury, and she mentioned that she could send one of you there for almost no cost."

Martha widened her eyes. Her voice stuttered. "B-b-boarding school?" Honey nodded. Martha dropped her jaw. "Why? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Honey leaned closer to her with a desperate smile. "You'll like it. There will be tons of rich young men your age there, so when you get older you can find a nice husband to marry."

Martha's voice was high-pitched and squeaky. "But I don't want to marry a rich snob!"

Honey motioned for her to relax. "Do not yell at me. I will not tolerate misbehavior." Before Martha could retort, Honey turned to Lettie. "Lettie darling-"

"I'll get a job." Lettie said before she finished. Her lips trembled and she fitted her hands together. "There's an opening for an apprentice at the bakery. I was actually already thinking of working there, or I can work for you at the hat shop if you'd like."