Imperfect Queen

Odious etiqutte and letters

And, I'm back! I know you have been waiting for this, sorry for that.
Also, over 1500 views, you guys are crazy awesome!

Agatha obviously knew castles were extremely huge, but she didn't actually completely grasp that concept until she needed to go to the other wing. The three went down stairs, crossed through courtyards, took countless turns, went upstairs and then got lost at least three times. Neither Arietta nor Nerida were 100% sure how to get to where they needed to go, and seeing as castles have so many corridors and doors, they would take a wrong turn and completely mess up their route.
All of that, just to get close to the west wing, not even actually arriving. Agatha's feet were ready to give up on her, she was used to walking relatively long distances, but she did it while wearing boots, not this blasted heels they had forced her to wear. Agatha had tripped on her own feet at least three times, and twisted her ankle at least twice. She couldn't even walk in heels and they expected her to be a queen. Not the smartest people she knew.
Arietta and Nerida walked rather quickly, it also didn't help that Nerida had longer legs because she was the tallest, add this to Agatha's attempt to walk in heels and you'll get a disastrous outcome.
"Did you really needed to give me heels? I told you, I can't walk in these" Agatha complained, not only she could barely stand, but they also had already given her blisters. Arietta shot her an apologetic look
"I'm sorry, but it was requested for you to wear heels. Apparently you'll need them, you know, maybe at Etiquette they will teach you how to walk in them" Arietta replied, Nerida nodded at Agatha.
"I think that actually is part of it, not that my knowledge on the subject is very good" Nerida thought out loud.
'Better than mine' Agatha thought, the two maids always seemed to be informed of everything. Not only what Agatha needed to do, but also where were some people, news about the marriage, schedule of other workers, and some gossip, but it was mostly Arietta who knew about that.
As they walked through the lavish halls, the decoration followed the same patterns: carpeted floors, walls with paintings and portraits, and many doors. They went up to what seemed the thousandth set of stairs today, the maids went up quickly, but Agatha was slower because her feet were killing her and could barely walk. Both maids tried to help her as best as they could ('is our duty to help you' had said Arietta).
When they reached the second floor, the walls went from red to navy blue, they still had the same pattern of golden swirls, the floor was covered with a burgundy carpet, and the doors were simpler, instead of two grand doors. The trio walked to the end of the hallway, until they reached the only set of doors left. Made of mahogany, looked as imposing as all the doors Agatha had seen in the East Wing. They came to a stop before opening them, Nerida spoke:
"Well, you'll be here for at least an hour, I'll stay, and Arietta will go to attend her duties as a tailor. I honestly don't think you're going to enjoy this, so I hope it won't be as bad as it may look. Also, your dancing lessons will be after this, at nine." Nerida finished, Agatha raised her eyebrow
"When am I going to have breakfast?" Agatha's stomach rumbled loudly, even Arietta and Nerida heard it.
"You'll have it while you're at Etiquette, apparently they'll take it as an opportunity to teach you how to behave when eating" Arietta explained, Agatha didn't even bother to make a remark of that, she just rolled her eyes instead.
Nerida opened the door, Arietta left, and Agatha and Nerida walked in. This room had walls of the color of lilac, with a fireplace at the back of it. There was also a big dining table in the center of the room, with so much silverware Agatha didn't know why it was there. And there was also a dark brown couch and a blue recliner around the fireplace.
Out of the back of the room came a young woman. She had long blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, with her mouth painted a light shade of pink. She was wearing a magenta dress, with a baby pink sash tied around her hips and long sleeves. And to top all of that, she had a huge smile on her pink lips.
'Is like seeing Sophie in ten years' Agatha thought sullenly
The woman's smile faltered when she saw Agatha. She didn't blame her, she elicited that reaction from all kinds of people, no matter what social class.
Nerida spoke again:
"Miss Anemone, this is Agatha of Woods Beyond, she is going to be our future Queen. Agatha, this is Emma Anemone, she will be teaching you Etiquette" The said, Emma, or Miss Anemone (Agatha was unsure how to refer to her) tried to pull out her dashing smile, but came out as a grin instead.
"Ah, lovely" She said in a tone which showed how confused and unconvinced she was, "Well, as you know, women need to be proper at all times, but mostly princesses and queens, seeing as today is your first day here, I'll go with the basics: posture" Agatha winced, she had spent her whole life being told she had a terrible posture, she had tried to stand straight, but it had only failed. She didn't think she would have much luck this time.
Anemone grabbed a book that was in the dining table, she placed it atop of Agatha's head, and Agatha almost dropped it. It was as if the woman had picked the heaviest book she could find, Agatha fixed and tried to start walking, but Anemone straightened her shoulders first.
"Tried to walk at least to the other end of the table" The young professor said, Agatha started walking, only about five steps in, the book was already slipping of her head, she went ahead and fixed it, took another couple of steps, and it fell out of her head. She hadn't even mad it halfway through.
"Is okay, a lot of people struggle the first time" Anemone said. But Agatha struggled the second time, and the third one, and the fourth one, and the fifth, and the sixth, and so on and so forth... Every time she dropped it, Agatha's frustration increased, at some point, her expression had turned into a sour, permanent glare. Nerida shot her a look and made a gesture for her to calm down. Agatha ignored her.
Not only she wanted good posture, but wanted Agatha to walk in graceful 'little steps instead of heavy stomping, as if she was a savage'
Didn't know savages stomped' Agatha thought, irritated at Anemone's comment
Half hour in, Agatha still dropped the book, the frequency did decrease a little, and she actually neared halfway of her distance. Anemone sighed in defeat, she said it was time to call it quits on posture while standing, it was time to move on to sitting posture. Agatha internally groaned, she shot a glare to Anemone, whose initial chirpiness had been substituted by the same frustration Agatha felt.
She sat in the chair and slumped her shoulders, as if to show her defeat and carelessness about this whole thing. Anemone straightened her shoulders again.
"When we sit, our back needs to be to the back of the chair, not slouching forward like a gorilla" Anemone said, Agatha rolled her eyes
"Oh, now I'm a gorilla?" Agatha finally snapped, letting out all the annoyance she felt. Anemone looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Princesses don't snap." Anemone said cuttingly, Agatha held her glare.
"I'm not a princess, or am I?" Agatha retorted, Anemone went back to correcting her posture. Then went to explain why posture is so important in anybody.
Anemone then moved on how to behave around nobles and royalty.
"When you are introduced to someone, the proper thing is to bow, especially if it's to a member of a royal family"
Agatha's bowing was slightly awkward, but Anemone said it was the best she had done this morning.
Anemone also explained that she needed to refer to Kings and Queens as "Your Highness" unless stated otherwise.
"They rarely make an exception, they like having their title thrown around" Anemone commented. She then went to explain how to refer to princes and princesses, dukes, earls, and so many other titles that Agatha had never heard.
When Arietta came in to announce Etiquette over, both Agatha and Anemone sighed in relief. Anemone advised Agatha to practice her posture, Agatha just nodded indifferently. Those sixty minutes had been the longest in Agatha's life, and all invested in posture and how to treat nobles
Arietta and Nerida led her out of the room, Arietta smiled at Agatha:
"Good news, your Dancing lessons were moved to tomorrow, now all you have to do is go to that little meeting about your wedding, so you have three hours to do whatever pleases you"
"Oh thank Goodness, I'm starving, where can I go to take breakfast?" Agatha asked eagerly, she spent the whole class of Etiquette thinking on how hungry she was.
"I'll go get your breakfast, Arietta will take you to your room, and you'll just eat there like you did yesterday." Nerida replied, she then took a left and was out of Agatha's sight. She had had her two meals yesterday at her room, she didn't bother ask why it was like this, but it didn't really bother Agatha.
Arietta and Agatha kept walking through the same halls as they had done previously, only that this time, they only got lost once. Arietta kept the conversation going by asking Agatha questions about Etiquette, such as:
"And what is Miss Anemone like?"
"Did you hate it as much as you thought you would?'
"Do you seriously have that bad of a posture?"
Agatha knew Arietta was the most curious out of the two maids, but she really emphasized that characteristic today. She then talked about who had been her previous patroness, and according to Arietta, she had been a bratty duchess.
"When I heard I was getting the future Queen as a patroness, I wasn't too excited, that Duchess Vivienne had been the biggest pain I've had in seventeen years of life. But then they said how particularly different you were, that I thought it wouldn't be as bad, and with Nerida is even better. I'm glad you are who I'm serving, you never complain about our service, or think we're idiots, even though I pester you with questions like these. I think I've never had such a nice patroness! And so humble, how could someone dislike you?" Arietta rambled, Agatha's neck went completely red. Nobody had ever complimented her as much as Arietta, and she had only known her for one day.
"Um, well, thank you" Agatha stammered, still blushing, "but you've only known me for one day, that's not a lot of time to know me" Arietta gave a shrug and smiled.
"Oh please, Vivienne would yell at me like six times per hour, believe me when I say you're great"
"Thank you" Agatha said quietly. The two kept walking and Arietta kept talking. How could two maids that just had known her for a day, be nicer than almost all the people in Gavaldon?
"Arietta, how long have you been working here?" Agatha asked, looking at Arietta
"Two years, I had three patroness before you. Duchess Vivienne, Duchess Katina and Lady Stella. All around the ages of seventeen to twenty three. Also, I've been a tailor for the same amount of time. Oh! By the way, I already have the design for your dress, and the fabric. I hope you'll like it, well, I don't know, you're not very into dresses" Arietta shrugged, "I hope you at least think you look pretty" Agatha stared at her dumbfounded, she had worked for two duchesses and a lady, yet she treated Agatha like she was more royalty than them, respectfully, but at the same time, as a friend.
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be very into the dress, I really don't care that much about clothes. And what happened to your previous patronesses?" Agatha asked, Arietta looked away, embarrassed.
"Well, Vivienne replaced me and Nerida, Katina married and moved away, and Stella also replaced me. Apparently I was too stupid and annoying" Arietta said sadly, Agatha gave her a sympathetic look.
"I don't think you're any of those things" Agatha said softly, Arietta looked up and beamed as always.
"Could I maybe hug you?" Arietta asked hopefully, Agatha was so not a hug person, but Arietta was like a little puppy, so Agatha allowed it.
Arietta walked even happier after that.
When Agatha got to her room, Nerida was there, holding a silver tray. She brought a bowl of oatmeal, fruit and water. Agatha sat down on her desk and ate ravenously. She didn't know if it was the hunger, but it was as if it was the best she'd have in her life.
Arietta then left and took the tray to the kitchen, Nerida stayed seated in Agatha's bed. Meanwhile, Agatha did something that was long overdue: write the letters to her mother and Sophie.
She started with Sophie, she felt it would be easier to talk to her, about the luxuries, the dresses, the maids. It went on like this:
Dear Sophie
I know you've been waiting for this letter for nearly a month, I have to apologize. The idiotic guards made the trip about a week longer than what it should've been, and I wasn't able to write during that period.
Now that I'm finally here, I can write this. The place is just like I pictured. Everything is so expensive and snobbish. I am wearing a silk dress right now, I can't help but think you would have been a hundred times more fitted for this life than me. I have two maids: Arietta and Nerida, they're the nicest people so far.
The prince is a huge jerk, but I totally saw that coming, (I think you would be swooning over him though, and he would swoon over you too) But that subject is not important. The wedding notice was posted already, I'm officially engaged. That is the worst thing I've ever written.
Hopefully you'll be able to make it to the wedding, the date is not completely clear, but it is in three weeks.
Hope to hear from you soon. I miss you terribly.
-Agatha
Agatha realized it was the first letter she had ever written, she thought it was pretty decent, she then let it there, so the ink could dry. Then she started to her mother, it was more or less the same, only that she complained a little bit more in this one. A tear ran down Agatha's face, it hadn't dawned on her that they might not be here for her wedding. Gavaldon was so far they would have to leave today to make it on time. She would ask today at the wedding reunion about guests, they couldn't just deny her to bring her only guests. She wiped her tears silently, Nerida broke the silence.
"My lady, if there something wrong?" Nerida asked, an urgent tone to her voice. Agatha shook her head.
"Don't worry about it, it'll be okay. I promise" Agatha turned to look at her, Nerida still unconvinced, but she just shrugged it off.
"As you say, Agatha" Nerida said, Agatha grinned at her calling her by her name.
Just in that moment, Arietta burst in through the doors, noisily as always.
"Smells like ink, were you writing?" She asked Agatha, she nodded. Arietta smiled, saying she knew the 'smell of old in a bottle', it made no sense to Agatha, but she didn't really care. Her life made no sense at the moment.
"Quick question: would you invite us to your wedding?" Arietta asked bluntly, Nerida scolded her sharply.
"Arietta! Of course she won't, high class people doesn't invite us to weddings" Agatha frowned at that, Nerida probably had been here longer than Arietta, she must have seen all her patronesses getting married, but not being there.
"Of course you will. Who do they think they are to not let me invite the only people I like in this blasted place" Agatha verbalized solemnly, Arietta beamed at her, Nerida stared at her, eyes like saucers, and her jaw almost touching the floor.
"Y-you would invite servants to your wedding? But you're almost a princess! A queen even!" Nerida exclaimed, she was surprised, but seemed happy, regardless of how unbelievable it was.
"So?" Agatha snorted, "I can, I mean, if they want me to lead country, I can invite you. You guys are...nice" Agatha said the last part quietly, Arietta still beaming.
"I going to need my best dress! Oh, I should make one for Nerida and I! This is so exciting!" Arietta gushed happily. Even Agatha smiled, the two maids were so happy, even Nerida was gushing, both acting like two teenagers.
"You are like the best person ever!" Arietta gushed, her olive eyes lighting up.
Agatha smiled at that. A real, genuine smile, it was hard to think she was actually smiling, she never did.
Agatha then asked who could take care of the letters, Nerida offered herself to do it.
"I would wait until the reunion is over, you know, for you to write anything like wedding date or something" Nerida suggested, Agatha agreed with her. They would probably clear up all details, and would probably even have the invitations done. Agatha rolled her eyes at that.
After two hours, they took Agatha down the same halls she walked yesterday, the same she walked when she was anxious about meeting Tedros. And they had stopped at the same pair of doors. Nerida and Arietta stood by her sides, unlike yesterday, where Tristan had escorted her.
"Well, I hope you can clear anything up, and that you can invite whoever you want" Nerida said, then whispered; "I hope we can go" she then winked at Agatha. Nerida opened the doors.
Agatha still felt the same irritation as she had before.
But worse, because she already knew who was behind these doors..