Cynosure

Make You Cry

I had decided.

Before Lucian comes back I was going to speak to Eden about what she thought of the throne. I don't bother to change out of my dress into something nicer. Eden would have something even more extravagant on anyways, even when she is simply lounging.

I find her embroidering a piece of cloth on the windowsill in the library. Her hair almost changes color under the light. Changing from a jet black to a hazelnut brown, forming almost a haloed glow around her frame, whereas mine is a constant ink color.

I walk silently to the towards Eden and stop before a wooden desk. I knock twice letting her know that I was in the room. When she looks up, her face splits into a blinding smile.

"Gwen. What're you doing here?" She places her stitching down next to here. Her long skirt is gathered up in her hands before she stands up, clearly not wanting to step on the carefully threaded beads at the end.

"I, uh," I had not really thought about what I was to say when I found her. Just that I needed to know her thoughts on who the heir should be. After a whole childhood of being kept at arm's length from both Mother and Eden, it felt awkward to speak to her casually. "Wanted to ask you a question."

"Please go ahead." Eden chuckles softly before moving towards the soft cushioned seats at the center of the room. She gestures a hand towards the chair in front of her, inviting me to sit.

"I wanted to ask your opinion on the heir to the throne."

"My opinion? As in who I think would be crown princess you mean." Eden glances at me once before looking down at her hands.

"Yes. That's what I meant."

"If I were to be so forward, Mother had always suggested that you weren't interested in the crown, Gwen." My hands balled into fists at that. Leaning back into the chair, I scoff at the outrageous statement.

"I know that you're not satisfied with your relationship with Mother but I do have more exposure to the Lords and-"

"Not interested?? That is absolutely, downright ostentatious." My voice rises towards the end and I see Eden visibly cower at that. It gave me great pleasure to see her hesitate before replying.

"And what do you know about Mother and I? We might be sisters, but Mother does not see me as a daughter."  

"I'm sorry but that is what Mother said. She said that I was much more fit for the-"

"Tell me Eden. What do you know about politics? The royal court? Our foreign relations with Vorligia? Of the treaty between our family, the Purcallidus, and the Lords of the Leerye?" I fold my hands onto my lap, waiting for an answer.

"I don't. Mother said I shouldn't meddle in court-" I crossed my legs and kissed my teeth. Eden flinches at the disapproving look I give her.

"Mother this. Mother that. Do you not think for yourself Eden? If you were to inherit the throne like this, you wouldn't be ruling. Mother would." To think I was competing with someone that didn't even know the interval affairs of this kingdom made me fume. Mother really didn't want to taint her pretty little angel with dirty politics.

"Eden. Did you really think you could steal the throne away from me?"

"Steal the throne? I intend to earn the right to the throne." Her eyes are trained on her lap, nails clearly digging into the skin of her palms. "It's not as if you would be accepted anyways, being all.." She says this softly, glancing up at my face, quickly down to my covered navel and back to her lap.