Lady Of Lake And Arrow |A Swan Lake Retelling|: Book One

Chapter 30

Era Istrefi - Redrum (feat. Felix Snow)

I personally love listening to electro/electro-pop music and listen to it daily, but I do know quite a few people who don't like it at all. It all depends on people's preferences, so I understand if you think the music I put doesn't fit with this story :)

- Ryn

The carriage rolled through the castle gates, rocking over the pavement.

Elise pulled back the curtains, peeking out through the window of the carriage. There, she saw a reflection of herself, skin powdered and lips painted a light pink rouge.

Then the Castle of Carleone appeared in her sight, white stone and all.

The front of the castle was surrounded by gardens of colourful blooming flowers; nearby was the statue of soft beaten gold depicting some royal ancestor, brandishing a sword while mounted on a horse, suspended on its hind legs.

Far away, this image of the royal castle would've probably looked like the epitome of wealth and paradise. Like it had yet to see the cruelty the world could offer.

But when looked closely, you would see that the flowers were much too colourful–vibrant, in an unearthly way, despite what they were.

The roses were as red as blood; white as snow; yellow as the sunrise. Same went for the tulips and orchids and other such flowers–more than a few not meant to be in these colours at all, or even grow at this time of the year.

And as for the gold statue, well, with the wild vines ever so slowly climbing up its surface, it wasn't as pleasant as one would think it looked.

At the castle entrance, the carriage stopped.

"Elise?" Said Ryland, who was sitting across from her. She sighed, sliding the curtains back into place.

The door to the carriage opened, and her cousin was the first to step out, offering a hand to her once he was outside.

Bunching up her silk skirts in one hand, Elise ducked out of the carriage, feeling the heavy weight of the gilded gold collar around her neck and the metal circlet with the emerald jewel that rested on her forehead. She very much missed the simple dresses she wore back in the Keep. And circlets were the only type of jewelry she preferred and welcomed.

Alas, what she wore this day was light compared to the attire she would go to Casrian's ball in. Andaline fashion was a bizarre thing.

Accepting her cousin's hand, Elise carried down the steps of the carriage.

The first person to greet them was their father's advisor, Lawrence.

"Your Highnesses." Lawrence bowed as he neared them. "Please follow me."

Elise smiled, in the way that she knew people liked. It was a part of holding up the princess façade.

My sister would've been so much better at this.

It would've been easier, too, because her dead sister wasn't secretly a Tartarean.

As Elise and Ryland walked into the castle, she could sense the almost endless amount of eyes that fell upon them in the gardens, both from court nobles and servants alike.

It reminded her of her own gardens in the Keep. Much smaller but less unusual-looking, and without the people who only cared about riches and status that roamed through it. She could only hope that Penelope was tending to it and the lake well.

Are you okay? Elise heard from Ryland's mind, a whisper that echoed among a crowd of jumbled thoughts. With a sideways glance, she could see that Ryland had his eyes fixed forward, expression hinting nothing as he stridden with an air of confidence around him. In court, everyone wore a demeanor that benefitted them for the good or worse, and that was his.