Cynosure

Chess

"Gwendolyn, there's a lunch you're attending with Eden this afternoon. I have a dress laid out, would you like to see it?"

Dia reminds me as she plucks the hairbrush from my hand, running it down my hair herself.

"Dia. Seriously, I can brush my own hair. And I trust you and Chitose's judgement. All the dresses you two picked have been phenomenal."

It had been around three weeks after the ball and I'm still getting used to Chitose and Dia doing everything for me, ranging from helping me bathe to cleaning my room.

"It's just protocol. Can't have the future Queen of Halura waiting on herself." Chitose's voice carries over from the other side of the room, slightly muffled.

"I'm not getting that throne. Not if Mother has anything to do with it."

My eyes dart quickly to see Dia's reaction at my bitter statement, but she only continues running her hand throw my hair, braiding it.

"She won't have a say if the court council rules you more fit. You're already loved by the servants on this floor, and this lunch you're having is going to greatly influence how the voting goes."

"Perhaps so," I wince slightly as Dia tightens the nude colored corset and she shoots me an apologetic look,
"But I'll really have to impress the Ladies of the Court. Eden has had years of training in the fine arts and poetry whereas I've barely even touched a paintbrush."

"You'll do great, Gwendolyn." Chitose appears next to me with a handful of fresh flowers for my hair.

"Your strong suits are geared towards ruling with a firm hand, not catering to other powers. You have a lot of people supporting you already."

By now, a white dress with silver threading was laying delicately over the corset. Chitose pins a freshly cut White Rhododendron at the back of my head and scatters vincas around my crown.

"And besides, we'll always be here for you. Even if you don't win the Lady's of the Court's favor. Dia and I are team Gwendolyn."
I could see Dia smiling faintly through the mirror.

"Let's go."

-

There was something offsetting with the way chatter quieted down when I got close to the table. Eden was already sitting next to Lady Ellie with her back facing me.

The other women at the table turned around to look at me

"Gwen, you're here." Eden finally twists her head around to look at me. Her eyes sweep down from my head to the ends of my dress.

"So I am." I dip my head towards the various ladies before addressing them.

"Good afternoon, Madams. I hope you'd be able to excuse my tardiness."

I pull out the empty seat across from Eden by one end of the table and sit down.

"Of course. There must've been some reason for your late arrival."

I survey the people seated around the long table, smiling slightly to myself. The obvious hierarchy of the Lady's of the Court could be seen based on that. Lady Valentina, the oldest of the group and the most respected, sat at the head of the table. She is a renowned war strategist, one of the two females involved.

Then was Ladies Arielle and Asa, respectively. Lady Arielle was the wife of the kingdom's General, while Lady Asa is his younger sister.

After them sat Ladies Daphne and Bianca. Lady Daphne is an attaché in a peace treaty between Teu and our kingdom Halura. Lady Bianca is the wife of our head of foreign trade. Lady Ellie sat next to Eden, and Lady Kai next to me. They both recently married into noble families.

Lady Kai clears her throat.

"So, Gwendolyn. I hope you don't mind me asking," I didn't miss the lack of honorific.

"Why is it that we've never seen you previous to your announcement?"

At the head of the table, Lady Valentina lifts her teacup to her lips, attention on the amber colored liquid in her hand.

"My interests had always been focused on politics and the court, not so much on the arts."

My eyes flicker from Eden and back to Lady Kai.

"Are you saying, that you couldn't spare a time of day to associate yourself with any of us Ladies of Court?" Lady Daphne chimes in.

The other Ladies whisper to themselves, nodding their heads.

"If I had offended you in anyway, Lady Daphne, I sincerely apologize. It was not my intention to come off as rude." I hold her gaze before she scoffs to the side.

"I don't know where you get this arrogant attitude from. You have no allies. You should do well to get us on your side."

"Lady Daphne," I start. "Do you think your husband knows about the servant boy that cleans your quarters?"

The hand holding a napkin cloth stills midair.

"What did you just say? I hope you know what you're implying."

"Imply? I'm not implying anything. I was simply going to ask about how the servants are servicing you. They are from my household, of course I'd have to ask. Unless," I pause and smirk slightly.

"There's something else about that servant boy you'd like me to know about."

"N-no." She stammers out.

I watch her glance at Eden, only for my sister to avert her gaze.

"I must say, you're very interesting." Lady Arielle speaks up.

"Lady Arielle. Why so?"

"I have never met someone so daring other than my husband himself. It's...refreshing."

She takes a sip of her tea before continuing.

"I do hope, though, you won't use your cunning against the wrong people. There are certain people you can," I don't miss the judging eye she passes Lady Daphne.

"And cannot disrespect."

"I will take those words to heart, my Lady."
Seeming pleased with this, Lady Arielle took a sip of her tea before turning to me,

"So, Gwendolyn. I heard you keep up with politics. Tell me about that."

There's something satisfying about how Eden almost crushes the pastry in her hand. How Lady Daphne gnaws the inside of her cheek, eyes cast down. How Lady Valentina smiles at me with an indistinguishable glint in her eye.

Checkmate. I win this one.

IVE LITERALLY NOT UPDATED IN SO LONG. and this chapter isn't even good. I'm so sorry :(