Arden, the meek and innovative daughter of an Artist-For-Hire hides behind an admiration of her father's works to conceal her own (unencouraged) love of painting. By chance, Arden is discovered by the Queen Elza, a lover of art herself. Arden is whi...
Walking back from the College of Graces is far more pleasant. After an abrupt and cold departure from Indra, Arden is left to calmly meander home. The sunlight bounces off the canals which carry people longer distances across the city and occasionally transports cargo. In these canals, one is most likely to see the wealthier citizens traveling as it is considered leisurely. That, however, is an experience Arden is unfamiliar with despite her and Haider agreeing to do some at least once together.
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Her father is a dreamer. A man prone to inspire greatness, create greatness, and hope for greatness where others are more likely to find themselves content with whatever their birth position allowed them. Valienta is a perfect example and while she would be considered a resourceful woman, her planning for greatness hinges entirely on her three daughters spilling her with riches after they marry well. Arden will likely be the one daughter that either fails and marries a man purely for love, ending up poorer than birth intended, or she will simply skip marriage entirely and shame her mother irreversibly.
While lost in thought, Arden almost completely overlooks the passing of an elegant woman surrounded by a host of guards. Stricken with shock, Arden stops, leaning backward on the rough pillar supports of a loggia to watch her pass. Her dress in impeccable order, white and lined with ermine hugs her slender body. Her grey-streaked hair is tugged loosely into a braided knot at the top of her head, adding implied height. The men surrounding her seem empowered by her mere presence and the duty protecting her entails. Magnificence at its best. Arden has seen the Queen before and has been witness to her many great public appearances, however, she has never been privileged to stand so close. Queen Elza is known for her generosity and mercy. Throughout her reign she has been viewed as powerful but also not one to encroach upon or disregard dynasty traditions.
How is she so able to define herself and live out her days in a manny that she loves while still being seen as compliant with rules of monarchy? Arden has always wondered, always awed, and deep down envied that her children were likely raised in that same manner of freedom.
In a fleeting moment of fate and mistake, Queen Elza's eyes, almost magnetically flash to meet Arden's. It seems as though Elza might subconsciously understand Arden, feel Arden. The moment passes with a mere smile and acknowledgment, nothing more than a nod which she can be seen giving to many of her other subjects. As quickly as she arrived, the regal woman is disappearing into the tangle of the citie's architecture, no doubt off to conduct an important meeting or make her voice be heard. An experience Arden is certian she will never be apart of.
