Cigno

Scène Deux

Madrigal was fuming. Not enraged, not annoyed, fuming. Bubbling under the weight of her anger. How could he be so dense? Even if manners weren't involved, common sense should have been. Why would he ask Chiarina such a thing? This was her wedding, not Chiarina's. 

"Are you ill, dear Madrigal?"

"Pardon?" She looked up. Lady Danseur fixated her steel gaze on her, a tailored eyebrow crooked upwards. Flushing, she straightened in her seat and rearranged the hem of her dress. 

"I said," Lady Danseur enunciated, "Are. You. Ill?"

"No, my Lady. Not at all—"

"Then why are you wearing such a ghastly expression? Are my lessons truly that dull? Or is there something on your mind that troubles you so?"

Would it be wise to speak the truth? Could she actually tell Lady Danseur her woes without appearing as weak or intimidated? Based off the rock-hard gleam in her dark eyes and the frown lurking beneath her collected expression, no. 

"Forgive me, my Lady. I was preoccupied with some details for the wedding. It will not happen again."

Lady Danseur peered down the bridge of her nose at Madrigal. For several seconds, she was motionless, a statue carved out of flesh and blood. Finally, her silk fan snapped shut; Madrigal flinched as her future mother-in-law turned her back on her and continued the lesson.

"As I was saying earlier, engagements between Famiglias are legally binding contracts. Once signed by each participant, they cannot be broken unless a violation has been made in the stipulations of the contracts. Historically, these engagements have been used to unite feuding Famiglias. For instance, the engagement between Horatio Ouverte and Constanza Barre ended the fifty-year feud between the two Famiglias. Ever since the engagement, the Famiglias have been strong allies and share dominion over the Lakes of Lawrence. 

However, they can also be a weapon for destroying bonds. If you recall from your history lessons, the Cursed Wedding between the Arabesque and Hortensia Famiglias completely ruined their relationship. Though there are rumors about who violated the contract first, neither Famiglia will abide each other's presence. Nor that of crows."

Madrigal did not miss the smirk that flitted across Lady Danseur's face. The Cursed Wedding had occurred during Lady Danseur's engagement period to the previous Danseur Lord, so she had attended the wedding in person. And judging by that devilish smirk, the stories about the horrors were true. 

What if her and Allegro's wedding turned out the same way? What if they became the next Cursed Wedding? They were so far behind on the planning, there was no way they could organize the wedding on time. 

She'd attempted to get Allegro's opinion on the centerpiece arrangements this morning, but he'd brushed her off. Actually, he'd sent her away, sent her to ask Chiarina of all people. As if she could go to her rival for advice. They were having weddings in the same season for Saint's sake. If anything were the same, or even slightly similar, the vultures would have a field day. 

In Elio's words, it'd be disastrous. That's it, that's what the wedding would be forever known as: the Disastrous Wedding.

"Worry not, my dear. These stipulations do not apply to you. As you are a ward of the Danseur Famiglia, your engagement to Allegro is not binding. Which I do hope has not changed your stance about the engagement." 

"Of course not, my Lady. Allegro still owns my whole heart."

Lady Danseur hummed to herself but didn't press Madrigal further. In fact, it had been suspicious when she hadn't questioned Madrigal about her lie earlier either. She doubted Lady Danseur had believed her in the first place; after all, Lady Danseur had taught her that the best lies are the ones based off a truth.