The Virtue

Rubies and Rain

The song that I am listening to while writing the beginning of this book is Pricillia Ahn - Dream)

New Note-  Official Instagram for this novel is 'Thevirtue_nova'. :)

"I prefer rubies over emeralds mother", I say with slight hesitation as I move my gaze slowly towards my mother whose eyes are glistening as she is taking a look over all the jewels that she has ordered  for me from Paris to try on for my birthday celebrations

"Don't be foolish! look how pretty they are, you have to try each and every piece on with your dress" she smilingly says. I let out a slight breath in defeat, nobody can outdo my mother when it comes to talking.

"Okay, let me wear my dress and then we can stand in front of the mirror and decide" I say as she nods in agreement.

As the maids put the jewellery around my neck and hang those heavy pieces in my ears I cannot help but look outside the window. It is mid of march now, my 21st birthday is in 2 weeks, the snow is melting and I can already smell the flowers blooming in distant lands through my nostrils. Life is beautiful.

"Oh look at that one! Perfect!" My mother's voice nearly startles me and my flow of thought is broken and my eyes trace an emerald wreath perfectly wrapped around my neck.

"It's beautiful" I say "This is the one!" I exclaim as my fingers trace the wreath. I find it astoundingly beautiful but a part of me also want to get done with this dress fitting , the corset is making it hard for me to breathe and I just want to take my white horse Ella for a ride near the stream as soon as I am done with the fitting

As I remove the precious jewels I smile, not because I have the most beautiful jewels but because the excitement of my birthday celebrations is taking over my soul and my sanity.

Ever since father died, our kingdom has been unstable for past 13 months. Mother has been coping well with the grief and my elder brother Adrian is learning the rules of being the king, my younger brother Eric is only 12 years old but is as handsome as my father and is also a great archer and I? Well I am Nova, a virgin princess in this French castle that I call my home.

"Leave us" My mother tells the maids and servants and they make a quick exit

The peach coloured interiors matches my soul as my mother pours a glass of wine while sitting on my study chair, cheerfully smiling. "Ah, you grew up too soon Nova, I wish your father was here to see the celebrations of your 21st birthday." I give a sigh and stare at a beautiful portrait of my father, standing next to my mother, both of them draped in red and golden

"I hope I make my father proud of me one-day" I say shyly, my mother stands up and sits next to me on my great grand crystal encrusted bed. "I hope you do Nova but you also must marry"

Here we are again, the same redundant topic seems to repeat itself. I roll my brown eyes and look at the window again, my mother grabs my chin and forces me to look at her. "I mean it Nova! Many suitable suitors are invited to your birthday celebrations, it is time for you to select a groom and give your country Christian heirs" I stand up in anger

"What if I want to life like this for the rest of my life? with you, Adrian and Eric?" I stomp my foot in anger.

"Then I shall send you to a nunnery!" she says

"Mother!" I scream with disbelief in my eyes that my own mother would threaten me like that.

"You heard me Nova, princess do not have choices" she gets up and leaves the room with her head held high and her wine half finished

I am fuming, I hate my mother. Some days she is loving and motherly towards me and other days she becomes this vile and obnoxious woman who I just can't stand. My cheeks flush due to my anger and I rush to white dresser to look at my flushed cheeks

Marry a man, have children, leave my home .... ahhhhh

I pick up a hairbrush only to throw it away on the floor, why does my mother anger me so much? Why can't she just let me breathe?

As I think these thoughts it starts pouring outside...

"I need to escape for a while" I murmur "Guards, ready my horse" I order and grab my black cloak and heavy boots.

"But your highness, it is pouring" one of the guard says to me

"Do as I say" I reply and he nods

I have a long way to ride today, there is something about riding in the cold rain that freshens my soul.

1) Theme of the chapter