Meant only for each other

Chapter 2

The next morning, Selene woke up still in that dress and lying on top of the sheets. She had been so preoccupied with worrying and figuring out what she was going to do, she forgot to change and fell right asleep. Selene sat up and went into her bathroom to take a shower. She didn't bother calling a maid to do it for her. Selene stripped off her dress and undergarments and stepped under the steaming stream of water.
When did my life come to this?
Her childhood had been beautiful. Fun. Her mother actually cared what she had to say. Winter was her best friend. Selene could look at Kaito without feeling funny.
Now, her life is chilling, empty. Selene's mother doesn't even give her a second glance. She never sees Winter. She is getting married to her stepbrother.
Suddenly, a faint screech from another room brought Selene rushing out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and ran into the hallway, bare feet pounding against the itchy rug. Several servants were also there, and Selene caught one on the sleeve to ask her what was going on.
"The emperor and his son are here," the servant said, bowing her head, "I was just in the ballroom, they are in there."
Selene thanked her and started towards the ballroom before she remembered that she wasn't supposed to thank the servants.

When Selene arrived at the ballroom, there were only three people in there.
Her mother, who was smiling.
The emperor, who was cringing slightly.
And Prince Kaito, who wore an expression of pure fury.
Ah, so he knows.
Nobody looked up when she entered, they all were engaging in a silent argument.
"So you've told him," Selene said, breaking the silence after a few minutes.
Her mother turned and beamed at her.
"Selene, my sweet!" She motioned for her to come over to the group, "We need to start right away! You will be making a speech this afternoon, and I want a vision of beauty!"
Hidden insults, that was how her mother operated.
Selene walked over and didn't answer. When she got closer, Kaito raised his eyebrow at her.
"Busy morning?", he asked. Selene's cheeks flushed as she realized she hadn't changed and was only wearing a towel. Selene turned from him angrily and and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mother wrapped an arm around her bare shoulders. It was a familiar touch, and surprisingly, Selene felt herself lean into it.
But Kaito was still looking at her, "Are you okay with this?" He turned back to the queen. "You can't do this."
"Oh, I assure you, I can," she replied, her voice cold, "and you will comply. You know what happens to people who don't follow my rules." It was a threat, Selene realized, and a convincing one. The prince glared, but remained silent.
"Very well!" Channary clapped her hands, "you two are our guests, and you will be treated as such. There are spare rooms at the other end of this hallway, servants will direct you," her mother turned to Selene, "my brilliant daughter, you come with me, I will help you get ready." Selene faked a smile for her mother and  forced the pit of sadness further in her brain, so that it was unable to be reached.

"Oh, no darling you can't wear that!"
Selene sighed as she turned to back into the closet for her one hundredth changing. She stripped herself and grabbed another dress but paused when she heard her mothers voice.
She was singing.
Her mother almost never sang, only when she was drunk, or having a really good day. Selene guessed it was the latter, but you never knew.
He's voice was beautiful, and Selene let it take her away. Mountains covered in trees, accented by the sun. Small houses on large farms, the smell of animals in the air. Riding in a spaceship in the stars, looking at everything. Friends. A home. A real home. Things she would never have and places she would never go to. Then the singing stopped, and so did Selene's visions. With a heavy heart, she slipped on the new dress and went outside, not really caring if it was good or not.
Her mother gasped when she saw Selene, and she prepared herself for another journey into the closet.
But Channary loved it. She walked over to Selene and put her hands on her shoulders.
"You look gorgeous in that," her mother complimented and Selene allowed herself a smile. She felt herself being pulled over to the makeup and was sat down in front of a mirror. Channary put her face next to Selene's.
"Look at us," she said, "we are stunning. We are devastating. We are queens." Selene nodded, pretending to know what direction her mother was taking.
"I understand you are not exactly thrilled with this newfound information," her mother was looking at her in the mirror. Selene hesitated before nodding. Channary nodded along with her.
"Don't worry, my sweet. A few years will suffice, and we will be able to," she hesitated, "get rid of them, the emperor and his son. I already have experts working on the case."
Selene blinked, "Wait, I don't want them dead. Mother, are you crazy?" Channary's gaze went cold.
"I know men," she said, every word like steel, "a few years of marriage, and you will want to kill them." The words sounded so cold, that Selene didn't push it. Channary started to do her makeup, explaining that the event was over video, and therefore glamour would not work, and that she didn't want her daughter to end up crazy like Levana. Selene sat through it all, soaking up the words. Somewhere in the middle Channary stopped.
"You know I love you, right?" That was strange. Her mother never showed affection. To anyone.
A little confused, Selene nodded, "I love you, too."
Her mother's gaze softened, and she continued her work of transforming her daughter into something she was not. Selene knew there was something else going on, but she wasn't sure she wanted to find out what it was.