Street Mouse [Yandere Archduke x Female Reader]

37. The Passege of Time pt2.

The next three years past in a haze of gaiety and mirth. The winter months were largely devoted to the development of the girls' intellect and grace. Fiora instructed them both in dancing, and music (Abela proved herself to be a fine singer while Y/N excelled at the harp.) She also taught them in diplomacy, elegance, and poise. She was a tough teacher to please, but as a result the two girls quickly became the most eligible in all of Luccia, (these lessons were also responsible for curing much of Y/N's former clumsiness.)

In the summer the girls wound happily roam all throughout the beautiful Mountain terrain on foot and horseback. Both girls were quite skilled and equally matching in riding, which made for some truly exciting races on the many scenic trails around the castle.

The three adults had watched with unmasked pride at how the two young girls had grown from flower buds, and under their care had burst forth into radiant bloom. One a splendid daffodil, and the other a breathtaking mountain primrose. It also brought great joy to them that the two flowers had grown to be such close friends. You would scarcely find one too far apart from the other. Tola would often say that the girls were like two peas in a pod.

It was on one fine morning in spring that Y/N awoke to the sound of birdsong. She was now sixteen years old, and her body had fully finished maturing into that of a woman. She stretched and walked over to her vanity. Picking up her brush, she began to run it through her hair. Y/N had complained to Abela about what trouble she had with her hair, and the blonde had told her that she should try using a hair tonic as she did. Y/N did and found that it made her hair shiny and much easier to manage.

Y/N gazed down at the top of her vanity which was littered with birthday gifts from Frosino. Even though he said that the gifts he got her before his departure had been meant to be her birthday gifts for the next three years, it seemed that he could not resist the urge to spoil her.

He had been just as generous to Abela after he heard from Y/N that she was staying at the castle as well. He sent her many presents, but Y/N was still the only one who received letters from him. She had collected them and kept them safe in a small jewelry box on her vanity. Whenever she missed Frosino especially badly, she would read through the many letters she had received over the past three years and comfort herself by saying that it would not be long until he returned.

Indeed, now it would truly not be long at all until the Archduke would return once again to the halls of Castle de Crivell. Y/N was incredibly anxious for Frosino to arrive, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous. She had done her best to manage the Archdiocese in Frosino's absence, and she had gotten much better at it over the years. She had done her best to be studious in her studies, she just hoped that it was enough.

Y/N finished pulling on her navy blue dress and turned to look at her reflection in the mirror. A young woman with sleek H/C hair, E/C eyes framed by delicate lashes, and plump lips stared back at her. Even though the dress suited her body perfectly, Y/N couldn't help but smooth it out nervously. She hoped that Frosino would be proud of how much she had grown up.

Before she stepped away from the mirror, Y/N reached down the neck of her dress and pulled out the dainty chain that held the wooden ring that was now entirely too small for her fingers, but she still kept it. Whenever she looked at it she couldn't help but feel that it was important, it had been a gift, from a boy a long time ago; Paety. She caressed the dark wood gently before she turned and exited her room into the hallway.

. . .

"And one... Two... Three... One... Two... Three..." Fiora called as the two girls practiced their dancing. They were moving through the great cavernous ballroom, dancing. It was a little bit challenging seeing as Fiora refused to let the girls be partners and insisted that they dance separately. Fiora would dance with the girls occasionally, in order for them to learn how to follow a lead.

"Very good girls, very good," Fiora called as she stopped counting and clapped her hands to get the girls' attention. "You both did very well, just remember to keep your feet under you, and your elbows tucked in. This is the end of today's lesson, if either of you have need of me I shall be in the library." Fiora left the room elegantly.

After their teacher had gone, Abela twirled happily around the room. The room was so large that you could easily fit all of the inhabitants of the Archdiocese into half of the space alone. Gilded arches held up the massive ceiling, that vaulted high above the two girls.

As Abela continued to spin beneath the jeweled ceiling, Y/N couldn't help but think that she looked just as much like a work of art as the rest of the ballroom. Her hair glimmered like silken gold and was woven through with green ribbons that matched the emerald dress that flowed around her petite body. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a ball?" She cried as she continued to spin.

"I don't know, I have never been to one before," Y/N replied. "Oh, they are just wonderful!" Abela said, clutching on to Y/N's hands, and spinning her around the ballroom with her. "Music, dancing, romance! of course, that's what I think they are like, I have never really been to one either, but I used to sneak down to the ballroom when I was younger, and gaze in at the party that my parents were hosting, and it seemed radiant. Y/N, what if we threw a party here at the castle! We could plan it to celebrate Frosino's return!"

Abela grinned broadly at Y/N, her pale eyes alight with happiness. Y/N shifted uncomfortably, she felt a bit light-headed from all the spinning and was unsure if throwing a party would be a good idea. "I don't know Abela, Frosino doesn't really like lots of people around, I am not sure that it is the best idea."

"Oh nonsense," Abela scoffed. "All rich men love flaunting their wealth and the beautiful women that they have in their charge, whether they be daughters or wives. I'm sure that Frosino is no different. Oh come on Y/N, please let's throw a party."

Reluctantly, Y/N agreed to her friends' pleas. "Ok, but we must get Fiora's permission first." "Yay! Come on, let's go ask her now," Abela exclaimed, dragging Y/N from the room. Y/N was hoping that the ever strict governess would shoot down the idea, but unfortunately, Fiora was just as enamored with the idea of throwing a party as Abela was, so it couldn't be helped. In a little over two months, a grand ball was to be held on the same evening that Frosino would be returning to the castle after three years.

A/N

Everyone is growing up to fast! Remember when Y/N used to be so cute and small?

Anyway, the ladies have quite a bit of preparing they must do before the castle will be ready for company, I hope that they will be able to finish everything in time.

Until next time I'll see you on the other side

~J. C. Coltt.~