Blood Peonies (Who Made Me a Princess)

Cold Wind Blowing Visits

Athy stirs her tea as she reminisces about what happened during her visit. I didn't really expect her to be awake and I know that I could be pressed charges for trespassing but I guess all's well what ends well in this case? Even if I didn't do anything incriminating aside from visiting her... without her knowing... Athy groans and presses her palm against her forehead. That does sound horrible if she were to be asked about it. It was surprising that Lady Bel didn't get angry at her and didn't even look to be on her guard. I would be paranoid for a very long while if that happened to me. Is she that used to violence in her home?

Athy doesn't like the sound of that. It painted a horrible picture on how the princess is living in Siodonna.

Athy sighs heavily and sips her tea. I wonder how is she doing now?

___

"Good evening, Lady Piviones, my name is Athy." Athy curtsied and nervously said, cold sweat forming on her brow as she tried to control her breathing. Please don't get angry...

To her surprise, she heard Lady Piviones laugh, her voice light and chiming like bells. Athy got up from her curtsy and looked at Lady Piviones curiously. She is smiling, her eyes bright and she looks beautiful, Athy thinks. She's not angry with me, I guess?

"I apologize for laughing, Lady Athy. I'm just really overjoyed... I would curtsy back at you if I weren't bedridden, please forgive me. I am Antinea Belphoebe de Piviones. But you please call me Bel." Lady Piviones stiffly bowed from her position on the bed. Before Athy knew it, she was holding the princess' shoulders, preventing her from straining her wounds even more. "Ah! It's alright, Lady Piviones, don't strain yourself!" she said worriedly. She knows that the princess still hasn't recovered well enough and that it must be painful for her to move, let alone strain her chest and back like that.

Lady Bel smiled tenderly at her, her eyes shining like molten gold and Athy couldn't help but think that she looks like she's grieving. It makes Athy's chest ache for some reason, what is this feeling? Lady Bel touches her hand which was on the princess' shoulders and Athy notices that her hand is freezing cold. Athy lets go of Lady Bel's hand to get the wool blanket on the bedside chair and drapes it around the princess' shoulders.

"You're very kind, Lady Athy. You remind me of my little sister." The princess said smiles wistfully as Athy fixes the blanket. Athy looks into her eyes and saw only warmth and longing? Lady Bel gestures her to sit on her bed.

"Your sister... may I ask where is she? You seem to miss her a lot." Athy asks curiously.

Lady Bel doesn't speak for a while and she looks at her hands that are now folded on her lap. She looks like she's in pain, Athy cannot help but think as she observes Lady Bel. Maybe I shouldn't have asked that? It's quite tactless of me, I guess...

"...Yes, I miss her a lot. I haven't seen her since she was thirteen and will never see her again..." Lady Bel answers, her eyes turning cold gold, warmth leaving her eyes, making her look lifeless.

Athy didn't know what came over her but she just suddenly hugged the princess. The princess was frozen in shock and then Athy felt Lady Bel shake slightly. Athy softly patted Lady Bel's head and then suddenly, Lady Bel was clutching at her back, her hug fierce. Her shoulders shook even harder, but there was no sound coming out of her aside from small gasps as if trying hard not to make a sound. Feeling her neck getting damp, Athy feels sorry for Lady Bel and just hugs her tighter, her hand combing through the platinum gold. She started humming.

"Sleep tight.

The moon smiles down on you.

Goodbye to the day.