ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

the Child of the Sun

D+240

Summer had come to the sea side- the strong smell of salt on the breeze, a hummingbird's iridescent wings beat in time as it dips quickly into a budding flower, one of many dozens of purple and blue buds on the bush, the gulls swooping overhead, a reminder that the sea was not too far away, their main destination. The arcadian sight was a welcoming pleasure for all those travelling, their eyes roaming over the lands that were said to have been blessed by the goddess of the seas.

A carriage of white and gold passes by, Athanasia hanging out of it, her palm pushing against the wind as she energetically waves to Felix. Felix waves back before catching sight of Claude glaring, and quickly tells Athanasia to go back in, and she pouts before doing so. 

They had been forgetting about visiting the summer mansions but to think it would have come so soon.. Athanasia inside the cool carriage swings her feet, opening a container of sugar encrusted jellies and popping one sweet into her mouth. 

Beside her, papa is reading a thick packet of correspondence from the staff at the summer retreat. Athanasia had written to them beforehand, of the guest they were bringing with them, and what, exactly to prepare, and for every situation possible.

 He flipped through the pages, accepting a bitter chocolate square from Athanasia without looking, and time seemed to pass, lulling them both into a peaceful comfort as they shared each other's company.

On the other hand, Jennette inside a stiflingly hot carriage, all by herself, fans herself with her hands, her hat discarded somewhere on the seat, the sweets that Athanasia had given her had melted into a single blob, and she was tired and annoyed.

 Having woken up in the early hours of the dawn to get ready, only to be separated from the two royals, and put into a carriage without the imperial insignia, she was tired of everything! She grumbled to herself before slumping over to watch the trees go by, unable to sleep due to the heat.

The imperial summer retreat was stationed in a large citadel, and just nearby a few villas. Each of them with magnificent splendor, the themes of colors seemed to be the idea. As Claude and Athanasia's carriage stopped in front of the main mansion, one of gold and white. 

Jennette's carriage stopped a ways away in front of the plain homely one- more like a cottage in her eyes, vines growing up the sides, and her smile fell. 

What was this difference in treatment? Didn't they know she was a part of the family too? Why didn't her carriage stop in front of the same beautiful one as Athanasia's? Jennette watches from the carriage as the water closes in on the villa, leaving no path for her to enter after them. 

She put on a forced smile, and peeked out the window of the carriage, and asked the driver in a cute voice that could make even the toughest vendors want to give her something for free.

"Excuse me, I think you've drove past the right place, I'm also with the - " the driver's emotionless face staring back at her under his cap made her uncomfortable, but she powered on. 

"MY father is your emperor! I'm the elder sister of Princess Athanasia! How dare you treat me like this!" She huffed. He stared, and like a stone statue coming to life, he replied. "The head butler has given me instructions to take you here."

That was all. The driver turned back front, and the two boys in the back jumped down, getting her two bags and tossing them to the steps. "Hey! What are you doing! The nerve of you commoners!" 

The boys stiffened, and ignoring her, they scampered back onto the back of the carriage and they drove away, back to the stables of the main castle.