ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

Truth, the Reversed Moon: II

Night had quickly fallen, faster than usual, and Jennette hurried to the main palace's courtyard, hoping to catch father alone, and as she passed wall hanging lamps, some lit, some dark, as she stepped onto the tiles, looking this way and that, hoping to hear a sound. 

All was silent within the darkened corridors, paintings being the only witnesses as far as the eye could see. 

Jennette's slippers pass across the stone, swiping her hands across glittering ornaments of the finest craftsmanship. 

Delicate little spirals reaching towards frames, candle holders, swinging flower vases of glass and ceramic.

It was eerie, almost too quiet for it to be a palace, much less a main palace of their empire, and Jennette couldn't help but think she might have entered the wrong place- but that much was impossible. 

Out of the three palaces, the main palace was the grandest residence, made for the emperors of old, and its staggering interior was undoubtedly that of a ruler's. So, why was it that even the birds have stopped chirping?

The clouds cover the moon, darkening the overcast, and Jennette's blue eyes glow in a smattering of gem pieces and the faintest hint of aventurine in those blue depths. 

Hardly lucky was the person who had them however, and the green was no good to someone like Jennette, who would never have any success, nor with the search for real love in her life. 

The green soon faded away as the moon peeked out from behind the smoky clouds, their ashy bodies traveling further away. As an owl swoops onto a nearby tree, its claws clutch a small vole before its beak opens up, and swallows it whole.

Poor Jennette. Poor lonely Jennette who never got any true love. Would her life have changed if she had received such love, and care from parents who loved her?

Then, the quietest of sounds, a door creaking. Jennette rushes to it, a faint hope blossoming in her breast, as she, breathless, reaches out to fully push open the door with light coming out from under it. 

She's just about touched the door when she hears," ... Papa, are you listening?" 

Jennette's eyes shut, her hand outstretched, into a fist, as it lowers down. She moves slightly to see the scene through the small crack of the opened door, unknowing that the rustle of her movements have already been heard by those inside.

She could see father- the emperor- murmur something from his place on the window seat, and Athanasia laughs, not hiding her wide smile behind her hands, and it was an achingly beautiful sound that made Jennette want to cry. 

Cream silk curtains ripple around them as the wind softly blows through the room, empty except for the two. 

How could someone so pure and so much like a fairy, possibly think of her as a rival for the throne? 

Jennette had hoped Athanasia would fall back once Jennette had gotten a hold of the emperor's heart, but he had - he had not even looked her way.

If only he looked her way for once. He would find so much love for him, although none for Athanasia. 

She wouldn't spare any of her affection for anyone else, and she wanted to let him know that, but father never let her get the chance to even get a little close.

 It was always because of Athanasia's meddling in their affairs. How Athanasia, just like what she was doing now, sticking close to father without giving Jennette room to even breathe the same air as father, just him alone.

She had been scared of him once, perhaps twice over, but she had gotten over it. She had to for appearance's sake, and she knew by being a part of the family, whether they would cherish her or not- she had to stand her ground at times like this.