Look Beyond What You See

Juniper

 "I'll be across the hall in my chambers. Knock on my door when you're ready for breakfast and your tour," Dmitri instructs on his way out of my suite. I merely nod in reply, too overwhelmed by surveying the rooms to use words. They've given me entirely too much space, and it's decorated as a royal bedchamber would be, nothing like my lovely little peasant cottage room at home. I don't like it. This whole suite could be a house or two on its own. Entirely too formal and stuffy, with the rich wooden furnishings, elaborate tapestries, and expensive fabrics, all themed in gold and royal purple and polished oak. I feel like I'm suffocating. There aren't enough windows to alleviate this feeling, but I open all of them immediately, pulling back the heavy purple curtains and flinging the glass panels wide. The breeze is soothing and rushes into the suite like a long-lost friend, extinguishing the fire burning on the hearth in my personal fireplace. I don't mind; who keeps a fire burning in summer?

"Milady, what in Heaven's name do you think you're doing?" a rather snooty voice demands behind me. I turn to see a middle-aged woman in a maid's uniform, glaring at me impertinently with her hands on her hips. Where she came from, I haven't the first clue. I strongly suspect, however, that she doesn't know Dmitri was just here, or that I just came down from the roof.

"Airing the place out. It's too stuffy for my liking," I reply in my most matter-of-fact tone.

"But the fire's gone out! I'll have to call Lucy to replenish it."

"Don't bother. There's no need for a fire in June. The weather is lovely outside." She arches an eyebrow at me, clearly wondering what her master and mistress have brought home with them. Can this really be the girl they have chosen to marry their son? she seems to be wondering. I can't help smirking a bit at the thought. "My name is Aerys. Might I know yours?"

"Juniper," she replies stiffly. I don't think she's used to the kind of informality I prefer, in spite of Dmitri's having said that things are less formal here than they were at Grandmother's chateau.

"A pleasure to meet you, Juniper. Now, I am of the understanding that all of my personal belongings were brought up here before me. Where might they have been placed?"

"We've already unpacked them for you, milady."

"Oh! How kind of you. Might you show me where everything is?" She sniffs, as though fulfilling my request is beneath her dignity.

"I'm afraid there isn't terribly much to show you. My mistress was less than pleased by the clothing you brought with you. It seems that your servants packed your trunks with their clothing instead of yours. Peasants' wear, the lot of it. Those things have been removed from your chambers. Your instruments are in our music room, and the sketchpads and schoolbooks and such are on your desk, in the next room." I smile thinly, being most displeased by the removal of my clothing.

 "I thank you for your help, but there was no mistake in the packing. I prefer the simpler clothes of the peasant folk to the attire that most would say is best suited to my position in life."

"Your own parents might have permitted such squalor, but here we will tolerate nothing of the sort."

"Then what am I to change into? I've been wearing this dress far longer than anyone ought to be required to wear anything so formal." Juniper shrugs insolently. I do not like her. I will ask for a replacement as soon as I find Dmitri's parents.

"I'm sure there's something in your armoire. My master and mistress have had your measurements for some time, and they ordered many clothes for you, in conjunction with your family. Were you not informed?" I glare at her sourly.