Chapter Text
The thirteenth of August is a normal day on a fairly normal month every year,
Except this one.
Today's the day Cardan Greenbriar is going to be crowned the King of Blackmere.
His father, the previous king, died a couple months ago and the entire Kingdom has been in preparation for his coronation ever since.
Nobody has time to mourn around here.
The jade-green corset tightens around my bare back, pulling me back to reality.
"Can u stop spending all your time stuck in your head, Jude?" Bella asks, tugging at the laces again like she’s personally offended by my ribs.
Arabella Astrielle Valorin, My best friend since I came to the Blackmere Palace.
Cardan's cousin.
"Damn how much tighter does the corset need to be Bella?" I ask, out of breath.
"Don't you wanna look pretty for the coronation? it's one of the only days all the nobility gathers up in one place. I heard the people from House Rosier are to die for" She giggles.
The kingdom is under the control of 6 houses.
House Ashbourne, probably the least respected because most of it's members doesnt wield powers. My house.
House Viremont, the people with the cool powers. I've always been jealous of them.
House Rosier, the people's favorites.
House Duskbane, the mysterious ones, I've never actually spoken to any of them.
and ofcourse,
House Greenbriar, The kings, queens, and upper nobility. Arabella's house. Also Cardan's.
"Do you think Duskbane's gonna send anyone?" I ask, nervously
"I think so, why?"
"I don't know, those people creep me out"
"I can see that. God I can barely think with all the knotted lace around you" I can see bella scrunch her nose in the mirror.
Arabella has the power of Veilreading. She sees emotions as fabrics. I get jealous, sometimes, of how easily she can read people.
“The dress looks so pretty on you, Jude!” Arabella says, draping herself over my shoulder. We both look at the mirror. “That dark green is to die for.”
I smile at her through our reflections and then prepare ask about my sister.
My relationship with Taryn has been rocky these past few weeks but that wasn't gonna stop me from seeing her dress.
"Do you know if Taryn's done?" I ask, turning back
"I think she's in one of the other rooms, with some girls from Rosier" She replies.
Before I can start speaking, Greenbriar servants flood into the room.
“You both have to leave. Immediately.”
Bella goes still beside me.
“Doesn’t the coronation start at eight?” she asks
“No, who told you that?” one of the servants snaps. “It starts now. Right now. Move.”
We don’t get another explanation.
We’re ushered out into the corridor, the doors shutting behind us before I can even process what’s happening.
We run.
The palace corridors blur into silver and black around us, Bella still pausing at every reflective surface she passes, tugging her royal blue dress into place and running her fingers through her chocolate-brown curls to mold them to perfection.
I grab her wrist and drag her to the ballroom.