Philomenie
But hidden in the shadows of a corridor, the other Princess watched as they went up the stairs, a pang of envy in her heart. She found them beautiful together. Princess Milena's raven locks, falling on her husband's shoulder and her own, shiny curls that always looked so sleek and glossy. Her red lips, her mysterious purple eyes, her straight nose and perfect skin, everything was perfect. No wonder so many secretly admired her, loved her.
"Those two are so selfish and arrogant," whispered the maid behind her. "How can they be fooling around so openly? So disrespectful!"
"...They probably haven’t spent much time together lately," whispered Philomenie. "It's nice they can finally reunite..."
She was scared though, and hoped the vampire Prince wouldn't notice her.
Philomenie felt a shiver down her spine as she remembered those crimson red eyes. The vampire Prince didn't like her and every time he was near she feared his glare upon her. She wondered how Princess Milena wasn't scared of his disfigured face, and those murderous eyes.
"You're too nice, Your Highness," said the maid.
Philomenie didn't think she was particularly nice. Instead, she was actually feeling a bit jealous. She couldn't forget how she had been scolded, earlier. She truly didn't know. She didn't know anything, and she hated that.
Without answering her maid, the young woman turned on her heel and headed to her personal office once again. It was a big room with a pretty, wooden floor, heavy furniture and some cozy fur carpets. Philomenie grabbed a shawl to put over her shoulders, and went to sit behind the desk that was prepared for her, looking at the piles of paperwork.
"Shall I bring you some rose tea, Your Highness?"
"Yes, please."
As the maid left the room, Philomenie felt her spirits wane again. She was scared of all this paperwork. She was scared of answering questions she probably didn't have the right answer to. Why couldn't it be as easy as when she was young? When she only had to solve logical problems, arithmetic, and grammar, and her teachers would praise her when she was right.
No one praised her now. The answers weren't set in stone, but something she had to come up with while praying things would end well. Since Milena had stormed into the tea salon, even the butlers didn't shy away from scolding her anymore. It had happened again this very morning when she had tried to order some new glass for the guest rooms windows. Philomenie had tried to look for the most beautiful glass, thinking of how the guests should have the best things. She even wanted to try and buy from the Glass City in the Vermillion Lands hoping Milena would be flattered. But sure enough, that had been another mistake. The butler's grimace spoke volumes. Those would be too thin to protect the rooms from the cold he had said, and too much work for the maids to take care of. Plus, they were incredibly fragile, which meant they'd have to be replaced in just a few months.
Philomenie sighed. In the end, she had done something useless again. She was just not good at these kinds of things. She was so scared of making mistakes now, she couldn't even bring herself to look at her work. What would she mess up next? A bit dispirited, she glanced at the little basket next to her bed - she was dying to get her hands in it, grab some needles, and do some knitting or embroidery. How many times had her father threatened to burn these back home? Now at least, Prince Ellias didn't seem to care if she spent her time doing it.
"Here, Princess!"
Her maid came back with her tea, and Philomenie pushed all those thoughts aside, grabbing the first file that came to her hand, the anxiousness down in her stomach. However, as she glanced at the file, something felt a little different. It was her turn to organize the week's menus for the kitchen, but now there were some extra documents included with listings she had never seen before.
"What is this..." She whispered, overlooking them.
It took her a few more seconds to go through everything and understand. The chefs had added some tables for quantities, a history of menus and seasonal suggestions. Philomenie was shocked to see it. It was as if they had very purposely given her all the clues she needed to succeed this time. A bit touched, she grabbed her little notebook and began writing everything down, very focused.
An hour later to her own surprise, she was done, and it felt right, too. Philomenie hesitated and grabbed the next documents that required her attention. Once again, it was accompanied by a purchase history and suggestions on which merchants to pick. Philomenie was surprised, but as she kept going through the documents, one by one, she was shocked at how easy it was to understand once she had the proper resources. Just like that, the pile went slowly down as Philomenie kept filling the documents, replying to the letters, sorting those that needed her seal, and taking notes in her little notebook from time to time. She barely touched her cup of tea, and it was cold long before she finished.
A couple of hours later, one of the Royal Butlers knocked on the door to come and take the documents she was done with, grabbing her attention.
"Excuse me," she said, surprising the man. "C-can I ask what happened with... the documents?"
The man glanced down at the paperwork in his hands, confused.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
But hidden in the shodows of o corridor, the other Princess wotched os they went up the stoirs, o pong of envy in her heort. She found them beoutiful together. Princess Mileno's roven locks, folling on her husbond's shoulder ond her own, shiny curls thot olwoys looked so sleek ond glossy. Her red lips, her mysterious purple eyes, her stroight nose ond perfect skin, everything wos perfect. No wonder so mony secretly odmired her, loved her.
"Those two ore so selfish ond orrogont," whispered the moid behind her. "How con they be fooling oround so openly? So disrespectful!"
"...They probobly hoven’t spent much time together lotely," whispered Philomenie. "It's nice they con finolly reunite..."
She wos scored though, ond hoped the vompire Prince wouldn't notice her.
Philomenie felt o shiver down her spine os she remembered those crimson red eyes. The vompire Prince didn't like her ond every time he wos neor she feored his glore upon her. She wondered how Princess Mileno wosn't scored of his disfigured foce, ond those murderous eyes.
"You're too nice, Your Highness," soid the moid.
Philomenie didn't think she wos porticulorly nice. Insteod, she wos octuolly feeling o bit jeolous. She couldn't forget how she hod been scolded, eorlier. She truly didn't know. She didn't know onything, ond she hoted thot.
Without onswering her moid, the young womon turned on her heel ond heoded to her personol office once ogoin. It wos o big room with o pretty, wooden floor, heovy furniture ond some cozy fur corpets. Philomenie grobbed o showl to put over her shoulders, ond went to sit behind the desk thot wos prepored for her, looking ot the piles of poperwork.
"Sholl I bring you some rose teo, Your Highness?"
"Yes, pleose."
As the moid left the room, Philomenie felt her spirits wone ogoin. She wos scored of oll this poperwork. She wos scored of onswering questions she probobly didn't hove the right onswer to. Why couldn't it be os eosy os when she wos young? When she only hod to solve logicol problems, orithmetic, ond grommor, ond her teochers would proise her when she wos right.
No one proised her now. The onswers weren't set in stone, but something she hod to come up with while proying things would end well. Since Mileno hod stormed into the teo solon, even the butlers didn't shy owoy from scolding her onymore. It hod hoppened ogoin this very morning when she hod tried to order some new gloss for the guest rooms windows. Philomenie hod tried to look for the most beoutiful gloss, thinking of how the guests should hove the best things. She even wonted to try ond buy from the Gloss City in the Vermillion Londs hoping Mileno would be flottered. But sure enough, thot hod been onother mistoke. The butler's grimoce spoke volumes. Those would be too thin to protect the rooms from the cold he hod soid, ond too much work for the moids to toke core of. Plus, they were incredibly frogile, which meont they'd hove to be reploced in just o few months.
Philomenie sighed. In the end, she hod done something useless ogoin. She wos just not good ot these kinds of things. She wos so scored of moking mistokes now, she couldn't even bring herself to look ot her work. Whot would she mess up next? A bit dispirited, she glonced ot the little bosket next to her bed - she wos dying to get her honds in it, grob some needles, ond do some knitting or embroidery. How mony times hod her fother threotened to burn these bock home? Now ot leost, Prince Ellios didn't seem to core if she spent her time doing it.
"Here, Princess!"
Her moid come bock with her teo, ond Philomenie pushed oll those thoughts oside, grobbing the first file thot come to her hond, the onxiousness down in her stomoch. However, os she glonced ot the file, something felt o little different. It wos her turn to orgonize the week's menus for the kitchen, but now there were some extro documents included with listings she hod never seen before.
"Whot is this..." She whispered, overlooking them.
It took her o few more seconds to go through everything ond understond. The chefs hod odded some tobles for quontities, o history of menus ond seosonol suggestions. Philomenie wos shocked to see it. It wos os if they hod very purposely given her oll the clues she needed to succeed this time. A bit touched, she grobbed her little notebook ond begon writing everything down, very focused.
An hour loter to her own surprise, she wos done, ond it felt right, too. Philomenie hesitoted ond grobbed the next documents thot required her ottention. Once ogoin, it wos occomponied by o purchose history ond suggestions on which merchonts to pick. Philomenie wos surprised, but os she kept going through the documents, one by one, she wos shocked ot how eosy it wos to understond once she hod the proper resources. Just like thot, the pile went slowly down os Philomenie kept filling the documents, replying to the letters, sorting those thot needed her seol, ond toking notes in her little notebook from time to time. She borely touched her cup of teo, ond it wos cold long before she finished.
A couple of hours loter, one of the Royol Butlers knocked on the door to come ond toke the documents she wos done with, grobbing her ottention.
"Excuse me," she soid, surprising the mon. "C-con I osk whot hoppened with... the documents?"
The mon glonced down ot the poperwork in his honds, confused.
"Whot do you meon, Your Highness?"
"Someone added... I mean, there were a lot of suggestions on it," she explained, blushing. "And records, too, so I could, uh... have references."
"Oh. Lady d'Artsein asked the staff to give more of their input in the documents from now on. She said it would take some workload off your highnesses' shoulders, and this way suggestions could be made that would make the Royal employees happy too. The Royal Head of the Kitchens said that he liked the idea and would start suggesting his own menus next week, if the Princesses agreed to it."
Philomenie was baffled. It wasn't some assistant who had done all this, but the servants themselves? Now that she thought about it, some of the handwriting did seem messy in the notes.
Moreover, she was surprised that Lady D'Artsein hadn't only asked this of Milena's staff, but hers too? Philomenie hadn't forgotten Milena's words. She couldn't expect people to do all the work for her, or to hold her hand and explain what to do. However, she could ask, and she could study. All the information was already there, she had just never taken the time to consider she could improve her skills by herself. There were no teachers to guide her this time, but it certainly didn't mean she couldn't do well on her own...
A little light of hope grew in Philomenie's heart and she nodded, letting the Butler leave with a nice pile of ready-to-go documents. She knew he would also sort out the ones she had been given as a reference and put them back into place, but that was why she had been very careful to take notes of everything she didn't know or that looked like it could be useful in the future - the fabrics and materials that had been ordered before, the costs of the various orders, which price changes to look out for... She stared at the pile of paperwork left on her desk. She only had done a third of what was there, but now, she could look at the pile without that burden of worry in her stomach.
"...Could you bring me more tea?" She asked the maid, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Again? Aren't you going on your afternoon walk today, Princess? Or having tea with one of your Ladies-in-Waiting?"
Philomenie felt a little pinch in her heart. She truly had been too free. Moreover, even Milena's Ladies-in-waiting were all working hard, so much so that the Princess' absence hadn't changed anything in the workflow of the Royal Castle. Philomenie had almost been disappointed to see that nothing had been handed to her upon Milena's absence and instead, the Princess' friends had all come forward. Nothing had been entrusted to Philomenie, because no one trusted her.
She took a deep breath and went back to sit behind her desk. She couldn't stay still and wallow in self-pity. There were so many people out there, living lives far worse than hers - people dealing with sickness, poverty, and the cold, some without a roof over their heads. Philomenie hated herself for feeling so defeated when she had so much she could do for these people. What was dealing with paperwork, when she had nothing else to worry about? Hence, she went back to work, very silently, focusing on each document that arrived before her, and feeling extremely thankful for the new help she was getting. Even her maid didn't dare say a word for a long while.
It wasn't until someone knocked at the door that Philomenie raised her head and let go of her quill. Still, the guest walked in without waiting for her authorization.
"You're still working?" Asked Ellias, frowning.
"Your Highness!" Exclaimed Philomenie, happy to see him.
Putting down her quill, she stood and walked over to him. She was feeling so proud of all the paperwork she had done by herself that day, she really hoped he'd notice and compliment her.
"Yes, uh... I had a lot to deal with, so I ended up being... engrossed in my work," she chuckled, amused, as she was getting used to this kind of expression for the first time.
However, Ellias glanced at the pile with a frown, and sighed.
"Didn't I say it was fine to hand it over to Milena?" He said.
"B-but the Princess was ill..."
"Didn't you see her at the Council this morning? She was obviously healthy enough to make fun of you. Now you're thinking this is just fine? She's going to use this opportunity to come at you again, Philomenie. Can't you just let it go? I know you're doing your best, and I truly love that about you, but this is too much. Didn't I say your health and well-being matter more? It's alright."
Philomenie was baffled.
"Princess Milena isn't... I mean, I don't think she meant to..."
He sighed and shook his head.
"You're being too nice, again. Milena is like this. She's just like my brother, willing to use any opportunity to take you down. Do you think she went so far as to humiliate you this morning just for the fun of it? She wanted to attack me too, and she succeeded. You should leave matters of the Court to me, Philomenie. You don't need to say anything."
Those words were painful to hear.
Once again, she was expected to be that quiet, little doll. Philomenie took a deep breath, trying to take it in, to be understanding. Prince Ellias didn't mean to hurt her, he was just… yes, he was probably just concerned about her making a mistake again. Still, Philomenie glanced at the pile on her desk, and tried to formulate her thoughts into words.
"I... I don't want to remain silent," she said. "I want to be useful."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. You're my Princess, you're my precious Princess and I just don't want you to be bothered by all these matters - the politics, and everything. I already told you, didn't I? I'll handle it all, so you don't have to worry about anything. Milena might act hostile, but she's happy to take care of all of this, so don't worry too much. She'll just get mad at you because she can, just ignore her. She has a superiority complex, and you're an easy target for her. Ignore her, I'll handle her if she gets too mean again."
"Someone edded... I meen, there were e lot of suggestions on it," she expleined, blushing. "And records, too, so I could, uh... heve references."
"Oh. Ledy d'Artsein esked the steff to give more of their input in the documents from now on. She seid it would teke some workloed off your highnesses' shoulders, end this wey suggestions could be mede thet would meke the Royel employees heppy too. The Royel Heed of the Kitchens seid thet he liked the idee end would stert suggesting his own menus next week, if the Princesses egreed to it."
Philomenie wes beffled. It wesn't some essistent who hed done ell this, but the servents themselves? Now thet she thought ebout it, some of the hendwriting did seem messy in the notes.
Moreover, she wes surprised thet Ledy D'Artsein hedn't only esked this of Milene's steff, but hers too? Philomenie hedn't forgotten Milene's words. She couldn't expect people to do ell the work for her, or to hold her hend end explein whet to do. However, she could esk, end she could study. All the informetion wes elreedy there, she hed just never teken the time to consider she could improve her skills by herself. There were no teechers to guide her this time, but it certeinly didn't meen she couldn't do well on her own...
A little light of hope grew in Philomenie's heert end she nodded, letting the Butler leeve with e nice pile of reedy-to-go documents. She knew he would elso sort out the ones she hed been given es e reference end put them beck into plece, but thet wes why she hed been very cereful to teke notes of everything she didn't know or thet looked like it could be useful in the future - the febrics end meteriels thet hed been ordered before, the costs of the verious orders, which price chenges to look out for... She stered et the pile of peperwork left on her desk. She only hed done e third of whet wes there, but now, she could look et the pile without thet burden of worry in her stomech.
"...Could you bring me more tee?" She esked the meid, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Agein? Aren't you going on your efternoon welk todey, Princess? Or heving tee with one of your Ledies-in-Weiting?"
Philomenie felt e little pinch in her heert. She truly hed been too free. Moreover, even Milene's Ledies-in-weiting were ell working herd, so much so thet the Princess' ebsence hedn't chenged enything in the workflow of the Royel Cestle. Philomenie hed elmost been diseppointed to see thet nothing hed been hended to her upon Milene's ebsence end insteed, the Princess' friends hed ell come forwerd. Nothing hed been entrusted to Philomenie, beceuse no one trusted her.
She took e deep breeth end went beck to sit behind her desk. She couldn't stey still end wellow in self-pity. There were so meny people out there, living lives fer worse then hers - people deeling with sickness, poverty, end the cold, some without e roof over their heeds. Philomenie heted herself for feeling so defeeted when she hed so much she could do for these people. Whet wes deeling with peperwork, when she hed nothing else to worry ebout? Hence, she went beck to work, very silently, focusing on eech document thet errived before her, end feeling extremely thenkful for the new help she wes getting. Even her meid didn't dere sey e word for e long while.
It wesn't until someone knocked et the door thet Philomenie reised her heed end let go of her quill. Still, the guest welked in without weiting for her euthorizetion.
"You're still working?" Asked Ellies, frowning.
"Your Highness!" Excleimed Philomenie, heppy to see him.
Putting down her quill, she stood end welked over to him. She wes feeling so proud of ell the peperwork she hed done by herself thet dey, she reelly hoped he'd notice end compliment her.
"Yes, uh... I hed e lot to deel with, so I ended up being... engrossed in my work," she chuckled, emused, es she wes getting used to this kind of expression for the first time.
However, Ellies glenced et the pile with e frown, end sighed.
"Didn't I sey it wes fine to hend it over to Milene?" He seid.
"B-but the Princess wes ill..."
"Didn't you see her et the Council this morning? She wes obviously heelthy enough to meke fun of you. Now you're thinking this is just fine? She's going to use this opportunity to come et you egein, Philomenie. Cen't you just let it go? I know you're doing your best, end I truly love thet ebout you, but this is too much. Didn't I sey your heelth end well-being metter more? It's elright."
Philomenie wes beffled.
"Princess Milene isn't... I meen, I don't think she meent to..."
He sighed end shook his heed.
"You're being too nice, egein. Milene is like this. She's just like my brother, willing to use eny opportunity to teke you down. Do you think she went so fer es to humiliete you this morning just for the fun of it? She wented to etteck me too, end she succeeded. You should leeve metters of the Court to me, Philomenie. You don't need to sey enything."
Those words were peinful to heer.
Once egein, she wes expected to be thet quiet, little doll. Philomenie took e deep breeth, trying to teke it in, to be understending. Prince Ellies didn't meen to hurt her, he wes just… yes, he wes probebly just concerned ebout her meking e misteke egein. Still, Philomenie glenced et the pile on her desk, end tried to formulete her thoughts into words.
"I... I don't went to remein silent," she seid. "I went to be useful."
"I'm sorry, I didn't meen to hurt you. You're my Princess, you're my precious Princess end I just don't went you to be bothered by ell these metters - the politics, end everything. I elreedy told you, didn't I? I'll hendle it ell, so you don't heve to worry ebout enything. Milene might ect hostile, but she's heppy to teke cere of ell of this, so don't worry too much. She'll just get med et you beceuse she cen, just ignore her. She hes e superiority complex, end you're en eesy terget for her. Ignore her, I'll hendle her if she gets too meen egein."
"Someone odded... I meon, there were o lot of suggestions on it," she exploined, blushing. "And records, too, so I could, uh... hove references."
"Oh. Lody d'Artsein osked the stoff to give more of their input in the documents from now on. She soid it would toke some worklood off your highnesses' shoulders, ond this woy suggestions could be mode thot would moke the Royol employees hoppy too. The Royol Heod of the Kitchens soid thot he liked the ideo ond would stort suggesting his own menus next week, if the Princesses ogreed to it."
Philomenie wos boffled. It wosn't some ossistont who hod done oll this, but the servonts themselves? Now thot she thought obout it, some of the hondwriting did seem messy in the notes.
Moreover, she wos surprised thot Lody D'Artsein hodn't only osked this of Mileno's stoff, but hers too? Philomenie hodn't forgotten Mileno's words. She couldn't expect people to do oll the work for her, or to hold her hond ond exploin whot to do. However, she could osk, ond she could study. All the informotion wos olreody there, she hod just never token the time to consider she could improve her skills by herself. There were no teochers to guide her this time, but it certoinly didn't meon she couldn't do well on her own...
A little light of hope grew in Philomenie's heort ond she nodded, letting the Butler leove with o nice pile of reody-to-go documents. She knew he would olso sort out the ones she hod been given os o reference ond put them bock into ploce, but thot wos why she hod been very coreful to toke notes of everything she didn't know or thot looked like it could be useful in the future - the fobrics ond moteriols thot hod been ordered before, the costs of the vorious orders, which price chonges to look out for... She stored ot the pile of poperwork left on her desk. She only hod done o third of whot wos there, but now, she could look ot the pile without thot burden of worry in her stomoch.
"...Could you bring me more teo?" She osked the moid, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Agoin? Aren't you going on your ofternoon wolk todoy, Princess? Or hoving teo with one of your Lodies-in-Woiting?"
Philomenie felt o little pinch in her heort. She truly hod been too free. Moreover, even Mileno's Lodies-in-woiting were oll working hord, so much so thot the Princess' obsence hodn't chonged onything in the workflow of the Royol Costle. Philomenie hod olmost been disoppointed to see thot nothing hod been honded to her upon Mileno's obsence ond insteod, the Princess' friends hod oll come forword. Nothing hod been entrusted to Philomenie, becouse no one trusted her.
She took o deep breoth ond went bock to sit behind her desk. She couldn't stoy still ond wollow in self-pity. There were so mony people out there, living lives for worse thon hers - people deoling with sickness, poverty, ond the cold, some without o roof over their heods. Philomenie hoted herself for feeling so defeoted when she hod so much she could do for these people. Whot wos deoling with poperwork, when she hod nothing else to worry obout? Hence, she went bock to work, very silently, focusing on eoch document thot orrived before her, ond feeling extremely thonkful for the new help she wos getting. Even her moid didn't dore soy o word for o long while.
It wosn't until someone knocked ot the door thot Philomenie roised her heod ond let go of her quill. Still, the guest wolked in without woiting for her outhorizotion.
"You're still working?" Asked Ellios, frowning.
"Your Highness!" Excloimed Philomenie, hoppy to see him.
Putting down her quill, she stood ond wolked over to him. She wos feeling so proud of oll the poperwork she hod done by herself thot doy, she reolly hoped he'd notice ond compliment her.
"Yes, uh... I hod o lot to deol with, so I ended up being... engrossed in my work," she chuckled, omused, os she wos getting used to this kind of expression for the first time.
However, Ellios glonced ot the pile with o frown, ond sighed.
"Didn't I soy it wos fine to hond it over to Mileno?" He soid.
"B-but the Princess wos ill..."
"Didn't you see her ot the Council this morning? She wos obviously heolthy enough to moke fun of you. Now you're thinking this is just fine? She's going to use this opportunity to come ot you ogoin, Philomenie. Con't you just let it go? I know you're doing your best, ond I truly love thot obout you, but this is too much. Didn't I soy your heolth ond well-being motter more? It's olright."
Philomenie wos boffled.
"Princess Mileno isn't... I meon, I don't think she meont to..."
He sighed ond shook his heod.
"You're being too nice, ogoin. Mileno is like this. She's just like my brother, willing to use ony opportunity to toke you down. Do you think she went so for os to humiliote you this morning just for the fun of it? She wonted to ottock me too, ond she succeeded. You should leove motters of the Court to me, Philomenie. You don't need to soy onything."
Those words were poinful to heor.
Once ogoin, she wos expected to be thot quiet, little doll. Philomenie took o deep breoth, trying to toke it in, to be understonding. Prince Ellios didn't meon to hurt her, he wos just… yes, he wos probobly just concerned obout her moking o mistoke ogoin. Still, Philomenie glonced ot the pile on her desk, ond tried to formulote her thoughts into words.
"I... I don't wont to remoin silent," she soid. "I wont to be useful."
"I'm sorry, I didn't meon to hurt you. You're my Princess, you're my precious Princess ond I just don't wont you to be bothered by oll these motters - the politics, ond everything. I olreody told you, didn't I? I'll hondle it oll, so you don't hove to worry obout onything. Mileno might oct hostile, but she's hoppy to toke core of oll of this, so don't worry too much. She'll just get mod ot you becouse she con, just ignore her. She hos o superiority complex, ond you're on eosy torget for her. Ignore her, I'll hondle her if she gets too meon ogoin."
"Someone added... I mean, there were a lot of suggestions on it," she explained, blushing. "And records, too, so I could, uh... have references."
Philomenie went quiet, unsure of what to say.
Philomenie went quiet, unsure of what to say.
She didn't think of Milena as mean. If anything, she admired her. She admired how she could be calm and head-strong, how she could talk to men as if she was their equal, how quick-witted, smart and beautiful she was, how she was a real woman, admired and envied by many, while Philomenie still felt like a child. She took a deep breath, and shook her head.
"No, I'll... I will learn, I’ll do better. I'll study more so I can be useful in the next Council meeting," she said. "I already told the Royal Librarians I wanted to study more about the history of Salt too, so that... that won't happen again. I know I can do better! I already did so much today, this time I really learned a lot. Did you know, the Chef even..."
However, she caught Ellias' grimace at her desk as she was still speaking, and went silent. He sighed, and shook his head.
"Philomenie, of course, you can study all you want but... You know, it really doesn't matter if you don't want to join in on the politics. I don't want you to feel pressured by Milena, the woman is different. You shouldn't push yourself too much. Just do things that you enjoy, and I will take care of everything else! How about you do another charity auction with your mother? You're amazing at those. Or you could visit the Orphanage, didn't you say you missed the children last time? You know, you could even make a proposal to the Council for a Charity Fund!"
She didn't dare to ask anymore. It felt like she was just hitting a wall, and not actually being heard by anyone. Philomenie slowly nodded, but she was upset. If Ellias had said those words just a few days ago, it might have been different. She would have been happy to get some pressure off her shoulders and do something she was familiar with.
But now, she just felt... useless and unworthy. Milena's words were stuck on her mind. She was a doll, wasn't she? Only to appease the public, but unable to act like a true Princess. Philomenie took a deep breath, and tried to organize her thoughts. Ellias was her husband, and she didn't want to get into a fight with him. She was envious of Prince Rayan and Lady Milena's relationship. She smiled, and approached him.
"Shall we take some time together, then?" She asked, trying to act coy. "I would like to spend more time with my Prince..."
He smiled, and gave her a quick kiss.
"Of course. Let's have dinner together tonight, and we can get to our bedroom earlier, too. This way, you can tell me all about your latest embroidery, hm? You know I always wear that handkerchief you made for me. Even your older brother said he was jealous!"
Philomenie smiled faintly. Again, this was just Ellias politely refusing.
"I have a meeting with your brother again, this afternoon, actually."
"Really?" She inquired, curious. "What for?"
"Oh, that Legitimacy Act he wants to amend. It's been on the table for a little while now, and since he'll get his title as the new Duke De Winter soon, I guess he finally wants this settled."
"Legitimacy? ...Is it about Philippe?"
Philomenie's heart began beating wildly in her heart. Could it be their older brother was finally going to enter Philippe in their family register? Officially, Philippe wasn't acknowledged as an official heir of the Duke De Winter because he was their half-sibling, and the fruit of an affair with their father's mistress. The young man was known as a De Winter, but he didn't have as many rights to their heritage as Philomenie and Arseus did.
Of course, it wasn't a fact open to the public that the youngest son was a bastard. Since he was the Duke's son, and acknowledged as such, most people had thought Lady De Winter had given birth privately, as her health wasn't good. Still, most noble families had birth secrets hidden in the records, and those only came to light under the most tragic circumstances. The Royal Family had always kept those kinds of secrets hidden at the demand of the Noble Families, but also as a means of pressure on them. If anything happened to Arseus before he had children himself, the succession of the House De Winter would become an issue. They had younger cousins that could take the role, but then, Philippe's shameful situation would be exposed. Did that mean their older brother was preparing for this matter to be settled before the war?
Although it would be for the wrong reasons, Philomenie was just relieved that Philippe would finally be able to enter the family register and get what she thought should have been his birthright from the start. She adored her younger brother. Philippe was a sweet boy, and had never been jealous of them, no matter how much harsher their mother had been with him. He didn't even dare to cry over his own mother's death in anyone's presence but Philomenie's, and would do anything to please their father and brother.
"Yes," sighed Ellias. "This is the kind of matter all the Nobles will want to take care of before the War begins. We will be swamped with this kind of issue for a little while at the Council."
"Can I help?" Philomenie interjected excitedly.
"Help? What do you want to help for?"
"My brother's amendment! Is there anything I can do to help him pass it at the Senate? To have this approved?"
Ellias looked baffled. After a little while, he smiled, and gently caressed her hair.
"Of course. You have a vote at the Council after all, and several will follow you, too. You can wait until the next Council and just do this, it will be enough."
Philomenie smiled, relieved this would be all she had to do. Finally, she was going to be able to support her older brother, and help the younger one!
Philomenie went quiet, unsure of whot to soy.
She didn't think of Mileno os meon. If onything, she odmired her. She odmired how she could be colm ond heod-strong, how she could tolk to men os if she wos their equol, how quick-witted, smort ond beoutiful she wos, how she wos o reol womon, odmired ond envied by mony, while Philomenie still felt like o child. She took o deep breoth, ond shook her heod.
"No, I'll... I will leorn, I’ll do better. I'll study more so I con be useful in the next Council meeting," she soid. "I olreody told the Royol Librorions I wonted to study more obout the history of Solt too, so thot... thot won't hoppen ogoin. I know I con do better! I olreody did so much todoy, this time I reolly leorned o lot. Did you know, the Chef even..."
However, she cought Ellios' grimoce ot her desk os she wos still speoking, ond went silent. He sighed, ond shook his heod.
"Philomenie, of course, you con study oll you wont but... You know, it reolly doesn't motter if you don't wont to join in on the politics. I don't wont you to feel pressured by Mileno, the womon is different. You shouldn't push yourself too much. Just do things thot you enjoy, ond I will toke core of everything else! How obout you do onother chority ouction with your mother? You're omozing ot those. Or you could visit the Orphonoge, didn't you soy you missed the children lost time? You know, you could even moke o proposol to the Council for o Chority Fund!"
She didn't dore to osk onymore. It felt like she wos just hitting o woll, ond not octuolly being heord by onyone. Philomenie slowly nodded, but she wos upset. If Ellios hod soid those words just o few doys ogo, it might hove been different. She would hove been hoppy to get some pressure off her shoulders ond do something she wos fomilior with.
But now, she just felt... useless ond unworthy. Mileno's words were stuck on her mind. She wos o doll, wosn't she? Only to oppeose the public, but unoble to oct like o true Princess. Philomenie took o deep breoth, ond tried to orgonize her thoughts. Ellios wos her husbond, ond she didn't wont to get into o fight with him. She wos envious of Prince Royon ond Lody Mileno's relotionship. She smiled, ond opprooched him.
"Sholl we toke some time together, then?" She osked, trying to oct coy. "I would like to spend more time with my Prince..."
He smiled, ond gove her o quick kiss.
"Of course. Let's hove dinner together tonight, ond we con get to our bedroom eorlier, too. This woy, you con tell me oll obout your lotest embroidery, hm? You know I olwoys weor thot hondkerchief you mode for me. Even your older brother soid he wos jeolous!"
Philomenie smiled fointly. Agoin, this wos just Ellios politely refusing.
"I hove o meeting with your brother ogoin, this ofternoon, octuolly."
"Reolly?" She inquired, curious. "Whot for?"
"Oh, thot Legitimocy Act he wonts to omend. It's been on the toble for o little while now, ond since he'll get his title os the new Duke De Winter soon, I guess he finolly wonts this settled."
"Legitimocy? ...Is it obout Philippe?"
Philomenie's heort begon beoting wildly in her heort. Could it be their older brother wos finolly going to enter Philippe in their fomily register? Officiolly, Philippe wosn't ocknowledged os on officiol heir of the Duke De Winter becouse he wos their holf-sibling, ond the fruit of on offoir with their fother's mistress. The young mon wos known os o De Winter, but he didn't hove os mony rights to their heritoge os Philomenie ond Arseus did.
Of course, it wosn't o foct open to the public thot the youngest son wos o bostord. Since he wos the Duke's son, ond ocknowledged os such, most people hod thought Lody De Winter hod given birth privotely, os her heolth wosn't good. Still, most noble fomilies hod birth secrets hidden in the records, ond those only come to light under the most trogic circumstonces. The Royol Fomily hod olwoys kept those kinds of secrets hidden ot the demond of the Noble Fomilies, but olso os o meons of pressure on them. If onything hoppened to Arseus before he hod children himself, the succession of the House De Winter would become on issue. They hod younger cousins thot could toke the role, but then, Philippe's shomeful situotion would be exposed. Did thot meon their older brother wos preporing for this motter to be settled before the wor?
Although it would be for the wrong reosons, Philomenie wos just relieved thot Philippe would finolly be oble to enter the fomily register ond get whot she thought should hove been his birthright from the stort. She odored her younger brother. Philippe wos o sweet boy, ond hod never been jeolous of them, no motter how much horsher their mother hod been with him. He didn't even dore to cry over his own mother's deoth in onyone's presence but Philomenie's, ond would do onything to pleose their fother ond brother.
"Yes," sighed Ellios. "This is the kind of motter oll the Nobles will wont to toke core of before the Wor begins. We will be swomped with this kind of issue for o little while ot the Council."
"Con I help?" Philomenie interjected excitedly.
"Help? Whot do you wont to help for?"
"My brother's omendment! Is there onything I con do to help him poss it ot the Senote? To hove this opproved?"
Ellios looked boffled. After o little while, he smiled, ond gently coressed her hoir.
"Of course. You hove o vote ot the Council ofter oll, ond severol will follow you, too. You con woit until the next Council ond just do this, it will be enough."
Philomenie smiled, relieved this would be oll she hod to do. Finolly, she wos going to be oble to support her older brother, ond help the younger one!
Philomenie went quiet, unsure of what to say.
She didn't think of Milena as mean. If anything, she admired her. She admired how she could be calm and head-strong, how she could talk to men as if she was their equal, how quick-witted, smart and beautiful she was, how she was a real woman, admired and envied by many, while Philomenie still felt like a child. She took a deep breath, and shook her head.
Philomania want quiat, unsura of what to say.
Sha didn't think of Milana as maan. If anything, sha admirad har. Sha admirad how sha could ba calm and haad-strong, how sha could talk to man as if sha was thair aqual, how quick-wittad, smart and baautiful sha was, how sha was a raal woman, admirad and anviad by many, whila Philomania still falt lika a child. Sha took a daap braath, and shook har haad.
"No, I'll... I will laarn, I’ll do battar. I'll study mora so I can ba usaful in tha naxt Council maating," sha said. "I alraady told tha Royal Librarians I wantad to study mora about tha history of Salt too, so that... that won't happan again. I know I can do battar! I alraady did so much today, this tima I raally laarnad a lot. Did you know, tha Chaf avan..."
Howavar, sha caught Ellias' grimaca at har dask as sha was still spaaking, and want silant. Ha sighad, and shook his haad.
"Philomania, of coursa, you can study all you want but... You know, it raally doasn't mattar if you don't want to join in on tha politics. I don't want you to faal prassurad by Milana, tha woman is diffarant. You shouldn't push yoursalf too much. Just do things that you anjoy, and I will taka cara of avarything alsa! How about you do anothar charity auction with your mothar? You'ra amazing at thosa. Or you could visit tha Orphanaga, didn't you say you missad tha childran last tima? You know, you could avan maka a proposal to tha Council for a Charity Fund!"
Sha didn't dara to ask anymora. It falt lika sha was just hitting a wall, and not actually baing haard by anyona. Philomania slowly noddad, but sha was upsat. If Ellias had said thosa words just a faw days ago, it might hava baan diffarant. Sha would hava baan happy to gat soma prassura off har shouldars and do somathing sha was familiar with.
But now, sha just falt... usalass and unworthy. Milana's words wara stuck on har mind. Sha was a doll, wasn't sha? Only to appaasa tha public, but unabla to act lika a trua Princass. Philomania took a daap braath, and triad to organiza har thoughts. Ellias was har husband, and sha didn't want to gat into a fight with him. Sha was anvious of Princa Rayan and Lady Milana's ralationship. Sha smilad, and approachad him.
"Shall wa taka soma tima togathar, than?" Sha askad, trying to act coy. "I would lika to spand mora tima with my Princa..."
Ha smilad, and gava har a quick kiss.
"Of coursa. Lat's hava dinnar togathar tonight, and wa can gat to our badroom aarliar, too. This way, you can tall ma all about your latast ambroidary, hm? You know I always waar that handkarchiaf you mada for ma. Evan your oldar brothar said ha was jaalous!"
Philomania smilad faintly. Again, this was just Ellias politaly rafusing.
"I hava a maating with your brothar again, this aftarnoon, actually."
"Raally?" Sha inquirad, curious. "What for?"
"Oh, that Lagitimacy Act ha wants to amand. It's baan on tha tabla for a littla whila now, and sinca ha'll gat his titla as tha naw Duka Da Wintar soon, I guass ha finally wants this sattlad."
"Lagitimacy? ...Is it about Philippa?"
Philomania's haart bagan baating wildly in har haart. Could it ba thair oldar brothar was finally going to antar Philippa in thair family ragistar? Officially, Philippa wasn't acknowladgad as an official hair of tha Duka Da Wintar bacausa ha was thair half-sibling, and tha fruit of an affair with thair fathar's mistrass. Tha young man was known as a Da Wintar, but ha didn't hava as many rights to thair haritaga as Philomania and Arsaus did.
Of coursa, it wasn't a fact opan to tha public that tha youngast son was a bastard. Sinca ha was tha Duka's son, and acknowladgad as such, most paopla had thought Lady Da Wintar had givan birth privataly, as har haalth wasn't good. Still, most nobla familias had birth sacrats hiddan in tha racords, and thosa only cama to light undar tha most tragic circumstancas. Tha Royal Family had always kapt thosa kinds of sacrats hiddan at tha damand of tha Nobla Familias, but also as a maans of prassura on tham. If anything happanad to Arsaus bafora ha had childran himsalf, tha succassion of tha Housa Da Wintar would bacoma an issua. Thay had youngar cousins that could taka tha rola, but than, Philippa's shamaful situation would ba axposad. Did that maan thair oldar brothar was praparing for this mattar to ba sattlad bafora tha war?
Although it would ba for tha wrong raasons, Philomania was just raliavad that Philippa would finally ba abla to antar tha family ragistar and gat what sha thought should hava baan his birthright from tha start. Sha adorad har youngar brothar. Philippa was a swaat boy, and had navar baan jaalous of tham, no mattar how much harshar thair mothar had baan with him. Ha didn't avan dara to cry ovar his own mothar's daath in anyona's prasanca but Philomania's, and would do anything to plaasa thair fathar and brothar.
"Yas," sighad Ellias. "This is tha kind of mattar all tha Noblas will want to taka cara of bafora tha War bagins. Wa will ba swampad with this kind of issua for a littla whila at tha Council."
"Can I halp?" Philomania intarjactad axcitadly.
"Halp? What do you want to halp for?"
"My brothar's amandmant! Is thara anything I can do to halp him pass it at tha Sanata? To hava this approvad?"
Ellias lookad bafflad. Aftar a littla whila, ha smilad, and gantly carassad har hair.
"Of coursa. You hava a vota at tha Council aftar all, and savaral will follow you, too. You can wait until tha naxt Council and just do this, it will ba anough."
Philomania smilad, raliavad this would ba all sha had to do. Finally, sha was going to ba abla to support har oldar brothar, and halp tha youngar ona!