Topic: The Sage of Torallya

Sophus

Date: 2015-08-21 22:28 EST
"Miss Melnikov, please hurry, we don't want you to be late for the ball!" Pyra fussed and fluffed the frills that accented the verdant green ball gown that hung off slender shoulders in an alluring fashion. A necklace of sapphire studded silver snagged and draped along a gentle collar before they were set away in favor a gold and pearl choker that lifted the eyes away from a generous display of cleavage. Clarah sighed at all the attention of the handmaiden, a mean feat to accomplish with the constriction of her corset. By the way Pyra fussed the young noble would have thought it was her debut at the court, and in a way it was though only in a technical sense.

"Would you quiet fussing Pyra! I swear you are wound up twice over for the both of us!" She humphed though the coy lift of lips let the servant know that her irritation was only in jest. "It is not as I will attract the eye of one of the court as I am. Your dreams of living a grand romance vicariously through me so dashed before they could even bloom I am sure." A teasing jab though she couldn't quiet keep all the bitterness from her tone as she would have liked. Clarah and the handmaid were of equal age though Pyra was a voluptuous beauty with luxuriously long red hair and skin so pale and supple as that of a porcelain doll. Of course she wasn't so bad herself with a head of bright strawberry blonde hair that fell lively in a host of curls about her soft, graceful features and a form that was the jealousy of many the socialite debutantes. Yet the tarnish upon her made it so the underclass maid had a better chance of finding a proper spouse than she had in truth. This ball was all just a travesty really for the low noble but Clarah still had an obligation to her family as eldest daughter to attend such events, particularly the first ball of the season back from her prolonged time out in the countryside.

"Oh hush Miss Melnikov, you are plenty a fine woman that any man or woman would swoon at the honor to have ye." This had Clarah huffing a laugh to the back of a gloved hand though the feather trace of fingers up the nape of her neck and along her jaw stilled such a haughty gesture with the shiver it sent up her spine.

"I believe all those stories of romance and heroism I've read you over the years has mushed your mind dear Pyra! Perhaps none will have me and I'll be forced to a convents life." She wiggled lightly at the swat to the bottom from the other before the two girls burst into a fit of giggling. It made her feel silly to still titter and prattle on as such at sixteen years of age but it was a luxury she only partook of in the company of her personal handmaiden. She had grown up with the girl who had been a dear friend and a great source of solace when she had been dishonored so thoroughly two springs past. Clarah doubted greatly that she'd have recovered her wit and will so as she did without the love of the woman, one that she so inappropriately shared. Not that it was uncommon for women of the court to have concubines from the lower classes to help stave away the boredom and loneliness of life as their spouses tended to proper duties, but to chose one from ones own employee was considered taboo even in the imperial court of the indulgent and gregarious Beldenfast IX. It was a problem the noblewoman had contemplated often though it seemed so silly that she'd weigh one taboo against her honor over the one which was already there.

Gathering up the front of her skirt Clarah turned and stole a quick kiss from the servent before stealing off with a laugh. A dreamy sigh escaped the maid before her attention focused once more on the now fleeing blossom of green that was the noblewoman, a pouting huff as she set of after. Following alongside with a fist full of antique jewelry pieces she affixed them here and there, the ones that didn't fit just so being removed and placed in one of the pockets of her apron. Turning down the hall Clarah slowed her hurried pace as she caught sight of the matronly figure at the end of the hall, back turned as they gazed out of the panel window to the street below. The woman turn her hazelnut gaze to the sound of shuffling ruffles as Clarah approached, an ever so slight curtsey offered as she bowed her head. "Mother."

A smile, affectionate yet thin and stiff crossed the woman as she assessed her daughter, fingers tracing over the selected pieces by the handmaid who remained stooped and bowed in the presence of the matron of the family. An approving nod was given as she released the bracelet upon Clarah's wrist, fingers moving to tug a few millimeters more decency out of the swoop cut of the girls dress. "I so wish that you would have dressed as a proper lady Clarah."

Clarah tipped her chin up and out defiantly though her tone was respectful. "I am sorry mother, but really this is the best way."

"To cheapen you further?" The older woman scoffed as fingers rose to tuck back a ribbon of ebony hair. "You should not have to stoop to such scandalous tricks to catch the eye of a gentleman."

"Nay, she won't for such. But she will need such to attract the eye of a good and proper artisan." The voice that bellowed from down the hall warranted a bright smile from the young noble as she turned with a curtsey to the approaching man. He was heavy set though athletic with a shock of peppered gray hair that was worn slicked into a curled part and a mustache to match. He could have been a toy maker for the soft friendliness of his portly features though the sharp and crisp edges of his royal uniform told of his military pedigree and the soft whir of his automechanica hand telling of a youth not so idled away behind a desk and out of danger.

Count Melnikov gave his niece an appraising gaze, a sly grin pulling upon his features. "Lass, you have grown into a beautiful woman..." Clarah shuffled a little as her cheeks colored, walnut brown eyes casting away in embarrassment at the man's words. "And were I more worried that that asp of a tongue you keep so barely tamed in your mouth not up to the task of keeping the young rabble at bay I may find myself in need to carry a sword so as to keep the suitors back to a respectable distance!"

Lady Dubuisson de Malnikov snorted her disapproval of the general's glib words though they did only tickle Clarah as she covered a chuckle. "You could simply carry a rapier for me so as I can keep them at bay myself..." Her tone was sweet along with the bat of eyes which had the older war hound barking with laughter. Out of all her family she liked her father's brother the most for the man had never seen her as a woman to be married off to the court nor as woman to be placed upon a display and protected; he had always simply saw her as the child of a prestigious military family and treated her as such. Horseback riding, hunting, fencing, military tactics; she had it all under the man's tutelage. It had left her much more aware of the world than her fellow young nobles and royals as well as made her a touch of a tomboyish hellion. Even without the scandal that followed her as some dark flag she doubted she'd have ever done well in 'the game' of the court.

"Now Clarah, remember, you are going only to present yourself to the court tonight. Mingle and become known but not too well. You have the entire season so as to properly seek a suitor. And for heaven's sake please avoid any more scandals!" Her mother plucked at a few ruffles here and there as to adjust them before her hands clasped on either side of her face bringing her forward to press a kiss to her brow.

"Yes mother." Her words drug out in annoyance though her hands lifted to cup over her mothers, bringing them forward to press a kiss upon them. "I'll be careful."

"Come now Antoinette, Clarah is an intelligent woman who is strong willed and sharp as a whip. Besides, my hot headed brother is off to Port Vilne de Mortam until the mid of week so there should be no need of damnable heroics this night." Moving the general turned chaperone offered Clarah the crook of his arm which was graciously taken, the young woman falling in step beside the stately soldier.

"Strong willed and sharp wit is precisely what I worry over." Her mothers tone was dry yet concerned as she watched the two head off. "Please, just be careful and do try to have some fun. Dull women attract no gazes no matter how indecent the dress."

"I will mother..." A sigh of words as she cast one last look back to the concerned matron and the handmaiden that risked looking up and wiggling a wave of fingers and a kiss of lips after. Clarah pushed back her annoyance and offered a warm, brilliant smile back. "Goodnight! I'll tell you all about it when I return in the morrow!" Words more for Pyra than her mother as she returned her walnut gaze forward as her uncle lead her down to the automobile that would carry them out to the palace.