Dove peeked into the sitting room from behind a corner, and breathed a sigh of relief. Her stepmother was preoccupied with her stepbrothers as they told her about the “special visitor.” Trying to be as quiet as possible, Dove made her way to the stairs.
“Ah! Not so fast, little Pigeon.” Her stepmother, Lady Montgomery, beckoned her with an extended arm. She did not know why she called her Pigeon. Perhaps it was because pigeons were dirtier creatures than doves. Cautiously, Dove turned and made her way over to othem.
Her stepmother grabbed her chin and inspected her face. “Disgusting. I need you clean as soon as possible. You will be pouring drinks at dinner soon.”
“Yes ma’am,” Dove murmured. She shook slightly.
Her stepmother let go of her and pushed her away. “Go on then. Wash up!” Her stepbrothers looked on with a look of silent pride and satisfaction. Dove quickly left to return to the kitchen and clean.
Meanwhile, soon the doors of the manor opened. A woman stood before Princess Alice, old and with greying hair. She smiled at the princess serenely.
“Welcome, Your Highness, to my humble manor.” She stood aside to allow the princess to go in. “Thank you for deciding to spend your precious time with us.”
Alice was completely oblivious to what had just happened in the house but when the door opened and she was greeted she she smiled softly walking into the house she wasn't wearing was a usual princess would wear just a simple tunic and a pair of boots she stood in the front room looking around and enjoying the new area "thank you for having me on such short notice I hope I'm not any trouble to you all? " she was silently looking for the girl that she had seen but no sign of her any where
The princess’s attire seemed to confuse Lady Montgomery, but she got over it quickly. “No, no, not at all. It is quite the honor.” Shutting the door behind her, she gestured to andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) and Michael, who were standing nearby, straight and alert. “These are my darling, handsome sons,” she said, “The one with glasses is andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer), and the one without is Michael.”
The brothers gave respectful, but calculated bows to Princess Alice. “Welcome, Your Highness,” they said.
“Shall we go to the sitting room while we wait for dinner to be prepared?” The duchess asked, slowly leading the others deeper into the manor.
She greeted the men that she had seen previously before she still wasn't a fan of Michael which she finally knew his name now she nodded her head "yes that would be great thank you. " she said as polite as possible "will that young girl be joining us as well? " she was talking about dove of course but she hadn't figured out her name because of the brothers
Lady Montgomery clasped her hands together and began walking in earnest. “Wonderful, let us go.” Glancing over her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow. “Girl? What young girl?”
As could probably be guessed, the duchess did not consider Dove as her own stepdaughter, so as far she was concerned, Dove was not a member of the family, so why would she join them?
"Yes there was a girl outside your son told her to stop bothering me when I was having a rather nice conversation with her surely she'll be joining us. " she had a feeling she knew what was going on but she wouldn't say anything not yet anyway it wasn't the right time and she only a guest she shouldn't be rude even though Michael was looking at her as if she was just a play thing for him
“Oh.” Lady Montgomery looked back in front of her. “Must have been one of our maids or servants. I’m afraid she will not be joining us.” andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) and Michael shared a glance.
Meanwhile, Dove had washed her face and clothes the best she could, and headed back to the kitchen. Aside from Gabriel the cook, other kitchen maids and servants were working inside now, and the smell of cooking meat and fresh bread was in the air. The kitchen was one of Dove’s favorite places in the house. Good food, and good people. She went and helped out one of the kitchen maids, who was brewing a pot of tea for dinner.
"Oh well what a shame she was good company. " she said thoughtfully as she gave the woman another softly smile before speaking again "hm Michael? What was it you called the girl…. witch was it? "
Lady Montgomery gave her son a dangerous look. Michael gulped, but composed himself. “Ah, yes Your Highness. What of it?”
As Dove began brewing the tea, her mind drifted back to the princess. Her smile, her laugh. It looked so genuine. How could anyone so important look at someone like her like that? How could someone so beautiful look at someone so disgusting like that? She didn’t know, but she replayed that moment over and over again until the sound of boiling tea shocked her out of it.
"Well I'm only assuming that is not her name it couldn't be someone as sweet as her. " her voice was sincere but sounded slightly annoyed she kept he posture as they continued their walk she looked around the ball with that same smile even when she was shining the light on Michael she smile never faulterd
“I wouldn’t let her sweetness fool you, Your Highness,” Michael scoffed. “Witch is a far more accurate name for her, believe me.”
Lady Montgomery cleared her throat loudly. “Ah, here we are Your Highness,” she declared as a maid opened the doors to the sitting room. “Please, take a seat.”
The duchess sat in a rather tall chair that seemed to be her favorite. Aside from that, there was a sofa beside it, and two smaller identical chairs as well.
"Whatever do you mean by that? It doesn't matter how people look or act you should never call them names it is rude and unnecessary. " her tone was a little more firm this time trying to make her point but the lady of the house caught he attention before she could say anything else as the rest of them sat down she chose one of the smaller chairs to eliminate any changes of Michael sitting closer that she'd like
Michael just shrugged, seeming more focused on the princess’s fiery and bold reaction than her actual words. The twins sat together on the sofa, andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) adjusting his glasses and Michael crossing his legs.
“So, Your Highness, do your parents know you’re here?” The duchess asked, quickly changing the subject.
Alice rolled her eyes as she brought her attention back to lady Montgomery "as far as you are concerned yes they do know where I am. " she had a small smirk on her lips as she glanced at Michael before looking away again
“As far as I am concerned? I see, I see,” the duchess nodded. She coughed a little in the direction of her sons.
Michael opened his mouth to say something, but andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) beat him to it. “Well then, what drew you to our humble place of residence? Surely royalty such as yourself would have more pressing matters to attend to.”
"I was just exploring the area and stumbled across this place, nothing to interesting. " she sat back in the chair and crossed her legs as she looked over at andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) with a smile
“Really? Just exploring?” andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer) stiffly returned the smile. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.
At that moment a maid entered the room. “Dinner is served, Your Grace,” she said. Her eyes drifted to the princess, but she didn’t recognize her, so she just had a vaguely confused look on her face.
The duchess rose from her seat. “Wonderful. Let us dine,” she announced, and left for the dining room.
"Yes only exploring the castle can get quite boring you see.. " she was going to continue before the maid entered she gave a warm smile before standing up and following the lady
When they all entered the dining room, a lovely feast had been laid out on the table. Lady Montgomery allowed the princess to take her seat first, and then she and her sons sat down as well. As they began to eat, a few servants entered, carrying an assortment of beverages. Among these servants was Dove, carrying the tea tray. The other servant girls carried coffee, wine, and water.
“What will you have as a drink, Your Highness?” Lady Montgomery asked, still trying to keep up her polite appearance.
Alice took her seat at the end of the table placing her hands in her lap as the servants began to walk into the room she didn't want to get in their way "oh perhaps tea if it isn't any trouble. " she smiled at the the girl holding the tray
Dove’s eyes were glued to the princess. She could not seem to look away, even though she wanted to. She didn’t want to be rude, just staring at her like this.
And yet, when Her Highness asked for tea, Dove looked away with a blush coming to her cheeks. She approached her, bowed, and set the tray down on the table. Taking the teapot, she poured the princess’s cup.
“Sugar or honey, Your Highness?” Dove asked softly. She could feel her stepfamily’s eyes boring into her.
Just as dove couldn't stop looking at alice couldn't keep her eyes off of dove she'd never seen anybody so beautiful before, she had a sweet affectionate smile on her face as dove walked over to her ' honey it you wouldn't mind.. " she looked over as the family for a slight second noticing their stares before speaking again "I love your hair it's just absolutely beautiful I've never seen anything like it. "
“Of course,” Dove nodded. She gave Princess Alice two spoonfuls of honey. “Stir to your liking.”
Then her face turned very red, and her eyes widened. It had been a long time since anyone said that to her. “O— oh, Your Highness, how— how kind of you to say.” Momentarily she forgot about her stepfamily. All that mattered was that the princess herself was smiling at her and looking at her like she was the brightest, fullest moon.
"I speak the truth dear, what did you say your name was again I'm afraid I didn't hear you at our first encounter.. " she paid no more attention to the rest of them she was focused on dove she was amazed by her beauty
Vaguely, she heard her stepmother call for a glass of wine and stepbrothers for coffee, but her gaze was still fixed on the princess. “Dove,” she said. “My name is Dove.” Then she chuckled, feeling a little awkward. “You can probably tell why.”
She laughed softly "it's a very pretty name it suits you, I know my hand maid would love to braid it. "
A smile grew on her face. It was rather unfamiliar; when was the last time she had ever smiled like this? What was this feeling, deep in her gut and burning in her face?
“Thank you, Your Highness. Is that—“
A loud coughing sound cut her off. Dove looked to see her stepmother glaring at her. Her blood turned cold. She looked back to Princess Alice and bowed, then took the tea tray and walked out of the room.
"Of course-" Alice cleared her throat quietly "sorry about that, she's a very nice girl.." She could feel the flutter of butterflies in her stomach as she looked over at doves step mother
“Oh no, I just wouldn’t want her to take up too much of your time, princess,” the duchess said with narrowed eyes.
Dove placed the tray on the table in the kitchen and tried to calm herself. She could feel her heart pumping and her limbs shaking. Why did her stepmother glare at her like that? Dove knew that she was very particular and perfectionist whenever they had visitors, and the fact that the princess herself was here only made this worse, but that glare had felt almost… personal. Like she had done something to specifically insult her stepmother. But how? Dove took a small breath. Maybe she was overthinking it. She didn’t know, and there wasn’t really a way to find out.
"Oh I really didn't mind talking to her as I said we were having a nice conversation outside… " she smiled at Montgomery as she brought her tea up to her lips and took a sip of it she didn't really know what else to say so she just sat there quietly
