The words rang in her ears, an apology and now an acknowledgement. If not for the way her heart had hammered in her chest earlier, Serena would have been convinced that this was all a dream.
It was a step, yes, but Livia had called her an animal mere minutes ago. The bitterness still lingered on her tongue. The blonde woman had a fleeting suspicion that Livia was only here to fulfill all righteousness. If that was the case, who had put her up to it?
"I see," Serena merely said, voice quiet but clipped. "If you would not mind, I would like to dress my bed now."
The look on Livia’s face gave her some sort of twisted satisfaction. Instantly, Serena was ashamed. She looked down briefly and then cleared her throat. Livia seemed taken aback by her words, she would imagine she would be, because Serena was always trying to be civil.
But who was to say that she was not being civil? She never had to accept her apology. Livia could have always told her these words the moment they stepped out of the council room. Instead, she stood and looked Serena in the eye and told her to leave Ironshade.
Serena gritted her teeth and then turned away. Somehow anger had weaseled its way into her heart. Moments earlier, she was accusing her of overstepping her boundaries and now she got a half-hearted apology. Serena could only hope that this meant the two women could be civil to one another, but they were far from friends.
"I do not mind, I will leave," Livia said.
Serena heard the echo of her boots and soon the woman was at the door. She glanced back and then walked to Serena. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelꞁire.net
"There will be some clothes that will be brought to you, sooner I hope if I can manage to finish them," Livia said.
"Why do I need more clothes?" Serena asked. "I know I have no right to ask, but what are the costs of making these dresses for me?"
Livia pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "It costs a lot."
Serena pressed her lips in a thin line. Right, that was as far as she could ask from this woman. "I see, but you have not answered my first question."
Livia hummed and then folded her arms. "Because it is important you look good. Crimsonclaw is assumed to be just as prosperous as Ironshade and you would have to look the part. No expense will be spared as far as it means it will favour us. Simply do your part and play the obedient ambassador."
Serena exhaled slowly. She understood Livia’s words, but she did not need so much clothes. The whole thing was just unnecessary. Her heart would have been at ease if they had given the money that they would have used to sew such garments to people who were less privileged.
Even if that meant Serena would have had to stay confined to the castle to limit who saw her wearing certain dresses, then it would be okay. Clara’s house flashed in her mind and she curled her fingers.
"If it favours you as you speak, would that mean life in Ironshade would be better for everyone?"
Livia held her tongue. She wanted to let out a barrage of words that would further alienate Serena as she had always done. But the way her green eyes gleamed made Livia stop in her tracks. "Yes."
Serena nodded. "Very well then."
Livia looked her up and down and then she turned on her heel and slipped out the door, leaving Serena alone.
The woman walked over to her bed and flopped onto it. She pressed her nose into one of the pillows and inhaled deeply. She wondered how quickly Darius had scrambled from under the bed and fluffed up one of the pillows to make it look like only one person had laid on the bed.
Her eyes flew open and she rushed to the window as though she would see Darius at the top of the castle grounds looking back at her.
Of course, there was not a single soul there. She leaned dangerously closer, and her feet lifted off the ground slightly as she peered at the surrounding area. There were no ropes, or anything like a contraption that could have helped Darius.
The woman squinted as she scanned the area, and then she saw it, an inconspicuous window not too far off. Even a daring boy with a reckless streak could have made the leap, so long as he didn’t think too much about falling. She pulled back from the window and chuckled under her breath. He had really done it.
She pushed her hair back and sighed. She still wished that Livia had not interrupted them. In a few seconds she was back at her bedside, feeling lazier than ever.
Three days until the Dawnbreak party arrived, three days until her vocal cords strained from the stress she would put them under. She sat up quickly and looked around. What if she decided to simply lay low until they had gone and come?
The woman pressed her hand to her forehead and then sighed. That would not do. The council had already decided to leverage her presence for their talks and negotiations. Serena’s mouth hung open in horror, they might even bring her out to sit at the table with the Dawnbreak delegate.
"Oh my," Serena said aloud.
That offer that Darius had given her some weeks ago looked so tantalising to her now. The mental stress of this was weighing her down. What was it like for Darius himself? He would have to make a lot of compromises in her stead.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Almost instantly, she knew who it was from the way he knocked on the door. Darius had such a strange habit, as she had come to notice, he knocked low on doors instead of raising his hand.
Serena ran her hand through her hair as a weak attempt of brushing through it and walked briskly to the door.
"Why did you jump out the window?"