Duchess Victoria & Lady Ariella
Time: 10am → 11am
Location: Edwards Estate → Danrose castle
Mention: @FunnyGuy Lorenzo
@Silverpaw Wulfric
@Inertia Auguste
@Helo Callum
@Heartfillia Crystal
@Tae Thea
Appearance:
Dress,
Hair style but red,
shoes,
Portrait
“Ladonna’s last season perfume? Really? What are we, homeless?” Victoria was a tornado as she stormed into the room and right past the maid near her stepdaughter. She plucked the round perfume bottle out of the little woman’s hand just as she had been about to squeeze the atomizer pump. She flicked the maid in the chest hard and the young maid with the thin braids took a step back.
There were three women around her daughter that she had assigned to prepare Ariella for the Prince’s Court. Surely three people would be enough to have one beautiful girl in excellent condition, but this duchess was
not impressed. It wasn’t like they’d need to do much. If she had been her own daughter, then perhaps nothing would have been needed at all. Luckily for Priscilla, only one maid had been sent as she had her mother’s blood to help her appearance.
Tall and stunning with the eyes of a siren, she stared down at the maid from high above, her expression deadpan. She lowly asked as she twirled the perfume bottle in one hand,
“What were you doing? ”“I… I was just going to spray her in perfume so she’d smell nice.”“You mean to say you were going to spray her with a perfume that’s now on sale and in technical reach for the middle class? You know normal people can buy this, right? Maybe even someone as poor as you. “ The girl looked as if she wanted to shrink back, but there was nowhere to step. Victoria scoffed but gave the girl a few moments to respond all the same. Only silence followed.
“Hello!? Are you stupid?”Victoria slammed her hands down on the vanity in front, making the other two maids drop what they were doing.
” Ariella is my daughter! She’s going to meet with the PRINCES! Do you think they wanna marry anything less than perfect? …I know you all have one brain cell between the three of you trying to spray this trash on her. God do I have to do everything myself. I can’t stand any of you.”They all stared at her without a word. Victoria sighed and pointed at the door with narrowed eyes.
“ Get out.” She softly ordered. She watched them awkwardly scramble out of the room with a smug grin pulling at her lips. She danced her shoulders with delight then whirled on her daughter. Her expression softened as well as her tone.
“Sorry princess. I was in such a good mood and then those imbeciles just made me fall off the rocker… Ridiculous, wasn’t it? At least that crisis was averted.”She knelt down to take a good look at her where she was seated.
“Darling you look delicious. They’re going to eat you up like a panna cotta.“ Her gaze seemed to pierce into hers. She was thoughtful as she continued to smile at Ariella.
“How about I do your hair for you like I used to? Then we can make sure we find you the best perfume we have.”Rolling her eyes and letting out a deep exaggerated sigh, Ariella shook her head and gave the maids a dirty glance as they left the room.
“ Where do we even find good help these days, Honestly. It’s like some of them simply do not have the brains or class for their jobs anymore.” She pulled her hair over her shoulder, Her red locks twisting in their natural wave as her violet eyes admired herself in the long full-length mirror.
“ Honestly, it is not hard … they are so lucky they don't have all the worldly pressures that we have. It is so difficult and a lot of work to make sure you look your best.” She spun slightly in the mirror admiring her new dress that she was given for this event. A pain sat in her stomach however, her eyes wandered in the mirror to the sad-looking expression on one of the maids who sat near the door. She felt horrible about how she needed to treat them, she learned long ago that her mother was not interested in an independent woman who enjoyed the sound of running water while they sat under a large green oak tree. Someone like her. She needed to mold herself into the daughter her mother wanted so she could be accepted by her. This was the only way she stayed in her good graces. Having to wear two masks was exhausting but needed for survival.
“ Yes please mother, I need to look my best. I am sure there is a lineup of women waiting and I MUST stand out. There is no better match than a prince for me, and I won't let a single hair out of place ruin that chance for me. “ She walked over to her vanity table and sat down, grabbing a powder poof and gently dabbing her face.
“ I still can’t believe they tried to use that horrible scented perfume, next thing you know they will want to dress me up in one of their work outfits.” “You’re right, sweetie. You’re not the only pretty noble woman, but we are going to make you THE pretty noble woman.” The dress Ariella was wearing was more extravagant than she doubted any other women even had access to. As for makeup, Victoria had made sure the maids had painted her face like a doll.
“You will have some competitors even then though.” Her tone grew a tad more serious as she moved behind her to dabble with her red locks.
“ Lady Crystal’s kindness will get men with mommy and daddy issues around their finger. You will have to be soft and sweet with Prince Callum. King Edin places the least importance on him and I’ve seen how that’s manifested in his behavior. “ She paused to giggle,
“Seen him drunk stumbling by the brothels. Lady Thea from the Varian Kingdom might take his interest if she bares her bosom as always. Be sure to adjust yours and show a little more when it comes to him.” Victoria then sighed,
“Honestly, probably our last choice if we can help it, but still worth seducing... Ooh and I’ve heard through the grapevine his relationship with good ol King Edin is unmentionable... I suppose every family has their least favorite child.” “But stable, smart men like Prince Auguste-” She tightly fastened the top half of her hair into a beautiful braid as she continued on.
“ He will want a smart girl with a level head on her shoulders. Someone like Lady Violet or Lady Charlotte, if she dares to make an appearance, may interest him. Prince Wulfric, well, he may be the hardest to get a grip on as I could never tell for certain if the charming facade he gives to the public has any authenticity..” She left the braid and allowed the bottom half of her hair to cascade down in a red waterfall. Victoria brushed the bottom locks over each of her shoulders.
She giggled,
“Speaking of the Vikenas, you should ask me why I was in a good mood.”She paused and stared at her mother in the mirror for a moment, Sounds like her and Prince Wulfric may have more things in common than her mother may know. They both have things they hide from the public, pretending to be something their not.
“ Well I guess I will need to try and outshine them then. “ She said pushing her chin up as she didn’t show the fear she felt in her belly.
“ Why are you in a good mood? Did Father give you the coin purse again? Oh, please say he did! I could use new stockings and shoes “ She wasn’t wrong, she had lost the other pair she was gifted from him somewhere in the woods about a week prior.
“Oh that’s right! He did! ” Victoria initially replied giddily. She loved carrying around lots of gold coins and was quite elated that her dumb husband had indeed given her a full coin purse early this morning.
“Oh but that’s not why. You see, I went to the park today… I had a carpet laid out before I stepped, don’t you fuss. Oh but then I saw Lorenzo Vikena causing a commotion at the event, Pancakes for the Poor or whatever, and it was such a delight to see. He had the whole line yelling at him and things even got violent. Oh my, my if you could have seen! …He was so miserable. ” The duchess infamously hated Duke Vikena.
Victoria then moved around her body to spray the area in front of Ariella with an expensive perfume named La Rose de Wulfric.
“ Shimmy through it. Go on. Then you’ll be ready to go.”Ariella let out a soft chuckle over her mother's delight.
“ Yes, Well, can we really be surprised. Sounds like the fates just bringing him what he deserves, a life full of embarrassment.” She stood up from the table and floated through the cloud of perfume, her
dress floating behind her as she spun around presenting the completed painting to her mother.
“ Does this please you?” She asked doing a slow 360-degree turn to show off every angle of her. She was lucky she didn’t have a single bad one.
“ I should probably get going. I don't want to be fashionably late not actually late.” She snapped her fingers and a maid ran over with a shawl and her small purse that matched her dress. Everything was custom and handstitched, nothing but the best for her. Ariella was keeping a brave face but as the realization of the event loomed she continued to get more nervous. She would much rather strip off all the clothing and actually wear one of the maid's uniforms to sneak out into the woods until someone came looking but this was her job, she had to bring the prestige back to her family. It was her duty.
“Yes! You look like expensive! Absolutely the prettiest woman in the kingdom! That dress is to die for.” Victoria exclaimed with enthusiasm as she admired her work.
“The carriage is just outside waiting for you. I can’t wait to hear about it all. Remember, Ariella, be confident. Fake it until you make it if you must.”Ariella nodded and took her to leave out of the palace. The maids were fussing behind her, fluffing up her dress and making sure it didnt get dirty. She stopped outside at the entrance of their home and stopped to turn to the maids. A short silence was heard until soft giggles and smiles appeared on all their faces.
“ I am so sorry about my mother.. You know how she can be. You all did a wonderful job and I couldn’t thank you all more.” The women made their final adjustments and offered her a warm smile “ It’s alright m’lady, we are just so excited for you maybe you can finally get that happy ever after like in the books you love to read.” Ariella let out a soft sigh
” if I am honest with you, I am not sure my prince will be an actual prince but I suppose we shall see. We all need to make sacrifices I suppose. I accepted a long time ago that I’d need to marry for status and not love, but I guess love can surprise us.” she smiled optimistically. The women nodded and began to shoo her to the carriage.
Spinning around she headed towards the carriage and managed herself inside the carriage. After a long ride, the carriage pulled up in front of the event. There was already such a large line of women waiting for their chance to speak with the princes. She almost felt a slight embarrassment that she was about to line up as well. She couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of the princes being behind a glass wall while others gawked at them like an exotic pets.
Slipping out of the carriage she walked up the stairs, taking the long trek up them until she reached the back of the line. Now she waits.