Post by skyeknight on May 17, 2021 2:40:28 GMT
Namine sat still while her lady’s maid doled makeup onto her face. She was to meet her fiance soon. She dreaded the encounter. Of course, it would please her parents if she married. Her brother was to inherit the family business. Her parents were merchants by trade. She could never inherit because she was a woman. The only things he could do was marry.
Even if the man was a foul, loathsome cockroach.
She stared at herself in the vanity mirror. She barely looked like herself. Her hair was pinned back in a tight little bun. She was dolled up with makeup that was more alluring than her usual pale neutral tones. Red lipstick, blue eyeshadow, blush. A garish and huge necklace sat around her throat. Big gaudy stones lined it’s features in a tacky shade of maroon. It felt more like a choker that was weighing her down and sucking the air from her lungs. Or perhaps that was the corset? It was a touch too tight.
“You look lovely, miss.”
“I look like a doll,” Namine replied in deadpan.
Like one of the toys she used to have as a child that sat upon a shelf. It wasn’t for playing with. Just for decoration. If that wasn’t a demoralizing thought, she didn’t know what was. Being stifled like this was like an agony she thought she would never have to experience. But of course, all dreams had to come to an end. She wasn’t getting out of this.
If she had her way, she would be an artist. Free to do whatever she wanted. Free to create and be inspired. Instead, she was going to live a life her family wanted for her. This wasn’t what she wanted. But she didn’t want to disappoint her parents. They needed her to marry someone rich. That way if the family business was threatened, they had money to fall back on.
“I’ll leave you, Miss.”
Her maid left her. Namine stared into the vanity, hating what she saw. The gown was red - her least favorite color. She hated the flowers that were braided into the bun. The makeup made her look fake. As she sat there, it became harder and harder not to cry. Just as she was about to throw herself down onto the bed for a good cry, she spotted something outside her window.
Slowly, she got up and headed for the balcony. In the gardens there was a small glowing circle of some sort. Namine looked around. No one else was seeing this except for her. She bit her lip. She had heard rumors of people vanishing because of these same circles. Knowing this was her only chance, she hiked her skirts up and climbed down the trellis leading to her room. She ran for the portal with urgency and leapt through.
Anything was better than staying there.
Even if the man was a foul, loathsome cockroach.
She stared at herself in the vanity mirror. She barely looked like herself. Her hair was pinned back in a tight little bun. She was dolled up with makeup that was more alluring than her usual pale neutral tones. Red lipstick, blue eyeshadow, blush. A garish and huge necklace sat around her throat. Big gaudy stones lined it’s features in a tacky shade of maroon. It felt more like a choker that was weighing her down and sucking the air from her lungs. Or perhaps that was the corset? It was a touch too tight.
“You look lovely, miss.”
“I look like a doll,” Namine replied in deadpan.
Like one of the toys she used to have as a child that sat upon a shelf. It wasn’t for playing with. Just for decoration. If that wasn’t a demoralizing thought, she didn’t know what was. Being stifled like this was like an agony she thought she would never have to experience. But of course, all dreams had to come to an end. She wasn’t getting out of this.
If she had her way, she would be an artist. Free to do whatever she wanted. Free to create and be inspired. Instead, she was going to live a life her family wanted for her. This wasn’t what she wanted. But she didn’t want to disappoint her parents. They needed her to marry someone rich. That way if the family business was threatened, they had money to fall back on.
“I’ll leave you, Miss.”
Her maid left her. Namine stared into the vanity, hating what she saw. The gown was red - her least favorite color. She hated the flowers that were braided into the bun. The makeup made her look fake. As she sat there, it became harder and harder not to cry. Just as she was about to throw herself down onto the bed for a good cry, she spotted something outside her window.
Slowly, she got up and headed for the balcony. In the gardens there was a small glowing circle of some sort. Namine looked around. No one else was seeing this except for her. She bit her lip. She had heard rumors of people vanishing because of these same circles. Knowing this was her only chance, she hiked her skirts up and climbed down the trellis leading to her room. She ran for the portal with urgency and leapt through.
Anything was better than staying there.