Fantasy RP σf skєlєtσn kєчs & cursєs | SaltyRat & Sol

[Solaris-]

"My heart is open, Alice. Never closed, never locked. It needs no key."

Act I - Reintroductions

 

[Solaris-]

Andromeda had dreaded the idea of coming home after their studies. The idea of coming home to their family and the expectations that came with it. She knew that she could no longer make up excuses for why she'd not married the person they'd chosen for her to marry. Whilst the girl was grateful she'd not been victim, like many other orphans, to her adopted family's vampirism, it was times like these that she wished that they'd not spared her. The younger of the two heirs had taken pity on her as a dirty child they'd taken from the broken down orphanage, and at this current moment, she hated him for it.

The patriarch of the von Stratton family had come from his home villa several hours away with his dutiful wife that Romy had only met on rare occasions where they'd come to ascertain how well their sons were doing on their own. Romy had been home less than a week from graduating with honors that many of the young men she'd went to classes with had dreamed of obtaining from the prestigious university only to be greeted with their stoic faces seated in the drawing room. The older man barely looked a touch over forty years old despite his age, and the same could be said of the woman as well. All of the family was incredibly beautiful with bright eyes that nearly seemed to luminesce in the dim light. It was easy to see why they'd be accused of such unsanctimonious acts that they'd never attempted to dissuade.

"Lord and Lady von Stratton," Romy greeted them both with a polite bow. The loose braid she'd tied her hair in fell over one of her shoulders in the quick motion.

The man raised his hand and shook his head- letting out a soft laugh. "Come now, Andromeda, you know you can greet us as your parents. You are a von Stratton after all." Romy could feel the pull of his words. The hint of the suggestion. It'd become less effective on her over time as she'd become exposed to it, but it was still enough to make a cold shiver run along her spine at its influence. She wondered if this is how the normal villagers felt speaking to someone who bore their last name. "Right then. Come sit down. We've a lot to discuss."

He motioned to a nearby chair and Andromeda did as requested. Their body doing as told without much prompting. She swallowed the lump in her throat and wondered if they realized how terrible their suggestive power truly felt to someone who was not born into this damned family, but she didn't dare speak on that. "Is this about our deal?" She asked quietly- sea-glass colored hues looking down at her slacks to avoid making eye contact with the monsters she called parents. "I thought I'd be ready to honor it, but I've learned so much and seen so much. I'm not ready to do this."

"Shut up," The command fell against her harshly. The suggestion slapped her in the face like someone was throwing a brick at her head. Immediately, Romy fell silent- their face flushed with guilt about speaking out of turn. It wasn't like her to speak out like this as she knew that disobeying them got her nowhere. They were used to being the perfect child- the one who listened to each order and did as they were told. It seemed that being married off like a common woman was the only thing that she disagreed on wholeheartedly. "I have raised you, given you a home, fed you, and put you through the most prestigious classes only for you to throw it back in my face. We have given you nothing but the best, and you still cannot heed our simple request. My useless sons may be able to tolerate this level of disrespect, but I will not do so anymore. You've begged us not to use our influence on you on this matter, but my hands are tied. I have already promised that our families will be intermingled. We made a deal that you would return home from your studies, and then you would do as you were told, and so you shall. You will no longer be a spoiled, petulant child, Andromeda. At the end of this week, we are leaving, and you will make a good impression of yourself on the King and Queen and their daughter, and that is the end of it."

Her chest constricted tightly. It hurt so much to fight it. Their hands were balled into tight knuckle fists against their slacks and tears pricked at their eyes. Romy blinked them away. "Yes, Father," She said through grit teeth. "May I be excused?"

At that, Romy was waved away like an insignificant creature, and they left the drawing room quickly- nearly knocking over a maid in their haste to get away. This was the first time that they truly did feel like a spoiled, petulant child who desired nothing more to rebel against their parent's wishes. But it was useless to try and escape the influence of the words. It felt as though she were being pulled along by an invisible string that was wrapped tightly around her entire body.

----

The week came and went, and Andromeda was no more thrilled about leaving their home to travel to another kingdom to meet someone they'd only met once before when they were children. She hardly remembered anything about the other person, but yet according to their parents, they were destined for one another or some other stupid bullshit of the sort.

The carriage jostled, and Romy's head bumped against the window in a way that woke her from her tempestuous slumber. On the other side of the carriage were her parents. They would be attending this month-long endeavor to ensure that their child made a good impression. She could see from their grim expressions as she rubbed her forehead what exactly was at stake here.

It was a very long, very silent journey to the kingdom of Behzadi, and the pit inside of Romy's stomach only grew deeper as they neared the palace. "Remember your manners. In the public eye, you are one of our sons, and you need to behave as such." This was one of the first words that their mother had spoken to them this whole trip, and they carried a lot of weight on Romy's shoulders despite not being very harsh.

"I know, Mother. I'll behave myself." They swallowed the thick bile that creeped up their throat and looked out the window as the carriage came to a jostling stop.

There was a guardsman and an entourage there to greet them. Romy was first out of the cramped space- followed by their mother and father as well as their elder brothers. It was clear that the entourage had heard the rumors of the von Stratton family, and they wore poorly disguised fear on their faces despite their eagerness to help the family get settled in. They were shuffled along by the servants to the western wing of the palace, and Romy took the opportunity to look at her appearance in the mirror. Dressed in a designer suit trimmed at the shoulders with a neat tawny colored fur with ironed slacks and polished boots. Honey colored hair was brushed and groomed neatly on their head. Ocean colored hues continued to give herself the once over- attempting to find a flaw in the appearance that looked back. She was the son that her parents wanted of her.

"Sir," A mousy voice called from the other side of the door. "The Lord and Lady and the Princess
request your presence in the drawing room at once." It was such a far cry from the commanding voices of their family. A soft sigh left her lips, and she shook her head at the thought. Romy opened the door and caused the servant to jump. She offered an apologetic, charming smile to the poor girl whom she'd startled.

"Please lead the way."

The two of them came outside a rather impressively carved door which the smaller of the women had trouble opening. "My Lord and Lady and Most Esteemed guests. I've gathered the Young Master to join you all."

Romy bowed deeply in respect. "Revered Hosts, Honorary Margrave Andromeda von Stratton. Charmed to make your acquaintance." Their eyes scanned the room as they took a seat near their parents whom were already seated.​