Being idle had always been a bit of a struggle for me. There was always something to be done on the farm, animals that could use extra care, vegetables to be tended to, food to be cooked, clothes to be sewn. But I slept like the dead that night, wishing once again, that I hadn't. The bed was damnably soft though and after my conversation with Xion things were...complicated.

Sure, I had heard the term tossed around a little bit. My village was small, but not so small that we were oblivious to the other...beings. We knew about the witches and the warlocks, the werewolves and the elves, mermaids and demons. Those were the kind of creatures that sometimes had mates.

Not humans. And knowing that I was somehow tied to a vampire in a permanent sense was wild, absurd. Unfathomable.

But there was no denying that it did ease the fear. If he felt the same way when he held me that I felt about him, I could trust that I was safe. Not from everyone, certainly. It was just that the man I could not kill could presumably not kill me and with him being the king, that might have extended to a select few that might know who I was to him. It was a small victory, for sure, but I was willing to take any wins that I could.

Daisy was the first person to greet me the next morning. Her jolly disposition was a shock to my groggy mind. She fluttered into my room as delicate as a butterfly and behind her was the storm cloud of Seraphina. The guard's arms were outstretched and the shades of pink, blue, and purple contrasted her dark uniform.

"I haven't had a chance to make anything brand new for you just yet, but I wanted to make sure you had enough to choose from," Daisy gushed, pulling me to my feet and dragging me to stand in front of my mirror. I glanced away from the feral reflection. Not even the fragile lace of my nightgown could offset the roughness of my hair or the redness of my face.

"I don't think I will be needing anymore gowns after this," I said carefully. From my estimate, Seraphina was holding at least three more gowns. Surely, five gowns would suffice if they had a decent system to launder clothes.

Daisy paused, her hands freezing halfway as she reached for an article from Seraphina. Then, she let out a roar of laughter. "Oh darling, you are hilarious. Where on Earth did Xion find you? Now, come on, get undressed so we can see if I need to make any adjustments and after that we can talk about what kind of dress you would like for the ball."

"Ball?" I repeated, my eyes flashing to Seraphina. If there was one person in the world, I didn't want to be bare in front of, it was her. Especially when she had that many knives strapped to her person.

"Yes, of course. Xion is newly king, we have to have a ball. Something to chase away all the sadness, you because--"

"Daisy," Seraphina interjected, then discretely shook her head, but not so discreet, of course, that I didn't catch it.

Daisy didn't bat an eye, didn't allow her sunshine smile to dim. "It is going to be a grand time and you are absolutely required to look your best which means I have to make you shine. But with you already looking like a daughter of the moon, it shouldn't be too hard. Perhaps I should go fetch some swatches of the new fabric that came in."

"Let's just start with these, please," Seraphina suggested.

I hesitated, blatantly staring at Seraphina, wishing she would leave. She simply folded her arms over her chest and watched me back. When it was clear I would not win the match, I began to remove my nightgown, relief sweeping in fast as Seraphina turned away so it was only Daisy's kind eyes on me.

She helped me into a lovely periwinkle gown that flowed around me like a waterfall, cascading over my hips and cinching in at the waist. Tiny diamond details brought attention to the neckline, simple and clean, but so glamorous. Daisy nodded, tugging on a dark coil of hair that immediately sprung back into place. I slipped on dress after dress, each one making me wonder about the girls in my village. Would they gasp if I showed up in this? Would they fight over it, demand to know how much it cost? Maybe it would end up in a museum.

"These two are good to stay with you," Daisy murmured, handing me the icy blue dress and a simpler one that was a red wine colour. "The other could use some changes. I want them to bring attention to your lovely face, not take away. Now, for the ball--"

A knot formed in my stomach. "You can have complete freedom. I will wear whatever you feel is best."

Daisy's features lit up even more, so bright it was almost blinding.

"You shouldn't have done that," Seraphina sighed. Now that I was dressed again -- if wearing my nightdress could be called that -- she was facing me again.

"Oh hush," Daisy said. "You are going to look absolutely exquisite."

I hoped she wouldn't feel too dejected when I suddenly caught a headache and was unable to make it.

The two of them left, allowing me privacy to get ready for the day. Not that it really mattered. Both of them had seen far too much of me already. The options of what I could do today seemed endless and miniscule at the same time. I ran a gold-backed brush through my hair, wincing when it got caught on snarling knots. On one hand, I could ask for all the food I could eat and gorge myself. I could have a bath. I could go into town and demand to have whatever I wanted. I'm sure if Xion or any guard with the royal emblem accompanied me, I wouldn't have to pay for a thing, I would be given handouts all day.

But, I could not leave and would not be able to do so for three months. Minus one day.

I had everything and nothing.

I pulled on one of the dresses Daisy had brought. It was a lovely thing, but I looked wretched in it with my dirty hair and exhausted features. The hot spring that was just outside my window didn't seem like such a bad idea. A chance to bathe without having anyone see my bare flesh. But, with the blaring daylight out there, I knew it would be difficult for me to get naked now. Darkness made those kinds of things easier.

I needed to utilize the daylight. But when I opened the door, there was Seraphina. And the second I stepped out of my room, she moved into position behind me, trailing along like a scowling shadow that had nowhere better to be.

I let her follow me. There was little chance I would be escaping now anyway and if I was strong enough to make it passed my sentence, I would be returned to my family without any issues. It felt as if there was no need to put myself under any additional strain like risking getting lost or losing some of the privileges I had been granted.

I moseyed around the palace, trying to retrace the steps I had taken with Xion. As expected, I made a few wrong turns and got stuck in dead ends a few times. Seraphina sighed loudly, letting me know just how tedious she thought all of this was, but refused to fall another step behind me. She hovered when I paused at the kitchens, an excited red-cheeked man offering me a fresh bun. She groaned when I ambled around the ballroom, marveling at how the floors shone back at me.

The only time she gave me an inch of space was when she spotted Daisy walking down the hallway. The pretty woman paused to curtsy to me, her arms loaded with bolds of fabric, shimmering violet, a deep emerald green, a blue that would be used for a mystical lake in a painting.

"Oh, Daisy, let me help you with all that," Seraphina blurted, immediately moving to take the bolts into her arms.

Daisy-- who appeared to be strong enough and capable enough-- was delighted to unload the bolts onto someone else. "If you would just bring them to my studio--"

"Of course." Seraphina took off, following Daisy. It was like she hadn't seen the woman in years.

And I was left blissfully unattended.

My first thought was to do something rash, to do something impulsive. I should have bolted and raced to the stables. Why adhere to three months when I could leave now? I could saddle a horse -- the finest one in the stables-- and race out of here. Surely, I would find someone who would be able to turn me in the direction of my village.

I took off, darting down the long hallway and taking a right. Surely this way led to a door that would open to the big world. Maybe. Hopefully.

But voices halted me, my body freezing at the masculine timber. "Fucking bastard demoted me," someone hissed. They must have been just beyond me, down another hallway or behind one of the heavy doors. I meant to turn around. I didn't.

"To be fair, you have not been quiet about your support for the king."

"See? Even you can't help but refer to him as the king despite the fact that he is dead."

"Yes, but--"

"No! How am I supposed to follow a man who killed his own father? It is absurd. It is madness. He wasn't even raised here. He doesn't know how we do things, doesn't respect our ways!"

"Your job is to protect and serve the king. The previous king has been overthrown. Your job is now to protect king Xion. It is that simple. If you act accordingly, I'm sure you will get your position back and all can be well again."

"Well, you are more than welcome to bow to that false king, but I will never forgot the look on his father's face when his own son drew a blade on him. I was there when that bastard lobbed the king's head off. You were not."

"Lark," Seraphina's voice shattered my focus. I whirled around to see her striding towards me, brow set low and lips pressed into a firm line. Though she didn't draw her weapon, I wasn't blind to the way her hand went to the hilt as she strode past me. "I trust that you know how to make it back to your room."

Even if I didn't, I wasn't going to wait around for her to escort me back. I darted away like a frightened mouse.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

What name is overused in life?