Improper Mage - Ch 2

A long line of carriages waited along the drive to Sancta Vallis Castle, named for the capital city it resided in, stood imposingly at the point of the valley their city was protected by. Constructed of grey stone and pointed spires atop each of the many towers, the castle had been created from the image of power. Grand and sturdy, the castle stood for many centuries as a symbol of solidarity among the races of Triaedian.

When Triaedian first became a kingdom, the first king had all three races work together to build it. After fighting together to destroy the old regime, they worked together to build a new kingdom, a land of peace and equality among the races. At least, that’s how the history books relayed the tale. Liana thought Triaedian could use a reminder about how integrated they were all supposed to be because throughout her life, the races still seemed rather independent of one another.

Nestled upon the mountains, it loomed above the city below, an ever-present shadow lording over its people. There were twelve spires in total. Seven spires stood upon each corner of the lower portion of the castle while four others stood atop the towers at the corners of the main castle which rose above the rest. And rising higher from the center, one mighty spire pierced like a dagger into the clouds.

Liana admired it from afar for many years. This would be the first time she ever stepped foot inside and she couldn’t wait. It was the only thing the young woman looked forward to this year for the upcoming courting season. Gods knew she wasn’t looking forward to the men or the incessant chatter. Most of all, she was not excited about the gossip that would last for a year until the next cycle of courting arrived.

There would be endless talk of who matched with whom, and more importantly, who didn’t match with anyone. Chatter about gowns and jewels would be less prevalent but still noted at least once during a conversation. If someone didn’t wear appropriate attire or wore something from last season, then all rules were null because that would be the most horrendous thing one could do during courting season.

Liana hated it all and hated that she had to waste this late-afternoon summer day. It would have been fair weather to enjoy in the garden, but they were stuck inside the stuffy carriage while waiting for those before them to exit onto the castle’s steps. Even with the windows open, the carriage quickly became unbearable. Liana eyed her mother and sisters as they fanned themselves vigorously. Her father and three brothers were in the carriage behind them, far too many of them to all fit inside one. Not caring about how improper it might be, Liana whispered a spell for a gentle breeze to pass through the windows. Everyone sighed and stopped fanning for a moment. Liana kept it going, her family none the wiser, partly because they had no idea such a spell existed. Also, partly because they were so untrained in their magic that they couldn’t feel the telltale shift of magic in the air that a spell had been woven.

As they finally came to the stairs, a servant opened the carriage door. Lady Monroe exited first then the girls followed. They waited for their father and brothers before ascending the stairs. Torches lit their way up the stone steps even though the day was still bright. The sun would be setting soon however, and their evening would begin.

Liana gaped at the castle. From afar, she could not have appreciated the fine carvings in the stone of each archway. Nor could she appreciate how overpowering and small it made her feel. It was a structure of beauty and she wished she could ignore the ball in exchange to explore this magnificent structure. The secrets such a place must hold. Secrets and tales a plenty she imagined.

They followed the line of lords, ladies, and other nobles to the ballroom. Along the way, they passed through the grand entrance which towered above to the third-floor balcony. Stone staircases ran along either wall, framing the hall that led toward the ballroom. Walking along a dark red carpet, Liana nearly tripped twice because her eyes were so focused on admiring the castle’s details. They moved too quickly though for her to see much.

As they entered upon a terrace with a staircase to either side leading down to the main floor, their mother made the girls take a dramatic pause. As they looked over the balcony to the grand room below, it gave everyone a chance to glance up at them and see the next women available for claiming. So, there they stood like cattle up for bidding. The three Monroe daughters, purebred and raised to society perfection. They would go for top dollar in this city.

Everyone took a good eyeful. The men appraised for a suitable wife, one that would gain him the most. Liana knew there were always two questions men asked themselves when choosing a wife. First on the list to consider was how much a woman's dowry was worth and how influential her family name was. The greater her fortune and more clout he could gain with their marriage the better. Second to consider was her beauty. Not that it mattered entirely because the male would likely seek the comfort of another female after the marriage had been consummated and an heir secured.

And all the while, the women inspected for flaws and something to gossip about. Beauty mattered far more to the other females than the males ever cared for. Liana couldn’t stand any of it, could hardly stand thinking about it.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, Charlotte stood first on the left. She kept her shoulders back and chin high with her hair in beautiful braids twined around her head like a crown while the rest fell in tight curls down her slender back. Charlotte’s navy gown complemented her creamy complexion and overflowing bosom, not that one could get a good look before being caught by all the jewels adorning her body. One look and someone was at serious risk of being blinded.

To her right stood Liana. Whereas Charlotte and Hannah looked much like their mother with soft, womanly features, Liana took after her father with sharp cheekbones and tall stature. Darker chestnut hair contrasted with theirs while her skin tanned a few shades darker. That could also have a lot to do with the fact that Liana spent much of her time outdoors while her sisters remained cooped up inside. Liana’s dress gleamed a pretty silver that reflected in her emerald eyes while her jewels were much less likely to seriously harm. They were sparkly and eye-catching yet not overdone. Understated elegance is how Phillipa described them.

Petite Hannah radiated with innocent beauty in her wine-colored gown. It would have been too bold a color for Liana but for the shorter girl, it gave her the exact right amount of boldness to not get lost in the crowd but not garner unwanted attention. All of her curly hair was piled atop her head in a youthful updo to show off her slender neck and the iridescent pearls collared around it.

Lady Monroe took her husband’s arm before descending the stairs. Their eldest child, Wesley, took Charlotte’s arm. Liana was paired with her younger brother, Carlisle. Hannah with the youngest Monroe, William who was merely eight years old but still full of Monroe decorum.

Liana kept her eyes ahead, refusing to meet any of the many eyes tracking their movements. She thought it was all in her head, but even the slightest bit of attention made her uncomfortable. She hated these balls so much. Her only purpose here was to grab the attention of others.

There were so many already in the ballroom and not just mage. Everyone of importance in the kingdom attended. Vampires, shifters, and mage alike. Everyone was here for one purpose - to arrange a marriage - either for themselves or for their daughters.

Instead of focusing on them, she turned her attention to the room. It matched the imposing nature of the outside of the castle with massive stone columns lining either side of the longest walls to support the arched ceiling. Opposite the stairs, the far wall contained the dais and the king’s throne. There were two columns along the wall, framing an alcove where his throne sat. From this far, Liana could not discern the nature of the throne only that the cushion was made of a purple fabric, the frame glinting with gold.

The family was served immediately by a servant with a tray full of champagne flutes once they’d descended the stairs. Someone also brought glasses of juice for the two youngest Monroe boys. Soon after they were served from trays of Hors d’oeuvres. Liana grabbed quite a few much to her mother’s disgrace. The girl scarfed them down before they were inundated by the many suitors and introductions of families.

An unbearable hour of smiling and curtsying later, the clinking of glasses had everyone quieting. The crowd turned toward the front of the ballroom where the dais and throne were. A man stood there now, a man that had Liana staring while everyone else curtsied or bowed.

Rooted to the spot, Liana beheld the reclusive king. Much gossip circulated about the vampire king. Most of which revolved around his handsomeness and how he had not married during his twenty-year reign. He still had eighty years left of his allotted one hundred, but he also needed a wife and heir within that time which everyone had an opinion on.

The Ashwood line held the throne since Triaedian’s creation and Damien Ashwood would not be the first monarch to break the line of succession without an heir if the status-grabbing ladies of high society had any say in the matter. They spent too much of their time gabbing on about his sex-life or lack thereof considering he made no show of keeping a lady or harem of ladies.

Liana presumed the man liked his privacy on such matters. She certainly would have if she were a male. As for her, if she even thought of having a male companion, she’d be tarnished and ruin the family name. Lady Monroe would probably kill Liana herself rather than suffer the shame of such a promiscuous daughter.

Staring up at him as he stood upon his throne, the first thing she noticed about him was the power and confidence he displayed. Tall with proud shoulders and a stoic face that might as well have been chiseled from stone, he exuded intelligence and cunning. The only thing the gossip mongers probably had right was his handsomeness. With deep, olive toned skin and midnight dark hair, his matching heavy brow remained stoic intensifying the mysterious air about him. When blue eyes so light they were nearly white landed on her own, she froze. Acutely aware that she was the only one not posed in deference, Liana’s heart pounded. The king stared at her with those intense eyes until she finally forced her eyes off his and fell into a curtsy.

Palms sweating, chest rising and falling too quickly, she waited for the order of guards to take her for the unintentional slight. While the people of Triaedian gossiped freely about their king, they were sure to never speak ill of him because he was as merciless as he was mysterious. All Ashwood monarchs were ruthless leaders. They had to be. They ruled over three different races and had to keep them united. It took a strong will and hardened heart to keep everyone happy under vampiric rule.

“Welcome, my people. Please rise,” the king greeted, his voice deep and loud, carrying easily throughout the crowded room. Liana breathed in deeply, relieved he didn’t humiliate her in front of the entire ballroom. Everyone stood once more, staring raptly up at their king. “We begin another season of matching tonight, and it is my honor to host such a prosperous event. I wish you all well on your courtships and hope that you have a wonderful evening. May the gods bless us all.”

As one, the one room intoned, “May the gods bless us.” Then clapping and cheers followed the king’s short proclamation. Her heart still needed a moment to calm which came in the form of Lady Monroe dragging her into a conversation that didn’t involve her at all. Charlotte and Hannah snared the attention of two handsome gentlemen, brothers by the looks of it.

Liana kept a polite, interested look upon her face even as her mind flashed those stunning blue eyes before her own. She was mortified that the king caught her staring. Mortified that he may think her daft, or worse, vying for his attention. Unlike most of the women there, she did not want his attention at all, especially not in such a manner. If anyone else had seen her, which the guards most certainly did, she would never hear the end of it from her mother.

Not hearing a word that was said, she found her eyes straying back toward the king. He sat upon his golden throne with deep violet cushioning staring out over his people from his elevated perch. He leaned onto his left arm, a goblet in his right hand while his shoulders slouched slightly to give him an air of nonchalance despite the intimidating gaze he leveled upon the crowd. He watched the ball as if this were his entertainment for the evening.

Before she could get caught staring, she turned away from the king and focused her attention on the two scholars speaking with Charlotte and Hannah. Lord and Lady Monroe stood nearby as chaperones while the male Monroe children were free to roam about unaccompanied. Liana listened to the conversation reluctantly despite not being a part of it. Charlotte and Hannah gave great performances as they feigned interest in the low-ranking men. A dance was promised for each man then they departed to search for more eligible ladies.

“Master Ranville,” Lord Monroe called as the man passed nearby. “Come, have a chat.” Proud that he finally caught the biggest fish in this ocean of eligible men, Lord Monroe puffed up his chest.

“Lord Monroe,” the Master greeted with a nod. He took Lady Monroe’s hand in his and placed a kiss upon her knuckles. “Lady Monroe, such a delight to see you again. Your husband really must invite me over more often for your famous sweet biscuits.”

Lady Monroe blushed and giggled. “Oh, Master Ranville, you flatter me too much and of course, you are always welcome.” Liana’s eyes strained to stay in place as she fought the urge to roll them. Those sweet biscuits were a product of their skilled chef. Her mother simply requested them. Somehow though, such an insignificant crumb of information circulated the gossip mills touting Lady Monroe as a sweet biscuit aficionado and creator.

“Ranville, you remember my daughters, Lady Charlotte Monroe, our eldest daughter.” Master Ranville took Charlotte’s hand and kissed her knuckles while looking into her eyes with a glint of mischief. Charlotte smiled and looked away demurely playing her part perfectly.

“Lady Hannah Monroe, our youngest daughter,” Lady Monroe introduced, and Master Ranville offered her a kiss on the hand as well. And so it went for Liana as well. “And Lady Liana Monroe, our middle daughter.” Liana curtsied keeping her knees slightly bent as she stood considering she stood nearly the same height as Master Ranville and men didn’t like to be overshadowed or stand on equal footing with a female. Not that they were equal in any way, the males made sure of that, but appearances were everything.

As the family got to talking with the Master, Liana was once again forgotten as she stooped and tried to blend in.

“It has been too long since I have seen you all considering I see your father nearly every day. We should dine together more often, I would much rather look upon your pretty faces than his,” Master Ranville teased.

Charlotte smiled politely with a giggle while her father guffawed, patting the man’s shoulder. “Right you are, Master. We spend too much time sequestered in the Council building. You are always welcome at our home.”

“Much appreciated. I shall look forward to more visits,” he responded with a respectful nod.

“Lord Dietrich,” Lord Monroe interjected as he snagged the man while he walked by, interrupting the conversation to nab another big player. “So glad you made it tonight. You remember my dear Hannah that I was telling you about. Allow me to introduce everyone,” the Lord said, going through the introductions for the thirtieth time that night.

Each sister spoke with her dream suitor while the parents split chaperoning duty. Liana stood on the outskirts of it all, not bothering to pay attention anymore which gave her ample time to sneak glances at the king. It was purely out of curiosity, she told herself. She loved mysteries and the king most certainly personified mystery. He hadn’t moved from his perch, although he now held a chalice of wine. She wondered if he would join the festivities this evening, or if he would seek a wife during this courting season. Gods only knew what he was waiting for in finding a wife. The vampire had already been king for twenty years. He needed a queen and an heir.

Liana considered that a moment. To be so burdened already by the responsibility of ruling a kingdom then to be forced to choose a bride for the solitary goal of creating an heir. That must be why he had not chosen anyone yet. An act of rebellion on his part to not bow completely to the crown.

A derisive snort escaped her at the outlandish imaginings she conjured. His responsibilities were no different from any female in this room - their only purpose in this life to produce heirs for whichever male chose them. She did not pity the king for his burden because that’s what they all faced. Only difference being he bore his in the lap of luxury. As a male though, and the king, he had a say in the matter whereas the ladies were forced to bow down to the desires of men.

Liana hadn’t realized she’d been staring until she focused on him again, her thoughts receding as she noticed the king staring directly at her. He lifted a questioning brow, not taking his eyes off her. She blushed all the way down to her toes and turned away quickly. Downing the rest of her drink, she searched for another. Chasing a servant behind a pillar, she nabbed a glass and hid from those piercing eyes.

Gods, she was so embarrassed. It was one thing that he caught her staring twice now, he probably thought her another desperate female vying for his attention, but he caught her laughing at him. She would surely be punished by the end of the evening, or at least completely ostracized from high society. Perhaps he didn’t think she was laughing at him but simply laughing, she told herself while taking a deep breath. There was no way he could know what she thought and laughed at, that was just her imagination dramatizing everything as usual. Sucking down her glass, she snuck out from behind the pillar to rejoin her family, her eyes set forward and not straying to the dais even an inch.

Her family hadn’t even noticed her absence as she rejoined them, their conversations uninterrupted. When the music started, everyone fled to the outskirts of the ballroom, the courting couples taking up partners in the middle. Liana found herself being ushered out of the way by her parents as they found a bench to sit on. Sighing in relief as her feet had a chance to rest, Liana watched the dancers begin.

“Stay here, Liana. Now that your sisters are taken care of, we must find you a suitable match.” Lady Monroe turned to her husband as they whispered amongst themselves although Liana could hear it all. “Who do you think? Perhaps Keeper Olivier? He is older and widowed, but he has heirs already. He’s a very passive man as well. I believe he would allow for Liana’s… peculiarities,” Lady Monroe said after a bit of hesitation. Peculiarities had always been her mother’s way of nicely saying Liana was odd. That she preferred reading to gossiping. That studying magic was her passion and not pretty dresses.

“Don’t be harsh, Mary. All of my daughters deserve a respectable choice. Did she not say who she favored?” At least her father stood up for her most of the time.

“Your daughter favors no one. She would rather die a spinster than be married,” Lady Monroe huffed. She always referred to Liana as ‘his daughter’ whenever she was upset at Liana or annoyed with her behavior. Lady Monroe thought her daughter cursed with the mind of a man with all her lofty ideas and sought to complain about it every moment she could.

“Mary, honestly. There is no need to be so dramatic. If she is not picky, then it shall be easy to find her a husband,” he reasoned. She huffed in response before they walked off together to find someone for their daughter.

Liana sighed and grabbed more food from a passing servant. There would be no formal dinner tonight and her stomach growled angrily for any form of sustenance. Content to sit in silence, she took another drink while digging into the delicious morsels. She cast a longing look toward the dancers, noting how beautiful and elegant the dances were and how the orchestra played the music to perfection. Although she hated most societal norms, dancing was one of her favorite things. Such a pity she never had a partner though, except for her father of course. He always danced when she asked.

A smile pulled at her lips as she recalled the moments when he reluctantly obliged. Usually late at night after everyone else had retired for the evening, she would sneak downstairs to his study and convince him to join her in the small ballroom of their manor home. She chose the dance each time and spelled the instruments to play by themselves. Lord Monroe had been a good father to her. He indulged her far too much in Lady Monroe’s opinion, but Liana loved him all the more for it.

“It’s no wonder she has no suitors.” Liana overheard a woman beside her speaking. “Look at how much she is eating and drinking.”

Another woman scoffed. “She’s always been the odd sister. Always with her nose in a book or digging around in the dirt. You know, I saw her just two days ago in the city square kneeled at the fountain with her hands digging through the flower beds.”

The other woman gasped, neither of them realizing how loud they were speaking. Or perhaps they did. Used to people talking about her, Liana considered that they were so loud to ensure she overheard. Ladies behaved as such quite frequently around her. A passive aggressive move that Liana rarely gave any thought to. It was impossible to block all of it out, despite her effort to do so.

“What was she doing?”

“Not a clue. By the time she was done though, her hands and dress were filthy. Covered in dirt, she then had the audacity to go into the bakery and buy some bread.”

The other woman gasped again. “There must have been dirt everywhere!”

Liana planted a new batch of tulips around the fountain that day. There was nothing so scandalous about it. She noticed that the old batch did not recover after the winter and replaced them since no one else seemed so inclined.

“Luckily she didn’t touch anything,” the woman huffed. Liana recognized their voices as Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Henson. Their husbands were scholars and professors at the university. They were barely classified as high society folks and made up for that fact by knowing everything about everyone and spreading it through the ranks whether it was true or not.

“I don’t understand how her sisters are so well behaved. They are the true embodiment of what a proper lady should be in society and then there is her.”

They clucked disapprovingly. “Something very off about her. I feel sorry for her mother.”

Liana had enough of their gossip. Taking her drink, she walked calmly away, not giving them the satisfaction of riling her up. She was far from calm though. She hated this society and their gossip. All she wanted was to return home where she could curl up in bed with a book.

The night couldn’t end soon enough.

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