"I get a letter once a week from my mama. She say everything fine at home..
I write her back too, when I can, but what I'm gonna tell her that won't start her bawling again? So I just say we is having a nice time and everybody treating us fine."
~Winston Groom, Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump, #1)
In the dark do the night a calling was made once again to king. Elric Wolf and the veiled man but this time the veiled man had someone with him. And he stood behind the man on the couch and only the man's eyes showed. Golden brown they were which had both the king and Elric confused on who this man could be.
"My apologies but this whole time we've been talking to a servant and not the true master". Elric asked. "Did he ever tell you he was the master"? The golden eyed man spoke.
His voice was deep and his eyes narrow like a snake. He cleared his throat and stared back and forth between the king and Elric like he was studying them. "The great fire has failed, I've heard". The golden eyed man asked. "Yes". The king answered, staring at him with equal suspicion.
"Another variable has entered into this plan so I will no longer be a part of it". He spoke again. "I beg your pardon". Elric started but the king silenced him with his finger. "We've had a deal-". "Yes we've had a deal and now that deal shall be broken". The man said.
"Canary Whitewood and Agustin Abarca have been engaged and Thaddeus Whitewood and his family have seemed to grown close to Canary Whitewood these couple of Variables makes me look at this little project that you two have spoken on, not all that bright". The man said. "Your project will fail and I am not a man who likes to be in projects that fail". The man spoke.
"You cannot just simply agree on a deal and back out of it"! Elric yelled. "I am a prince". The man spoke smugly. "I can do whatever I like a crown prince at that". He stood up towering over everyone in the room and all they could do was just stare at the crown prince in awe. "I wish you well on your fight with your son". He said nodding him goodbye.
Decimis was as angry but what could he do. The king knew he was powerless that Shimon had more support than he could it's why he made Elric Wolf into a noble and tried to pull Thomas over to his side. But Thomas was neutral; the Whitewood family throughout history had always been neutral.
He was at the end of his straws so he would have to dig deeper into something different if he didn't want Shimon to be on the throne.
There was only so many nobles in the kingdom that was worthy to be on Decimis side and the most stayed neutral not wanting to involve themselves in a fight between som and father at least they knew better and the few that didn't know better were of the most scandalous houses. Shimon had two houses behind him the Hennis which was from his maternal side and Abarca naturally if they aren't on the kings side they would be on Shimon's side.
So who could Decimis go to? The crown prince who was from some kingdom that they would not tell Decimis had left.. Most of the nobles are neutral and the worthy few that are on his side make their money by unpleasant and underhand means.
Decimis sighed and paced his office while Elric sat there nervous himself wondering if he had made the right choice with joining this plan. It wasn't until a knock on the door and servant with a scroll made Decimis's worries fade away. "A little bird". Decimis said smiling at Elric. "Has just informed me that the Thaddeus and Letitia Whitewood are the true parents of Canary Whitewood".
"What"! Elric said standing up. "Stolen away by Alexia Whitewood herself". Decimis said. "How shall we pull this scandal into our favor". "My have matters fallen into our hands all we have to do is get Thaddeus to turn against Thomas". Elric cheered. "Do you truly think Thaddeus Whitewood would turn against his own brother". Decimis said, rolling his eyes.
"The only person that would dare turn against Thomas is Letitia we just have to plant a bug into her ear". Decimis said. "Desmond". Thomas said calling for a servant. "Yes your majesty". Seasons answered. "Tell the queen to call her sister into tomorrow". Decimis said. "This is how we shall get Letitia to turn against them for a mother shall go lengths for her child".
"An invitation from the queen's sister"? Letitia said, staring at the envelope. Canary nodded and sat down next to her. "To what"? Letitia asked. "A grand opening of a set gallery it's really a fundraiser". Canary said. "But why the both of us"? Letitia said, reading the contents. "Maybe because of the fire and this is your first time back in the capital in a long time". Canary answered.
Letitia shrugged. "Do you want to go"? Canary nodded. "I like art". Letitia nodded. "We shall dress you up, you are about to be a bride". Letitia smiled.
What Letitia loved most in her years of being the diamond of her season was dressing up. She loved the fashion of different countries which made her even more popular because of how she styled herself. Which made her all the more want a daughter. And now that she had Canary back she could dress her up.
In red and purple. She dressed Canary up in Lyikarian fashion. In a dress where the fabric reached all the way up to her neck, sown beads and black pearls were on her dress. Letitia equally dressed herself in Lyikarian fashion. Though hers was more simple and she wore black.
"Beautiful". Letitia said smoothing back Canary's hair. "I still look sick". Canary said, staring back at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were just now starting to fill back in the same as everywhere else in her body. "We just have to put some meat back on your bones". Letitia said smiling. "You still look beautiful, Canary".
They left for the event with Ede and Eamon in tow with them. Letitia had also dressed them in Lyikarian fashion wearing the same colors as them.
"What's the queen's sister's name again". Ede asked. "Isolde". Letitia answered. "Ilaka and Isolde". Ede mumbled. "Very unique names only Isolde is a name given to queens". Eamon said. "Yes, that is another story for another time". Letitia sighed.
"Isolde is a very picky woman. She easily gets offended. We shall say our greetings quickly and leave to look at art". Letitia warned. All three of them nodded and exited the carriage.
Union entering the gallery all eyes were upon them. Starring Ede and Eamon who would've been the sought after men of society if Thaddeus and Letitia hadn't moved to the countryside. And Letitia the diamond who had polished herself.
Curious eyes at Canary who had been rumored to be scarred from the great fire but what they saw was very different from their imagination. Canary was no longer that timid girl who was tucked away in the corner of the ball and Letitia though she was an old diamond of the season, hadn't looked the part and her sons…it was never too late for them to be bachelors of the season.
The only words they could utter about Canary was pretty. Even Isolde who had the reputation of being rude could not say anything when they greeted her. She just gave a simple smile and thanked them for coming. The four of them went on their way separating into groups of two. Ede and Eamon together with Canary and Letitia.
"A canary". Letitia said, stopping in her tracks to look at a painting. "I heard the late Marchioness named you". Letitia said. "Yes". Canary smiled. "And your middle name is Everleigh". Canary nodded. "Thaddeus gave you that name". Letitia said, looking at the painting. "I'm sure he wanted to name our child that". "Really"! Canary asked. Letitia nodded.
"If he would have told me I would've said yes but he and Thomas were always particular about the wives naming the first daughter and the husband naming the first son". "Did he name Ede"? Canary asked. "No I did, that's my late fathers name". Letitia said. "I'm pretty sure Thomas knew Thaddeus wanted to name his daughter Everleigh, that's why he let him give you the name". Letitia smiled.
"And you"? Canary asked. "I just looked up a bird name because I always called you little bird". Letitia chuckled. "You called me little bird"? Canary asked confused. "I have to go to the ladies room for a second". Letitia said not hearing Canary. "Oh okay". Canary said. "Will you be fine by yourself"? Letitia asked worried. "Yes I should be fine if not I'll find Ede and Eamon". Canary said pushing her to the bathroom.
Letitia stared at Canary for a second before leaving. As soon as Letitia left it seems as if the ladies of the ton were waiting for a Canary to be gone. They all flocked to Canary asking her questions. Especially if her engagement with Agustin. She could not answer them all. Her eyes darting back and forth between them all and it was not until Isolde came into the circle that the mood shifted into something more heavy.
"Hello lady whitewood". She said staring down at Canary for she was taller than her. "Hello lady Fernwood thank you for inviting me and my aunt to the fundraiser". Canary replied. Isolde smiled and smile that Canary could not read nor she felt she wanted to. She remembered the word Letitia had told her and began to scan where she could make her leave.
But as if Isolde could read her mind she dropped her bracelet on the ground on purpose and gave a stare to Canary as if telling her to pick it. And Canary did and when she did she felt a breeze on her neck. Isolde had lifted up the frantic covering her neck and a gasp was heard from among the women. "So that's where the scars where". She chuckled.
Canary snatched away holding the back of her neck in terror. "I was wondering where you hid the scars"? Isolde said studying Canary's body. "Are there prepare more hiding under all that fabric"? Isolde said, grabbing her arm. "Let go"! Canary yelled but her voice overlapped with another's and they all turned to see Letitia standing there.
"Though you are the queens sister it does not give you the right to grab the others". She said taking Isolde's hand away from Canary's arm.