The spectators seat

One summer. Leia, while strolling in the hallways, with her personal maid and butler, paused and shifted her attention towards the greenhouse. "What's my set for current?" "Young mistress Theleia, your schedule for today comprises your etiquette lessons with your aunt Millie, history studies with madam Kristina, dance classes with madam Serafina, piano lesson with madam Lillian, and your swords training with the Knights captain sir Friedrich." The butler answered after checking my schedule in the record he is carrying. "After that?" "You're free for the moment being before your dinner with the Duke." "I see." "Will milady go to the greenhouse today?" My maid Ann asked. "Yes, please ready my afternoon tea by then." I turned and walked. "Yes, milady" As the time Leia spent with classes passed, she noticed her brother staring into space. "What's wrong?" "Ah, sister. It's nothing..." He muttered and continues to stare at the sky. "Is sister Leia done with her classes?" "I yet have the swords training with sir Friedrich after that I'll have my afternoon drink in the greenhouse." "... I see..." He replied, I doubt he was paying attention. "Would you like to join me for an afternoon tea?" "Ah, thank you, but I still have my classes then... Well, good day sister." He said as he turned and walk away. After her training, Leia then went to the garden for her afternoon drink. "Ann?" "Yes, milady?" "Will you sit by the porch, I would like to draw you?" "I'm honored milady. Is my appearance okay? Should I change into a more proper attire?"ミ●﹏☉ミ? Leia chuckles, "no, that would suffice." Along with her afternoon tea, Leia would draw her maid Ann or the flowers in the garden. "Dahlias... Ann, do you know the meaning behind this flower?" "Yes, milady? Ah, dahlias. I believe they mean beauty and strength. These flowers even symbolizes lifelong commitments. Quite romantic, I must say." "I see..." "Why do you ask milady?" "Nothing, I was just curious that's all..." Leia's butler then arrived. "Young mistress Theleia, your supper with the Duke is drawing near. Please prepare until then." Leia nodded and slipped back to her quarters. After a long time of preparation, Leia joined her father, the Duke, for supper. Leia, her brother, and mother can only accompany the Duke for dinner four times a month because of his hectic schedule. There they eat at the family dining table with Leia's father sitting on the front part of the table having her mother sitting on his right, Leia on the opposing side of her mother's seat and her brother beside her. "Leia, it seems like your 15th birthday is coming up. Is there anything you would want to receive on that day?" Her father asked. "So long as father can attend, then I don't need any gifts." "I would be busy that time, so I'll just send you a gift for my attendance." "I see, then I will appreciate some paint brush and paint." "Have your painting materials been insufficient? You can just buy a new one whenever you want, so you can still ask for a better gift. What about a dress or some jewels? Something your peers like." "They seem to have sold all of their white shell in the store I frequent. And jewels are not the only things I find pretty." "I see, then I will have it prepared by your birthday." After their dinner, everyone went out of the dining hall. On her way to her room, Leia noticed a presence rustle behind a tree in their yard. Moved by curiosity, she saw her father and a maid having an affair. It is common for nobles to have lovers other than their spouse or husband, as long as they hold the children of the first wife on top priority. For infants born from concubines bare no merit for them, since they cannot take over the family unless the offspring of the first wife die or cannot hold charge. So, long as it doesn't affect us that very, this kind of affair should be of no concern. The next day, nothing much has changed. Leia's schedule was still pretty hectic, but her tea time was as relaxing as usual. Everything was in place, but father didn't show up for our weekly dinner. Mother also seems to be upset. Whenever she's like this, she gets violent and harasses the maids. She would become drunk with alcohol and sob in her room. Later at night, she would call for Leia's presence. Broken vases and bottles of wine... Ripped curtains and disarranged furniture's... The room was in shambles. "Good evening mother..." ... Leia's POV Sitting on her chair made of high-quality wood, detailed carvings and wool. She then would hold out her hand as if she were expecting something, but I know what it means... "Mother I..." "Sit." She said in an indifferent tone. She then blew smoke from her cigar. So, I sat down on the opposing chair. "My dear daughter..." She uttered as she gazed at me. I can feel the coldness in her eyes... "Am I a horrible person?" She asked as she blew smoke while having her gaze fixated on me. "... of course not... My mother is a kind person..." After I said that, she stopped talking, but the atmosphere still feels so tense. It's like, if you uttered a single sound, she would start a tantrum... But despite the feeling in the air and my mother's silence, I stayed. No, more like I couldn't move... After finishing her bottle of wine, she stood and moved towards me. "Mother is still pretty, right?..." Mother seems to have a complex about her appearance. I picked up from the maids that mother was always compared with her older sister. "They're siblings, yet the young mistress can't compare with her older sister... I heard her fiancé even cancelled their engagement because he was smitten by the older sister's beauty." I overheard two maids talking in the hallway a few weeks ago. Since then, Mother became someone whose obsessed with appearance. Mother is a genuine beauty. Long silk like hair as deep as the night sky. Eyes that shine like sapphire. A figure of someone from her 20s. And porcelain like skin. "Mother is an unrivalled beauty." I relied. Mother smirked and went behind me. She then patted my hair from behind. Later on, she would let me go. And Ann, who was waiting for me outside mother's room would sigh in relief. ... the next day... Yawn* "Milady, are you alright? Do you feel tired? I can postpone milady's lectures, if so?" Shakes head* "No... I'm fine..." Ann is quite the worrywart. Mother, despite her temper, has never harmed me. Her harassment towards the maids are all nothing but scoldings and teacup throwing. The most she had done towards someone is a minor wound by projectiles she shatters. However, I do not feel the need to side her nor my father. As long as it does not concern me in anyway, Both sides can do whatever they want. After stretching, a sudden distubance was heard. Ann and I faced the window in my room to see what happened. "Milady, the Duke and duchess are ..." I peek out. Who is that woman clinging to father? Brown and wavy hair in pigtail... Those freckles and almond eyes... Is that... the maid from yesterday? To be continued...