Chapter 6. A Perfect Black Diamond Among Us All
After realising that it has been Seraphina who had called, "Lyla?" , lightly, yet authoritatively; Lyla, the servant girl had turned her head back, toward the direction Sephora had initially walked from.
In a comical way, Seraphina had been peeping her head out from her room, it was so comical that Lyla had to really do her best to remain professional and not laugh upon seeing such a sight! After a moment, the servant had realised that the young miss had looked rather upset.
"I thought I had heard you outside." The older sister of the two had always been Lady Nox's favourite. A large part of that was how similar Seraphina was in terms of Raven beauty standards; onyx black eyes and hair as black as night, where her sister with icy blue, pale eyes, was treated with far less respect. All the household staff had taken notice. Yet despite this preferential treatment, Seraphina remained most level headed and dignified between them.
Lyla spying the puffy red eyes was gobsmacked! Such levels of upset was more abnormal and concerning.
This is a huge day for the girls! Lyla gasped, as her eyes widened.
"Young miss, is everything alright? Your sisters just passed me in the hall and-" Before Lyla could finish, Seraphina had raised her hand out of the doorway for her to stop.
Without having realised her movements, the young servant girl had already rushed towards the young harpy. Even though one was royalty and the other a servant, in this moment it didn't matter. The servants concern took over, on realising half way towards her and stopping immediately.
Had this been Lady Nox… such action, and such a show of concern would have been unforgivable. The Raven Queen viewed tears and sadness as weakness, and concern for such things to be an insult.
The older twin grinned sheepishly, at the worry on the servants face for her, "It's okay…" and then added, "Actually, I am still to finish getting ready to head down to the late lunch. Would you assist me with my hair?"
Lyla knew this was code for the girls wanting to talk. In this case it was only Seraphina that wanted to talk. She would never turn down the twins, especially with such strange behavour from both, and on a day their mother was already acting bizarre and more unpredictable than usual. It would be best if Lyla could get to the bottom of this, before it impacts on the girls expected duties, today.
Nodding, the servant girl straightening her posture slightly and walked into the room; obliging the young raven harpy's request.
Helping the twins wasn't entirely unusual. Lyla often assisted both of them as a handmaid. The more special the occasion, the more likely the twins would often request one, and usually specific staff members of the household.
In this way, they were the exact opposite of their mother and knew every member of staff. You could even go as far to say, the girls were friends with Lyla, despite the steep power dynamic between them as royals and servants. The twins never normally seemed to care, at least not when their mother was around! Even when she was, the twins would never act rude or hit the servants, they would just be less friendly and more professional, if anything.
As Lyla stepped into Seraphina's suit, she gasped.
Seraphina really is a true beauty of the Raven Harpy Clan. A perfectly black diamond among us all. Lyla thought.
Cloaked in a black lacy dress clung to the young harpy's toned and lean figure, - with a pattern resembling that of falling feathers, all around her. It complemented all of her physical features and curled and complemented all of the right curves on Seraphina. It remained open on her chest however, no bra or even lace covered her average breasts, - this area, all the way down to her navel would be covered by her breast plate. Both girls struggled to get this on themselves.
Seraphina's hair was still down and her make-up hadn't been started. Yet even like this, she was breath taking! Of course, only handmaids of the house would see the girls like this!
Contrastingly, Sephora had been completely clothed in an average-day type dress. Very casual with satin, far less showy. Perhaps… the younger twin already knew that she would be regarded as a lesser prize. Both in beauty and political eyes.
Heat rushed into Seraphina's cheeks. Giving her a dusty rouge on the apples of her cheeks, only adding to her natural beauty. "I need help with my hair, make-up, and some of my armour over the essential areas," motioning toward her uncovered breasts, as they would be covered by armour, the older twin's completely black iris' glanced towards the open door, she motioned with her had as she asked, "Come, there's much I need to finish. Can you close the door as well? Perhaps, lock it? I wouldn't want any of the guests, who many be wandering, to come into my room!"
Lyla suddenly felt sorry for her. Between both of the twins, Seraphina was the treasure of Lady Nox, and the one considered the most beautiful and desired. She would be the one receiving most of the attention of the young eligible Batchelors from the harpy clans and a primary political target.
Another pang hit the young servant girls heart; as she realised her sister… the younger (almost) identical twin sister… may be considered a spare or an extra option. Especially with how little favour Sephora actually got from the Raven Queen.
As she was thinking this, she closed and then locked the door. Just as the young mistress had asked of her and then followed Seraphina. Over towards the dressing area and to the dark wood dressing table, in the bedrooms dressing area. Her dark wood dressing table twisted eerily, clearly this was something of the Raven Queen's taste and not of the elder twins.
Unlike her sister's wings had been earlier, which had trailed largely along the ground due to upset mood – the only other reason a raven harpy's wings would be low like that, would be a suggestion of injury. Unless something serious had occurred (which, the entire house would be aware of by now) then it was almost guaranteed emotional drooping.
Instead, Seraphina's were still folded neatly and proudly upright. Despite their size, their tips were firmly off the ground. Her gorgeous black feathers' complemented her dress and even seemed to flow in as part of it. No hit of any colour could be seen, unlike Lyla's hint of chestnut red mixed throughout hers, despite her darkness.
Returning her thoughts to the task of getting the young miss ready, and providing some council to her before the dinner was absolutely of the essence.
Even if I can't help both twins Lyla thought, I can certainly help this one!
"What…?" Lyla trailed off her thought, considering it may be too early to ask about what had occurred between the twins and why the upset, "What way are you thinking of doing your hair? Have you any ideas? What about make-up as well, is there a type of image you're wanting to go for, for your grand reveal, at the late lunch?"
What…? She thought, What had their argument been about??
Today, with Sephora's outburst, it was clear, at least to the older twin, that she was seeking a bit of council and guidance from Lyla. However, Lyla would wait for the twin to broach the subject of sensitivity that she wanted advice on.
Once again, this was not something completely unusual. They were young raven harpy of similar ages. While only one of them was royalty, they could talk about the same things with a similar understanding.
This had been the very reason that Lady Nox had studied Lyla's first impression's of Master Caruso. As if even a servant girl took a disliking to his looks in general, then surely even her own daughters would follow suit as well.
"I'm not sure…" Seraphina mused, sat down on the matching chair in front of the dressing table, clearly away somewhere in her own thoughts. "Whatever you think may look nice and appropriate with my armour?" She then seemed to come back and break from her reverie, looking round to Lyla, "Have you seen any of them, yet?" She quizzed. A flutter mix of anxiety and curiosity in her eyes.
At this the young servant girl genuinely smiled, "Indeed," walking over and placing her hand's through the princess' long hair. "I assisted your mother earlier this morning when she greeted them in the drawing room." From experience, Lyla knew that this would help relax her. It also doubly served to begin tending to her hairstyling and make-up. "Actually, I'm to personally attend and oversee some of the guests stay. It's slightly scary- you know what your mother can be like with us house help." The hair massaging worked like a treat and Seraphina instantly began to relax far more. The tension in her shoulders left.
"Lyla…" Seraphina pursed her lips, as her black eyes met the servant girl's merlot eyes through the mirror, "…tell me everything about them, please?" There seemed to be a defeat clouding the elder twin princess' entire demeanour. Her wings even began to droop slightly, where the tip only just touched the floor.
Seraphina dropped her lips and the began to quiver. The princess' vision became blurry as fresh tears began to pool and she could no longer see her loyal servant friend. Yet in that instant she felt her servant rush to her side, was on her knees and had wrapped her in a large and soothing embrace.
"Oh, Seraphina..." Lyla soothed, gently rubbing her thumb over the lace on the princess' shoulder. "This is so out of character for you, for both of you! In all the time I have known you, I have never, never seen you cry. Might I ask, what has brought this on??"
"Lyla...Who is there?" She breathed, inbetween sobs, "Who... who is there that... my mother will orchestrate something...and... and ship me off with?"
It was the last part that really hit Lyla the most, "Lyla. I am scared."