The following morning, Cacilie woke before her nanny could awaken her. She had her dress laid out and the ribbon carefully laid out on her vanity table. She decided to be proactive and washed her own face. She even went the extra mile to apply the Aihite perfume that her mother told her to use on special occasions as she got older. 

The Aihite was a flower foriegn to Ibralaszadado that bloomed during the spring. It reminded one of something sweet like honey whilst being immersed in the rich kiss of warm rain. Cacilie didn’t know where her Daddy had gotten the flowers, but they were planted in the garden that he had especially made for her mother after they had their first child together. 

Something that her mother seemed to forget despite spending so many hours out there. It was a common occurrence for her mother and nanny to have forgotten the acts of kindness and love that her busy Daddy had bestowed to them over the years. 

Which gave this upcoming trip more importance to her. She would prove them wrong once and for all. She wanted her remaining years in Teglodvaria to be peaceful and she hoped by showing her mother how much Daddy loved them despite how busy his schedule was would mend their familial bonds. 

“Cilie!” Cacilie’s nanny called, pulling her from her daydreams. “I see you’re already awake,” she noted, voice failing to be upbeat. 

She looked up at the servant and felt a fire well up inside of her. “Stop this instance or I will have you sent away,” she hissed, unwilling to be told more lies from her mother’s servants 

The nanny’s face paled and the grip she held on the door handle tightened. She coughed once to cover up her emotions and entered the room fully. “Of course, my lady,” she whispered, unwilling to meet the ten year old’s gaze. 

The rest of their interactions were done in stiff silence. The nanny brushed out her tangled black hair somehow taming them into waves. No one said anything if too much strength was used to pull the unruly hair into two pigtails. Cacilie didn’t explain why she insisted on using a present’s ribbon for her hair, but the nanny used it to decorate her hair regardless of her own thoughts. This was the relationship that the lady and servant shared. One disregarded the other and the other cared by proxy for another. 

“My lady, have a good day,” the nanny whispered as if unwilling to say the words or too afraid to be rebuffed. 

Cacilie didn’t respond even though she heard the quiet voice. She was too immersed in her own emotions to bother with reaching some form of understanding between herself and the nanny. Today was to be her most important day with her Daddy and she disliked those tolling the bell of demise. 

She gestured for the nanny to leave her as she preferred to wait by herself for her father’s assistant to find her. Cacilie walked over to the full length mirror tucked away in the corner and took her in appearance. She knew that she was short for her age, at least compared to the standard height that Fey children would exhibit at her equivalent age. The fair skin tone she inherited from her parents was even more pale, some mistaking her for an albino, since she was unable to outdoors often. She was only given a brief few moments from her balcony on exceptionally sunny days for her own health. She met her reflection’s gaze and noted the carmine orbs that she possessed, the kinds unlike her mother or Daddy. It made the deep hue of the green ribbon to seem muddy and lifeless unlike the wildness that danced in Kathrin’s eyes. 

Cacilie reached up to remove the ribbon, but stopped herself. She should let her Daddy see that she thinks of him, even if it makes her look bad. Doesn’t he deserve that kind of devotion from his children? 

She looked down at her outfit and found it as perfectly modest as the rest of her closet though the particular shade of brown didn’t make her seem as washed out. She smiled and hoped that she looked nicer than usual. 

A knock sounded at her door and there stood her father’s assistant, Stefan. He looked at her with an unaffected gaze and led her through the halls of the estate and to the front entrance. She blinked harshly as her eyes adjusted to the natural light and her senses took in the clear winter air. At the bottom of the front steps, there stood an immaculate carriage with only one horse to pull it. In the Empire, only the royal household could afford fully automated carriages that used a combination of steam and magic to power itself. It was more common for people in high ranking positions like her father to possess partial automated ones. Hence, the single horse to pull the large and ornate carriage. 

She walked down the stairs as gracefully as she could, though she knew that it paled in comparison to the Fey as she was often told. She stood before her father with a wide smile. “Daddy,” she called, voice filled with warmth and love. 

Cacilie waited patiently for him to comment on her appearance or her greeting, but he stood frozen in front of her for a few moments. The small spark of doubt ignited in her chest and she called once more, “Daddy?” 

This seemed to be enough to shake her Daddy from whatever came over him. He beamed at her, same as he would Kathrin. He placed a gentle hand on her head and patted it. “Hello, my darling Cacilie. You look lovely today. I…especially admire the ribbon in your hair,” he commented. 

Cacilie smiled and latched onto his arm as it returned to his side. “Did you see my plans for today?”

He helped her up onto the carriage and nodded. “Yes, it is excellently planned. I look forward to today’s events.” With that, he set foot into the carriage.