[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PLyfcLV.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/wPyT7ht.png[/img][/center] [color=lightgray][color=E77298]Time:[/color] 5:30pm → 5:50pm [color=E77298]Location:[/color] [url=i.imgur.com/wngkWaj.jpg]Her bedroom[/url] [/color] [hr][color=lightgray] Anastasia's eyes fluttered open at the first sound of pecking against her window,and she initially dismissed it as a groggy dream. But as the tapping grew louder and more persistent, she jolted awake, her heart racing with surprise and curiosity. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, and that's when she saw it - the falcon outside her window with beautiful feathers and sharp, piercing eyes. [i]Thara[/i], Farim’s pet Falcon. The memory of Thara's striking appearance and mysterious presence flooded her mind, and she couldn't believe that the falcon was now here, pecking at her window. With a rush of excitement, she hurried over to the window and opened it, and Thara hopped onto her arm with a caw, as if recognizing her. [color=E77298]“What are you doing here, silly?”[/color] Anastasia asked softly, running a hand gently over the bird's smooth feathers, a smile slowly spreading across her face.[color=E77298] "Well, I know you're far from your master, but I'll take good care of you for now until I can bring you back home to him."[/color] With that, she gave Thara a kiss on the head and carefully moved over to a T-shaped jewelry stand. She carefully removed some of the jewelry from it, creating a perfect perch for Thara. The falcon settled onto it comfortably. After that moment, Anastasia had left the room. She returned a bit later with some ground beef to feed Thara and spent the next thirty minutes with her. Though she still felt a little on the ill and tired side, the presence of the bird seemed to be distracting her for the time being. It was almost 6 pm when her mother returned. [color=a187be] “Anastasia…?”[/color] When she had heard no response, she had pressed her ear to the door. The sound of a cello could be heard. Concerned, she pressed her ear to Anastasia's bedroom door, and to her surprise, she heard the melodies of a cello playing from within. The music resonated through the door, filling the air with its enchanting notes. She slowly opened the door to the view of her daughter seated with her cello. This was a familiar sight certainly, but the presence of the falcon perched nearby watching with keen interest was strange. Despite the initial criticism that rose in her throat, Alibeth took a deep breath and swallowed it down with her willpower. She slowly shut the door behind her, stepping closer to her daughter and the falcon. Pressing her hands together, Alibeth approached. [color=a187be] “You’ve built a rather lovely skill for yourself, Anastasia.”[/color] The music almost slowed to a halt. Anastasia clenched her jaw and decided to play louder in an attempt to drown out her voice. Alibeth sighed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed her daughter's resistance to her comment. The blonde met her mother's eyes defiantly as the volume of the cello music increased, drowning out any chance of conversation. [color=E77298]"Sorry, I've reached a crescendo in the music, mother!"[/color] Anastasia called out bitterly, her fingers moving deftly across the cello strings, pouring her frustration into the instrument. [color=a187be]”Not cute.”[/color] Alibeth retorted lamely and moved over to finally grip the bow in her hand, halting her. Anastasia glared up at her initially. [color=a187be] “Can we try again?”[/color] This caught her off guard. [color=E77298] “You mean you want to talk to me.”[/color] Alibeth’s eye twitched slightly and she forced a smile, despite the strain in her voice as she asked, [color=a187be] “What else would I mean, dear?”[/color] She then moved over to sit on her bed. She patted the spot beside her. [color=a187be] “Come.”[/color] Anastasia was hesitant. This behavior was unusual from Alibeth; it had to be that the queen wanted something from her. Nonetheless, she moved her cello aside and moved over to join her. There was an uncomfortable silence before Alibeth asked, [color=a187be] “Should I be concerned over the falcon?”[/color] [color=E77298] “No. She belongs to a friend I met today... I think he set the bird to cheer me up.“[/color] [color=a187be] “Ah. Well, I’d like you to return that thing before the night falls.”[/color] [color=E77298] “Planned on it.”[/color] Anastasia replied tersely. Thara pecking at some beef filled the air under the silence. After a moment, she turned on her mother. [color=E77298] “You know. If you’re here to try to manipulate me into giving you information you want, it’s not going to work. I just had a decent nap and I’m-”[/color] [color=a187be] “I’m sorry.”[/color] The princess looked at mother with wide eyes. [i][color=E77298] “What?”[/color][/i] Alibeth sighed once more and looked at her daughter with a distant gaze. [color=a187be] “I apologize...”[/color] Her words were measured, her tone subdued. [color=a187be] “I know I haven’t been the mother you want, Ana... I can be harsh and strict. Frankly, I've struggled to understand you over the years. But perhaps, I haven't made enough effort to understand, and I haven't given you nor your brothers much room to understand me either.”[/color] She paused. She then gave a small, tight-lipped smile, a rare display of vulnerability. [color=a187be] “If there's one thing I know about you, it's your unwavering loyalty. So, if you would allow me, I'll share a little about myself, and I ask that you keep it between us.”[/color] Her voice softened slightly, revealing a glimpse of the woman behind the cold exterior. Anastasia uncomfortably shifted before giving the queen a nod. [color=a187be] "My father, much like your brother Auguste, was consumed by his obsession with swordsmanship. He taught my twin sisters and me the ways of the blade from a young age, but it came with great expectations. We trained rigorously, honing our skills day in and day out. He would come to train us every morning, emphasizing the need to protect our siblings. But then he would leave, and we wouldn't see him until the next day."[/color] Pausing briefly, Alibeth’s gaze turned distant. [color=a187be] "As for my mother, she fell ill when I was just a child, and my sister and I had to care of her as well as our siblings. By the time I was no longer a child, I had become proficient with various weapons, able to use everything adequately from guns to swords. But by then, I had lost my sister, and my father had stopped returning as he had warned me he would."[/color] [color=a187be] “It’s very apparent even today that the best thing I’m good for is surviving. I may not know how to be the kind of mother you and Callum expect, Anastasia, but my only goal is to ensure your survival.. We live in an unforgiving world, Ana. People will turn on you and take advantage of you at your lowest. My hope is that you and your siblings will always have each other, no matter what challenges you face…”[/color] The queen’s gaze lowered. [color=a187be]“You are fortunate in a way that you may not fully comprehend.”[/color] Anastasia’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. [color=E77298] “This… I thought you were the daughter of some Varian nobles… Why would you be in such a situation when you’re…”[/color] Alibeth met her eyes wordlessly. [color=E77298] “Oh.”[/color] She frowned. [color=E77298] “So that’s not the truth…Am I the only one who knows?”[/color] [color=a187be] “No.”[/color] Alibeth’s eyes averted forward. [color=a187be] “Your father knows….It’s not something that matters.”[/color] The brunette returned her gaze, [color=a187be] “The point is I want you to understand I am on your side. All of yours. I have no wish to make any of you miserable in any way…However I did take notice that something else seemed to be making you feel in sorry spirits today. Maybe it’s your turn to trust me now.”[/color] Anastasia found herself grappling with the weight of the conversation and Alibeth's unexpected change in behavior. She appreciated her mother's trust in confiding such a vulnerable secret, but it was a lot to process. She absently drummed her fingers against the bed before finally mustering the courage to ask softly, [color=E77298] "...What would you do if you realized you might be a bad person?"[/color] [color=a187be]"Bad is a subjective concept, Anastasia. What truly matters is your own perception of yourself. If you are dissatisfied with who you are, you can change.”[/color]Her thoughts trailed back to their earlier conversation. It wasn’t all too difficult for her to piece together the puzzle. [color=a187be] “Although, I personally disagree with your realization… First of all, Darryn is not who you think he is. While I may not have the full scope of the boy, I am certain he is inviting darkness into his life, and it is best for you not to understand more fully. As for Callum, I know you have the ability to mend whatever has transpired between you two."[/color] [color=E77298] “Even so, I don’t know if I have ever been sure what kind of person I am.”[/color] Alibeth paused, her thoughts fleeting as she gazed at Anastasia. She had previously believed that she didn't understand her daughter either, but now she realized that perhaps she had always understood who Anastasia was, but had been misguided in comprehending the stark differences between them. Perhaps those differences did not have to matter. She finally reached out to take Anastasia's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, [color=a187be] "You are a strong and compassionate woman who leads with her heart."[/color] For the first time since she could remember, her daughter smiled at her. A faint smile tugged at the queen’s lips as well. She then stood up, taking Anastasia's hands and urging her to rise from the bed. [color=a187be] "Now, freshen up and put on something nice. I would like you to join us for dinner in the dining room. I've already invited Wulfric to join us though I have no inkling as to where Callum is.”[/color] A chatter came from Thara and the two women immediately locked eyes. Anticipating her next words, Alibeth sharply ordered, [color=a187be] “The bird remains in here.”[/color] [/color]