Octavia stepped out of her room and trod down the stairs. A servant girl had co to guide her to the hall. When she walked into the room, many people were already seated: the princesses, her father, and the mbers of his council.
"Octavia," her father called, "co and sit beside ."
She feigned a smile and nodded. "Of course, father."
She sat stiffly, hemd in between her father and one of the senators; every ti they spoke, it made her stomach churn. Then Penelope walked in two girls, one was Iris, and the other she couldn’t recognize. They sat themselves at the rear end of the table. Her eyes grew dark when they sat down; she knew where she wanted to be seated. Penelope t her eyes for a brief second and turned away, and Octavia couldn’t help but smile.
"Octavia," one of the ministers said, "Tells us, how were the kingdoms outside Erindros? What might we do to make this great empire greater?"
Octavia chuckled, "Senator, that would be an unfair comparison; they do not et this empire in any degree."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, senator. Unless you wish to regress back to the olden tis."
So of the n seated chuckled. "Your majesty, you’ve been blessed with a wise daughter," one of them said.
She felt her father swell with pride beside. As she turned to look at her father, her heart clenched. He was smiling... at her, and his eyes twinkled. She was the reason he was happy today. She tried to feel nothing, but she could feel her body sing with joy. Her head fell slightly forward, and she smiled.
When she raised her head, their eyes t again. She hated that look. She did not need anyone to pity her; she had gotten powerful on her own, she had beco useful, and she would only get better from here.
"I think we’ve had enough for today," her father announced after they had eaten and drank for a while, "we will leave you girls to socialize."
Octavia got up from where she sat and bowed to the table. "It has been an honour, my lords, thank you for coming today." Her father smiled again.
When everyone of them had filed out of the hall, she turned back to face the girls and smiled. "Girls," she said to the princesses, "I would like to thank you as well. You might already know who I am, but I would like to introduce myself formally. I am Octavia, firstborn to the ruler of the Aurelian Empire."
The girls smiled and nodded away. Octavia saw Penelope and Iris across the table, staring blankly at her, and her mouth twitched. "I’m sure by now you all know my sister as well. She might be a little of a troublemaker sotis, but I beg not to take it so seriously; it is all in good faith." She looked at the pair, " Pen, please co and stand with for a second."
Iris’s hand curled into a fist on her lap. Her blood boiled as Penelope shook beside her. Penelope put her hand on her lap and held on to it tightly, then nodded at her with a smile and stood up.
"My sister!" Octavia declared, "I love her with everything I have."
Iris’ frown deepened. She saw Penelope’s body stiffen, her face drained of colour, and her eyes; they were nothing but an empty shell.
Octavia looked at Penelope, and she smiled; a slow and chilling smile. "And Pen, don’t be too much of a bully to the girls. I’m sure they would like to know the kind of person you are, just as I know you, sweet and caring."
Iris looked around the table. The girls were all smiling, and so tried not to laugh at the situation. It was indeed funny; an elder sister teasing her little sister in front of an audience. But she would not be fooled. Did they not see what was happening? Had their disdain for Penelope blinded them to what was going on between the two sisters before them?
"Princess," Iris chid, "I’m sure the girls wouldn’t want to keep you for too long; you must have had a tiring day. Isn’t that right, girls?"
A few of the girls mumbled in agreent while the others sat tight-lipped and stared.
Octavia studied her for a while and smirked, "Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you all waiting since it’s so late." She clamped her hands behind her back. "You may all leave."
Hera looked between Iris and the princesses. "Why aren’t we leaving?" She whispered, "Let’s go!"
"I’ll be with you in a minute, Hera. Could you wait outside for , please?"
Hera stared at her with a puzzled expression, but stood up and left.
The smile had left Octavia’s eyes, and what remained was a grim expression.
"You have quite the audacious friend, Pen," Octavia said with a smile, looking at Penelope. "I’m beginning to like this one."
"Thank you, your majesty," Iris answered from where she sat and gave her a slight nod, her eyes never leaving her face. "I only wish to wait for Princess Penelope. We have a few things we wanted to do together."
Penelope looked at Iris like she’d seen a ghost. Her eyes flickered violently, and her lips quivered.
"Is that true, Pen?" Octavia asked, her lips twitching.
"No, no, it isn’t," she replied abruptly. "Please, Iris," she said and turned towards Iris, "please leave."
"Penelope..."
"Leave!" her voice thundered, "Now!"
Iris jerked backwards in her seat. Her eyes widened as she continued to look at the person in front of her. She’d turned into sothing so unfamiliar; it was like she no longer saw her, like she didn’t exist in Penelope’s world.
"Fine," Iris replied hesitantly. She stood up slowly, watching the two sisters as millions of thoughts crossed her mind.
"You have quite an interesting friend, Pen," Octavia said, just enough for Iris to hear before she walked out of the hall.
Hera stood at the foot of the stairs, idly watching as the servants passed by while she waited for Iris.
"Sorry for keeping you," Iris said when she t up with her.
"What was that all about?"
"I have no idea myself," Iris mused and shook her head. "But I think we’ll find out soon enough."
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