Numia Rocland had always been ambitious, but her ambitions were limited to her surroundings. Like others. she dread of climbing the royal ladder and becoming part of the highest ranked nobles, but it was a dream unobtainable. Not until their family was expelled and they moved to Sienna’s compound.
With the constant visits of royals and nobles, she was sure that her wish would be fulfilled soon. She could not marry into royalty, but Corven Junior could. And for that reason, as soon as she heard that Princess Evira was visiting Sienna again, she abandoned everything, and flew to the beach path leading up to the newly installed gates around the compound.
She didn’t expect to see the Princess and her guards being run off by a swarm of bees. To protect herself, Numia remained in hiding until the bees retreated and the gate was closed. Finally, she saw her opportunity to charm the princess and talk up her son, to engineer a royal marriage in five years.
She approached the princess with exaggerated warmth, dragging her words like a syrup. "Princeeeeessss," she crooned, fluttering her eyes. "Are you okay? I can’t believe those barbaric bees dares to attack you. Sienna is my niece, I will have a word with her about sending them back to the forest."
Princess Evira, still blotchy from two bee stings turned her glare on Numia. "I hate those bees as much as I hate Sienna. She has humiliated again."
Numia clasped her hands dramatically. "Oh, I know! Sienna can be so.....stuck in her own ways. Not at all refined like you. I an look at you. What a radiant, beautiful, jewel you are, even after such unfortunate stinging. Next ti, you can visit directly instead of her. You deserve better company and I know just who. Soone charming, loyal and dare--I say--handso." She shoved a picture of her son in the face of the princess like a rchant displaying wares.
Evira blinked, barely glancing at the picture.
"Princeeeessss," Numia continued, "this is my son, Corven Junior. He is strong, clever, and utterly devoted. Imagine having soone like him for a husband in future. It will be the greatest royal alliance! You, radiant lioness; he, your steadfast partner. Sienna would be green with envy."
Evira’s lips curled. "Sienna would hate it, really?"
Numia leaned closer, voice dripping with faux friendship. "Oh, she would despise it. And isn’t that the most delicious vengeance against her? To rise above her, to make her witness your glory?"
Evira’s eyes glead with spite. "Yes...yes, that would wound her."
Numia bead, sensing victory. "Exactly! And I, your humble friend, will help you every step of the way. Princeeeessss, you and my Corven are destiny itself!"
The guards shook their heads, for they all knew this woman was digging herself a grave.
Suddenly, Evira’s mood shifted like a storm. Her anger, still raw from Sienna’s clever mockery and humiliation needed an outlet. And Numia, with her dragging voice and transparent ambition, beca the perfect target.
A slap rang out, sharp and precise.
Numia stumbled backwards, holding the left side of her face.
"You think you can use ?" Evira snapped. "You think I am so foolish as to fall for your sches? Sienna mocks , and now you want to patronize ?!"
Numia flattered. "No, no, Princeeeessss, I only ant__"
"Silence!" Evira shrieked. She turned to her guards. "Teach her a lesson. Let Sienna hear of her aunt’s disgrace."
The guards moved swiftly. Numia’s wings spread out in preparation for a hurried escape. But the lion guards were quicker, they grabbed the wings and one shot her with a dart, before shoving her into the sand. Their fists and boots rained blows on her.
One of Sienna’s guards who had called Elias, to witness the eting between the princess and Numia rushed in. He tried to intervene, but was thrown aside. The princess watched, arms crossed, satisfaction flickering across her face.
Numia whimpered, "Princeeeeesss.....I only wanted to be your friend..."
But Evira sneered. "You are an old woman, why would I want to be friends with you? And what’s with the way you talk? It is disgusting. How dare a low ranked bird beast man dream of marrying into royalty? Sienna told you to do this, right? Well then, she will suffer knowing you were beaten because of her."
Blood spilled in the sand as Numia’s nose broke.
"That is enough." Evira snapped.
The guards stopped the beating and backed away. Numia was wailing, trembling and trying to cover her nose. When the princess and her guards left, they left her in the sand, bruised and humiliated, her grand dreams of royal marriage shattered.
As Evira’s ship flew away, the teenage princess had a smile on her face. She was imagining the look on Sienna’s face when she found out that her aunt had been beaten badly. Would the horrid human cry or run to the king to complain?
She shook her head. No--it was likely that she would report to the fox Lord first and then he would go to the king. But even if they did...so what? As soon as she told her brother that Sienna and her aunt had been plotting to make her marry an ugly falcon boy, he would be out for blood.
Evira started to laugh, but quickly winced from the pain of the stings. Her face was already swelling more. It would probably take a month to heal. In that ti, she would have to hide away from the public eye.
"Stupid bees: stupid Sienna," she muttered.
The feud between them deepened.
****
Back at Sienna’s compound, the woman who was feuding with a sixteen year old was in stitches. A security drone had captured the encounter between Numia and the princess and Sienna had been alerted to it by a guard.
She had chosen to stay back in the courtyard and watch. If Numia wanted to be stupid, it was her choice.
As Numia was carried over and Mrs. Miller called for a doctor, the Rocland elders wondered how to hide their sha.
Numia glared at Sienna before she was settled onto a chair in the yard, "This is your fault you know. I was beaten because of you."
Sienna burst into louder laughter and said in a mocking voice that was almost like Numia’s, "Princeeeessss....." And all the servants exploded in laughter too.
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