Xene hummed to herself as she stretched herself out of bed, like a cat inching with each of their limbs. A soft yawn on her lips, she was delighted to find her bath already prepared, a few of the servants having taken it upon themselves to make sure she was taken care of. Her little birds were hard workers which only pleased the princess more.
However, the princess had realized something only a short time ago. It had been a long while since she had had any actual ladies in waiting in her service which had only set her on the path to find one or two individuals who pleased her. Xene’s penchant for information and listening had lead her to seek out ladies who would be tight lipped but attentive. Ladies she could train in service from start to finish and could settle at her back without hesitation.
A wonder is had been that she had found both such ladies in the markets. One was a young woman whose father wanted her to marry up and out of her current position, and the other was a complete happenstance. Both girls, Nephele and Kalliope, were stunning, but small statures and untrained, untapped potential was what the princess had been seeking to begin with.
And this morning was to be their first day of service to the princess. There would be the usual formalities and then they would move about a typical day where Xene would take her time in getting to know both girls, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, before she would turn her gaze to the court, potential matches on her mind but not immediately needed.
Bathing and dressing herself, Xene carefully plaited her own hair, dabbing her lips with a soft rouge and her eyes with a small dusting of khol.
The sound of her opening door brought her attention over her shoulder, a brilliant and kind smile on her features as both ladies were allowed into her rooms. “Good morning, ladies,” she said softly, getting to her feet and approaching them with a lively glint in her eyes.
Everything was so new as Kalliope got up and ready for the day, her feet lowering from the unfamiliar bed to touch the rugs that covered the floor. Who would have thought that she would end up in a palace? Though having had sold things to royals and bargained for unwanted things, she had never actually been inside of the homes, and now here she was when her world was nothing but faint lights and fog filled darkness. It was one of her self pity moments when she thinks about how she can still tell if it is day or night since the sun is so bright, but she can't see the blue skies or the lovely hues of the flowers.
One thing she could attest to though was that Kalli's other senses seemed to have enhanced way more than she ever dreamed of. Having smelled the scent of breakfast waiting down the hall, hearing conversations filter and bounce down the hallway. Some maid apparently found out that she was pregnant, but she isn't sure if she wants to keep it or ask the cook for the herb mix so no one ever found out. The conversation was soft, but in these halls, it was fairly easy for Kalli to pick up as long as no one else was yelling over it all.
With all that in mind, she got ready for the day, bumping around her room until she learned the layout and had gotten dressed for the day. It was a simple attire, the blue chiton wrapped with a simple cord that she found, Kalli left her hair down in waves as she made her way to the kitchens. Once there, she had her breakfast before gathering up what was to be the princess's, meeting Nephele on the way which was a good thing too since she relied on the other woman to help her avoid running into smaller things that weren't big enough to reflect the sound of her steps back to her. Like the walls.
"Good morning. Looking forward to today?" Kalli didn't know if Nephele had ever been a ladies maid before, and she did not wish to assume either, even as her nerves almost shook right out of her. This was the new that she wanted. A change from the life of the marketplace and something completely different than her normal. Now, all she needed to do was prove herself capable even if she was blind.
As Nephele helped guide Kalli through the doors and around small tables, they finally got to the princess's room, and with her best smile in the direction, her voice sounded from, she did an almost awkward curtsy, "Good morning, your highness."
When her father had brought the offer beefore her, she had known immediately it was the sort of chance she had waited and searched for. A chance to negotiate her own fate, on her own merits. Even her kneejerk wish to ruin it to spite her father was quickly discarded in favour of the cold logic that had gotten her this far in life. Instead, she prepared. The slight young lady delightfully if remorsefully informed her mother of the offer in her mother's native tongue, so as not to alert her father. Remote as he was, he had never bothered to learn her tongue, convinced the world should bend to him instead. Nyazik was encouraging to a fault and had outfitted her with everything she would need and quite a few things she wouldn't. And she had set off on cue, ready and willing to make the best of herself.
She would not let this pass her by.
She had met Kalliope almost immediately, the two introduced to her a day before she would even see the lady who had contracted her employ. The blind girl was a sharp one, and Nephele had liked her on the spot, her skill with the arts one that put her own to shame. A glimmer of satisfaction shone within her. She had never met most of the people who lived here, but she was hopeful that even if no one else in this palace proved tolerable, she had someone to relate to in the other lady. And if she was lucky, someone to learn from.
Her day had begun ages before the time she was to meet Princess Xene, and she had made the best of it. She had eaten in the small hours of the morning, had heard Kalliope wake and grinned quietly to her self, this small moment of excitement and vigor permitted in private, before she had to make herself up and be the person everyone expected to see. A dutiful daughter and an honorable retainer. She knew full well that she ought to be presentable, and she wasn't going to be anything but. A fine cream peplos and the right amount of work to appear capable but not ostentatious. Her hair washed and prepared, golden wire pinned in place to hold the wild curls in check. Yet still, she didn't feel ready and she spared a moment to breathe, leaned over the table and chair that her room held. Head down, she took a moment to gather herself and to shove everything down for later. She had to be respectable, every inch the lady. The doubts would work themselves out. She descended the stairs in silence, soft boots silent on the stone floor. A brief moment to look left and right had Kalliope in her sights and she called out to her quietly, well aware of the obstructive serving platter in the other's hands. "Morning, Kalliope. Nervous and excited in equal measure, I admit. And yourself?"
She did not presume to take the tray from the girl as she knew her to be capable and able to handle it herself. Instead, she quietly pointed out the potential obstacles, shoulder close enough to alert her of when to move aside for particularly stubborn people, those who expected the right of way by entitlement alone. She opened the doors as well, although that one was less an obligation and more an offer from one equal to another.
As she stepped into the room, her gaze landed on the princess and couldn't seem to leave her. Dark eyes studied her, the relaxed and confident pose one that spoke volumes about her employer. No less humble than Kalliope, however, she curtsied as well, just as low and respectfully as the princess was owed. She was a sight, just as much as Nephele had expected and the youngest of the three women bowed her head in greeting. "Good morning, your highness." Thankfully, the internal nerves hadn't escaped into her voice and she'd kept her soft tone steady. It looks like her performance practice had paid off after all.Xene of Mikaelidas ,Kalliope of Athenia ,
How had she managed to acquire two absolutely stunning young women as her new ladies? The thought made Xene smile like a scheming little fox. Or maybe her feline friend who was busy weaving his way between Kalliope's legs, purring loudly. Her bare feet making absolutely no noise on the stone, Xene paused before her two ladies, smiling a little at the attempts at bows.
Eyeing the tray that Kalliope was holding, Xene stepped closer, carefully taking if from the girl's hands. Her fingers brushed the backs of Kalli's hands, soft and gentle. Taking the tray, Xene turned toward the small table in between two lounges, settling the tray down. Her gaze flicked amongst the spread that the young women had brought her for breakfast, the smile never leaving her lips. The light didn't leave her eyes. Plucking up a single grape, the popped it into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully in silence for a few moments.
"Please," Xene said softly, turning on her heel. Her long gown trailed against the stones. Hands once more reached for Kalliope's hands, taking them softly in her own as she backed them toward the lounges. Blue eyes settled on Nephele, her expression kind. "Sit with me. Eat. We have a few things to discuss before we go about our day," Xene admitted with extreme softness.
The princess helped Kalliope settle onto the lounge, guiding her through the room and around anything that the girl could accidentally bump into. She made a note to move some of the more valuable decorations into safer positions until her new lady had memorized the lines and routes through her rooms. She also made a note to take the two girls on a tour of the palati with the intention of familiarizing both of them with the winding halls, guard rotations, and the places they were and were not allowed to venture.
Waiting politely for Nephele to settle into the other lounge, Xene settled down beside Kalliope, no thought giving to propriety or keeping any sort of distance. Xene was an affectionate, physical woman. If these two ladies were to serve her for any extended period of time, then Xene was not going to remain reserved or withdrawn. There was a level of trust that Xene needed them to hold, whether they realized it or not. Motioning to the tray of food that Kalliope had carried in, Xene smiled affectionately at Nephele.
"I am Princess Xene," she gave herself a proper greeting. "In this room, with just the three of us and my guard, you may call me Xene. Just Xene," she instructed softly, "In public, I am Princess Xene or Princess," she continued, lifting her chin a little. "While I... do not care for flaunting titles, there is a level of propriety that is required when functioning outside of these walls. However, I prefer to keep things personal and warm in my own chambers," Xene said kindly, her hands settled, unmoving in her lap.
Xene's eyes slipped toward Nephele's feet and she smiled a little, "We will find you a proper pair of sandals, Nephele," she murmured softly, "Your wages will be given every seven day cycle and I will ensure that both of you are immaculately clothed out of my own allowances... as both of you will be attending every court session with me," Xene finally offered, a smile in her voice. She reached over and touched Kalliope's hand softly to ensure the woman know that she was also being spoken to. "Any questions so far?" the princess asked, smiling toward Nephele, her hand still on Kalliope's.
Kalliope could hear someone coming up behind her as she held the tray before her, bracing herself if anyone decided that it would be fun to try and trip her up. It was an annoyance to Kalli, that was for sure when people thought it would be funny to tease her. So with past experiences came skills that she was hard-pressed to learn. With her other senses, she could hear the soft footfalls that sounded nothing like the stomping sounds of a male. With the thought that the nearing steps belonging to a female, the scent drifted through the air smelling almost of florals, just before she called out and making Kalliope smile. "Good morning Nephele. I feel the same. This is so much different than selling items in the market." As they moved down the hall, Kalli appreciated all the help that Nephele gave her. When she first met the two other women, Kalliope would never admit that she was actually nervous and scared at first. Alone and blind, her father on his way back home to their family, no one would even know if anything nefarious ever actually happened to her. Though her reservations held on, Kalli was also glad that she took that trusting step forward into now an unknown future for herself.
So when they arrived at the room, Kalliope couldn't see where the princess was as she did her best curtsy to where she assumed the center of the room was, bidding the young woman a warm good morning. She never heard the princess get closer, distracted as she was by a vibrating body that moved around her ankles as she dared not move so not to fall. Kalliope could remember playing with the wild cats that roamed the streets around her childhood home. Con and herself would chase them and play, watching them as they batted around the string or chased a mouse, cuddling with the creatures when they climbed into their laps. The thoughts made her nostalgic for home, distracting her just enough that she missed it when Xene came closer. So when she took the tray from Kalliope's hands, Kalli clung to the tray for a moment before realizing that someone was taking it from her, the look of surprise clear on her face as her cloudy eyes widened from her natural reaction. How could she have missed the touch? Was she that distracted?
The soft voice of Xene filled the air as she said 'Please.' Her voice sounding slightly off as she, what Kalli assumed was a grape from the hint of sweet smell that followed, finished the last of the bite. As someone took her hand lightly, Kalli could smell the scent of grapes in the air, feeling suddenly pleased that she picked something that the princess as well as it gave her a clue as to who held her hand and lead her through the room. Kalli followed willingly, having remembered the long conversations before with the princess in the market before she knew who she was, finding that she could trust the woman leading her around the room. It wasn't often that Kalli found that she could trust so easily, especially not now that she couldn't see who tries to swindle her. Though with the two women now in the room with her, Kalli felt like maybe she could finally start to trust that everything would be ok now. As Xene tells them that they have a few things to talk about before the day even begins, Kalliope settled into the lounge after the soft surface that pressed against the back of her legs in solid warning that it was there for her after Xene guided her there. Sometimes Kalli could tell if something was near her, almost as if in a feeling just before running into something. If anyone asked her, she could never describe it except that it almost felt like something was invading her space, almost like how someone can tell that they are being stared at. She just knew. "Thank you." At the invite, Kalli gave her thanks as she felt for the bowl that had slices of melon in it, finding her prize and taking one slice.
As the lounge lifted a little as Xene sat down next to her, making Kalli chuckle in delight as she bounced just enough to miss her mouth as she was about to bite the melon slice, finding herself more and more relaxed as the morning went on. As the princess introduced herself, Kalli nodded her agreement at the thought of calling her 'princess' in public. It really surprised her though when she said that titles were gone in her personal rooms. Listening quietly as Xene told them about their allowances and how they will attend her in court, the thought having made Kalliope's stomach feel like it hit the floor. Court? She had never been to court before, that was always her father that attended when invites allowed. Selling to nobles was one thing in a market, going to court was completely different. "Court? I never been.. before." Kalliope's nerves had gotten to her as she thought of all those nobles, the entitled ones that loved to show just how much power they had over someone with an impairment. In the market, it was easy to 'accidentally' take a low blow to a noble and pretend it was a slip, but in court? Would it be the same with so many?
Her hand in Xene's, feeling comfort there even as her mind drifted to the future. "Would you.. would you like me to sing for them all and you? I would be more than happy to, for you. Singing, her passion and joy, it was the one thing that Kalli had never lost the ability to do. Not like her painting or weaving, which she needs her eyes to see the colors, so it is not a big mess.
She paused a little at the genuine looking smile on Xene’s face, a little taken aback at how warm of a welcome the two of them were being given. She’d never done this sort of thing before, but she’d known that her employer could be anything from agreeable to downright intolerable. And that she was in it for the long haul, no matter how she felt about her. But this was an entirely different attitude than the cautious young lady had expected, and a pleasant surprise. She returned the kind smile with her own, much subtler one and followed Xene’s instruction, hands tucked in lap as she settled on the opposite seat to Xene and Kalliope.
The food was a welcome gesture as well. Even if it was only there to set them at ease, she appreciated it and one quick hand snagged an olive off the platter as Xene spoke. Dark eyes keenly watched the two blonde ladies across from her, impressed with both their grace, although different in nature. Xene was effortlessly welcoming and gracious and Kalliope was genuine and honest in how she felt. Already, Nephele felt more secure in the position she was in, with these people if not with this place.
Still, old habits were hard to break, and her own demeanour was more reserved than either of the two. Composure was key within her household, and one she was too used to. So she gave a bare nod at Xene’s suggestion for more weather appropriate footwear, words ones that took a moment longer to form. “Of course, Xene. Appearances are important here.” And it was true. Court was a spectacle she’d never before been involved in, and one she knew she was not yet ready for. Still, that was something she’d simply have to make herself ready for.
One question did nag at her, however and she cocked her head a little, patient as she waited her turn. Kalliope had asked first, after all, and it would be rude to interrupt her. And it was a valid question. The limits of their duties were important ones, and indeed that was what she meant to ask after as well. As soon as Kalliope’s question was answered, she cut in with her one, eyes finding Xene’s. “On that note, what are the extent of what you expect of us at court. I have never had the honor of being invited to court either, and one must admit, it is not a simple affair. I wish to be prepared.”Kalliope of Athenia,,Xene of Mikaelidas ,
Xene was incredibly pleased with the two ladies in waiting that she had found to be on her service. Though low born, they were both stunning young women, and both seemingly well read and intelligent. This was good. Because there was nothing worse than trying to work with a daft lady who was not intelligent enough to figure out the workings of the court. The fact that both Kalli and Nephele had started to ask questions about what was expected of them was a mark in their favor.
The princess' expression showed that she was incredibly pleased, at least to Nephele. Her pleased response to Kalli was a gentle squeeze of the hand once more before she pulled away and settled both of her hands back into her lap, considering both of their questions.
Her voice was calm as she spoke and she reached over to one of the platters of food, taking a pastry for herself. She was a little peckish, though not entirely hungry. To Kalli, Xene turned her attention on the beauty. "You do not need to sing for the court," Xene said softly, a smile in her voice. "But you may sing with me when I do. If you wish it, Kalliope," Xene continued. Xene herself was an accomplished performer and songstress. To be able to sing with another lady of her skill level would likely be a sight to behold within the court.
Then, she took Nephele's questions and decidedly addressed both of her new ladies. "In court your dress must be immaculate and your manners sharp. Some of the ladies of the court are like vipers. They enjoy spreading around rumors and the less you draw attention to yourselves, the less will be said about you. That said, I expect you to both listen and participate, but watch your own tongues. I want to know any information that you can pick up from those around you. It is easy for others to strike a chord of irritation within you, but you must handle everything with propriety... and that means you do not tear down the members of the court. You are to drink and converse like normal, always at my side unless given permission to wander elsewhere," Xene said calmly, taking a bite of her pastry and chewing thoughtfully.
After a few moments, she cleared her mouth with a sip of water and smiled at Nephele. "Attending the court itself is a steep learning process. It will take time for you to adjust. It is... akin to a shock to your system, like jumping into cold water. I do not expect you to be perfect on your first attendance, but I do expect to see improvement over time."
It was not a tough thing to ask for, in the grand scheme of things. Once more, she found herself observing both of her ladies, "Do you two have any more specific questions that I could answer about your duties in and outside of the court?"
She settled back in her chair as Xene smiled at her, the subtle consideration the princess showed in the way she demonstrated her feelings to Kalliope not one she had expected, but perhaps she should have. The lady was compassionate, and more that, subtle about it. She popped another olive into her mouth while she waited for the princess to respond, not eager to rush her. This was important, and she wanted everything Xene might have to give them. She had been raised in this place, and if Nephele wanted to be of use, the more she knew, the better off she'd be. And expectations was possibly the most important of the things she'd need to know. Her eyes flickered to Kalliope at the mention singing came up, the wellspring of her fondness for lyrical verse poetry bubbling to the service before she pushed it to the back of her mind. While she was not sure her poetry was anywhere close to up to snuff, perhaps she could practice it here, if about less personal subjects. It could eventually be one more service she might have at her fingers instead of just a passion, much in the way Kalliope and Xene sang.
But the tonal shift as she asked her question was unmistakable and she felt the steel creep up her spine, the truth hard and certain in the princess' tone. Court was indeed a different world, and she had the suspicion that the people who were kind, trusting and not the viper Xene described did not do near as well at court, nor last as long there. It would serve the two of them much better if they were as inconspicuous as possible. Dressed sharply but not distinctively, the better to be the background to Xene's front and center. Thankfully, the ability to conceal her feelings was something she was already long practiced about, although it wouldn't hurt to better, to be less open.
It was good to have another function of her service to be confirmed as well. She was more than just an attendant, a companion. She was an informant. Thing she saw were things were things Xene would know of, if she needed to know them. This shifted the angle of Nephele's focus like a kaleidoscope, everything tilted just to the side into a brand new pattern. "Given this, it might be prudent to know if there's anybody you might want us to be aware of, both as friend and not." The words are quiet but serious, velvet coated steel.
With this though, came more questions and possibilities. Things Xene needed to know about her court counterparts didn't only happen at court, after all. How far did her duties go, and how far should Nephele take them? It's something she needed to ask, if in its due time. she devoted the majority of her attention to Xene's answer, even as she turned over more potential question in the back of her mind, phrasing one that was just as important as the asking. Once she had her answer, another fell into line.
"We attend you in court of course, but how closely do you want us to be outside of court? Not everything of note happens at court, after all. And what counts as our duties outside of court?" She settled her hands in her lap, back straight, if not stiff. The only thing that betrayed her deep curiosity and mild concern was the gleam in her eye and a certain tilt to her head, subtle if you weren't acquainted with her. Still waters run deep, after all.