Mates. It was an interesting word choice, and it reminded Nausy of what she’d known all along but had trouble wrapping her head around: that Shiraz was a cat, albeit she had a very beautiful human form. She recalled how, when she’d first arrived, Shiraz’s first reaction was that she and Marc didn’t smell right, and during their first breakfast together, Shiraz had practically crawled into Paris’ lap.
She winced inwardly at how silly she’d been. Of course Quentão (and Aquavitae in general) was strange to her, but now she realized, belatedly, that she hadn’t been as open-minded and accepting of her new world as she should’ve really been. Old habits died hard, she supposed, especially if you’re a stubborn Glyphian, and she had been the one in the family who’d tried to fit into their society the most. Her father, though a true nobleman and a loyal soldier to the kingdom, was far from being Airyglyph’s poster child; he had ideas, “modern” ones, that didn’t go well with the snobs at the capital. Her mother, on the other hand, was the daughter of a disowned noblewoman and a merchant from the neighboring kingdom, and scandals had followed her ever since she was adopted by her uncle and brought into Airyglyph. For being a woman who could fight, and fight well. For being a nobody, then suddenly being married to the second most powerful man in the kingdom. For the sense of otherworldlyness about her that they couldn’t quite place. Her brother defied societal expectations and moved halfway across the country to get away from the politics and drama. Her sister moved to Aquaria - and they’ve been at war with their neighbor all thoroughout history - to study their magical arts, then married a local and became an Aquarian citizen.
But Nausy? She enlisted in Airyglyph’s elite division of the military and climbed up the ranks, then later on dated the King and climbed up the throne. Of course many Glyphians hated her, some simply because she was a Nox, but that didn’t stop her from fighting to prove her worth, to be accepted.
She would have to let go of that. Among many other things.
If Shiraz expected the redhead to sigh in relief at her declaration that she and Paris weren’t mates, she didn’t. Instead Nausy’s sigh was heavy, like the truth had further complicated the situation she was in.
After a while, she said, “But you said there was a promise.” Though the other woman said it was a stupid one, it was still a promise.
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She winced inwardly at how silly she’d been. Of course Quentão (and Aquavitae in general) was strange to her, but now she realized, belatedly, that she hadn’t been as open-minded and accepting of her new world as she should’ve really been. Old habits died hard, she supposed, especially if you’re a stubborn Glyphian, and she had been the one in the family who’d tried to fit into their society the most. Her father, though a true nobleman and a loyal soldier to the kingdom, was far from being Airyglyph’s poster child; he had ideas, “modern” ones, that didn’t go well with the snobs at the capital. Her mother, on the other hand, was the daughter of a disowned noblewoman and a merchant from the neighboring kingdom, and scandals had followed her ever since she was adopted by her uncle and brought into Airyglyph. For being a woman who could fight, and fight well. For being a nobody, then suddenly being married to the second most powerful man in the kingdom. For the sense of otherworldlyness about her that they couldn’t quite place. Her brother defied societal expectations and moved halfway across the country to get away from the politics and drama. Her sister moved to Aquaria - and they’ve been at war with their neighbor all thoroughout history - to study their magical arts, then married a local and became an Aquarian citizen.
But Nausy? She enlisted in Airyglyph’s elite division of the military and climbed up the ranks, then later on dated the King and climbed up the throne. Of course many Glyphians hated her, some simply because she was a Nox, but that didn’t stop her from fighting to prove her worth, to be accepted.
She would have to let go of that. Among many other things.
If Shiraz expected the redhead to sigh in relief at her declaration that she and Paris weren’t mates, she didn’t. Instead Nausy’s sigh was heavy, like the truth had further complicated the situation she was in.
After a while, she said, “But you said there was a promise.” Though the other woman said it was a stupid one, it was still a promise.