Sophie was sitting on a chair in front of the mirror. "Will everything be okay?" she asked Hannah, who was standing behind her.
"As long as you do what you're tasked with, everything will go smoothly, ma'am," Hannah replied.
Sophie sighed. "Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm afraid I'll mess it up. Father has many important guests. I'm worried I might embarrass him."
Hannah gently placed her hand on Sophie's black hair and grabbed a hairbrush, brushing it down slowly. "Everything's going to be fine, my lady," she assured her.
Sophie glanced at Hannah in the mirror.
A few moments passed, and Hannah left Sophie's room. Sophie followed after with a saddened face. She walked down the hallway and stopped in front of a mirror. She saw Zephyr training vigorously in the garden with his sword. She went to the garden to drink tea and saw the maids watching him while mumbling to each other. She approached and scolded them for not doing their jobs. The maids scattered, going back to their tasks. Sophie glanced at Zephyr. She wondered, "Why do people seem drawn to him for an unknown reason?" She walked to a shed and sat there, watching Zephyr for a moment. When he saw her watching him, Zephyr smiled and waved. Sophie smiled back, and Zephyr returned to his training. Sophie glanced at the sky and sighed. "Maybe because of his kindness," she whispered as she recalled seeing Zephyr help around the castle. He helped the maids carry heavy things and get water from the well. He helped the gardener carry pots and plant plants. He also talked with the guards like they were friends.
Sophie finished her tea and went inside. She walked around the castle to entertain herself, glancing at the portraits on the wall. Each of them contained memories from different generations. She was walking when a portrait stopped her from taking another step. This portrait was of her with the King and the Queen. Her mouth had a hint of a smile, and she was with two boys.
Sophie was born into a royal family. Her mother was so happy when she was born. She was the only daughter they had. As she grew up, her mother took care of her, but her mother was always frail and bedridden. She brushed Sophie's hair, sang melodies, and told stories. Sophie enjoyed her mother's company. But she was bullied by her brothers. They hated her for being a girl and often said mean things like she was weak or shouldn't have been born. Her father didn't talk to her much and often ignored her, which was how he interacted with the family. Years passed, and her mother died. Sophie was at the funeral, crying. She stayed there even as the rain soaked her, long after everyone had left. A young girl, still in her youthful days, approached her in the rain and comforted her. It was Hannah. Ever since her mother died, her father put her into intense studying. He commanded her to study many things nonstop. Her brothers were also affected by their mother's death and were placed in intense training. Sophie grew up doing nothing but reading books and enhancing her skills such as singing and cooking. She was also taught how to be elegant. She got slapped on the hand with a ruler if she made a mistake. This broke her down, and she often cried in her room, but Hannah always checked on her and comforted her. All of these memories flashed through Sophie's mind.
"I miss you, Mother," she whispered to herself.
The next day was her birthday. Sophie wore a light blue gown filled with gems and stones. Her hair was nicely done. She stood at the door, greeting the endless visitors. The room was filled with people. The sounds of glasses, spoons, murmurs, and laughs filled the air. Some greeted people they knew, and others introduced themselves to those who caught their attention. A lady introduced herself to Sophie, praising her and such. Sophie just smiled at her, not wanting to show any sign of sadness or weakness, so she kept on smiling. Many people greeted and praised her, but deep in her thoughts, she knew these people were only sucking up to her father for power. A noblewoman approached her and introduced her son. The man grabbed her hand and kissed it, freaking her out. He annoyingly and proudly announced his achievements, which irritated Sophie, but she kept her smiling mask on. She left and stood on the rail on the second floor, looking at the visitors from above. She saw Septh, Ki, and Zephyr among the crowd. They were laughing and talking to each other. Septh was in a magenta-colored gown while Ki and Zephyr were both in formal attire. Ki and Zephyr's hair was brushed back, and Septh's hair was nicely fixed and tied. A maid offering drinks to the crowd slipped and fell, spilling the drinks on Zephyr. Zephyr's clothes were stained with wine. The maid immediately stood up and apologized to Zephyr. The maid could hear voices around her: "Such a useless maid," "She has one job yet she can't even do it properly," "Clumsy, isn't she? Lucky she didn't spill those on me. I'd have her executed if that were the case." The other maids hesitated to help. Zephyr grabbed the maid's shoulder and said, "Hey, look at me. It's okay; it's not that serious." The maid looked at Zephyr, who was smiling at her, and she felt her cheeks getting hot and her heart racing. She quickly collected herself, stood straight, bowed again in apology, and left. This scene made Sophie smile for real this time. The party continued when a crowd gathered. Murmurs filled the air. Sophie pushed through the crowd to see the commotion. She saw her second brother, Adrian, which made her pale. She knew how this would go if he saw her. She was about to leave the scene when a loud voice called her name. "Oh, Sophie. Long time no see." She glanced back and saw her brother smiling at her. "Please, not now," her thoughts raced. She didn't want to get embarrassed in front of everyone. She slowly faced her brother as he approached her.
Sophie's brother, Adrian, approached with a confident smirk. "Sophie, I see you're still as fragile as ever," he began, his voice dripping with condescension. "I still remember when you couldn't even hold a sword properly. Father always said you were more suited for decorating the palace than defending it."
Sophie felt a lump in her throat but forced a smile. "I've learned a lot since then, Adrian."
"Oh, really?" Adrian's voice was loud, attracting more attention. "Like the time you failed to entertain Father's guests? You embarrassed us all with that dreadful singing. Or how about when you tried to cook and nearly burned down the kitchen? Face it, Sophie, you're just not cut out for anything significant. In fact, you don't deserve to be born into this family."
Sophie's face turned red, but Adrian continued. "And let's not forget the time you tripped during that important dance. Father's face became disappointed and he left the occasion midway. You were always more of a liability than an asset. Even now, at this party, you look like a porcelain doll—pretty to look at but utterly useless."
The crowd around them whispered and chuckled. She could feel their judgment piercing her heart. Unable to hold back any longer, she turned and fled, tears streaming down her face.
Zephyr, Septh, and Ki were watching from a distance.
"What a jerk," Septh said angrily. Ki giggled at Septh's reaction while Zephyr watched Sophie run away, concerned. He left Ki and Septh, while Septh was getting mad at Ki for laughing. "You both are the same," she scolded Ki.
In the garden, Sophie was crying. Tears dropped nonstop. Zephyr pushed the door open and closed it, leaving the noisy crowd inside. He looked around for Sophie and saw her sitting on the grass, wiping her tears that didn't seem to stop. He sat next to her in an attempt to comfort her.
Sophie's sobs filled the quiet garden as Zephyr approached her cautiously. He sat beside her, not saying anything at first, just being there.
"Hey," he said softly after a moment. "I'm sorry about what happened in there. Adrian was way out of line."
Sophie wiped her tears but didn't look up. "He's right. I always mess things up."
Zephyr shook his head. "That's not true. You're strong, Sophie. I've seen how much you care for everyone here. You're kind, and that's more important than anything Adrian thinks matters."
Sophie sniffled, glancing at him. "But I always embarrass Father."
Zephyr gently took her hand. "Your worth isn't measured by what he thinks or by your mistakes. You have a good heart, and that's what makes you special. Besides, the first time I saw you in that cell, you had a powerful look about you." Zephyr smiled. "Seeing you look weak now is a pleasure."
Sophie looked at their hands, feeling comforted by his words. "Thank you, Zephyr."
He smiled warmly at her. "Anytime, Sophie. Remember, you're not alone. We all care about you."
"You're so kind," Sophie's tears slowly settled down, and they both watched the sky filled with stars like gems shining with the moon. Zephyr looked at her. "See, you look like the sky when you're not crying." Sophie looked down at the grass, seemingly embarrassed, and smiled.