Cinder X Bella ~ Six!

Bella stepped into the house, straining to carry a suitcase in each hand. She set them down just inside the door, turning to go and retrieve the others when Matringa waved her over.

“Oh me, oh my. Those must be so heavy; what a robust child you are. Still, that can wait for the moment. You may give us a tour of the house, so we are not fumbling around like thieves.” Signora Treesbane, or perhaps now Signora Vigatori, imperiously demanded as Bella stood in the doorway uncertainly.

“Of course, of course. But, if I may, where’s my father?” The question had been burning inside of her from the first time she clapped eyes on the trio; she certainly had many things to say to him at this point.

Matringa rolled her eyes and let out a soft sigh of disappointment. “He was held up. Now, show us to our rooms, as well as the important sections of the house.”

Bella nodded and stepped past the trio, striding into the house with the others trailing behind. She was pleased to hear Cattiva gasp at the sight of the wide marble staircase in the foyer. The arched ceilings led to the center focal point of the ceiling: an impressive silver chandelier, and each grand doorway had intricate designs carved into them. Her father had truly spared no expense making this place look as he imagined all noble houses would.

“Do stop your rustic gaping, Cattiva,” Malvagio chided her younger sister, though she did so with an apathetic tone—like someone shooing away seagulls from someone else's half-eaten sandwich. For her part, Signora Matringa simply swept her gaze around the sight, expressionless as she beckoned for Bella to continue.

“I'm assuming this main floor is merely the kitchen and common areas? I would like to be directed to our chambers; the journey was longer than I wanted it to be.” The words were curiously sharp, as though accusing Bella of being a bad hostess, despite not having expected to be the one showing them around.

Trying to make a better impression, Bella shook her head firmly and recounted, “In fact, Stepmother, this floor has a parlor, a sitting room, dining room, the great hall, and… and none of that matters right now, I see. Naturally, let us go upstairs.” 

Signora Matringa ran a finger along the handrail as they slowly and properly ascended the stairs, rubbing a coating of dust between her fingers which was so sparse as to be almost—but not quite—invisible. “The servants have been idle, I see. We’ll take care of that as soon as Signore Alaric arrives home.”

“I can personally assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.” Bella's blood was boiling, though she forced a smile on her face as Matringa looked over at her sharply. Compounding the sudden concern was how her new stepsisters gasped and paused on the steps, glancing between Bella and their mother. 

“Is that so?” Going by Matringa’s twitching lips, she was unused to being contradicted. Her left hand came down on the railing and drummed along it. “Humm…”

The silence stretched for a long moment, continuing until the new Stepmother got her face under control, a slight smile on her lips. As she continued moving up the stairs, she lightly stated, “Well. Perhaps your standards are not the quality I strive for in my household.”

Bella cast about for anything else to say, falling back on her duty as a hostess when nothing else came to mind. As they arrived at the first landing, she waved at the closed door. “Here is father's study, and on the next landing is the master bedroom. Allow me to show you where your things will be-”

“What could possibly make you think we would not want to peek into the study?” The words flowed from her mouth like honey, but were spoken as if to a very young child who had a hard time understanding simple concepts. “The lord of the house does his business here, providing for all of us, in this room. I'm certain it is going to be quite important for us to know all about it.”

Bella inhaled through her nose, opening the door to the study without a word; though she did let out a soft mutter, “So anything I say is going to be wrong, huh?” 

“Maybe you do catch on quickly. Still, such brazen impoliteness will not be tolerated going forward. Like your father, I expect you to be prepared for the rigors of court. That means knowing how to keep your thoughts on the inside.” Matringa responded to the words under Bella's breath, causing the young lady to freeze. The older woman swept into the study, scanning the inside quickly, running her fingers along the leather-bound books and the walnut desk before turning, nodding, and stepping back out into the hallway. 

Moving on to the master bedroom, Bella stepped back, relieved her tour was nearly over. Unfortunately, Matringa merely stepped inside, scanned the room nearly exactly as she had the study, and returned to the group. “Well? Lead on, I'm certain there is more to see.”

“Oh. Um.” Hoping the interaction would be as short as possible, she moved down the hall and opened the door to her own room. “This is my room, though there isn't-”

“Goodness! It's perfect!” Malvagio exclaimed, stepping in and looking around, causing Bella to flush slightly with pride at how well she took care of the space. That is, before her new, elder stepsister continued speaking. “The lighting? How open of a concept it is? I simply must have this room as my painting space.”

The girl turned to her mother with pleading eyes, but it was Cattiva who replied, “You can't possibly think that’s acceptable. Look at the high ceilings! The acoustics in here are ideal! I must have it for my lute and singing practice.”

Her temper flaring, patience with these intrusive people running out, Bella stepped up to Malvagio and poked her in the chest. “Is this some kind of sick joke? I've lived here my entire life, and I most certainly won't be giving up my bedroom. Get. Out.”

The two girls scrambled out of the room wide-eyed as Bella stormed out with them and slammed the door behind her.

“Oh me, oh my…” Matringa watched on with calm eyes, though her left hand drifted forward to allow her fingers to drum along the door frame. Speaking in a mild voice, she looked between each of the three. “Girls, girls. Living arrangements for everyone will be discussed after dinner. Let's continue our tour.”

The woman glided away, leaving everyone to follow after her, including the bewildered and frustrated Bella, who called out, “Look, there are three other rooms meant as proper long-term living spaces, and each of them have almost exactly the same layout.” 

Though they visited each of the other prepared rooms, neither sister exclaimed excitedly over any of them. Even so, Matringa bid them to rest in one while she stepped away to have a private word with Bella. 

“Humm… your father has told me much about you… for instance, before he left to come to me, you and he had a little argument.” The tall woman looked down at Bella, looming over her with a simpering smile on her face. As Bella attempted to decide what to say, the Signora waved her words off. “No, no… I need no other details, child. I've heard all about it. There's only one thing I don't know for certain. Do you intend to give your father the oath he has informed you is necessary? Today?”

“I… um… this is a discussion on the system, and he…” Bella stammered in an attempt to buy a few moments to think, freezing as her stepmother's long fingers wrapped around the railing of the banister and squeezed hard enough that the wood creaked under her grip. Looking at the woman questioningly, the young Beast Singer frowned and decided to simply speak her peace. “I'd like to discuss this with him, as this is a matter between the two of us.” 

“Is that so?” With a flick of her wrist, Matringa dismissed Bella from her sight. “Very well, I suppose you should go about your day. I have no doubt you have chores to complete. Many, many chores. While you're down there, be certain to familiarize yourself with the serving staff I've brought along with me. Something tells me you’re going to get to know them very well.”

More confused than ever, Bella slowly descended the stairs. As warned, there were people she had never met before busily carrying in items, sweeping, mopping, and rushing to and fro. As the young woman took in the view of a manor with plentiful serving staff, she paused in horror before whirling around and looking up to face her stepmother, shocked and sick to her stomach.

The new lady of the house simply held her gaze, the simpering smile practically painted on her face as she gave Bella a slight nod. “It seems you noticed that each of the household’s maids share a uniform appearance. Really, that dress fits you perfectly.”

Attempting to even out her breath, Bella tried to count how long she was inhaling and exhaling, anything to give her mind a chance else to think other thoughts so she wouldn't start a shouting match with this new person in her life. Her breath came in for a count of four, was held for a count of four, then out the same. Even so, each inhale was ragged, shaky, just shy of a snarl.

Unable to risk opening her mouth for fear of her thoughts flying out, Bella turned and stomped down the stairs, going directly outside instead of to work. Her hands were clenching, teeth grinding, she furiously began muttering, “My status is lost? Fine, I never cared about it anyway. My father has turned me into less than a servant in my own house? Fine. They can't force me to keep acting like a servant. I have no doubt I'm about to lose my room to one of those spoiled brats, and… why?”

She let loose a stifled scream before returning her breathing to a rhythmic pattern—accidentally whistling slightly as she did so. Her Basic Skill, Animal Communication, activated instantly, though she didn't intend it. Even so, she didn't realize what she was doing until a rabbit hopped up to her, head-butting her leg until it had captured Bella's attention.

Too wrapped up in her thoughts to try and pretend she didn't know what was going on, she reached down and scratched the bunny behind the ear, and as it settled down, so did she. For several minutes, she simply stood there petting the creature, lost in her cooling anger.

“Isabella Vigatori, step away from that filthy, flea ridden animal.” Alaric’s sharp voice cut her to the quick, instantly filling her with dread as she slowly looked up to see her father on a horse trotting toward her.

“Father!” Startled out of her reverie, Bella jolted upright, causing the nearly sleeping hare to suddenly leap away, its hind claws catching her on the leg. It was a shallow scratch, though deep enough to cause blood to bead just above her ankle. 

“Bella!” Alaric swept off of his horse, marching over and crouching to inspect the tiny wound. Relief showed on his face for a bare moment when he saw it was nothing more than a scratch, and his demeanor immediately shifted. He smacked her leg gently on the wound, leaving a tiny spot of blood on his own hand. 

“Is this what you want? What I have to come back to? A lifetime of scrapes and scars from filthy wild animals instead of listening to me? How is it that I can come home after three months of you practicing servitude, only for your first act to be flaunting your disobedience?”

This close to the man, even though her father's face was contorted with anger, for the very first time, Bella realized his eyes were watery. He was holding back tears? “Father, I don't want to disobey you. I don't want scrapes and scars; I didn't even realize what I was doing. I just needed something soft and cuddly to pet… something to take my mind off how rapidly things are changing.”

“Bella,” Alaric sternly stated, though Bella continued speaking as if she didn't hear him.

“I love animals, father. What happened to mother was horrible, but in all her time with you, doing what she loved, she was happy. Can you at least admit that?” Bella pleaded with her whole heart for him to understand, and for a moment, she thought she might have gotten through to him. He took a deep breath, his eyes traveling from her own to the scrape on her leg. “I just want the same for myself, please.”

He opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by the arrival of his new wife as she intruded on their moment. “Finally! There you both are. Bella, I know we just met, but is this really how you want to act toward me? Running off and leaving the work of the manor for people who don't know where things are supposed to go? I can certainly see why your father felt he needed a wife to help control you. I admit I'm quite disappointed to learn exactly how unladylike you actually are.”

Signora Vigatori glanced between the father and the daughter with a shrewd look in her eye, “Unless, I'm entirely mistaken, and you came out here to give your father your oath in person? That would be the proper thing to do after months of him waiting for it.”

The question hung in the air, and Bella turned back to her father, pleading with her eyes for him to say it wasn't necessary. Failing that, to say this was none of the woman's business. Instead, her father's eyes hardened, and he stepped back from his daughter, hands on her shoulders to keep her at arm's distance.

“No. No, she has not. Bella, being a Beast Tamer is a dangerous, unacceptable path. I stand by my decision. Until you make a system oath to renounce the class and all of its skills, you will be treated as one only on the fringes of this family. You will sup with us so I can ensure you haven't forgotten your proper manners, but I expect you to be up each morning lighting the hearth and staying too busy to pursue this failed desire of yours. Three months clearly wasn't long enough, and I suppose we'll just have to see how long it takes.”

He stepped over to his horse stiffly, swinging a leg over and mounting it before extending a hand to his new wife. “Would you like to ride with me for a short while, Signora Matringa?”

“No, thank you, my dear. I'll walk back with Bella.” The new stepmother turned to the girl she was speaking about, flashing a smile which didn't reach her eyes. “It seems we have much to discuss.”