𝓼𝓪𝓫𝓲𝓷𝓪

               𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐍  when her life had just finished it’s 180, made her queasy. absolutely sick to the stomach. ❝ we haven’t got any children and i can safely say we definitely already are. ❞ the brunette lets out bluntly, slumping her shoulders in a shrug. the close relationship between cousins and siblings never made more sense to her than now. her aunt had lost her mind and her mother had lost her empathy. they only had each other. ❝ it’s okay, really. ❞ the princess waves off, offering her a smile. and then it falters as she shakes her head - deep breath struggling to find her lungs. ❝ he broke up with me. ❞

                𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒  perhaps ill timed, she couldn’t help the agreement with her cousin’s words. ❝ it must be a family tradition. let’s decide to let it go. ❞ though, the more she thought about it... the more she agreed. both queens were insane in their own way. the only difference being that her aunt perhaps had a decent sized heart. or... one to begin with. though, she supposed there was no way of really knowing. luciana’s words urge the brunette to bite onto her bottom lip harshly, a weak attempt at maintaining her emotions at bay. a slump of delicate shoulders indicates a shrug and she’s waving the words off or so she tries. ❝ i can’t force zhao to stay, luci. and even then - wouldn’t it be wrong ?? ❞ the selfless sabina knew it would be wrong. ❝ i couldn’t ever give up on you. you’re better off getting a wall to move. ❞

                𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓  already overwhelmed, leave it to her sister to drop a nice metaphorical cold bucket of water on her. sabina was silent for a moment, taking in the rushed rant of statements that left the blonde. serafina could be a lot to take in, luckily for the polish princesses... sabina was fool proof to anything her sister could possibly say or do. she knew the girl meant well even when bringing up subjects that weren’t sabina’s cup of tea. ❝ she has always been crazy. ❞ the brunette lets out dryly, lack of amusement evident in hazel hues. but no amount of ranting or in depth description of their mother’s lack of sanity or... feelings would free sabina from the topic at hand. she knew that. ❝ well... rowen’s nice. he’s trying, at least. or... i think he is ?? but i guess it’s just hard to get used to all of this. ❞

                𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐎  simply allow her mother to have her win and lose her in the process. though, she wasn’t entirely sure that simonetta even cared. ❝ you know i love you, barbie and... i really appreciate you always being there for me. ❞ she meant every word said and she hoped barbie knew that. if they were being honest, barbara played a nurturing role in the family one that sabina definitely appreciated. ❝ i guess not but - being filled in would be appreciated. especially if her putting up a fight is even a possibility. ❞ 

               𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐃  they had been rid of their control and were now spiraling, at least to her. she was so far from the crown that, at best, she had hung to every inch of the possibility of marrying who she wanted. but oh how they mighty had fallen. now she was sitting besides someone she knew like the back of her hand and yet... he felt so far away. two strangers deemed so by their own blood. sabina nods slowly at his words to reflect her agreement but she remains silent as he speaks up again. there’s that horrid twist in her stomach, the tug at her heart and the undeniable falter in her breath. like we used to. every atom in her had grown impulsive when it came to him. thus, she’s unable to stop herself. ❝ nothing is how it used to be. WE aren’t like we used to be. ❞ the polish princess snaps, shaky breath following her whispered apology for her tone. her hands move to hug herself lightly as she glances away from him and back to the fire. ❝ i can’t be friends your friend... i just - i can’t. ❞ there’s defeat in her tone. God knows she tried so badly to be his friend for the simple fact that she was too selfish to let him go. sabina falls silent for a moment, gaze stuck on the flames, unable to bring herself to look at him. ❝ i can’t even look at you without... without - wishing i was someone else. ❞ her bottom lip trembles and so she brings it between her teeth, biting on it lightly.

               ❝ 𝐈 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇. ❞ sabina let out, slumping her shoulders in a shrug. she could understand the shitty airline food but unlike her sister - sabina wasn’t one to voice that fact. small hand is grasped by the blonde’s and she offers her a gentle smile as the princess sits besides the other, gaze lingering on her drink before she shakes her head. ❝ no, i’m alright. ❞

              𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅  time before her sister was shipped off to phuket along with the rest of the family, that much sabina knew. but in truth, she had expected serafina to put up more of a fight. still, she had worked with her advisor to ensure her tight schedule be put on pause to welcome the blonde. not that she had much of a choice, anyways. there she was, as promised, by the pool and evidently on her last shred of patience. sabina is silent as she continues towards her, large t-shirt covering her bikini for the short trip to the pool. ❝ all five seconds of it have been exquisite. ❞ her voice is soft but her tone is as light-hearted as ever. ❝ how was your flight ?? ❞

               𝐍𝐎 𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓,  they were definitely blood. ❝ simonetta would probably sell her soul to the devil before she truly apologized to anyone and that includes her own children. either way, there isn’t a single half assed explanation she could give me that would justify anything she’s said and done. ❞ she meant every word she spoke. a prince had already been involved with sabina and the reason why her mother had ignored their relationship was because he wasn’t first in line. she nods in agreement as they begin on their way to luci’s villa. ❝ and that is exactly why you’ve got me. ❞ sabina offers another smile but she knows it’ll do little to ease her cousin’s worries. ❝ i know you’ll find a reason not to run all out. ❞

              𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍  tenderness that claims her gaze when in his presence and... well, somethings just never changed. her gaze drifts towards the spot he taps and against her better judgement, she obliges. small frame settles onto the log swiftly, eyes drifting towards the flickering flames. ❝ i could say the same for you. ❞ she lets out lightly, as best she can. if she lies to him, he’ll know - as he always did. and so sabina decides against denying her predicament. ❝ i haven’t been sleeping well. ❞ the polish princess admits softly, hands resting on her knees before she finally turns her head to glance at him.

              𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅  hazel eyes at the mere thought of her mother wanting to speak to her. it was very unlikely. ❝ she has three other children that could use an apology from her. they’d probably care for her words a lot more than i would... might as well get to them. ❞ it was true. simonetta hadn’t been as kind to her other children, whatever weight the word kind even held for her was unknown. the italian was a strong and power hungry woman, a truth she was no longer blind towards. ❝ we could always order the drinks ?? ❞ her betrothal wasn’t particularly something she wished to discuss with luciana and it was entirely due to the emotional ties she and rowen shared. it didn’t take a genius to know the mention of the engagement hurt her cousin and that had been the last thing she wished to do. ❝ it’s somewhere in you, too. ❞

            ❝ 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 say to her. ❞ sabina shrugs, gaze drifting away from her in hopes of hiding just how hard it had been for her to understand that herself. there had been an unfamiliar resentment towards her mother but now ?? now it was far too familiar. it had absolutely nothing to do with rowen but all to do with zhaohui. her mother knew better or, well, she should have. ❝ sure, luci. ❞ in truth, she didn’t agree because she, herself, needed the drink but mostly because she thought that her cousin did. ❝ it comes to everyone. you just have to be patient and open enough to it. ❞

            𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐈𝐓  of strength she has in her to not reflect the unpleasant feeling that overtakes her interior at the mention of her mother onto her features. ❝ no. ❞ the brunette lets out simply before her eyebrows furrow at the next words spoken. ❝ well you deserve to be. ❞ she sighs softly, hand lifting to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. ❝ all good things take time, right ?? ❞

             𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐘  to further emphasize her words. ❝ things are good, yeah. ❞ though she’s sure that’s mostly because of her blatant refusal to speak to her mother. instead, all event information were given through her advisor or even rowen himself. ❝ i’m glad you’re happy, luci. ❞ the polish princess admits, smile adding to her genuine words.

               𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐏 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎  her hoodie’s pocket, slim fingers intertwining slightly as steady steps echo through the empty hall. hues finding the glass door and she’s eager to push it open, palms pressing onto the glass. gaze instinctively finds the dancing flames of the bonfire as a hand lifts to tug at the beanie on her head. the focus on the flames had minimized her attentiveness, thus the sudden halt of her steps as the familiar frame comes into view. ❝ hey. ❞ she calls out softly, impulsively deciding against turning away.

              𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑  a moment longer, giving herself time to register her cousin’s features. slowly, her tight lip smile would soften and a tender much more genuine smile would take its place. ❝ good ! i’ve been... really busy. ❞ she admits, thoroughly avoiding specification. ❝ but how have you been ?? ❞

               𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐍  that a strain would find her once healthy and close relationship with her beloved cousin as soon as she informed her of their updated situation. the previous knowledge, however, would do nothing to prepare her for the actual wedge between them. hazel gaze finds the familiar light hues of luciana as soon as their paths cross, a smile struggling to grace her lips - but it finally does. ❝ luci, hi. ❞