“Welcome back, Nellatina.”
The Duke of Lengol, sat at the head of the table, staring over at the young woman standing before him with a critical eye. “I’m glad they were able to make you more presentable, the state of your clothes when we found you…” He trailed off, shuddering, apparently so disgusted by the thought of the dirt she had been covered in when she was “rescued” that he couldn’t continue.
“Thank you, Father.” Nel’s voice was quiet, hoarse, the unfamiliar words of a language that was no longer natural to her, difficult to force out.
“It’s been twelve years.” The Duke hesitated, seeming awkward. “A lot of things have changed since you were kidnapped when you were four. We need to talk…”
“FATHER!” An excited voice called out, and a young petite woman dressed in pink and lace ran up, giving the Duke a hug before taking a seat at his right hand. A seat, Nel noted, that was meant for the Duke’s oldest child, his heir.
Her seat.
Nel couldn’t help but compare the plain brown dress she had been forced into to the complicated gown of the other girl, raising an brow. The difference was vast. Nel was dressed more like a servant than a Duke’s daughter, but this girl… It seems much HAS changed since I’ve been gone.
“Layna.” Her father’s voice directed at the new arrival was softer than when he had spoken to her. A familiar affection colored his tone, and he seemed to have no thoughts about the seating arrangements, at least until he glanced up at Nel once more. His expression became uncomfortable, annoyed. The young woman seemed to notice this, and followed his gaze over to Nel, her eyes curious.
“Father, is this my sister?”
“Yes, your sister Nellatina has been rescued from an Orc encampment in the West Mountains.”
“Orcs?!!” Layna’s eyes widened with terror. “Don’t they… eat humans? Or even worse… with women…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked down quickly, but not before Nel caught a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes as her father’s face grew even more angry at her words.
“I was treated as one of their own.” Nel spoke up once more, forcing back her rage at the unspoken accusation against her adopted family. “Orcs do not eat humans. As for other rumors regarding captive women… they do not find humans attractive. They are too small and weak to court or procreate with.”
“NELLATINA!” The Duke slammed his fist down onto the table, the thud echoing intimidatingly throughout the large dining room. “Mind your tongue, girl. I will not have you speaking such vulgarities in polite society.”
Nel raised an eyebrow at this, feeling amused at his rage rather than scared. “So should I speak around it and insinuate vulgarities instead?” She desperately wanted to call her weapon forward, smashing the table in front of her. Wouldn’t that be so much more satisfying then all this weak speech? Humans are so insufferable. Fighting her instincts, she instead turned to the young woman sitting next to her father with a polite smile. “How old are you?”
“Don’t be rude…”
Nel ignored her father’s reprimand and stepped closer to the girl he had called “Layna” repeating the question. “How. Old. Are. You?”
“Sixteen. Sister, why are you asking like this?” Layna slumped in her chair, looking frightened. “You’re scaring me.”
Nel turned to the Duke. “Is she your bastard?”
“HOW DARE YOU?”
“Given my understanding of biology, not to mention my dear mother’s passing while giving birth to me, there is no way that you could remarry and have a legitimate child since the time that I was kidnapped at the age of four and have her be the same age as me.” She shrugged. “So is she your bastard? It’s a reasonable question.”
“…”
Her father and Layna stared at her in shock. Finally the Duke spoke up, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. “She was adopted at the age of five, a year after you were kidnapped. Nevertheless, Layna is your sister and you will treat her with respect.”
“It’s okay, Father.” Layna reached out and touched his arm, silent tears falling from her eyes. “It must be hard for my sister to adjust to come back to polite society after so long among beasts. We should be understanding of her… Don’t worry about me…“
”No! I will not have any daughter of mine be treated like this!” He comforted Layna, turning to glare at Nel. “Apologize to your sister!”
“Why?”
“You called her a Bastard!”
“I ASKED if she was YOUR bastard. If anything, that’s an insult to you rather than her.”
SLAM!
The Duke pounded the table with his fist once more, his face red with rage. “RETURN TO YOUR ROOM! AND DON’T COME OUT UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO JOIN CIVILIZED SOCIETY!”
“But father… she hasn’t eaten breakfast!” Layna pulled on his sleeve, tears still in her eyes.
“GOOD! LET HER STARVE! THEN SHE CAN APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR ETIQUETTE!”
Two guards stepped up to either side of Nel, intending to escort her, but she stepped away, smirking. “No need. I’ll walk on my own, thanks.” She glanced over at the two sitting down, one still enraged and the other still crying for sympathy. “The company ruined my appetite anyways.” Ignoring the likely backlash of her words, she walked up the stairs and entered her room, sitting on the bed with a sigh.
It was not her former room when she had been a child. That had been taken over by Layla when she had been adopted apparently. The room she was given now was much smaller, plain, with minimal decorations, obviously meant for a short term visitor rather than the daughter of a Duke.
Which suited Nel just fine.
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