I Am Not Interested

"Uh... i-i just found some dirt on the wall, so... I was trying to get it off. Dirt irritates me. "

She chuckled nervously, and Livia, who found her reply a bit weird, slowly nodded her head before walking towards her.

"Well, this invitation is for you." She handed an invitation to her, and Yennfer received it from her.

"What is it for?" She asked as she opened the invite, and a smile formed on Livia's face as she proceeded to explain.

"Well, tomorrow, her highness, princess Daphne, will be meeting her future husband, the crown prince of the Darighton empire, so it's going to be glamorous."

"And oh, his majesty gifted you a fine dress as well. He will probably be introducing you to his in-laws, so you need to look exquisi-"

"I am not going." She scoffed before Livia could finish her words and tore the invite.

"I am not interested." She shook her head, knowing that the princess was definitely not willing.

For some unknown reason, she feels quite sorry for the princess.  She herself knows what it's like to be hurt by one's own parents.

She sighed and walked to the bed, then laid down and shut her eyes.

"My lady, as much as I wouldn't bother if you went or not, you really have to go. You don't really have a choice in this."

"From what I heard, His Majesty will be introducing you to-"

"To boast about how he finally caught Gavaria's deadliest assassin after six years of constant trials. I know! It's even more of a reason why I don't want to go."

She scowled, and Livia pinched between her brows, confused about how to explain it to her.

"My lady, you really don't have a choice here. You and I know that this invitation means nothing but just a way to be polite."

"You know that regardless of the luxury he gave you, he still considers you his prisoner, who he will use in the end, so if you know what's best for you, please don't reject this invitation, so you won't make things worse for yourself."

She explained in the most gentle tone, and Yennefer turned her head to look at her.

"May I ask you something?" She inquired, and Livia nodded her head at her.

"Yes, go ahead, my lady."

"Why do you care for me?" She asked, and immediately sensing the denial about to come from Livia, she quickly shook her head at her. "No, no, don't deny it. I know very well that you do, so tell me why. "

She said, and Livia stared at her for a few moments before slowly shaking her head.

"I have no reason other than, compared to the kind of person you have been described to be, you are not so bad."

"You have a light within you that perhaps only I see, which is why...I just want to maybe give you a chance and not judge you as the others do"

"Maybe you were hurt! Maybe something made you kill so cold-bloodedly, and from what I know, you have never killed a soul that is not a Gavarian, so maybe they did something horrible to you. "

She explained, and completely stunned by her explanation, Yennefer gazed at her, not exactly sure of what to say.

"You are...a very kind person. At least more than my parents ever were."

She said, and before Livia, who was confused by her words, could talk, she turned on her side and pulled the blanket over herself, leaving Livia standing with bewilderment on her face.

A slight breath flew from her nose, and although wanting to ask why she had a bandage on her head, she dismissed the idea and walked out of the chamber, leaving Yennefer, who was cuddled up to herself with a sad expression on her face...

_______

The next day arrived, and in the blink of an eye, the sky turned dark.

Daphne gazed at herself in the mirror as her maids tightened her corset.

A slow smile appeared on her face, and suddenly recalling what Luthiel had said to her, drops of tears welled up in her eyes, and before they could fall, she quickly wiped them.

She took deep breaths to calm herself down, and although noticing that something was wrong with her, the maids decided to mind their business.

"We are done, princess." They said to her, and she nodded at them.

She strolled towards the chair and sat down, then, carefully, they adorned her hair with fine jewelry.

Once they were done with that, they helped her wear her shoes and smiled sweetly at her.

"You look so beautiful, your highness." The maid with red hair complimented her, and Daphne nodded at her without a smile on her face.

She took a long deep breath and, knowing that it was time for her to leave, she tilted her head up a bit and, with her hands gracefully holding onto her dress, she made her way out of the chamber with her escorts following behind her.