10 Ashan 711
When the long awaited day finally arrived, it took more than a little coaxing to get her to take breakfast. It was enough to bring her under the scrutiny of both of her parents as well as Ulyna, who exchanged anxious looks while the tutor tried to coerce her into eating.
"Please, Valeria. You need to eat something. You don't want to be concerned about eating when the guests arrive," Ulyna pointed out, nudging the plate of fruit segments closer to the girl, who waved them off vehemently.
"I've told you that I'm not hungry, Ulyna. Besides, I'm sure you're going to offer the Kromes something to eat; I can eat then," she countered, her eyes a mixture of honey and steel as she warred between triumph and irritation at the other woman's persistence.
The other gave a brittle smile, pushing the plate nearer again, appearing ready to raise one of the fruit pieces to her charge's mouth. "Of course, they're going to be offered food after their journey but don't you think it would look strange if you seemed eager to eat when they arrived? They'll think that you're being starved. Now be a good girl and just-"
"Don't treat me like a child!" Valeria snapped, shoving the plate away with such violence that it almost fell off the table into her tutor's lap, Ulyna's hand jerking back in time to stop its topple.
"Ly'oat, don't be childish," her mother interjected, Rakahi Pidgin colouring her speech. "Please don't be like this, Val'bo," the Baroness almost begged from across the table, her eyes a kaleidoscope of colour as the full spectrum seemed to swirl in her irises.
The teenager turned on her mother, her gaze a violent mixture of violet and quicksilver. "I'm not being childish, you're all just being ridiculous!"
"Don't speak to your mother that way," Ulyna hissed, clearly ready to say more on the matter although she was quickly silenced by the imperiously raised hand of the Baroness. Apparently, Valeria had permission to speak.
Taking a deep breath, the blonde straightened her pink dress. "I'm not refusing to eat in the way that I did before. I've explained that I'm beyond that now. Ulyna has watched me. She's watched me eat, she's seen that I haven't made myself throw it up and its been that way for nigh on an arc! I'm too anxious to eat right now, sick with nerves and trying to force me to eat won't do any good. I'm not falling into my old ways and I think it's reasonable to expect you to trust me at this point," she forced herself to explain calmly, exhibiting some self-discipline by not allowing herself to fly off the handle, especially as her eyes clearly showed that she wasn't as calm as she made herself appear.
She stood, smoothing the skirt of her knee-length dress. "May myself and Ulyna now be excused so I can prepare myself for our guests, my Baroness?" she asked formally, eyes flicking to the fruit on the table afterwards. "And mayhaps Ulyna can bring the fruit?"
She watched the Biqaj woman deliberate, exchanging a look with her husband, before she rose gravely and signalled that her daughter could depart. The blonde stepped out of range of the table and the chair she'd just vacated and curtseyed gracefully. "Thank you, my Lady." The Baroness inclined her head in recognition and the young Burhan left with her tutor in tow.
A break later, Ulyna was removing the warm rags from her hair, carefully loosening the freshly made curls and ringlets to cascade over her shoulders. Valeria had managed to nibble away at the fruit without her stomach rebelling although it seemed to be full of butterflies in anticipation of the arrival of the young lady who would be arriving with Baron and Baroness Krome. The elder Kromes were visiting to discuss some trade deal or other, politics that were considered outside the young Lady's purview, but that didn't mean that she couldn't have some political uses of her own. That's where Velaine Krome came in.
The Lady would be visiting with her parents and she too would be excluded by talks of trade. As such, it fell to Valeria to entertain the other young woman, a great responsibility considering that Velaine might prove an important future ally for the heir to the Barony. It meant that there was a certain amount of pressure upon her but she was more excited than anything else. Given how cut off Burhan was from other places, she was always thrilled to have some new company as it added some interest to a landscape that had grown rather monotonous to her, especially over the past few arcs.
A knock on the door signalled the arrival of a maid who curtseyed before she announced that the Kromes were here. It brought a new flurry of energy to the pair as Ulyna listed off a number of etiquette reminders as she checked that the noblewoman was properly presentable before she ushered her downstairs.
"Don't forget to greet them appropriately and remember to curtsey-"
"I know, Ulyna, I know."
"-and show the appropriate amount of respect to your parents unlike you did earlier-"
"Yes, Ulyna, I'm perfectly capable of-"
"-and by the Seven, don't interrupt anyone!"
The teenager stopped, turning to her tutor and laying her hands on her lily-white hands on the other woman's shoulders. She flashed one of her easy smiles.
"Everything will be all right, Ulyna. I know how to play my part, I've done this before," she assured her soothingly, kissing each of her cheeks before releasing her and continuing on to the reception hall alone where she found the rest of her family assembled already in the midst of introductions. Entering the circle, she curtseyed while her mother introduced her and named their guests anew for her benefit, although she'd memorised them long before this visit.
"My Baroness, my Baron, Lady Titania, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. I apologise for keeping you all waiting when I'm sure you'd like to take some rest and refreshment after your journey," she remarked politely, her eyes a brown-tinged, neutral grey.
"My daughter has a point; it's rather rude to keep you standing here in the hall. Your belongings are being brought in as we speak so if you wish to change or freshen up before we discuss business, I can have you shown to your rooms. After that, we can retire to the drawing room for refreshments and consider our trade positions; Valeria can entertain Lady Titania in the front lounge while we're indisposed," her mother explained, smoothly taking her cue from her heir, something that had been suitably rehearsed. All the same, it was pleasant to see the light of approval in Raakel's eyes and it made Valeria feel incredibly proud of herself.
Her brothers were freed from further responsibilities as servants came to lead the nobles away, leaving the remaining Burhans to go to their respective places. Valeria heard her mother ordering food to be brought to them as she made her way to the lounge, taking a seat as she waited for Velaine to be brought to her. She found it difficult to sit still, fidgeting in her seat although as soon as her guest was shown in, she'd stand and curtsey again, the appearance of the perfect lady as she offered her hand for the other girl to shake lightly.
