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Against all her family’s wishes, the last thing Lydia Ophelia Ellis wanted was to become the diamond. To be the girl that the Queen declared most desirable, and likely to marry in that season. It’s not that Lydia was completely against marriage. When it was with the right person, whom she found on her own terms, and married in her own time - but that’s not the kind that her parents were picturing for her. For them it was whoever had the better status, and whoever could get it done the fastest. Therefore, being the diamond would make that job far easier for them - and that’s why Lydia had been dreading this day.
Placed in the middle of the line, Lydia watched around her at the visible anxiety on the other’s faces, with hopes to impress the Queen. On her shoulders there should be the weight of her Majesty’s opinion and her families expectations, instead her heart held a desire that lifted that. The only thing Lydia wanted was to hide that uncontrollable charm she had acquired from her sister, to present herself as indifferent as possible. Though Lydia couldn’t start yet, not when her mother was talking in her ear about how to act in every second of the next few moments. No, she had to start when it was too late to stop her.
When the moment had finally arrived, Lydia took no thought to the steps she took, the expression on her face nor the manner in which she bowed as her mother had told her to. “Your Majesty,” She announced, seemingly compliant - though to anyone watching closely, and there were few, was an undertone of nonchalance. A subtle display of disinterest that no fitting diamond would dare show the Queen.
The frown the Queen had given was almost as missable as Lydia’s attitude. But she didn’t miss it. Lydia had to compress her victory into just the smallest gleam in her eyes, that the Queen didn’t even give herself the chance of catching, as she had already turned to her sister. Even better.
With all the focus Lydia’s mother had demanded she give to this day, Lydia had hardly been able to acknowledge her sister, Aurelia. It was only this moment where she was being addressed by the Queen could Lydia let herself turn to her older sister. Her sister, role model, and influence on the beliefs she held. The beliefs that dictated her actions today. She had hoped Aurelia would understand her presentation today, if no one else did.
Just as they were about to leave, the Queen made it certain that she had picked up on Lydia’s demeanour through her final statement to her. The only loss Lydia felt with that was knowing she could no longer dismiss her parents concerns on her presentation as just ‘overthinking’ on their part - for now they had been verbally acknowledged, removing any ambiguity. But, she knew that had been a risk from the start, and it had been worth taking to see the rejecting look on the Queen’s face, a certainty that she wouldn’t be presented that title.
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Once the presentations commenced, Lydia took this time to finally converse with her sister - and to make a subtle escape from her mother’s inevitable wrath. The pair advanced across the ballroom, stopping with Aurelia when they had found a ‘safe’ space. Though it seemed Aurelia had engaged in the conversation with different intentions, “Whatever possessed your thoughts, sister?” She asked in similar distaste to what the Queen had shown her - however this one held a hint of concern too. “I never aspired to be the ‘coveted gem’ of the season,” Lydia fumbled her words in surprise at where this scolding had come from. Her parents, of course, her brother, maybe, but her sister? “This you must know?”
“You best be careful, as mother won’t take lightly to that,” Aurelia told her with a warning look. Of course Lydia had thought of that, and she knew what was coming. “Why dwell on things out of our control now?” She brushed off, trying to turn the conversation more towards what she had intended. “Why don’t we talk about how much you’ve missed your sister?” Lydia asked her, with hope that she responded agreeingly— “Almost as dearly as I have missed mine?” She continued, with an eagerness she could only shamelessly show to Aurelia.
Aurelia’s features softened, confirming a successful change in conversation tone. “Of course I have, Lydia, in the most unbearable manner,” She told her genuinely, lifting the only weight that had been on Lydia’s shoulders today. When Lydia had been told about Aurelia’s accident, all she wanted was to see her right away, but then she was sent on a retreat. Then even when Aurelia had returned, Lydia’s wishes to see her had been diminished by her parents insistence on Lia getting the rest she still needed. Today had been the first real day Lydia had been able to see her, and the smile on her face didn’t begin to express how she felt about that.
“I ask that you tell me everything I have been absent to witness, Dia,” Aurelia lightheartedly told her, as if a catch-up of the last year could be summarised in a short conversation. Though she had tried to keep her sister up to date through the method of writing letters, it was still difficult to share every detail as she had once been able to.
When Aurelia asked her this question now, all her mind went to was a certain memorable person she had met before Lia left. While it had just been a friendship with Atlas Delaney, over the last few months it had possibly developed into something else. Lydia had gotten to know all about him, how he possessed a spirit almost as free and adventurous as her own, and how he could provide a beacon of light even on her worst days of missing her sister and dealing with her parents. Their status remained mainly unspoken, but Lydia still couldn’t help being slightly hopeful for what the future held.
So with that thought in mind, Lydia turned excitedly to her awaiting sister - “You must tell me what you make of Lord Atlas,” Lydia told Aurelia. While she was certain about her feelings, the most important thing for Lydia was the approval of her sister. She trusted that her sister knew best.
“Lydia,” A third voice entered. She couldn’t escape her mother for too long. Here she was now, interrupting the conversation, ridding her of the excitement she had been displaying before. “While your shameful behaviour is most certainly to be addressed later,” She told her, in the familiar stern voice she always addressed them with. “There is an individual I wish for you to become acquainted with.” Though her wording would always make it sound like an offer, like there was a choice in the matter, Lydia knew better. She had done enough rebelling for one day, and complied with her wishes.
══✿══╡ dance 1 with augustus ╞══✿══
In comparison to some of the questionable and problematic suitors her parents had presented her in the past, Augustus Hatcherman was certainly more a breath of fresh air, Lydia must admit. As much as it pained her to be satisfying her parents by engaging, Lydia didn’t mind passing time with some meaningless conversation with this man. “Lord Augustus, pleasure to meet your acquaintance,” Lydia greeted. “I must apologise for the interruption to your evening caused by my father,” She lightly told him with a genuine smile when her parents were out of sight, addressing their highly orchestrated interaction. While it was no matter to her, Lydia would also take pity on the other person, who wound up in a conversation with someone less interested than most would be.
Regardless, Augustus continued their discussion, letting it direct towards the subject of weather, to which Lydia gave a smile of amusement at how it ended up on that. “I would say so, I think that strolls are certainly enhanced when they are taken amidst the snow. And you?” She responded, before trying to hide the sarcasm in her next remark, “Time does have a way of… moving forward, I must agree,” Lydia told him with a gleam of entertainment in her eyes. His efforts were admirable, and Lydia did appreciate them. “Tell me, what is your favourite time of the day?” She asked him.
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@.Madilfill Augustus Hatcherman
@.benitz786 Aurelia Ellis
@.sunflowerjm Atlas Delaney mentioned