“We’re… from the same background?”
Such a phrase made little sense to Eris. What about the two of them could possibly have been similar? Perhaps they both came from noble families, but a Viscount’s family and a Margrave’s were leagues apart in station; Conflating the two things was something that only a commoner would do, much less the neglected seeming Siffia, so Eris didn’t believe at all that this was what she’d meant by that phrase. Though Eris was currently living quietly, she’d grown up a proud alpha, so the thought that a beta like Siffia could be speaking about their genders was also completely out of the question.
The only thing that she could think to explain the phrase away was that Siffia was referring to them being the only daughters in their families, and even then, it didn’t quite seem to fit the situation somehow.
“Yes! You and I, we’re similar!”
Siffia eagerly nodded along with a sparkling gaze, impassionedly placing her hand to her chest as she leaned forwards towards Eris.
“You see, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit as I know I may not look like it, but just like you, I’m an o-”
“Excuse me, My Lady. I’ve returned with the fork, as well as a message.”
The maid, having returned, suddenly knocked at the door, calling out through it to be allowed entry. Eris, used to such interruptions from the staff, didn’t even think twice about calling the maid in. Siffia immediately clammed up when the maid entered the room however, awkwardly pursing her lips as if she were almost caught saying something terrible. Though Eris was curious what it was that Siffia had been about to say, seeing how she’d become completely unwilling with the return of the maid, Eris decided to deal with whatever the maid had to say first; She could always send the maid away afterward and listen to the rest of what Siffia had to say then.
“...The message?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
The maid swiftly put the replacement fork back into its originally intended spot before bowing towards Eris and recounting the message.
“Lord Himmel has requested an audience with you.”
“...Eldest brother? Hah.”
Eris scoffed, her eyes narrowing in disgust towards the maid.
“You already know what my answer will be. It’s almost hilarious that you even asked.”
The maid bowed deeper, her face managing to stay neutral despite Eris’s derisive words and piercing glare.
“I will relay your refusal to him.”
“Good. Off you go, then.”
With one last polite bow, the maid left, once again leaving Eris and Siffia alone in the room.
Feeling a bad taste spreading in her mouth, Eris lazily reached out to wash it away with some tea, noting the way that Siffia was shyly but inquisitively glancing her direction as she did so.
“...What is it?”
“Oh! Um…”
Siffia smiled bashfully, seemingly embarrassed that she’d been so easily caught.
“Ah well, I just… I suppose you don’t get along with your brother either, do you?”
Though Eris’s expression was neutral as her eyes strayed back into her teacup, the way she swished the tea around inside of it was distinctly pensive. Still, in the end she couldn’t help the wry smile that crept onto her face as she replied.
“Hm… If asked, I don’t think I’d phrase it in such a way. Rather, I’d say it’s more my whole family that doesn’t get along with me, at the moment.”
“Oh? ...But how can that be? You’re beautiful, amazing, and you were even a distinctive figure in ending the war-”
“And? Forgive my rudeness, but you were in this ‘distinctive figure’s platoon, and yet your father still only deigned to give you one tacky dress to wear. Such things aren’t enough to fix family issues like these, I’m afraid.”
“...I-I…”
Siffia’s face swiftly crumbled. The way she shut her mouth, grimaced, and looked down into her lap spoke volumes. Eris, though often callous and unempathetic, immediately felt that she might have gone overboard. It was obvious, even to her, that she’d been a bit too prickly in her response.
Perhaps if it were towards anyone else, she’d simply pass over the mistake she’d made. However, as this was Siffia, a current person of interest to her, she could only huff and try to rectify the situation.
“...So, you were saying you don’t get along with your brother either?”
Though Siffia didn’t immediately let go of her saddened countenance as Eris had hoped, the way she raised her head a bit and slowly replied was still quite the win in Eris’s book.
“Well… No, we really don’t. But perhaps it’s as you said; I believe it’s that the entire family disagrees with me, and not just him. Were he not just like our father… then I would have no problem with him at all.”
“I see…”
Eris once more sipped her tea, using the time to deliberate. It was obvious, even to her typically uncaring eyes, that Siffia was looking more and more like a discarded pet. However, this time it wasn’t because of anything that Eris had said, but the topic that was eliciting this response. Of course, it was to be expected; Though Siffia had seemed determined not to let her melancholy show during the time they’d spent together, it was all too apparent that she was being mistreated at home. And from what Eris had just heard, it wasn’t simply Siffia’s father who was to blame.
Were this a typical interaction, Eris would simply make the choice to salvage the conversation, changing it to something else, just as she’d done before causing this dreary discussion. Or perhaps she’d end everything all together, were she to find the person she was talking with to be too dull.
But somehow, for some reason, she found herself wanting to continue the topic.
Siffia, the target of her curiosity, was now in a weakened, vulnerable state, seemingly willing to talk about the deepest, saddest things in her life. When would Eris ever find such an easy opening to satiate her curiosity? Hadn’t she spent all day with Siffia for this exact reason? Wouldn’t she learn much more by following down this new pathway that had opened to her? Perhaps it would upset Siffia to speak about it, but Eris-
Eris stiffened her face, determined not to show her disgust at the selfishness of her own thoughts, even as she smoothly made her way to join Siffia on the opposite couch to pursue them.
“...Would you like to talk about it?”
Siffia glanced her way slowly with a quiet sniff, the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes all too obvious. Though she lowered her head back down soon after, Eris didn’t miss the weary smile that had placed itself onto Siffia’s face.
For some reason, that smile felt a bit too familiar to Eris.
“What’s there to say? I’m sure you must have figured it all out by now, but well… My family, they… They find my subgender 'disagreeable', and have become disappointed in me. Ah, no, perhaps disappointed is much too light of a word for it…”
“Mmm… Yes, I see.”
Eris couldn’t help but nod along in understanding. It was certainly the case that noble families despised their children becoming betas. Such a thing was not seen as something noble, believed to be a subgender belonging to the common folk, and perhaps a sign of the bloodline weakening. Such children were often sold off to wealthy merchants, or if particularly disliked, at worst quietly disowned to save the family’s face.
The fact that Siffia was of an adult age and had yet to be disowned meant that her family must still be looking for a wealthy enough marriage partner for her to suit their tastes. It was a ticking time bomb of sorts, just waiting to go off. Surely she must have been dreading what kind of oaf her already unkind father might send her off to.
And until that day came, she would be forced to continue to suffer under her family’s aggression, just as she must have all these years. It must have been a terribly maddening situation, one that a person would want to desperately escape from through any means necessary.
“...Would this perhaps have any connection to your decision to join the war?”