Being There When No One Else Was

A sharp, high-pitched ringing sound filled her ears. She had her hands on the left and right side of her head, covering her ears.

She was fortunate no one came to her aid, since she couldn't explain the weird visions and dreams she'd been having. The ringing sound seemed to subside as well, but whether or not it'd happen again was unclear.

What was she supposed to say in the first place? That she saw visions of someone with an identical face to hers, with a man she couldn't remember?

She took a seat on a nearby ottoman chair, taking deep breaths as she composed herself.

'It's a one time thing,' Sophia tried to convince herself.

"This won't happen repeatedly," she mused.

"The chances are unlikely," she reassured herself, eyes shut.

"I've got to distract myself from this," she said determinedly.

"Where's someone when you need them?" She asked.

By instinct, she straightened her dress. It was evening, meaning Julia wasn't asleep yet.

She made her way towards Julia, almost stumbling from the ringing that could still be heard.

She clutched the side of her head.

She had to make it.

She reached Julia's quarters, making sure she seemed and looked fine before knocking and entering Julia's quarters.

"Sophia, I wasn't expecting you," Julia said, delighted her granddaughter decided to pay her a little visit.

Sophia put on a convincing poker face.

Not here. Not now.

She silently hoped the ringing sound would subside until she was done with her and grandmere's chat. She didn't want Julia to be concerned about her. She had far more important things to deal with than her granddaughter's health at the current moment.

"Well, I decided to visit to chat and to be properly informed of what plans we have next," Sophia admitted.

Julia had been seated on her bed, dressed comfortably in flouncy pajamas that were suited to her tastes and a lovely turquoise in color. She'd been reading important documents, but it could wait.

She advised Sophia to sit, which Sophia followed.

Having some kind of dizzy spell in heels was definitely not wise. But she hadn't bothered to change whilst she was busy dealing with what to do with Clarisse's outburst and her current condition.

"So, what brings you here, Sophia dear?" Julia asked, breaking her train of thought.

Sophia pursed her lips.

"I came here to ask, how's everything with Emilia going?" She asked.

It was a double-sided question. On one hand, she was interested as to what her dear old stepmother was up to. On the other hand, she needed to know if there were any events or gatherings planned next for her and the rest of her dysfunctional family.

Julia frowned.

"Emilia's as dimwitted and as power hungry as ever," Julia answered.

Sophia raised her brows.

For a woman like Julia who had foreign dignitaries saved as contacts in her phone for her to freely call at any time she pleased to talk and chat, and official documents of the kingdom in her bedside table, things must've been going decently well for her not to be as annoyed as usual and proceed to smack talk Emilia behind her own back.

Sophia took this as a sign not to ask further.

"And unfortunately, there was no possible way I could uninvite her to tomorrow's soiree," Julia said, visibly upset.

Sophia blinked. There, an event being held tomorrow. A soiree, more specifically.

"What's so important about this particular soiree for Emilia to have to be invited?" Sophia asked.

During the past events Emilia hadn't been invited to except for the luncheon she held herself, it'd been a blast. It was so very unfortunate Emilia had to be invited.

Julia sighed.

She said in a mocking tone, "It's her dear friend, Baroness Margaret's birthday bash."

Sophia shook her head ever so slightly. Emilia's friends were just as horrible as her. What could she expect from a dear friend of Emilia's? The worst.

"And we're required to be at the soiree?" Sophia asked curiously.

Julia nodded, "I've already RSVP'd for you, your brother, and Nicholas."

Sophia automatically assumed Julia hadn't given Nicholas a say in whether or not he wanted to come or not.

"That was before I found out Emilia would be there," she grumbled. She'd always preferred Sophia and Louis' late mother over Emilia. Unlike Emilia, she had decency and a heart.

"Nicholas is coming?" Sophia asked. To think, she thought she'd have a chance to escape the ruse, just this once, only for her to find out Nicholas was coming with.

Julia nodded enthusiastically.

"It's something to look forward to, is it not?" She asked.

"By the looks of it, you and Prince Nicholas seem to be getting along well," she said thoughtfully.

Sophia had no other choice but to agree.

"Yes, me and Nicholas get along so very well," she said through gritted teeth. He was the least of her worries compared to all her current problems.

"I'm ecstatic to see him again at the soiree, despite Emilia's presence, it should be rather fun," she said, clearly distracted with other things.

Julia beamed, delighted at the news.

"That's wonderful, dear," she mused.

Before Julia could ask any other questions that were likely to be prying and extremely personal, and most definitely about what had happened in the dinner dance before she arrived, Sophia decided to leave.

She pretended to realize what time it was.

"Oh, look, it's quite late, grandmere," Sophia said, not needing to pretend to be guilt-ridden. She was.

"It's best I retreat for the night, after the tiring dinner dance and all," Sophia reasoned, subconsciously backing away from the conversation. She was not about to let herself be interrogated. Not in this state of mind of hers.

She approached Julia to embrace her before making her way to the threshold, about to leave.

Right before she was about to leave, she asked, "Oh, and grandmere?"

Julia looked in her direction.

"Happy birthday again grandmere, and, thanks for being there for me when no one else was," Sophia said with a grateful smile before she left.