Character Development

Amelia sneered as she refused to agree with her cousin's theory. "If she really was a powerful entity, she wouldn't have left without showing off. She was nothing but a poor woman shopping in a high-end store trying to befriend someone powerful like us." 

"Engelsons are not the only powerful household in the country," Amaya pointed out. 

"Engelsons and Hawthrones are the most powerful families after the royal family, Amaya. How can you forget it?" Amelia asked, displeased with her cousin?

Amaya didn't say anything. Her beautiful face was devoid of any crease while her heart was undergoing a storm. Her bright blue eyes were looking tired but she refused to give up in her heart. She closed her eyes for a moment and then after a moment she appeared her usual self, proud and unfazed.

Even Amaya didn't feel the need to correct her cousin that the power dynamics of the country had long changed. They might belong to one of the most powerful noble families but they were nothing before the emerging influential families like Vitellos and Palmeros.

 As for noble families, the Wilding household still topped the list. What were Hawthrones and Engelson before them? Even if the Duke was an eight years old boy, the family was still not the one to be stifled with. 

"Let's not spoil our moods," Amaya Engelson said, appeasing her younger cousin. She wouldn't let a stranger affect her mood. "Just pick up the most expensive dress in the store and we can leave for home. I'm tired." 

"How could it be?" Amelia said in an astonished tone. She had to choose the best outfit and jewellery for her cousin's special day. "You are meeting your fiance officially at your twenty-fifth birthday party next month. We must pick the best of the best." 

The birthday party of the firstborn child of the Engelson family was a big deal not just for the family but for the whole noble class. There had been rumours that Amaya Engelson was marrying a commoner. 

"I don't think Mr Facci will mind even if she appears in rags, "Someone said from behind. 

"Sabrina! How are you?" Amelia hugged the lady. 

"I'm good," Sabrina Hawthorne, King Leonardo's ex-fiance said. " I have been hearing some news through the grapevine. Is it true?"

Amaya blushed but didn't say anything. 

"You will find out about the validity of the news at my cousin's birthday party next month," Amelia said proudly. 

"I'm not going to miss it for anything," Sabrina said with excitement bubbling in her eyes. 

…. 

"I'm never coming shopping with you," Calliope said as soon as she settled inside the car. If she didn't have an image to uphold, she would have cried right here. She caressed her smooth arm and recalled the pain of waxing. She shuddered at the thought of going through the same pain again. 

Persephone rolled her eyes and once again touched Calliope's soft dark hair that was looking even more gorgeous after the haircut and hair treatment. 

"You are blessed with extraordinary beauty," Persephone said. "I made it my duty to groom and preserve this beauty until someone capable comes to take this job." 

"I will never forgive you for what you did today," Calliope muttered as she looked in the mirror how she didn't appear as she used to. 

Who was this modern young woman staring back at her in the mirror? 

This woman couldn't be Calliope Wilding. She had dreams and ambition shining in her eyes. 

She touched her face and blinked her eyes, trying to etch her new image in her mind. 

"Why do I feel as if you have undergone major character development?" Persephone couldn't help but question the mesmerized lady. 

"Character development?" Calliope didn't understand what Persephone meant by the term. 

Persephone nodded her head. "You know, writers use the technique of character development while writing fiction. It refers to the changes a character or a person undergoes throughout a story." She paused for a minute and then added, "It happens either at the middle of the story or the end. I may not know if it's the middle of your story or the end. But all I can say is that character development is a very important aspect not only for fiction but for real life too. One person can't be what he/she was a year or two ago. We change. Change is inevitable. We have to adjust with these slow or drastic changes." 

Calliope was left blinking at the bubbly woman who she hadn't thought had such a deep personality. 

"Cali, don't be afraid of changes. I know changes can be scary but you know what is scarier? Letting this fear of the unknown and uncertainty take the reins of your beautiful life."