It had been several months since Karlia had set foot in her own home, it was refreshing, a nice change of pace from the bustling halls of Systials Academy of Thaumaturgic Theory, additionally, she would be able to see her father again for the first time since she left. She strode gracefully, and proudly into the vast manor, wasting no time heading to her father's study, as her luggage was dealt with by her handmaid. The man was absorbed in his research, but the sound of her victorian dress shoes clacking on the stone tile floor made him look up to investigate who was disturbing him.
He was an intimidating man based on appearances alone, as he sported a very businessy moustache, and possessed hard features with an intense gaze. He immediately opened his mouth to offer someone a verbal warning, but upon laying eyes upon his daughter, whom he had not seen in almost four months, a smile breached the stern look on his face. "Karlia, my girl! You are back early!" he exclaimed, as he stood up and circled his vast mahogany desk to her side of it, offering a hug that she gladly accepted.
"I know, father, I was able to book an early voyage back, I figured I would surprise you." she explained, hazel eyes twinkling happily.
"You should have told me! I would have had dinner bumped up to today!" he said, before taking lead to take a walk with his little girl.
"Oh, do not worry, I informed the servants, so they are already on it." she assured him, which coaxed a grin onto his face.
"Ah, that is my girl." he responded, elated that she thought ahead for such an occassion.
"Of course, one must always have their game set at least three paces ahead."
"Then you would humour me to play a game of chess?"
"When have I not?"
At that, the headed into the garden, where in a large chess board, awaited them, each piece was approximately the size of an average adult male, and there were two balconies on either end overlooking the playing area. The pieces were all in their starting positions, as the pair ascended to oposite balconies. White was always given to the less experienced player, which was obviously Karlia. After a good few moments, she made a small gesture with her hand, and one of her pawns moved forward, as if propelled by her motion.
The two of them played for a good two hours, before it finally coming to an end, Karlia's handmaid waiting patiently for its conclusion, as they always played best two out of three, and always played all three games. Karlia had lost, but it was an enjoyable game, a relaxing way to start off her break.
"Young mistress, I believe you have some studies to attend to." she said, and Karlia nodded to her in response.
"I have some homework I must complete, I suppose I shall see you again at dinner." she explained, the departed, while her father reset the board.
Upon reaching her bedroom, handmaid in tow, she shut the door, locking it to ensure unwanted interruptions did not waltz in uninvited. Sighing, she turned to her handmaid, "Sylvia, could you do my hair while I work, please?" she requested, offering her servant a shy smile.
With a slight giggle, the maid replied, "Of course, dear." before heading to the closet to collect her supplies, while her mistress settled in to work on her assaignment.
While Karlia droned over texts, notebooks, and a few samples, Sylvia ran an ornate brass comb through her questionably long orange hair, that she usually kept up in a simple high pony tail. She wanted to look somewhat fancy for her special dinner that night, however, to which ends the comb her servant used was able to straighten or curl hair based on the users desire. Karlia like to leave it up to her maid to decide what sort of hairstyle she got, enjoying the surprise of it, while knowning that this was something she was good at, and even enjoyed.
The end product was ringlets, and jeweled hair clips that kept things from falling into her face, while still adding to the look, and complimenting her soft, but powerful features. Karlia adored the things that Sylvia did for her, and honestly wished she could return such favours, but always came up short when it came to such things. When she was done with her project for the evening, Sylvia assisted her in getting into some nicer clothing for dinner, a frilly corset with a floofy skirt, that required her to lift up the front in order to walk without tripping.
Once Sylvia was satisfied with how her mistress looked, the two headed on down to the dining room, only to find it strangely short of her father. For such an occassion there was no way he would show up late, he would have made a point of being exceedingly early so as to be there to greet his daughter. Karlia had a sinking feeling in her stomach, and she pulled up her skirt as much as she could without being indecent, and rushed to her fathers study. She was not prepared for what she found.
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