She sits where she's told, trying not to shift uncomfortably in the big dress she was put into.
Okay, first things first, when is she? She Doesn't know any actual dates from the book, but she definitely hasn't married the prince yet—her room is nice, but not 'in a castle' nice—but is she engaged to him yet? It will be a lot harder to get out of it if they're already engaged.
She winces as 'Tina'—as she learned her maid is called—runs the brush over her scalp with unnecessary force. Her new hair is perfectly straight and seemingly impossible to tangle unlike the wild curls she had before, but apparently it needs a thorough brushing anyway.
"You will be having lunch with your father today."
"Oh?" Amara perks up, a chance to get information mayhaps?
Amara has no clue what her relationship with her 'father' is, but she can't exactly ask Tina about it, guess she's winging it.
"Yes, so do be on your best behaviour. He is a very busy man."
Okay? That doesn't tell her much, she'll just be polite and hope for the best. She stands as Tina steps away, heading to the door.
"I will come and get you for lunch in three hours, make sure your hair and clothes are in as pristine a state as they are now," and she's gone, the door slamming behind her.
Amara sighs, so—no rumpling her uncomfortable dress or fiddling with her hair then, also, probably no going out to the garden to explore like she had planned. Maybe she could find a library? Nobles have libraries, right? One way to find out! She grins as she peeks out into the hallway, no one in sight, it's go time!
She spends the next twenty minutes or so wandering the halls and sneaking glimpses into the silent rooms of the large estate, before she finally finds the library. She grins at the rows and rows of books. She forgot how much she had loved to read. When she was little she'd read history books by the dozen, all the places they lived and how different their lives were. Then she started to read about modern cultures, things she could learn in person, all the places she could actually visit, historic or otherwise!
And now, here is, in a historic, fictional place!
Maybe—maybe she could run away? Explore the world? Her heart jumps at the thought, excitement welling—but no. Not yet at least. She needs money for that. And knowledge of this world, outside of the little she learned from the book.
Well, at least she's in the perfect place to start on the latter.
She spends a few minutes scanning the rows, wanting to return to her room with a book as soon as possible, so she has time to read before Tina comes to get her. Her eyes catch on a few interesting titles, 'Creatures of Ardan Forest' and 'The Beginning of the Teravene Kingdom' both tempting, learning about the history of the Kingdom she now lives in or the forest along one of its borders, but she needs books on things she'll actually encounter. Her eyes pause again on a large dark green book, 'Magic: The Basics' written along its spine, and—well—she probably won't encounter any magic with how rare it was in the novel, but—she needs to know, okay?! Magic! Who can pass up on that!
She quickly snatches the book and begins the short—considering how long she'd been walking to find the damn place—walk back to her room.
She goes to flop down on her bed as she would have before, but pauses, remembering Tina's earlier words. So, with a sigh, she moves to the table, smoothing out the back of her dress and gently sits down.
Time to read!
***
Now she can see why 'magic' was barely brought up in the book.
It's less fantasy, element controlling, healing, all powerful magic from most stories, and more—body strengthening for warriors? And witch stuff, which she loves. Poultices and tarot, small spells and communing with the dead. She's not sure how much of it is real, and how much is a scam, but the people here seem to believe it as if it's a certain fact, or at least, this book makes it seem so. Either way, it's so cool! Maybe she can learn something? She had been interested in tarot, her friend was going to teach her the—
"It's time for lunch," Tina announces, coming in without even a courtesy knock.
She gives Amara a look over as she stands, frowning at the book, then sneering at her dress.
"I thought I told you, pristine condition!" she hisses, flattening out barely there wrinkles in her skirt.
"Sorry," she mutters, trying to sound like she's sincere.
Was her father a neat freak or something?
"This way," Tina huffs, marching off.
Amara follows with a silent sigh. This woman is starting to get on her nerves with all the passive aggressive remarks and looks. She'll deal with it for now, she doesn't plan to stay here long after all.
***
This is so awkward.
Her father, Baron Derean Vanderbilt, a wiry, greying man, sits three seats down from her at the head of the table, and hasn't spoken a single word, even when she had greeted him with a curtsy and a 'hello Father, I hope you've had a pleasant morning?' at the door. Now they sit in silence.
Awkward, awkward silence.
"Amara."
She only just manages to swallow her bite of carrot she almost chokes on.
"Yes, Father?" she tries a smile, sure it comes out as more of a grimace.
"I have found you a suitable husband." Oh no. "Harold Drake, second prince of this great kingdom. Far better a match then I ever expected to find for you," he says, smug and condescending.
What an asshole.
And what does she do now? Does this mean she's engaged? Will she really have to run away with nothing?
"You will be formally engaged next week, you will be smiling and quiet when you meet him."
Wow. Amara really wants to punch him in the face, like, so badly.
"Yes, father."
He leaves without another word.
She's got to find a way out of this.