Chapter 4:
Golden
WHEN VIOLETTE LEARNED OF Rosette’s pregnancy, her first emotion wasn’t jubilation—it was worry. Claudia and Rosette’s marriage was political, but they’d gradually fallen in love over time and were very happy. Claudia wasn’t the sort of man who would make his wife carry out all the child-rearing duties, and Rosette wasn’t the sort of woman who’d sacrifice herself for motherhood.
Violette’s worries weren’t over them but over their child-to-be.
Many people concerned themselves with what sex the child would be. While nobody would be foolish enough to openly complain if the baby were a girl, unbearable vitriol would obviously be uttered behind closed doors.
Even a baby boy wouldn’t mean smooth sailing. Would he be genetically healthy and able-bodied? Would his eyes have a beautiful golden hue? Should his eyes be Rosette’s amethyst purple, the already griping elders would blame the crown princess in righteous vindication. It would be no exaggeration to say that they’d regard her not as a brave woman who’d given birth but as a broodmare whose sole purpose was to carry on Claudia’s genes.
All the fuss over eye color was ridiculous—that was the sane opinion. But in their small, archaic world, such sanity was perceived as mere naivety. Some people were cast aside for their eye color.
“Vio, got a minute?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“It’s our baby gift—I picked out some options, and I want you to look over them.”
“Of course. Sorry you’ve been handling all this.”
“No worries. I do this sort of thing at work all the time.”
Yulan’s kind, smiling eyes were gold—the color valued above all others in this kingdom. It was because of that color that Yulan had been cast aside.
The kingdom was abuzz over Rosette’s pregnancy at present. Working beside Claudia in the public eye, Rosette observed and felt that atmosphere firsthand—unlike Violette, who was safely tucked away. Everyone eagerly awaited the baby’s arrival; every day, Rosette received letters of congratulations, and all her subjects voiced their excitement. It was mostly Mila and Yulan who fielded all that anticipation.
How does this fervor look to Yulan? How does it feel?
“Any chance you know Rosette’s palate?” Yulan asked. “Has the pregnancy changed anything?”
“I’m not sure… I know she isn’t a fan of sweets, but maybe this changed that.”
“Oh yeah… All right, let’s think of something besides food, then. As long as it’s something impermanent, anything ought to do, really.”
“So we’re getting her something impermanent?”
“Yeah. I think she’d prefer that anyway. She’s probably up to her ears in presents right now.”
Yulan’s eyes ran casually over his planner. Violette watched him from the side. He looked no different to her. He spoke of Rosette’s baby just like he would any other casual topic of conversation around bedtime, no particular emotion on his face. He wasn’t interested—that was the best way of putting it.
“Will you be there for the great reveal, Vio? Everyone should be so obsessed with the baby, you’d probably be able to relax.”
“That’s true…”
“I’m sure the crown princess would love to see you in person too.”
He was looking forward to it. Violette could see it in his smile. Where did that feeling come from? She knew he felt not a trace of emotion toward the coming baby. Not joy, anger, jealousy, nor envy. He was indifferent to the newborn who’d be his niece or nephew by blood. Was it really reasonable to feel nothing whatsoever, positive or negative? Was it all right for Violette even to ask that question?
She didn’t know; she’d sat back, passively accepting the happiness that had been brought to her.