The Beautiful Cage
Chapter 1: A Child in the Cage
Aurora sat by the window, swinging her feet slightly as she stared outside, humming a soft tune to herself.
The sky looked so big, and the trees seemed to go on forever. She was watching something very keenly. A small kid playing in the far-away garden outside. He was running, his hair fluttering with air. He was laughing happily.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy entered quietly, as she always did, and placed a gown on the bed. "Miss Aurora, it’s time to get ready."
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
"There’s a special event tonight, and your father has returned. He’ll be expecting you downstairs."
Aurora
Aurora turned to Lucy with a bright smile, her eyes wide and innocent. "Father’s home?"
Aurora
"Is he bringing me sweets?" Her voice was light and hopeful, like a child waiting for a treat.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy’s face softened with a trace of sadness. "Not tonight, Miss."
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
"There’s an important event you need to attend. The King’s banquet."
Aurora
Aurora’s smile faded into confusion. "An event? For what?"
Aurora
She twisted a lock of her golden hair absentmindedly. "Will there be cake?"
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy sighed, stepping closer to help Aurora into her dress. "No, Miss Aurora. It’s… something different. You’ll meet people. Important people."
Aurora
Aurora’s brows furrowed, but the worry didn’t last long. She nodded as if it didn’t matter. "Okay. If Father says so."
She obediently stood still while Lucy worked, her mind already drifting to other things.
Aurora
"Why do I have to meet people? Father says the world outside is dangerous."
Mary hesitated for a moment, her hands pausing in Aurora's hair.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
"Maybe… maybe it wouldn’t hurt to meet someone new. Not everyone is dangerous, you know."
Aurora
Aurora blinked up at her, tilting her head. "But Father says everyone outside is bad. I’m supposed to stay here, right?"
Her voice was so trusting, so certain that what she’d been told was the only truth.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Mary bit her lip and gave a small shake of her head. "Yes, Miss."
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
"Just… remember, not everything is as it seems."
She fastened the last ribbon on Aurora’s gown, her fingers lingering as if she wanted to say more.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
"There’s more to life than these walls."
Aurora
Aurora giggled, completely missing the weight in Mary’s tone. "I like these walls! They’re pretty and safe."
Aurora
"And Father says I’m always safe here."
Before Lucy could respond, the door swung open, and Lord Ashford stormed into the room, his face dark with irritation.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Is she ready?" he barked, his eyes scanning the room.
Aurora
Aurora's smile lit up when she saw him. "Father! I’m ready! Look, Lucy made me all pretty."
The Lord’s eyes softened for a brief moment when he looked at her, but then his gaze hardened again as he turned on Lucy.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"What is this?" he snapped, motioning to Aurora’s appearance.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"She’s too… perfect. Fix it. Make her look plain. Hide her beauty."
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy swallowed, her face pale. "But, my Lord, she—"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Just shut up and do as I say!" lord Ashford thundered.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"I don’t want anyone looking at her tonight. Make her look ugly! Make her look like a… dumb."
Aurora
Aurora stood there, blinking in confusion. "Father? Why would you want to make me look silly?"
Aurora
"I want to look nice. Don’t I need to be pretty for the event?"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
The lord crouched down to her level, his voice lowering but still firm. "Aurora, you only need to look pretty for me. Not for anyone else."
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Chapter 1: A Child in the Cage (2)
Aurora
Aurora stood there, blinking in confusion. "Don’t I need to be pretty for the event?"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Aurora, you only need to look pretty for me, not for anyone else."
Lord Ashford's words were blunt and direct but Aurora was too innocent to understand the twisted meaning behind them.
Lord Ashford was well aware of this because he was the only one who moulded her in this way and raised her in a way that she would only obey his command and follow his instructions.
Aurora
"Why, father?" she asked innocently
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Because you are mine, Aurora. You belong to me."
Aurora
"Um, Okay," She couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Tell me, who do you belong to?" he asked, his dark eyes staring at her.
Aurora
"Aurora belongs to father." She obediently repeated what was taught to her.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Good girl, tonight, you must listen to me very carefully."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"You don’t want anyone talking to you, do you?"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Strangers are dangerous. You know that, don’t you?"
Aurora
Aurora nodded slowly, frowning as if trying to understand. "Yes… dangerous. But why—"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Exactly," he interrupted. "So tonight, I want you to act like a little girl."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t smile. Don’t let anyone come near you."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"If they do, you should let me know immediately. You can shout, alright?"
Aurora
Aurora looked puzzled but nodded obediently. "Okay, Father. I’ll do what you say."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Good girl," he said, standing up and turning to Lucy. "Now, do what you need to. I don’t want anyone to notice her."
Lucy, clearly uncomfortable, began adjusting Aurora’s appearance whereas lord Ashford went out to instruct his servants to get a carriage ready.
She dulled the makeup, mussed the hair just enough, and changed her gown to a plain and old one.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Derek, get the carriage ready." he came out in the hallway where Derek was waiting for him.
Derek
"Sure, my lord" he bowed slightly.
Derek
"But are you sure about taking Lady Aurora to the King's Banquet?" He asked carefully
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Do I have any other options?" irritation was clear in his voice.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"If not for King making it mandatory that all girls between ages 16-20 should attend the banquet, I would never let her step out of this mansion."
Aurora
Aurora looked at herself in the mirror, tilting her head. "I look funny."
Lord Ashford returned by this time and was satisfied with Aurora’s look now.
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"That’s the point," the Duke said firmly. "You need to blend in, Aurora. No one should want to talk to you."
Aurora
"But why?" she asked, turning to him with genuine confusion in her wide eyes. "Why can’t I just be me?"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
The Lord’s expression darkened again. "Because, Aurora, the world isn’t as kind as you think."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"If you stand out, people will try to take you away. You don’t want that, do you?"
Aurora
Aurora’s eyes widened in horror. "No, Father! I don’t want anyone to take me. I’ll do what you say, I promise."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
He softened once again, placing a hand on her shoulder. "That’s my good girl. Just behave, and everything will be fine."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Stay by my side and don’t speak unless I tell you to. Do you understand?"
Aurora
"Yes, Father," she whispered, clinging to his every word.
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy stepped back, pity clear in her eyes as she looked at Aurora. "She’s ready, my Lord."
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
"Good," he said. Then, with a cold glance at the maid, he added, "If she draws any attention tonight, you’ll regret it."
Lucy - Aurora’s maid
Lucy lowered her gaze. "Yes, my Lord."
Aurora
Aurora, oblivious to the tension in the room, smiled sweetly at her father. "Are we going now? Will it be fun?"
Lord Ashford - Aurora’s Stepfather
Lord Ashford smirked, patting her head. "We’ll see, Aurora. Now, remember what I said. Stay quiet. Stay with me. Don’t let anyone near you."
Aurora
"Yes, Father!" Aurora chirped, her excitement bubbling over once again as if nothing serious had been said at all.
With one last look at the maid, lord Ashford turned on his heel and led Aurora out of the room, his grip on her arms firm as if he were leading her not to a royal event but into another cage.
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