[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: heartbroken

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The news that Euphemia had been expecting finally reached her. Only, instead of a pregnancy announcement, it was an announcement of engagement. Somehow, the maiden found it in herself to be happy for Dalmatia. Truly and genuinely happy. She sat there, grinning, for once unable to heed the call of jealousy. It whispered in her ear, gently threatening to ruin such a fortuitous moment, but the love she felt for her most darling of sisters kept it at bay.

Huzzah!

In fact, she did have a passing thought for the man Alaric, but alas, he was not here. Sometimes, she wondered if the man had only been a passing dream. Still, she managed to find happiness in the ones who were. Euphemia turned to look at the others who had gathered around the happy couple, eyes moving amongst the moving bodies and congratulatory words.

The maiden stood, wagging her tail, waiting for someone to approach her in conversation or visa versa. She noticed the tide of attention begin to ripple in another direction, at first in an almost imperceptible manner – the casting of glances askew, twitching of ears, then the turning of heads, and suddenly –

The soulful exclamations that burst from her siblings confirmed what she doubted was truly before her own eyes. Euphemia stumbled forward, unearthing new reasons to not trust this spectral force. It looked like mother, but it did not speak. It smelled of nothing. Tiberii ran straight through her, as if she was made of air. Her siblings cried. Euphemia’s ears pressed back, almost melding into the back of her skull.

Her vision swam, and when she tried to step forward, it felt as if her body moved to the side. She did her best to approach, to suss this out for herself. It was very like this world to allow ghosts to walk, and mother herself had always said that the veil was thin during this particular turn of the year. At the same time, but she did not want to believe it;

because, was this truly a gift, if it was only going to take her mother away again?

Her head throbbed suddenly, and her eyes rushed with tears laced with confusion and overwhelm. She could not speak, and instead focused on steadying herself. Paws on earth. Head on neck on shoulders.

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