07/02/2020- Reclining

Recline.

The picture I drew inspiration from is titled “Odalisque With A Lute” by Hippolyte Berteaux.

As per the usual, thoughts I was entertaining w this. Idk if I would actually use it in the story or not but it’s p cool so yeyeye. Ok SO! There reaches a point when Serkan becomes too much. Previously, he had been struggling with finding out Caitriona’s TRUE goals and personality bc haha we all wear masks here, it’s just that Caitriona knows that an ounce of weakness will result in death. So anywhomst, he finally got some sort of insight as to her goals, and he basically confronted her with the information and was trying to get her to spill the beans. Ofc she was bold-faced lying frfr all thru like a real G, but when he threatened to do to Caitriona what her father did to her right before she was sent to Kurtan, it was no longer just mind games and power struggles. It became REAL, and it reminded her of that traumatic and horrible time many months ago, so in a moment of extreme fight or flight, she kinda loses it and actuallyyyyyy...tries to kill Serkan lmao haha yeah. He does keep this secret because if he were to say it then there would be severe consequences for her, and to some degree him too.

After that, she refused to honor her duties as Crown Princess. Instead she passed them on to Serkan’s mistresses, electing to recline and do nothing as a properly spoiled elite does. She did not even attempt to pretend to be close to Serkan in public appearances, and she would recklessly flirt and chat with other men. Once, she even took part in a dance that was supposed to be for singles (the equivalent of dancing to Single Ladies at prom when you had a date 🤔), sending an absolutely shocking message to society. She was done with being a Crown Princess.

The Court was seized with fervent discussions of dismissing her because of her scandalous behavior, and there was no way to defend her without slighting the Crown Prince because to everyone else it was HIS behavior that pushed her to the edge. Something that Caitriona always says with morbid amusement is that women can be so expendable to the Court. Even if it is the man’s fault, the woman will be punished. Man is without fault, so sacrifice the female counterpart. Who was to know she really was vibing w that sentiment frfr?

But Serkan—to literally everyone‘s surprise— told it as it was. He said that it was due to his recklessness that this happened. And he would find a way to make it right. He would apologise.

(There are suuuuper important parts in this bit that would help you understand Caitriona’s behavior but that would mean me spoiling some important story points and I’m not about to do that :p)