Crescent -ateez&skz x reader

Chapter Two - Lady Luck

Chapter warnings: mentions of abusive father, nothing graphic but a slight physical altercation mentioned. Mention of an executioner, nothing graphic.
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Seeing the expression on his face had sent your grip on your emotions into disarray. The way his eyes screamed innocence behind the forefront of curiosity. How soft they were when they should've been hardened by the onslaught of cruelty. There was something about him, something which piqued your curiosity as to who he was, why he was there, what had happened. You continued to mindlessly rearrange the items on top of the table before you. Various jars and baskets forming a startling metaphor for how you were merely completing these actions in an attempt to organise your own mind. You need to step away. The impending sense of fear of the reproductions for your intervention flood your mind and give way to a feeling of slight nausea in your stomach.

Your thoughts are abruptly manifested into reality when he walks through the door, slamming it behind him. You turn to face the man with your head slightly bowed to him, a show of submission. The sound of his boots on the floor increase the your previous feelings tenfold, he stands now mere inches from you.
Your head is harshly pulled up by your roots to face him, if looks could kill, you'd be dead.

Swallowing roughly, you dare to speak.
"Father I'm sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed you. I had no right or reason to intervene, I'm deeply sorry-"

You're cut off by him shoving you backwards by your head. You stand up as straight as you can manage, attempting to slow your racing heartbeat.

"You're right. You had no right in the slightest. Especially brining your mother of all wretched things into the matter, get out of my sight" he finishes with no less of a look of wrath than he came into the room with.

You daren't let the rage you feel show on your features as you nod once, "yes father, I'm sorry, I'll take my leave"

He turns away from you then upon hearing the sounds of soldiers at his workstation at the front of the house. Being a blacksmith in this village is beneficial for the two of you, it's so close to the castle that there is always work available.

You turn away as well, reaching for your satchel with thoughts of foraging in the nearby woods. There's something not quite right though, you feel eyes on you. Somewhat timidly, you look towards and out of the window and are startled to see the man in the stocks staring at you with now sad eyes. Feeling caught, he immediately lowers his gaze.
Not wanting to dwell on the sight you grab your satchel with newfound haste and head out of the door, careful to walk through your fathers workspace without falling too far into his gaze.

~~~

The foraging was therapeutic for you as well as successful, you smiled calmly to yourself as you picked mushrooms and berries- only the safe ones, your mother had taught you well. As you rise from your crouched position the same feeling of being watched travels up your spine, upon carefully surveying your surroundings you put it down to paranoia. The sight of a butterfly fluttering past your eyeline startles you to an embarrassing degree. It settles on one of the tree branches, opening and closing it's wings softly. It's a beautiful creature, it's wings a deep blue hue which seem to almost shimmer in the dappled sunlight breaking through the leaves. The tension leaves your shoulders and a sense of unfamiliar safety washes over you as you observe the butterfly, before it flies away into the woods once more.
You come across some beautiful wild flowers and decide to pick some, creating a beautiful small bouquet. A perfect excuse to go into the castle and see your lady, your day of rest would be anything but that if you remained in the same vicinity as your father.

Working in the castle as a handmaiden for Lady Alencia was nothing but sheer luck for you, she is only a year older than you, kind and never asking too much of your position. The long hours served as a pleasing escape.
Silently running through what you would say to her when she would inevitably ask about reason for seeing her on your day off, you head back towards the village.