Free Web NovelChapter 6: Chapter 6
The girls were assigned different rooms on separate wings of the palace, but had asked to share rooms, just like they did in Epirus. Astrid and Hera shared a room this time around.
"I saw the way you looked at him," Astrid teased. "I don’t think you listened to anything else he said to you after he kissed your hand, sister."
"That’s not true!" she retorted shyly.
"Well, you were obviously blushing. I’m not blind, you know."
"Shut up, Astrid," Hera groaned.
"Look who’s all grown up," Astrid remarked, her smile coy. " I never thought I’d see the day my little sister falls in love. Oh... She marries a prince as well, " she announced to the room dramatically.
"For heaven’s sake."
Astrid chortled with delight as she fell onto the large bed, her hands and legs sprawled wide across its frame.
She’d was thrilled that things seemed to slowly fall in place. She didn’t need to worry that her sister might loathe the kingdom and live her life in misery, plus the prince seemed charming enough. If things went as she’d hoped, she would leave here the sister of a queen and return to face her parents.
The sudden memory of them dried up her joy, and she sat up.
"What do you think of the city?" Astrid asked.
"Is that even a question?" Hera said incredulously.
"Truly, sister, what do you think of the city? Do you think you could be capable enough to rule this behemoth land? You’ve seen the people, you’ve seen the place, you’ve seen your prince. Are you really ready to shoulder all of this?"
Hera went silent, contemplating the thought. "I don’t think anyone is ever fully ready to rule..." She went to sit beside Astrid on the bed. "Or to live, in fact, in this world of ours. The only things we can fully control are our ability to never stop going. To stand up again and again in the face of adversity. And only then can we have the confidence to strive harder."
Astrid smiled. "My little sister isn’t so little after all."
"I still have a lot to learn, dear sister," Hera said, smiling back at her. "And I think you’re just the right person to teach me all I need to know."
"Oh come on now." Astrid stood as she walked away from the bed, smiling to herself, her hands behind her back. " I’m but only a ruffian from the wild. What would I know? What could I possibly teach a princess?"
Hera chuckled. "I did not know you were this coy sister. Do your other sisters know this about you? How you are so very full of mischief?"
Astrid pressed one hand to her chest and the back of her other palm to her temple. "You wound me, sister."
Hera shook her head as she laughed.
A knock on the door interrupted them. They shot glances at each other and looked back at the door. The knock came again, this time, much more loudly.
Astrid opened the door.
"The prince summons you to join him for dinner, mistress," the servant girl announced.
"Just us?" She asked, sceptical.
"No, mistress, the other ladies will dine with the prince as well."
"Ohh... Then we shall be there." She said and reached for the handle to close the door. "Wait! We do not know the way. Could you please wait so you may lead us?"
"Of course, mistress."
"Just a moment," Astrid promised, shutting the door behind her. "We need to hurry. We’re going to see that prince yours, and apparently, your competition. "
Hera’s eyes widened at the thought.
They dug through their trunks; clothes and jewellery were thrown to the ground, scattered all over until they finally decided on what to wear.
Hera settled for a bright red gown, accented with gold flowered petals across the bodice and skirt. Two long slits ran from her thigh to her foot and the neck deepened to reveal hints of her cleavage. She adorned herself with a few gold pieces, one to her thigh and the others to her neck and hair, which she packed loosely. freewebnoveℓ.com
Astrid, on the other hand, went the inconspicuous route, wanting all the attention on her sister. She wore a loosely fitted plain white dress and little jewelry to match.
"Heavens forbid!" Hera gasped. "What do you think you’re wearing?" She asked, flabbergasted.
"It’s fine, sister," Astrid assured her. "I want all the attention on you tonight. I am quite ok."
"Of course, you do not look ok." She hissed. "You might as well take all the attention away from all of us for looking too plain. I demand that you change sister. You do not need to dim yourself for me."
"But..."
"No! I will not hear another word. Change into something more fitting," Hera interjected. "Please."
Astrid sighed.
After a few minutes of searching through her truck, she finally pulls out a dress with a blue base and white layered underneath. It clung to her tightly with slits running from her hips downwards and a small drape of blue material covering one side and pinned to the other. She wore gold accents all over: a leaf-like crown on her head, and a similar belt around her waist. Arms cuffs, bracelets, and rings. All combined to make her look goddess-like.
"Wow," Hera delightedly gasped. " Men would kill for you. "
Astrid chuckled. "Well, let’s leave already." She took her hand, and they walked arm in arm together.
They walked down the stairs toward the east wing of the palace until they finally came upon a large door that was slightly ajar, with low chattering coming from inside the room.
The sisters held on to each other tightly and then nodded to the servant to open the door.
As soon as they stepped into the room, the chattering slowly died down, and all the heads turned to watch them. A painful silence enveloped the room.
Hera clenched her sister’s hand tightly as they walked over to the only empty seats at the table and sat down.
No one spoke. The other girls shot questioning glances at them, a few already sneering at the prospects of having more competition.
"You decided to grace us with your presence, princesses of Epirus." It was the prince who spoke first. His tone was passive.
Astrid stayed quiet. Hera, on the other hand, fidgeted in her seat.
"Your majesty," Hera began, her tone apologetic, " we’re incredibly sorry for the tardiness. We had..."
"Did you have more family problems you wished to sort out in your room, princess?"
"Of course not," Hera replied, mortified. "We just.... I apologize, your majesty. It won’t happen again."
"You say that now, but you might have more family problems to fix later."
Some of the girls snickered. Enjoying the humiliation. It was one less girl to worry about for them in this fight to win over the prince.
Astrid clenched her teeth, willing herself to be calm. She could not afford to be a nuisance in her sister’s path, but she would be damned if she allowed the ridiculed. "Rest assured, your highness, our family matters will not be a problem." Her tone was cold.
"Oh... "
She gave him an intense glare, daring him to speak.
The prince stared back, and for a while, neither refused to budge. Until he finally smirked and gestured to the servants to serve them. Slowly, the chattering resumed.
"You mustn’t think much of it," whispered the girl who sat beside Astrid. "That’s how he is. Always the brute."
Astrid shook her head slightly. " I don’t have the energy to overthink the attitude. Besides, what would I be able to do about it if I did take offence?"
The girl smiled. "Good to know, " she remarked. "I’m Ophelia, by the way. From Thepas."
She was pale and full in all the right places. Uniquely beautiful in her own way. Her cheekbones sat high on her face, and her straight nose further complemented her features. Her hair was a straight bundle of luscious black that sat high on her head with a few loose strands moulding her face. She wore a light-yellow dress, which made her look radiant.
"Astrid," she replied. "And my sister, Hera."
Hera nodded at Ophelia, giving her a sweet smile.
"How long have you been here?" Astrid asked, hesitant to stop a budding friendship from forming.
"Three months," she contemplated. "Yes, three months."
Hera’s eyes widened in surprise beside Astrid. "Three months?" She asked in a panic. "What about the other girls?"
"Some of the girls have been here longer," she replied, " like Lilith over there. She’s been here the longest. The one with the strands of white in her hair. Well, her excuse was that she wanted to acclimate herself with the city, but that’s a lie, of course.
The prince has taken a little liking to her, and I suspect they might have even shared a bed, " Ophelia said, whispering the last parts to them. "But then, the prince refused to start the competition until the last of us showed up, which would be you two, I think. I’m not quite sure how many girls there are."
Hera’s shoulders slightly slumped, her eyes laden with sadness.
Ophelia chuckled when she saw Hera’s expression. "With all due respect, Hera, you did not actually think you had a chance with him, did you? I might not know you well enough to say this, but I don’t think you’re strong enough for who or what you’re up against. I’ve known the girls across this table, and they will tear you, hand and limb, if you get anywhere close. "
"It really does not matter whether there were a hundred girls before Hera," Astrid said, taking Hera’s hand in hers. " She has me, and I believe in her. Whatever she wants, I’ll help her achieve it."
"I see... " the girl beside Hera scoffed.
"Agatha," Ophelia whispered to Astrid, "A viper, that one."
"We’ll just have to see what our little princesses are made off, " she drawled.
