by A. Kingsley
When he took his seat, he left a small space between them. “It would be rude of me if I didn’t let you start this conversation. Express to me your worries,” he said as he placed his hands on top of his knees and gazed out into the impressive garden.
It all came pouring out before she could choose her words wisely. “I am not ready for marriage. I am still young and I am not sure who I am. I would not be a good wife to you. I would be kind, but it would be hard for me to show you unconditional love, if I am still confused about who I am. I have always dreamed of a romantic love story and sadly, this is not one. Though I think … though I know that I can learn to love you, it is not what I envisioned for my future. If I have to live at your palace away from my sister forever, I will lose myself. She knows me more than I know myself.”
He opened up his mouth to reply and she quieted. “I do not want you to be a compliant wife who does not speak her mind. Clare, I want you to feel comfortable around me. If that means you don’t live with me, so be it. Though I know I have a temper, I will try not to project my anger upon you. As for your love story,” he thought over his words, “I will do my best to give you one. They’ve called me a charmer for my looks, but that is the extent of it. We must adapt for one another. I will talk to my father about our living arrangements, but your mother has a say in this too, have you expressed your concerns to her?”
Clare placed her hands on the top of her head, “I haven’t. She has been so busy planning Sage’s party, that I haven’t had the chance to express to her my worries about marrying you. She knows I am nervous, any girl would be, but I have not talked to her.” She was distracted from her thoughts when he stood up and walked towards the balcony door. “Are you leaving?” Her voice was soft, tender and almost hurt. “Though I am scared, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to try.”
“I am not leaving,” he reassured her. His fingers brushed against the plants until he found a blush pink flower that matched the complexion of her cheeks. “I assume the both of us would rather get engaged without our parents prying eyes.”
“Yes I would prefer that,” she said.
He picked one of the flowers and twirled it in between his fingers. His eyes flickered to the clear doors that lead to the balcony where the suns was setting. His mum had once told him that women loved sunsets and flowers.
“Clare, would you mind joining me on the balcony?”
He swung open the doors and let the warmth overtake him. Straightening up his collar, he took one good look at the scenery. Large pine trees crowded the Earth, he could hear the river running in between them. The sun was slowly starting to lower itself down into the Earth, leaving behind hues of orange, yellow and pink light. When he squinted, he could pick out their castle to the left and the Demetrias castle to the right.
“Cassius?”
Upon hearing her voice, he turned around to face her. The light portrayed her well, the sun painting a golden sparkle across her skin. He admired her for a moment, standing there in her white dress and then placed the pink flower behind her ear and dropped to one knee. If he could do it here and they could make the first moment of their new life positive, then perhaps their future wouldn’t be so bad. He fished in his pocket for the ring and pulled out a black box. Popping it open, he revealed a silver band that had vines carved on the side, topped with one bright, yet dainty diamond.
“I know that our life will present us with many challenges. It is not the life you and I have dreamed of, but it is the life that we have been given. Though you may never be queen to this kingdom, one day you will be a queen to mine. I have learned from my parents who I do and don’t want to be. This might be more romantic if you had a choice, but I hope that the way in which it was done, could possibly start the love story that you dream of. It’s the only thing that I can give you. So Clare Pax, marry me?”
Though there were no tears in her eyes, the nerves had left her body and instead there was a pearly white smile spread across her face. “I will marry you.” She held out her hand and let him slip the ring onto her finger. She then helped him up from the floor. “Oh, there is blood on your finger,” she said quietly, her eye’s focusing in on his wound.
He gazed down to the small scratch, his fingers still holding onto hers. “Probably a thorn from the flower bush,” he shrugged. Then her fingers began to glow.
A red flame
‘How dare he?’ Though she knew not to let what the king had said strike her, she was offended that he had the nerve to put her down in front of her family members. She began to run, not caring who she bumped into on her way up the three flights of stairs to her bedroom.
Prince Julius was awkwardly standing by the doors to her bedroom, gazing up at the skylights in the ceiling. Esmeralda had refused to let him in without Sage’s verbal permission.
The woman was polishing the door to Sage’s bedroom, when the princess stormed into the hallway. She stood from what she was doing and swung open the door to let her inside.
Julius thanked her with a bow of his head and stepped in after Sage, who murmured a grumpy thank you underneath her breath. The door slammed shut behind them.
Julius tilted his head, his eyes soft and filled with concern. “What’s the matter? Did those bastards upset you?” He didn’t like to use their names when he didn’t have to, at least not anymore, it filled him with disgust.
“That sick wanker thought that he could mumble that I would never make a good queen, in front of my mum. I don’t think he is wrong, but how dare he go around spreading such information. I will be the one to make or break that statement, I don’t need his help.”
Julius knew that touching her was never a good idea when she was angry, so he took a seat on the cotton white sofa in the back of her large room. “You know, Maximus did not think that he would make a great king either. None of us were expecting our mum and our father to die, but you can’t prevent death, that’s why they call it a tragedy. As the eldest twin, Maximus took the throne, he was so scared, both of us were. How were we going to run a kingdom? But look at him now. Maybe you don’t agree, but I think he’s done a fantastic job this past year. You know, I trust red heads,” he teased. “I believe that the two red flames of Pax et Lux will do a great job leading this kingdom.”
“You’re wrong. One will and her name is Clare.”
“Oh don’t be so hard on yourself,” he said.
Sage let her guard down, her shoulders slumped and her face untwisted. She crossed the room and sat herself down next to him. “I don’t want to think about being queen anyways. I would like to think that my mother has many more years on her throne,” she changed positions and rested her arms against her chest.
“I hope she does too,” Julius said as he cleared his throat. Sage’s rule would mean Gracielle’s death or her stepping down. She was not old enough to pass of natural causes, she was too kind to be assassinated and in Sage’s mind, she was too good to abandon her position. Sensing a heaviness in the room, the subject quickly changed.
“Well, your sister has been thrown into the world of an arranged engagement just like we have. Have you told her that miracles can happen?” He gestured between them and Sage jabbed him in the shoulder with her elbow, a smile spreading across her lips.
“No idiot. Our story is not hers. The two of us have been eyeing one another for years. You just so happen to be awkward and charming at the same time. You are great at leaving me alone when I need my space and you respect that I tend to be the dominant one in the relationship. You know we would have ended up together without my mother proposing the engagement and Maximus only agreed to her proposition because you told him it was okay. He would fight demons and Goddesses to ensure that you are happy.”
“You are right. He would have never agreed if I wasn’t happy with you, but I am. I just don’t think it's right that your sister is going to have to marry into that wicked family. Clare has always been so nice, they are going to ruin her Sage.”
“She’s
strong, she will hold her own.”
“They are so manipulative.”
“She is strong and she won’t be manipulated, Julius. Why don’t we just wish her the best and move on. Tonight's going to weigh heavily on her. Tonight everything changes.”
“Do you think your mother will wed us all on the same day?” Julius asked.
Sage snorted, “No. We will be the first, don’t worry your little heart.”
“Will we? Because if Clare doesn’t marry Cassius soon, the Antias family might start a war.”
“She’s only eighteen and doesn’t even know him, if mother marries her, I might have to kill her.” Sage said hotly.
“Well let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Did you want me to propose to you since we are engaged now?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Well alright then, just wear the band that matches mine.”
The door swung open to reveal Italus. Sage must have missed him when he stepped out of the carriage. A little boy, once an orphan, taken in by the Demetrias’s out of compassion when he openly declared love for Maximus during his coronation. He was fairly short and frail for his age, but had put on weight after staying in the castle for a year. He was only eight years old, but sweeter than any kid that she had ever met.
“Did I miss him step out of the carriage and how did he open that heavy door? Did you not teach this young man how to knock?” Sage questioned.
Julius laughed as he glanced at the boy who was running into the room. Esmeralda stared sheepishly at Sage, peeking her head around the door. “I suppose he came in a separate carriage with some of the staff. He came to tell you—“
“I came to tell you that dinner is being served, Princess Sage!” He was bouncing up and down on his heels as he extended a hand to her. She took his tiny hand in hers and stood up. Julius took his other hand. “I appreciate that bud, but next time let’s knock.”
As they made their way out of the room, Sage slowed their pace to engage Esmeralda. “You should come have dinner with us. Some of the other staff from Maximus’s kingdom have come to enjoy the meal, you should introduce yourself.”
The maid seemed hesitant. Sage, who still had a free hand, dragged her along with them, but they both knew upon reaching the stairs that they could not make their arrival like this. She let go of Esmeralda’s hand and let the woman trail behind the three of them. They took the stairs slowly, careful not to let Italus trip on their way down. The staircase led them straight to the grand hall which was home to two large marble tables, stretching just under fifty feet. Chairs that were white and olive green in color lined each side of the tables. In front of each chair, on the table, was a plate, a napkin and a set of silverware. In the middle of the two long tables was an array of food. Duck, mash, vegetables, berries and tarts for dessert, all fresh from the kitchens.
The room quieted when Sage entered. Her eyes met those of her frightened sister’s. She’d have to ask her what had happened later. She then caught her mother’s glance, she was gazing at her from the head of the first table. Next to her mum there were two open seats, one for Sage and one for Julius. Italus was next to Maximus a few seats down. Over a hundred guests were standing up around the tables, admiring her dress and her beauty. It was so quiet that Sage thought that they could hear her swallow.
Her mother broke the silence and spoke, “Tonight we celebrate my daughter Sage’s birthday. Everyone raise a glass.”
As Sage walked down the aisle adorned with an emerald silk carpet, her eyes kept flickering to the glasses frozen in the air. When she finally reached the seat to the right of her mother, the glasses clinked and with a wave of her mother’s hand, everyone sat down.
“Let the feast begin!”
Celebratory murmurs and cheers filled the air as guests began to talk and fill their plates with all of the food that they desired.
Sage did not have to speak, Julius acted. He grabbed Sage’s plate and filled it with a large sized helping of all of her favorite foods. He poured apple cider instead of champagne in her glass and then set the cloth napkin on her lap.
“Such a sweetheart,” Gracielle commented as she watched Julius pour red wine in his own glass. It wasn’t that Sage couldn’t drink, she just didn’t like the taste. Julius gave the queen a crooked smile, unsure of how to react and then filled his own plate. Sage had a feeling this dinner was going to get interesting, so she figured she would start the fun now. Cutting into the slice of duck on her plate, she plopped a piece into her mouth. After she finished chewing, she looked to her sister.
“So there is a ring on your finger, care to tell the world why?” The front of the table that had been filled with royals gazed her way.
“Oh, Cassius proposed. We are engaged,” her voice was light and shy. While Cassius looked proud, puffing out his chest and locking eyes with his father, Clare looked timid. “He’s quite the romantic,” she lied.
Sage caught Julius’s questioning eyes and kicked him underneath the table so he would not comment on the matter.
King Maximus who had not received the kick underneath the table and was poor in the skill of keeping his mouth shut, began to speak. “Well I am sure he is romantic. His mother and father romantically killed my family.”
Gracielle’s eyes widened, her mouth open in horror. Of course they all knew what had happened, but nobody had ever been vocal about it before. Before the Antias family could comment, she interrupted. “Enough. I am sure Clare is right. I am glad it was romantic for you darling.”
Sage laughed as she swallowed down a piece of her duck.
“What’s so funny?” King Erebus questioned.
“Nothing. Worry about yourself old man,” Sage spat.
If it wasn’t Sage’s birthday, Gracielle would have exploded on the girl. Instead, she gave her a piercing look and quickly changed the subject. For the rest of the evening they talked about the life of their two kingdoms and about how Sage and Julius were also newly engaged. Once the dessert was cleaned off of their plates, Sage watched as Cassius hurriedly pulled Clare off to the side. Her brows furrowed as she watched the two hurriedly disappear. Sage hated ballroom dancing, yet she would participate in just one dance since it was her special day, but Clare loved to dance, ‘so why was she leaving?’
Sage was about to go follow after them because she was concerned for her sister's safety. Though Cassius appeared to be a good man, he was an Antias at heart and at dinner her sister seemed rather uncomfortable with him. ‘If she claimed his proposal was so romantic then what happened?’ Just as she started down the hallway, Julius grabbed her hand and gently tugged to get her attention. Her emerald eyes flickered to his soft blue ones.
“I know you don’t like to dance and you know that I miss a few steps every single time, but we must participate, everyone’s watching us, everyone’s watching you.”
He was right. Though she could travel by horse to meet up with him any day, they hardly danced unless they were obligated to and though they knew their love was real, some at this party thought it was just for the politics, so she had to prove them wrong.. She placed her hands in his and positioned the two of them to dance. With one arm around her waist and one around her shoulder, he nodded at her and like always, she took the lead. Whirling them around the ballroom, she was softly counting the steps to him, catching him when he stumbled. She had always remembered him to be clumsy, but recently it had become worse than ever. Clare had suggested it was because he was overwhelmed with helping Maximus succeed in his new position. Sage, just thought it was Julius being Julius.
As they danced, Sage caught the eye of King Maximus, swirling around the ballroom with another gentleman. It was no surprise to anyone that he was only romantically involved with men, but what interested Sage was who he was dancing with. Every time she saw him, he was flirting with someone new. He hadn’t found anyone who could satisfy him and Sage thought that he never would. But she was wrong, he had a man in the shadows. He was already nineteen and in hi
s kingdom, citizens got married as young as seventeen.
Julius told her not to fret, “Maximus just prefers to be single, you know, he goes around,” Julius said, leaving out a few details. As he broke his concentration, he stepped on her foot and whimpered a sorry. Sage playfully rolled her eyes, at this point she couldn’t truly be mad at him for his clumsiness.
When the musicians switched their song, Sage pretended to keep dancing as she twirled Julius out of the room. “Are you sure that was enough to satisfy the guests?”
Though Julius’s eyes were worried, hers were clear. “You know that I don’t really care. If the guests are satisfied. The only reason that I dance is for you. I don’t care what others think, but I know that you do. We can compromise. Dancing is boring and I have more sweets to eat, come on.”
As she made her way down the hallway, she heard shouting from one of the doors. It was Clare. She broke her stride and darted off to the side.
Magic fight
Dinner was a nightmare and Clare couldn’t wait for it to be over. Her hands were fidgeting and she was bouncing her knee up and down underneath the table. Cassius had seen the green glow from her hand and after that, his small cut had been magically healed. She had quickly run out of the room after the incident and he had chased after her, but it had been time for dinner and he stopped his chase in order to avoid drawing attention to himself. Throughout the beginning of dinner she had to hear her sister picking and digging, trying to get someone to snap and of course Sage had succeeded. Maximus with his short temper, had brought up the topic that no one dared to discuss publicly. He spoke of the night of his parents murder. Dinner was awkward from there. Clare had become quiet and Cassius also hardly spoke as he was too ashamed of his father's past to say something remotely positive.
