"What do you think of this pearl necklace, Rhea?" A beautiful young woman was sitting in front of a huge mirror, pressing the pearl necklace to her neck to see if it would suit it.
"My brother said that my beauty resembles a pearl, pure yet hard. So, I think this would really suit me." A wide grin appeared on her face as she recited the words of her older brother, the King.
Her enchanting grey eyes twinkle with mirth at the sight of her reflection in the mirror. She tilted her head to the left, allowing her long and lustrous black hair to flow down her shoulders and covered her breast. The beautiful white gown that she wore was well suited with her skin that was as white as snow and pure as crystal.
With her beauty that was on the top, she might resemble a goddess but there's something not right. It may be her wide grin that made her looked devilish yet intimidating at the same time.
Hearing her words, the maid named Rhea, who was standing beside her bowed. "Even that pearl is nothing compared to your beauty, Princess." She solemnly said with a smile on her face.
"That's what I think too. You know me the best, Rhea." Princess Yara Amiel said as she gave her maid a satisfying look. Her words and action made Rhea chuckled lightly.
"Tonight event is for the celebration of your 18th birthday, Princess. No matter what you wear, you will be the centre of the party. Everyone's attention will be on you." Rhea said to the Princess who was smiling gleefully at her words.
Just as she was about to put on the pearl necklace, she sensed something which she was familiar with. All at once, her gleeful smile disappeared and her face turned darkened.
She gave Rhea a side glance and the well-experienced maid instantly knows what to do and walked out of the room. She sat still for a while before she finally called out a name. "Andrus."
As soon as she muttered the name, one young man with a well-built body appeared from the darkness and enter her room through the balcony. He knelt a few feet away from her. "Your Highness." He greeted the Princess.
"I'm sure that I told you to prevent any problems for tonight." She said callously, her beautiful face was now devoid of any expression.
The man named 'Andrus' didn't utter a single word as he was not given permission to speak and he was not asked a question either. He knelt there with his head lowered and eyes glued to the floor.
"Today is my 18th birthday. My brother had made many preparations just for me. Do you want me to end up disappointing him with my absence?" Princess Yara stated. Her cold eyes softened a bit at the mention of her only brother.
Rising from her seat, she turned around and narrowed her eyes at her right-hand man. "Speak." She commanded.
"Our men had captured Clovis, Your Highness. Now, we only wait for your decision. What do you want to do to him?" Andrus asked, not raising his head for even once. He knows what the Princess would like to do to the captive but he should still ask her. That's the rule.
"Clovis." The Princess whispered. "That traitor. I have been waiting to see him." Her appealing lips curled into a sinister smile.
Retreating to her seat, she finally puts on the pearl necklace. "How do I look, Andrus?" She asked as she gave the man a side glance. Once again, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
Glancing at the Princess for just once, Andrus quickly lowered his head again. "You're always beautiful, Princess."
Princess Yara's smile grew wider at Andrus response. "I think the traitor will serve as a good birthday present for me. Torture him. Make him miserable. Do whatever you want to him but... he should still be alive by the time I got there." Thinking of the party, she made a deliberate pause.
"I don't want to disappoint my brother by letting my body double attending the party in my place. So, I'll be there as soon as the party is wrapped up." She added.
"I understand, Princess." Andrus respectfully replied.
"Leave now."
Andrus stood up and was about to left quickly like he always did but the Princess's voice made him halted.
"Oh! One more thing. Be a bit lenient on him until I came. It would be no fun if he dies too early, right?" The Princess said with a sweet smile.
"Yes, Princess." Andrus bowed and then rushed out of the small balcony, disappearing in the darkness.
As soon as Andrus left, Princess Yara Amiel's face turned blank, unreadable. Traitor. She abhorred people who were given that label. "I will crush anyone who earned this label." She murmured to herself and clenched her fist.
She was too occupied by her thoughts that she didn't even know someone was watching her.
"Yara."
The Princess cautiously turned to the door with high alert. When she saw the young man who was standing at the door, she let down all her guard and a smile escaped her lips. "Brother."
He was King Marlon Amiel, her older brother and the current King of Avaria Kingdom.
Dressed in the King outfit with the symbol of Avaria tailored in his cape and a crown of Avaria on his head; the young King exudes power and authority.
Resembling his late father, he had blonde hair and enchanting ocean blue eyes embedded by his handsome looks. He was once the Prince Charming of every girl in Avaria until he married his current wife a year ago.
King Marlon rushed to his only younger sister's side and hold her hand that was tightly clenched. He smiled and let it loose. "Your fingers dug your palms. Don't hurt yourself." His voice was calm as the ocean.
Yara Amiel kept her silence and only looked at her brother with a little smile. When Rhea walked in with a tiara, the King took it from her and placed it on the crown of his sister's head.
"My sister, it's your birthday. The centre of the party should be the most beautiful and you will surely make it come true." He said. He stood behind Yara and placed both of his hands on Yara's shoulder while the latter glanced at her reflection on the mirror.
"As long as you say it, I have no doubt." The Princess remarked. She glanced up at her brother with an angelic smile. It's her signature smile; that's what the people of Avaria said.
King Marlon chuckled and helped his sister up. "Let's go. There might be a lot of drama waiting to unfold at tonight's party."