sheila couldn't deny she loved and appreciated the company of Candice and planning an engagement ball was surprisingly satisfying and fun.
The loneliness that had threatened her sanity was receding all because of the company of Candice.
Candice was getting engaged to the second prince of Lancelot,a kingdom that was far north ,it was also a peace treaty between the two kingdoms that have decided to not engage in wars anylonger.
Now she was no longer focused on the sham called marriage she was into and it felt easier for her to forget she was married and was a queen the lesser she saw the king.
one early evening,a female servant had rushed to Sheila in her Chambers and announced to her that Candice was in danger and she was needed urgently.sheila had to gather the skirts of her gown and rushed behind her servant.
Sheila was perplexed when the female servant took her to the lake located at the west garden of the palace.
she saw Candice standing close to the lake and calmly admiring the view and tranquility.
Sheila rushed to her,using her eyes to inspect for any wounds or disorder on Candice's body but was surprised to find none,she was perfectly fine.
"what happened".Sheila asked gasping for breath due to the little marathon she had ran to get to Candice.
"Nothing happened...just a prank".Candice coughed,trying to conceal her laughter but she failed and started howling in laughter.
Sheila was shocked at Candice's childishness and scowled at her.Her eye's trailed to the lake and a sinistrous plan formulated in her head .
"oh really.." she smiled and Candice frowned in suspicious.
"why are you smil_"before she could complete her question,Sheila pushed her torwards the lake,Candice yelped as she fell into the laughter with a splashing sound.
Sheila laughed at Candice at the way she scowled at her with her hair looking wet and nolonger styled,while she was shaking with laughter,she couldn't see when Candice swam closer to where she was standing and pulled her foot which send her splashing into the water.
Sheila sputtered and shrieked as the water was icy cold,Candice laughed at her and the two began to pour each other,laughing and playing .
unknown to them,the king was standing few distances away from them and gazing at them with a wistful look in his eyes.
she reminded him so much of Theia and it hurts so much,they were lookalike twins and whenever he looked at her he'd always see Theia.He would never rest until he uncovers the truth about Theia's untimely death and put Sheila where she belongs and that was death in the gallows. ..
* * * * * *
Sheila was dressed in a pink ruffled gown,she looked outside the setting sun with it's yellow Rays,her thoughts drifted to Theia,that tragic night.if only she hadn't insisted in riding into the woods with Theia in that stormy night.
Theia had insisted in not going but Sheila had succeeded in persuading her.
A knock at the door broke through her thoughts and a female servant walked in.
"your grace,The king wishes for your presence at the dinning hall". Sheila winced involuntarily.she wondered by the king needed to see her and the thought of seeing the king left her with an uneasy feeling.
she stood up and made way for the dinning hall.
on reaching the dinning hall,she felt more awkward,seeing another man sitted beside the king and Candice sitting at his other side.
She saw the two chairs beside the king were occupied,seeing this she satdown beside Candice.
meals were arranged at the large dinning table and they started to eat.
After eating and the servants cleared the table.sheila wished she could just vanish and appear in her room,she was about to excuse herself when the king said."Sheila this is my brother Elias Abrahamson,he wasn't around during our wedding and Elias this Queen Sheila".
Sheila scoffed inwardly at the nonchalant manner the king introduced her.
Elias smiled warmly at Sheila and she found herself blushing.Elias was the much gentle version of the king despite their uncanny resemblance.But unlike Elias,the king harbored silvery greyish eyes that looked too captivating to stare at.
Aldrich scowled at the way Sheila was blushing at his younger brother and they were conversing like long term friends.Candice smiled in amusement as she noticed the way her brother was scowling at his wife.
* * *
when Sheila had retired to her chamber and dressed into his white transparent night dress,the door flung open and the king stomped in angrily.
He grabbed her arm in a tight painful ,she gasped in shock as he pressed her to the wall,crowding her.
"Despise you being my queen in name only means nothing,you belong to me Sheila,and I won't take it lightly seeing you affectionate with a man ,even if that man is my brother".He growled at her.
Sheila scowled at him.she was tired of everything,the marriage,the way the king treated her,the burdens,the guilts and she pushed the king buy due to his hefty size,her gesture did nothing.
"you were never my husband!I'm tired of everything!Do you know the guilt I had to live with!the temptations that death offered?so don't talk to me like you mean anything to me!.you don't know me! and you never will!".
Hearing her words,Aldrich slowly let of her and turned his back at her,trying to keep his emotions at Bay.