She is water.
Powerful enough to drown you,
Soft enough to cleanse you,
Deep enough to save you.
—Adrian Michael
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The main city of Xandria was a beauty to behold. The houses were built differently than in Gleana and the markets were fascinating to look at. However, that was all her imagination of how they would look like when the Sun rises.
Presently as the carriage drove through them, the shops were all closed down and people who lived near the castle were seen traveling by foot up the hill. The people soon vanished behind the trees as the carriage started moving upwards and Eva's back hit the soft cushion of her seat.
"Isn't it all so majestic?" asked Mrs. Blythe to her daughters.
"It is so glorious, Mama. Imagine me being the mistress of it all," said Vanessa, her mouth open in shock and wonder at the beauty of the Kingdom.
Mrs. Blythe only smiled as she was aware that there was always a possibility. Her daughter had as much chance as the rest of the women did and she was sure that she would attract numerous people's attention.
Eva had only hummed before she fell into a silent reverie once again. Her thoughts were not on the glories of the place but on the top of the hill.
Would her fears come true, she asked herself and she hoped not. Her suspicion was rising with each passing moment as her heart thudded loudly inside her chest.
As her chest rose, her mother's eyes fell on it and she cried, "Eva, why haven't you worn anything around your neck? You should have at least worn the necklace that your father gifted you, it must be gathering dust sitting in a drawer."
It was not gathering dust. But Eva did not speak her thoughts aloud like always. The necklace that her father had gifted her was more precious to her than anything. She had feared that it would get lost during the ball and had not worn it. It hung on top of the small mirror she had in her room and because of it, she was always reminded of her father after his demise. She missed him immensely and no matter how loving her mother was, the loss of her father had been a huge blow to her which she still hadn't gotten over.
Taking a deep breath, she answered, "I forgot about it Mama. I am sorry if it displeased you. If any other occasion arrives, I will make sure to wear it next time." she apologized not knowing what else to do.
Mrs. Blythe shook her head, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "How could I be upset with you for such a small thing?" she said in a motherly tone. "I want both of you to enjoy yourselves tonight equally. It would sadden me if you received less attention compared to your elder sister."
Vanessa opened her mouth but Eva who had not seen her sister start to speak, hurriedly wanted to console her mother, "Mama, it is best if I attract less attention and I don't mind if nobody asks me to dance." she knew the origin of her mother's fears and understood how to comfort her. "Ven is beautiful and more gorgeous than me, how will she not be under everyone's gaze?"
Vanessa laughed. "Eva is right. All she needs is to dance with Lord Ken and impress him though there is no need. He has already fallen head over heels for you."
Eva responded with an uncomfortable smile that her sister failed to catch. As they had been busy in their conversation, they had failed to notice that the carriage had stopped and they were now standing in front of the castle itself. Hurriedly, the ladies tied their masks around their faces. The masks hid half their faces only, coming to settle above their nose.
The coachmen opened the door and held out his hand until all the ladies had safely managed to step out. Vanessa gasped aloud as she looked up at the palace but Eva's expression was completely opposite to hers.
She felt paralyzed as she stared at the familiar-looking castle, the very place she had left only a few days ago. Her mother noticed her shock and thought that she was also stunned by its grandeur.
"It is beautiful, isn't it girls?" asked Mrs. Blythe and Vanessa quickly nodded her head in reply.
Eva did not open her mouth to answer nor did she nod. Her eyes were stuck on the wide gardens of the place and the very fountain on which she had sat. The same fountain where he had trapped her between his arms and leaned in-
Her eyes widened as she observed her trail of thoughts. There was no way that he still remembered her. He was a King, he had better things to do than to bring her here again. Right? she questioned and her mind was blank without any sort of explanation.
"Are you going to keep staring? You look as if you saw a ghost," commented Vanessa and grabbed her hand before bringing her along with her. The mother and daughters walked through the gardens, side by side.
The castle was decorated splendidly with its torches lit aflame, shining the entire area with its glowing rays. Vanessa and Mrs. Blythe looked around in awe while Eva gazed around nervously as if a monster would jump from behind a bush and scare her. She was determined not to dance with anybody except Lord Ken and when they would be finished, she would hide as well as she could until the departure time came.
A guard stopped them outside the gates with a hand stretched out, blocking the entrance.
"Your invitation," he asked and Vanessa sighed in relief. Mrs. Blythe had decided to keep the scroll in her purse when they were about to exit the house. Any hurdle from entering the castle had vanished and Eva desperately wished she was back in the comfort of her own home.
The guard scanned the invite carefully before handing it back to them and withdrew his arm. After bowing, they entered through the gates alongside, and if possible, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets at the grandness of the place.
The outside and inside of the castle were similar in glory and both were equally worthy of praise. The design was enchanting and Eva who had not explored the castle on her previous visit looked at every nook and cranny with the air of a captivated bird.
Portraits almost as tall as her sister were hanging on a few walls.
On seeing them, Vanessa voiced out her opinion, "I think these are pictures of the previous King and Queen. Seeing how attractive they both were, there is no doubt that the King is the most handsome man in the land of Salvador. Lady Diana had told me that King Asher and Lysander are of no comparison to him." she giggled for the tenth time since they had sat in the carriage.
Eva lifted her lips and let them fall when Vanessa had turned her face away to stare at the rest of the objects that adorned the walls. Eva noticed a few men staring at her sister and she felt proud that she had a sister this beautiful. They caught sight of the huge gates that had been left open as people walked through them in groups ad pairs.
"That is the ballroom, I think." Mrs. Blythe spoke and Eva agreed with her.
"Let us go then." spoke the eldest daughter, her feet picking up speed and she ended up reaching the gates before her mother and sister could.
The three entered the ballroom together and were once again dazzled by its glory and decorations. The King seemed to have given all his attention to the preparations of such a grand ball and it made Eva more anxious at such a notion.
One by one, they descended one of the two staircases that led to the dance floor. Eva's eyes were occupied as she looked around for any sign of trouble. Trouble was a suitable name for him since every time she had been around him — and even though it was only for a day that she had stayed here — the darkness surrounding him was unmistakably prominent.
She was not prepared to be noticed by him so early.