" How did this come to be in the first place? Last I recall, you were heading to the Castle on the basis of an invite from the King", Lady Elle voiced out softly.
At this moment they were all sitting on the bed. Lady Eleonora who remembered that her Mama and the others had only gone to the party for the birth of a new baby in the royal castle was now shocked how it suddenly changed to interest and marriage.
" True Elle But just one invite managed to change everything for me. The King took a fancy to me, some sort of fancy that I cannot fathom why? He said I reminded him of Auntie Alicia... ha!!! and I really do not care who I remind him of... I only wish to be free", Sam replied straightforwardly.
Everything about the King's sudden interest made her feel very angry. Angry and helpless because she could not do anything, she could neither run away from here nor change her mind about the marriage.
" Auntie Alicia?", Cordelia, who had only been paying attention called out in surprise causing the two of them to stare at her.
" What has Late Auntie Alicia got to do with this?", Cordelia asked wondering what Sam was even talking about.
They had never met this Auntie Alicia, she died before they were even born, they had only seen her in portraits at their manor and she did look a bit like Sam but they never bothered about that.
" Papa once told me that the King and Auntie Alicia had some sort of relationship", Lady Elle spoke out of the blue attracting the attention of puzzled Cordelia and angry looking Samaira.
" It was one of love and many had felt they would come to marry one another when the time came but Auntie Alicia died at that time and the King was forced to move on", she stated softly, narrating the story the Duke had told her when she was in her teenage age and had been admiring a few strong looking boys.
" Could it be the reason why the King is suddenly infatuated by you? Because he perceives you to be just like Auntie Alicia?", Lady Elle asked quite calmly as she stared at Sam's for answers.
" That could be the case but I am nothing like Auntie Alicia.., I believe I am my own person", stated Sam who was quickly interrupted by Cordelia.
" The King does not know that... I bet he believes you are exactly like late Auntie Alicia", Cordelia said softly with an air of tiredness. It showed she did not even bother about the situation but seriously though there was nothing to bother about.
" What a terrible way to fall in love..... and here I was thinking you had absolutely charmed the King... pfft. Ha!!", Cordelia laughed at her own foolishness.
Sam could not care less about the words which left her second sister's lips, It wasn't something new, Cordelia had alaways been like that so it did not bother her.
But the thought that the King regraded her as her Late Aunt did, a love story that took place a long time ago was now the cause of her problems.
Their conversation was soon interrupted by a knock on the door as it opened widely. It was their grandmother who was escorted by some guard.
" Time to leave, the celebration is about to come to an end", the old woman voiced coldly as they all stood up, they all knew she held some grudge against them but Sam did not know if her sisters knew the reason why.
They all walked towards her as she and the guard led the way. All through, Samaira's head was occupied with the thought of she and Alicia being alike, she did not even realize when the ceremony ended.
*********** Niklaus's Chambers************
Niklaus Griffith, stood next to the window in his bedroom. A wine bottle could be found in his right hand as he sipped from it whilst staring at the dark sky.
From where he stood, he could see the full moon shining softly on the leaving guests who got into their fancy carriages, riding out through the gates of the castle surely heading back to their respective houses.
He stared at the guests for a while bringing the wine bottle to his mouth in the process and taking a huge gulp, he seriously wasn't in a good frame of mind.
After staring outside for a little while, he moved away from the window heading towards his bed. His entire aura completely defined the words slow and sluggish.
On arriving next to his bed, he dropped the wine bottle on top of the little cupboard next to it and fell lazily on his well arranged bed, messing it up a little in the process.
He remained like that for a while before slowly moving his right hand taking it under his pillow in search of something, he had seen the thing bounce towards this direction.
He let his hand roam aimlessly for a while under the pillow to the extent of removing the pillow from its previous position before rising up to search for the thing properly.
He quickly found it lying close to the edge of the bed, it was a simple jade ring... a ring which his father had left in his disposition, which also he had worn till date.
He had only taken it off when he came into the room upset about what Phillip had said. Upset about his situation, bitter truth was that he was an Orphan, who lost his parents just when he was eight years old.
He stared at the ring, the jade ring reminded him of mother's clear jade eyes which he had definitely inherited.
He sat properly on the bed letting his long legs on top of the bed with his shoes still on his feet. Removing his eyes from the jade ring, he stared gloomily at the empty room. He truly had no one, he was all alone.
He stared on into space just like that before standing up all of a sudden and walking towards the two paintings in his room.
One was of little him and his parents and the other one was of him and Dino during their teenage days when they were growing up.
He stared at the little red haired boy which signified him. That little red haired boy had now grown into an adult, though he missed his parents dearly, he should never forget that he had Dino.
He was never truly alone.... Dino was his brother, friend and only family. In this entire castle where every member had one annoying characteristics, Dino was the only one who treated him just right and he could say he was truly lucky.
He glanced at the two paintings before walking away from it and at the same time, he was putting back his jade ring on his right index finger.
He would never let his title as an orphan be his weakness, there were many orphans out there who did not have people to call family and he had Dino... he should at least be happy about that.
He walked towards the window and he quickly caught a glimpse of Samaira Roberts standing outside with her family next to some very expensive carriage.
He truly felt sorry for her because she would not even be able to enjoy her life as a young beautiful lady anymore.That old man had decided to do something as silly as marrying a lady whom he was twice her age without her full participation. He really wished he could do something.
He remembered vividly when he helped her and that nice woman that day due to the situation they were facing. He didn't expect they would cross paths in such a way.
He stared out the window again only to see Samaira holding hands with another lady whilst standing on front of the Duke of the North. He wondered where the Linf was, perhaps he was seeing other guests out.
With a sigh, he turned away from the window and headed towards the room door but on his way, he quickly grabbed his wine bottle and handed it to one of the guards outside in the candle lit hall.
" Here.., enjoy yourself", he said with a lazy smile on his face as he urged the guard to take it then he walked away afterwards as if that was the most normal thing to do.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I'm so sorry readers that I took two days off without letting you know... trust me it wasn't my plan but I promise to make it up to you.
Creation isn't really easy and just like you I love reading too so please help authors out there by commenting and voting their book and this book too.
At the end of the day it's your choice but I believe you will do the right thing. Am truly Sorry once again!🥺