" You look like a whore, Everrett!!"
"No...no...those dancing girls like our father's chamber!! Hahaha.."
Everett Quintrell stared at the mirror absentmindedly. Their little tantrums seemed too distant in her ears. It was not like she loved to hear her humiliation. From her childhood to adulthood, she got used to their insult and humiliation. Her sisters called her ugly even the maids often joked about her pale face.
Sitama, the maid who was the nanny for the Quintrell girls snapped at the laughing girls, her face morphing dark in anger,
" Girls, please! Not today! Today is her wedding day. She is a princess. Keep that in mind!"
Elenor, the fourth sister in number scoffed at the old lady, her one hand resting on her hips,
" So what? She is just a bastard..a maid's daughter...We have the original royal blood in our veins."
Sitama's face sank in anger and pain. Hesitantly, she looked over at Everett and then back to the laughing princesses. Just when she opened her mouth to scold the arrogant princesses, a gentle voice came from her side,
" Sitama Please...Let them be.."
Everett adjusted her veil with a sigh. No matter how many times she begged or cried, her sisters never stopped calling her a ' bastard '. What was the point of educating them now?
Standing on her feet, she looked deep at her new reflection in the mirror. Her usual messy long hair was combed well today. They looked long and more like Blondie in comparison with her casual look. Her sea-green eyes appeared more alive today even though the look of emptiness was still present there.
Sitama saw through the emotions of the naive princess. Although she had no say in this marriage, her eyes were still dreaming. As a young woman, she had dreamt of today. Saitama came by her side and commented after peaking at her face,
" You look wonderful, My Princess!"
Everett tried not to tear up at her comment. Truth be told, Sitama was the only person who cared for her in Quintrell Castle. Even her own family disgraced her, and called her a 'jinx'. In her mind, Everett tried to remember her mother's face who passed away when she was too little. No matter how many times she tried, she failed to remember her face clearly. She wondered why her mother died too soon.
Everett opened her mouth to tell her that she would like to visit the grave before the marriage ceremony began, and a disaster fell around. The tower bell over the mountain began to bell loudly. In a matter of moments, the sky turned into a dark shade, carrying a deadly aura.
Everett stared at the sky cluelessly, her brows tightening together before asking,
" Sitama... What happened all of sudden? Why is it dark out there?"
Sitama's face went through a phase of transition too. From happy and cheerful, her expression turned rigid. The old lady's lips trembled together in unknown fear as she began to mutter under his breath,
" Dark will arise...dark will arise..the day...the princess becomes bride.."
Everett had a questioning look on her face. She asked, nudging the woman,
" Sitama! What are you blubbering about? It's just bad weather...Why are you looking so anxious?"
Eve, the second sister in number scoffed at her words, staring blankly at the sky,
" Of course, it will be bad weather. After all, she is a jinx."
Everett didn't pay attention to her sister's accusations. She was worried about Sitama who suddenly turned to grasp her hands. Afterward, Sitama quickly pulled out a black knife from her waist before telling the princess,
" Princess... Listen to me...Keep this with you...If we face any danger, you can use this against the Lycans!"
Everett drew her brows tight together. It had been a long time since she heard about Lycans. Her father said that there were no more Lycans in the kingdom. He defeated them and demolished the last bloodline from the earth.
Then what was Sitama talking about?
Everett tried to calm Sitama who was getting anxious and restless,
" Sitama! There's no lycan in this kingdom anymore. Stop being so worried!"
No matter what she said, Sitama didn't listen to her anymore. Her expression was getting cloudy gradually. The tower bell continued to ring loudly against the strong wave of wind. A cold breeze indicated the rainy weather that was soon to hit the castle. The big river separated all seven kingdoms from each other. In this kingdom, the mountains were the last of their kingdom area.
Elenor and her sisters tried to banter more but someone announced the arrival of the king. Everyone became quiet as soon as King Lucerys arrived in the private chamber. His face was always looking very cold and grumpy. It was a debate whether someone ever saw him smiling or not. Some even said that he became ruthless after not having any male heir. He tried several times but every time he was gifted with a daughter that included Everett including her sisters. The question of their legacy was still the hot gossip but no one knew what was the king thinking.
Those bickering sisters all became good girls on their father's arrival. They watched curiously how the king walked in front of Everett. Everett bowed at her father respectively as she heard him speak,
" Everett! Do you know why you are getting married to this family? Don't forget your vows once you get married."
Everett held her tears back forcefully. The king never bothered to know her mind. Even the day when he came to meet her personally, he was again talking about his own business. Twenty years ago, he claimed that he used her mother for his benefit. Now twenty years later, he was using the mother's daughter again for his benefit, the benefit of his kingdom.
Will I ever get a normal family? A family who loves me unconditionally?