The two maids gathered Jasmine trying to make her fit into a small dress which was bought for her by Arnold, her mother had forced her to accept the dress as it would be rude and callous of her to turn down such a lovely gift. after a long time of trying to squirm her way into the dress, it finally fit
"Oh my ....my lady you look gorgeous" the maid squeaked as she began dressing her hair
" do you feel comfortable in the dress" the other girl asked noticing how pale Jasmine already looked she just nodded trying to breathe. the party had started moments ago behek, Emerald and Tatiana were already in the party hall.
when she was finally done dressing she joined the party, it was packed with a lot of elegantly dressed people most of them holding a silver cup of wine in one hand and the end of their dress in the other for the women.
" you look beautiful my dear" Emerald said walking up to Jasmine who was still trying to walk down the stairs without tripping she just smiled at her before watching her steps.
"blue is not my colour"
" but you can't deny it looks good on you, and the color blue is lovely " Arnold who was in blue chipped in as he walked up to her stretching his hand expecting her to hold it, she just stared at it for a moment her eyes narrowed in a squint before taking a step closer to him
" just because blue is a colour you are fond of doesn't mean it is everyone's choice but I am sure Bella would love a gift like this" she whispered before smirking as he sustained a shocked expression at the mention of the name Bella, she knew she couldn't break off the marriage by herself so she would have to make him break it.
" uhh...I would like to introduce Jasmine to some of my guests could I steal her for a moment " he politely addressed Emerald who nodded with a smile, he grabbed Jasmine's wrist as he walked further into the crowd, he took her around the hall speaking to people who were unfamiliar to her as they commented on how beautiful she was or how Arnold made the right choice
"oh how are you Arnold, how have you been....it has been a long time man why don't you write to your old friends hmmm?"
"Henrik! My favourite man... am truly sorry just that I have been busy lately...."Arnold said as he hugged him and gave the other two of his friends a handshake
" wow...who is this " one of the men whose eyes glanced at Jasmine said staring at her with a smirk
" you have always gone for the pretty ones ....what about Bella she...."
" Henrik !.... this is Jasmine, my wife, "Arnold said glaring at him as he looked at Jasmine shocked before attaining an amused look
"Am sorry...I am Henrik Trande a friend of Arnold's " he said smirking at her as the other friends of Arnold introduced themselves.
"Arnold dear" a woman shouted from behind catching their attention as he turned to her smiling before returning his attention to his friends
" enjoy the party" he said before leaving pulling Jasmine who was already exhausted from walking around
"Aunty!" he said hugging her as she giggled returning the affectionate hug
" How are you? How is everything, Vanessa has forgotten about me so have you " she said with a sad tone
"No that is not true "
" then why don't you visit.....or write hmm...who is this" she trailed before finally taking notice of the girl that was beside him
" she is Jasmine... Jasmine behek Madradon the chief's daughter and my wife-to-be," he said smiling
"And Jasmine this is my aunty, Aunt Gailry," he said as she snorted her eyes roaming Jasmine's body
"you are getting married how? when? and how come I wasn't informed Vanessa must be really upset with me I mean that explains why I wasn't invited to this party your father had to inform the guards that I am a family member can you imagine such insults and you didn't even bother to invite me yourself Arnold... " she trailed looking sad as she kept talking
"Aunty...am sorry mother told me not to send an invitation so..." he said cutting her off
" and a chief's daughter come on you can do better am sure she was Vanessa's choice if it were up to me I would have you marry a royalty " she said glaring at Jasmine
" Pardon ?....what is wrong with me "Jasmine who had been quiet all this time said it wasn't that she cared Of course she wasn't desperate to marry Arnold nor interested in seeing his smug face but nevertheless felt insulted by this remark
"Sure she is beautiful, confident in fact but she possesses an attitude...which was the same attitude that cost Isabella Amethyst her tongue, you need not worry I will be around for a while" she said her face void of emotions jasmine glared at her as she attempted to retort Arnold stopping her
" well that will be perfect you could inform Jasmine about the customs and traditions of the Amethyst family " he said, Jasmine fighting back the urge to punch both their faces she couldn't wait for this night to end and for her to never see his face again but for that to happen she will have to come up with a plan to call off the marriage she looked around searching for a familiar face right now even Tatiana's irritable behaviour was durable for her
"Ehh...excuse me " she said trying to pull her hand from his grip
" To where " he whispered his gaze not leaving his aunty as they continued to discuss
"My dress is a little lose so I need to fix it ..." she said so his aunty would hear as she finally got out of his grip walking away
" Need some help" Arnold shouted with a slight smile
" No thank you " she replied her image disappearing into the crowd as she roamed about looking for either Jayden or Ana. her stomach made strange noises whispering to her
of how empty it was her mouth watering at the thought of freshly baked bread, she asked the servants where she could get something to eat and was directed to a hall where she entered. The space was wide and decorated with blue roses the table where the food was placed was also designed, the hall contained few people who were either standing with a sliver cup of wine and some plate of food or sitting, chatting and eating, the smell of different kind of food filled her nostrils as she walked up to the table took a plate and served herself.
Meanwhile, Ana who was starving walked into the room and helped herself to a plate of chicken and some soup her full concentration as she wolfed the food
" oh my slow down or you might choke " Bella squeaked as she walked in front of Ana now facing her.
"I know you haven't seen this much food in a long time but sweetheart you are a lady behave like one, don't you have shame eating like a beggar in public," she said slightly covering her face with a fan, Ana glared at her trying to swallow the food that was in her mouth
" well what can I do we do not have much at home ....but if I were you I would also pack as much food as possible cause soon you might wake up one morning and find yourself homeless like a beggar," Ana said smirking as she turned to leave, Bella stepped on her long flowing gown causing her to trip
"Ugh...am so sorry did I step on your gown...I was looking for where to clean the dirty sole of my shoes and I might have mistaken your dress for a rag...." she said smiling down at Ana who was on the ground her dress stained with the food she was holding, she rubbed her arms trying to soothe the pain that erupted due to the hot soup that made contact with her skin her eyes became teary beating hard on her lips trying not to cry, by this time everyone's attention was on them except for jasmine who was engrossed in her food, if there was one thing the people of Haran loved it was a show or two people fighting and throwing punches at themselves.
"where did you get that dress from anyway, am sure it was the cheapest thing you could find around or maybe gathered some pieces of rags and had your pathetic mother sow them up for you. you look no less than a helpless slave begging for some food "she sighed curving her lips in a smirk
" I feel pity for you, you know girls like you would curse their fate but I think it is your father Amos who is to blame....he probably must be the most foolish man in this village "
"Bella!....you will address my father with respect " Ana stood up as she shouted catching Jasmine's attention, she walked up to the crowd and tried squeezing her way through curious of what the commotion was about when she finally found the owner of the voices she stared between them confused
" and you will speak to me with respect ...I am not lying, am I? I mean your father gave his birthright to his brother if not, you would have been the chief's daughter not that jasmine of a girl" Amos was the firstborn and Behek the second hence the rightful chief of the village but the villagers wanted Behek as chief and saw him more competent for the position and Amos had no problem giving up the post for his brother claiming he wasn't interested
"Why don't you worry above yourself and stop worrying about other people's problems right now you have bigger problems to deal with," Jasmine said walking in front of Bella blocking Ana
"Jasmine?" Ana muttered looking shocked as Jasmine sent her a small smile
"Oh your here speak of the animal and it appears, Jasmine, I thought you wouldn't be invited....oh wait I suppose Arnold invites beggars to his parties now "she said as she glared at Ana and then back at Jasmine
" of course, I would be invited I am the chief's daughter and his wife to be also you are to address him formally as merchant Arnold Amethyst I am the only one who can call him Arnold " Jasmine said trying to hit a nerve
" oh and you should invest your time in trying to conceal your secrets well...isn't this yours" Jasmine said handing the bracelet she had found in Arnold's room the other day she was planning on showing Arnold as a prove that she was aware of his secret affair and call off the wedding but it seems to come handy right now. she looked at it confused for a moment before realization hit her
"it is my bracelet where did you find it...oh is the chief having some financial crisis that you would steal?" she gasped raising a brow
" Not at all...I found it in Arnold's room..." Everyone gasped as she looked shocked a frown on her face
" What are you talking about? "
" Bella dear if you want to be a harlot why keep it a secret there are a lot of men here who are ready to pay you for your service so why do it for free? is it love or is Arnold paying and I do not know ?" Jasmine said smirking
"How dear you !" She said about to slap her Jasmine caught her hand and dropped it
"How dare you speak to me in that manner who do you think you are" Bella shouted her face turning red
"and who do you think you are to treat my cousin in that manner !"
" I am the daughter of Lieutenant Topaz Marius!! " Bella screamed
" and I am the daughter of the village chief and soon-to-be chief your father lives in this village which means he is under my father and you!....you! Are under me! so don't you dare mess with me or there will be consequences and you mess with my cousin you mess with me "
" oh I see, your marriage with Arnold has made you grow guts you think you have some sort of power " she scoffed
"Well it is how he is, he gets interested in something and when he gets bored he throws it away like trash which is what you are ." Jasmine chuckled stepping a lot closer in a bit to intimidate
"First Bella I can not marry a man who would stoop so low that he would have an affair with you "
" What? Wait Both of you will not be getting married? " she said shocked before a little smile found its way to her lips
" Oh don't get all excited already 'cause even if I and Arnold don't get married he still won't marry you Bella don't you see? your just a game to Arnold ....an easy game he soon will get bored of and get rid of. He will most probably find a much more charming halort, oh I feel bad for you" Jasmine mocked squinting her eyes
"Jasmine! You can't speak to a council's daughter like that! " she screamed,
" do not shout !"
"true but are you really a council's daughter or the daughter of a thief? you seem to have forgotten the father you are so proud of is the same person who was stealing the provisions sent by the king to help us reduce the starvation during the famine so you should think very carefully before speaking, and Father the chief will surely give him a befitting punishment," she said as people gasped and started to murmur, Bella's eyes become teary
" these are just accusations !....and my father was framed he is not a thief tell your father to find the real thief and stop throwing accusations on my innocent father ! " she screamed tears dropping from her eyes
" oh don't make me feel like the bad one here you should look at yourself before trying to demean a person, you also have problems in your life that you are not proud of ....and you and I know that your father committed that offence we are not going to stand here and deceive ourselves your father is not an innocent man he is a greedy man we both know that. " jasmine said looking straight in her eyes as she held Ana's hand about to leave the mention of her name stopping her
" jasmine... " Bella called as she poured a cup of wine on Jasmine's face everyone gasped as they began to chant fight! fight!
"I really do hope this doesn't wash your supposed beauty away " she sniffed staring distastefully at her
" well my beauty is real and can't be ruined by a cup of wine but I don't know about that expensive dress" Jasmine said as she gave Ana a look, Ana nodded in response grabbed a bowl of soup and poured it all over Bella's dress.