Olivia strolls the brightly illuminated halls with a strange aura radiating from her. Her head was held up high with pride and elegance, the blood red evening dress flows behind her with such grace and her hands hidden like great treasures beneath her white silk gloves, each click of her heels sends an eerie echo through the walls, despite the lively music blasting from the ballroom. Across the hallway was a mirror, Olivia stood before it for a second gazing at her reflection, something quite odd she'd been carrying out for the entire week, Olivia was not a person to boast of her looks despite her beauty especially when it came to Cassia, the second princess after her, born from her step mother and her own father, her alluring beauty could never be doubted as a divine crafting from the spirits, there were superstitions surrounding her birth, some of which when true for she'd seen them herself that day. But now that didn't too matter until after tommorow's night, suitors could never come to the princesses in the name of interest due to the sacrifice, although it never stopped them from approaching when they had their chances, they all had their queues of men lined of for marriage, even Olivia herself had her own line in waiting.
So, she just gives herself a cold smile, one which mostly describes her as ruthless and cold, even though there were suitors, they knew how to be careful with their words and actions so as to not offend her. Olivia gets to the ballroom, the atmosphere grand, alluring and welcoming, it's air filled with the most delightful fragrants from the scented candles, some of which where floral, others perfumes and the rest natural like the earth after rainfall or sweet spices. Olivia descends the stairway with a striking elegance, her movement ever graceful and expression bold. There's a small smill on her face, such she used to chase or catch attention.
"Princess Olivia!" a steel voice cried from behind, she rolls her eyes at the calling in familiarity with the owner, she plasters a fake smile on her face and turns to curtsey.
"Prince Anthonio, it's quite marvelous to see you again" Anthonio archs a brow at her.
"Quite?"
"Very quite."
He scoffs like there was no hidden meaning behind her words even if it was evident. "Well, it's be a while now, clearly months now..."
"Weeks, your highness, weeks!" She corrects him, her tone harsh. His russet eyes narrows at her impudent remark but rather that an imprudent reply, he instead forces a smile on his face.
"I did not mean to offend you by not visiting as promised, but I..."
" I do not talk about not visiting as you assume, I rather make my remark on the fact that you keep disturbing me with your letters. Listen your highness, if I were you I'd rather not waste my time, you are aware of what awaits I and my sister's tomorrow right?!''
Anthonio scoffs, this time with a bitter glare at her. He moves closer to her, his height over crowding her leaving no space in between them.
"Oh, Olivia. My dear Olivia, I am aware of what happens tommorow's night, but... I am also aware of the fact that you will not be chosen as the sacrifice, rather it is amongst your sisters so chances of still becoming my bride are alive, the stakes are high and I'm ready to draw whether you like it or not!" there was an threat in his voice, almost like he'd already grasp at her and there would be no escaping, she turns her head to the side, observing her step father and mother laughing and chattering with the other extinguished nobles and amongst them was Anthonio Father, King Lewis of Northwing, one of the largest kingdoms in the human realm apart from Adrelyne. Her head moves back to her step parents who didn't care much about her for a minute, selling her off for alliance would have been done long ago if she wasn't predicted already to be the future queen of Adrelyne through the powers of the Blood Crown, changing heirs was a very difficult task especially when one had been chosen already, mostly it led to a vicious kind of choas one which she wishes to never witness.
Her cocoa eyes meet his, anger soar in them as well as hers but she plays it off with a bitter smile, her head rises to meet his, only an inch separates their faces from each other.
" We'll see, my prince, we'll see!" she taunts with a wild courage one would call it rude, but Olivia couldn't really care for now, gone were the days she did but now, manners weren't good friends of her.
Speaking of friend and not friends, Cassia's silvery voice calls out from behind.
"Olivia!"
'Ugh!' Olivia screams inwardly, already she was tired of the fake mask and attitude, her stone face turns to Cassia.
"Yes! can I do anything for you?"
There's a sarcastic smirk on her face.
"Anything? why yes there is, stop chasing away the only man seeking your hand in marriage, it do you no good at all."
"No good?" Olivia cries out in disbelief, "darling—" Olivia's lips pout at her "the only one here to stop the chasing is you!"
Cassia's archs her brow in bewilderment, her ringed index finger points to her chest.
"me?"
Olivia nods, with a smug look on her face, Cassia chuckles, amused by Olivia's words then folds her arms with a serious expression.
" And why should I be the one to stop the chasing?!"
" Because Cassia, chasing men as a princess doesn't suit you, they should be the ones coming after you and not the other way around"
"Excuse me!"
"Yes! No matter how bitter the truth is, it must be heard, do you think I do not know the fact that you've already shared a bed with that whore of a prince?!"
Cassia's eyes widen at the words, rage soars in her ice blue eyes.
"You dirty, filthy pig! Don't dare accuse me of what I'm not aware about!"
Olivia archs her brow, "do you need evidence because I have a lot to show"
Her confidence shuts Cassia's mouth up but it doesn't stop the ire in her to rise. Cassia's fist clenched by her side unable to retaliate causing Olivia to smile again, but this time more gentle and less sarcastic. She moves towards her, staring deeply into her eyes.
"And also, don't dare insult me again. The filthy pig here is you and unfortunately, the younger ones look up to you since our dear queen mother adores you so much." Olivia shrugs her shoulders, shaking her head in disappointment.
"It's quite sad though that they will imitate nothing other than rubbish from you. Have a good evening." She curtsied and left Cassia to rumble in her ire.