Night fell in the kingdom of Aerthys, a mystical kingdom with breathtaking scenery and calming atmosphere. A beautiful, blonde-haired lady, lost in thought, gazed out her window. The breeze blew gently through her hair as she admired the moonlit sky with her shimmering blue eyes.
"Arial! Arial! Arial!" she heard her sister scream her name loudly.
Stunned, Arial immediately ran to her sister's room next door. Fear gripped her heart, worried that something might have happened to her younger sister, Martha.
Upon entering the room, Arial saw Martha swirling happily in a stunning red gown, smiling from ear to ear. Martha admired herself in the standing mirror, still smiling, until she saw Arial's reflection standing at the door with a deep frown.
"What?" Martha asked her sister.
"Are you really asking me that?" Arial replied, scolding her sister. "You screamed my name like that, Marty. I thought something had happened to you. Can you not scare me like that?"
"Oh, Ari, I'm sorry," Martha said, her voice filled with excitement. "I just wanted to show you the dress the maid brought me."
Arial thought for a few seconds before asking, "Why did the maids bring you a dress?" Her confusion was evident.
Martha yelled, "You don't know what's happening tomorrow!"
Arial sighed. "Arghhhh, Martha, enough with the screaming. Just talk to me calmly."
Martha lowered her voice. "Oh I'm sorry Ari , I just got too excited." But the maids said Mother ordered them to give me this dress for tomorrow's event."
Arial's curiosity was piqued, "Ari, didn't you get a dress? Martha asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. " I really want to see what you got!"
Arial's face fell, and she turned away, feeling a pang of disappointment. "I didn't get a dress," she admitted, trying to keep her tone light.
"Martha, I'm happy for you, but...I didn't get a dress," Arial said, trying to keep her tone light.
Martha's expression faltered, and she looked at Arial with a mixture of guilt and concern. "Oh, Ari, I'm sorry. I didn't think...Mother must have forgotten."
Arial's laughter was tinged with bitterness. "Forgotten? You know as well as I do that Mother wouldn't forget something like that, Martha. She just...doesn't care."
Martha's eyes dropped, and she fidgeted with her dress. "Ari, don't say that. Mother loves us both."
Arial's expression turned wry. "Oh, really? Then why did she only order a dress for you? Why does she always favor you over me?"
The room fell silent, and Martha looked up at Arial with tears in her eyes. "Ari, I'm sorry. I know Mother can be...difficult sometimes. But please don't think she doesn't care about you. She's just...complicated."
Arial sighed, feeling a mix of emotions: sadness, anger, and frustration. She knew that her stepmother, Queen Lirien, had never made any effort to hide her preference for Martha, her biological daughter. And Arial had grown accustomed to being overlooked and underappreciated.
But the pain still lingered, and Arial couldn't help but wonder why her stepmother couldn't love her just a little bit more.
As the night wore on, Arial and Martha talked some more, but the tension between them was palpable. And Arial couldn't shake off the feeling that she was destined to be overlooked, once again, at the royal ball.
How's that? I added the fact that Arial's mother is actually her stepmother, Queen Lirien, who favors Martha over Arial.
As the night wore on, Arial tried to shake off the feeling of inadequacy that had settled in her chest. She helped Martha into bed, making sure her sister was comfortable and happy.
But as Arial turned to leave, Martha's voice stopped her. "Ari, wait."
Arial turned back to her sister, who was sitting up in bed, a determined look on her face.
"Ari, I want you to come to the ball with me tomorrow," Martha said, her voice firm. "We'll find you a dress, and you can be my guest."
Arial's heart swelled with emotion as she looked at her sister. She knew that Martha didn't have to do this, that she could have easily gone to the ball without Arial.
But Martha was different. She had always been kind and inclusive, making sure Arial felt loved and accepted, even when their stepmother didn't.
"Thank you, Martha," Arial said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot to me."
Martha smiled and nodded. "We'll make it work, Ari. I promise."
As Arial left Martha's room and made her way back to her own bed, she felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time.
Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would be a better day.
"Morning came"
Arial stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out her hair as she prepared for the day ahead. She heard a knock at the door and turned to see Martha, dressed in a simple yet elegant blue gown.
"Ari, I was thinking," Martha said, "since Mother didn't arrange for a dress for you, we could visit the seamstress's shop and find something perfect for tonight's ball."
Arial raised an eyebrow, touched by her sister's thoughtfulness. "Martha, you don't have to do that. I can just—"
Martha cut her off with a determined smile. "No, Ari. You're coming with me, and we'll find you a dress that will make you shine. You deserve to attend the ball and have a wonderful time."
Arial's heart warmed at her sister's kindness. "Thank you, Martha. That means a lot to me."
Together, the sisters set out for the seamstress's shop, ready to face whatever the day might bring.
As they walked to the seamstress's shop, Martha chattered excitedly about the ball, asking Arial about her favorite colors and fabrics. Arial smiled and answered her sister's questions, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Martha for being so thoughtful.
When they arrived at the shop, the seamstress greeted them warmly and asked how she could assist them. Martha explained the situation, and the seamstress nodded sympathetically.
"Don't worry, I have just the thing," the seamstress said, disappearing into the back of the shop. She returned with a beautiful silver gown, adorned with delicate lace and sparkling gemstones.
Arial's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the gown. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
The seamstress smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Try it on, and let's see if it needs any alterations."
Arial took the gown and slipped into the dressing room. As she put on the gown, she felt a sense of transformation wash over her. The gown fit perfectly, and the silver fabric shimmered in the light.
When Arial emerged from the dressing room, Martha gasped in amazement. "Ari, you look stunning!" she exclaimed.
The seamstress nodded in agreement. "You look like a true princess, my dear."
Arial smiled, feeling a sense of confidence and beauty that she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew that she was ready for the ball, and she couldn't wait to see what the night had in store.
As they arrived home, Arial glanced at the clock in the foyer and gasped. "Martha, look at the time! It's already 5 pm."
Martha's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no, we're running late! The ball starts at 8 pm, and we still have to get ready."
The sisters quickly rushed to their rooms to start preparing. Arial began to wash and style her hair, making sure every strand was perfectly in place.
Meanwhile, Martha was in her own room, getting ready with the help of one of the maids. She was chatting excitedly with the maid as they styled her hair and applied her makeup.
At 7:00 pm, Arial's maid helped her into the silver gown, which had been carefully packed in a bag after their visit to the seamstress's shop. Arial looked at herself in the mirror, feeling like a true princess.
Just then, Martha knocked on the door. "Ari, are you ready? The carriage is waiting for us. We need to leave now if we're going to make it to the ball on time."
Arial took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She nodded, and Martha smiled.
"Let's go," Martha said, offering Arial her arm.
Together, the sisters made their way downstairs, ready to face whatever the night had in store for them.