Growing up, Ahron never realizes he doesn't have the privilege his brother happens to have, the fact being a twin used to be a shameful thing, or perhaps the different treatment that he received from his mother.
He comes to realize all the little things one by one, the murmurings of the servant, the talk of the other Royal Family, the glance that other Princes and Princesses from another Kingdom used to send his way.
He only then knows that his mother never treats him the same as Rydan.
That's the twins, the one of them who is not desired!
They are useless!
We have to pray for the Crown Prince's health and long life!
Or else this Kingdom will fall to the ground!
Blood will tarnish the Royal Family!
War will be the only way!
Sin will be our salvation, there will be a disaster!
The servant used to whisper from a good distance, he could hear them loud and clear, considering the Royal blood that runs through Ahron, his senses are much better than the average werewolf.
At first, he keeps trying to ignore it.
He tries but he can't, that day was the last one.
"It's for you, isn't it pretty?" the 10-year old Ahron said, to the girl in front of him.
She looks up and meets Ahron's dark blue orbs, before gazing at peonies in his hand, and shove towards the eight years old.
She shakes her head no, refusing the prince.
"My mom said to stay away from you," the girl with green eyes said, looking away.
Ahron looks down, but then he moves towards her, closer than before.
"Why?" he asks, softly.
She looks at him through her lashes, biting her red lips.
"Mom said, twins only bring misfortune," she whispers, not really aware that she was shattering Ahron's heart into pieces.
She walks away, heading inside the castle, towards the Crown Prince's birthday ceremonial, leaving Ahron in the garden alone.
Stunned and hurt.
He kept asking inside his mind, what exactly is wrong with having a twin, what makes him different from Rydan, what is she talking about?
The answer was simple.
Fear.
The citizen was scared.
Because, if in the future the Crown Prince dies suddenly, Ahron and Aevin will have to face each other until the other one dies on the other's hand.
Blood will be smeared.
War will be the only way.
Sin will be the citizens' only salvation.
In other words, it's chaos.
That is why, Rydan was being praised and cared for by many, the servant, the gardener, the guards, the general, the cooks.
The Queen.
Everyone.
When he realized all of that, he knew his and Aevin mere existence was feared by many. He begins to be a laughingstock, teasing and laughing loudly, forcing Aevin who doesn't understand anything to follow. He wants to bury everything by teasing everyone he meets.
In hope, they will reduce the only fear they have in mind.
And by time, he begins to hate Rydan's existence, as if he doesn't deserve to run through the night in the middle of the forest, while he and Aevin had to receive the stare.
Rydan will never know the truth about Ahron, because he never shows it or perhaps he only shows it through a joke.
The fact is he begins to hate Rydan.
Even though he couldn't hurt him, he enjoys the little things that happen to him.
As if each scar he carries, was the only cure to Ahron's old wound.
Obviously, he enjoys the little show he happens to witness around dinner.
The way Rydan only stares at his plate, perhaps wishing the plate will burn-in fire and turn to ash.
Ahron smirks.
"The Wedding Night will happen in six days, you have to do your measurement today or tomorrow," Edra muttered, focusing on her food.
Not hearing an answer from her son, she looks up, finding him dozing off.
Ahron could see it, the way his mother's face came to realize that he was thinking about something else in the middle of family dinner. Well, he is thinking about someone to be accurate and Ahron loves the way his mother's eyes swirl with fury.
He just wants to laugh at that moment.
"Rydan," she whispered, trying to control her bubbling rage.
Rydan raises his head, staring at The Queen, before looking at his brother and sister. Meanwhile, the King was absent, attending royals matter at this moment.
"Did you hear me?" Edra asked, raising her left eyebrow.
Rydan sighed and nodded.
"Can you repeat it then, what did I say?" she asked, this time her fury as clear as day.
And Ahron the only one who found it laughable.
Because the rest were surprised to see their mother looking this way.
Such visible anger, not direct towards them, but Rydan.
The Crown Prince.
"You just inform me, I have to do my measurement either today or tomorrow, is that correct?" Rydan said, raising his left eyebrow.
He challenged her.
This time, Ahron almost choked up, he tried hard to suppress a silent scream of laughter.
Edra tightens the fork around her hand, slowly turning the skin around it red.
She smiles at him.
"Good," she said and continues her meal, the one that has now turned tasteless.
Rydan grit his teeth, standing up and leaving the room. His hard step could be heard echoing inside the wide dining room as if shouting its coldness to the world.
Even with the existence of the fireplace.
• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •
"The rings will come tomorrow. There will be tons of rings you could choose from. So you have to choose carefully. Lady Byrl chooses a blue pearl from Ryuas Sea, grace with white gold and green sapphire around the pearl. It was magnificent," Yoani gushes, while pouring Elleryn's tea.
"Really?" Elleryn whispered, trying to sound intrigued.
Even though the ring selection was the only thing she looks forward to, now everything has vanished and her worries have clouded over her excitement.
Well, she feels happy that Deair, Aevin and perhaps Ahron will help. She feels grateful, but her heart keeps beating fast each time, and the more time decides to move closer to her Wedding Night, the more she becomes restless.
Elleryn never leaves her room since that day in the garden, in the hope of not bumping with her future husband.
But sometimes, when she hears the knock on her door, she also hopes he would stand there, looking at anywhere but her and then apologize, like he did before.
But he never comes.
And she feels her heart shattered to pieces when the door always opens and reveals someone else.
The door to her room knock for twice, Elleryn's head snap towards the sound of it. Her heart was beating faster than before, she knew Yoani must have heard it every time it beat like that, but she doesn't care.
She wishes it was him this time.
• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •
The door opened within a second, revealing Deair with a red dress and a book in hand. She closes the door behind her before she turns around and smiles ear to ear before she sits right beside him.
Elleryn sighs.
"What is it?" Deair asked, tilting her head to the side. Elleryn quickly fixes the color of her face and turns around to look at the little girl and smile towards her.
"You look happy?" Elleryn said. Deair smiles once again and nods her head.
"Well, it was tense at dinner, but when I heard Rydan will get his measurement today or tomorrow. I am excited!" she said, her eyes twinkling with clear happiness.
Elleryn chuckles, "and why is that?" she asked.
"Because it's yours is also on the same day of course! The dress will be beautiful! I'm sure of it. I've once heard Lady Byrl's wedding dress was so beautiful that the siren was burning with jealousy. Well, I can only imagine the look of the dress. But I bet yours will be ten times magnificent than hers. Fyure will come either today or tomorrow, she is Royal Taylors, she makes dresses and suits for everyone inside the palace, from now on she will make yours as well" Deair said.
Her words made Elleryn tense immediately.
Mine as well?
"What about my old dresses?" her question was supposed to come out much softer than that, it was harsh instead.
Deair was surprised, she raised her head and looked into Yoani's eyes.
Yoani clears her throat before answering Elleryn's question.
"Because you will be a Suttern, it was told by The First Queen, Queen Asaya, the minute the Daughter of Qye become the wife of the Crown Prince, their dress will be look over by the Royal Taylors, it is required," Yoani explained, looking at the ground. She could feel it, anger taking over Elleryn's body. She never feels it like this before with Lady Byrl, so she was scared.
Because Elleryn's power doesn't have a limit.
"You mean; I have to throw away my old dress?" Elleryn asked, bewildered, she told Yoani to raise her head and face her. Yoani trembles with fear and raises her head. She regrets the minute her eyes find Elleryn's swirling with fury.
Not at her, but at the ridiculous requirements.
"I will never throw away my dresses," she said, while looking Yoani in the eyes.
Yoani nodded but she looked reluctant, she bites her bottom lip and rubs the back of her neck with her right hand.
"Fyure will come, though. She is assigned to scan your wardrobe, she most definitely is the one to replace your dresses," Yoani muttered under her breath.
Elleryn takes a deep breath.
"Then she will never scan my wardrobe," Elleryn stands up from the couch, walking toward the window, she stares towards the forest for a while before she turns and faces Deair and Yoani.
"Everything was taken from me Yoani, my freedom, my choice, my life. Do you expect me to throw away my identity? Shed the last thing that represents me as a Qye?" Elleryn said with a cold voice.
"I don't care about the previous Lady of Qye, but I will never throw away my dress, not a single of it will leave that closet" Elleryn said, pointing to the left side of the room, where her closet is situated.
Yoani and Deair nod immediately.
Elleryn sighs before she turns around and faces the forest.
• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •
The next day, Fyure walks gracefully clad in green dress, red hair shifts with each step she takes as she hums and greets the servant with a smile, a leather briefcase on her left hand, where tiny tools and a few sample fabrics are placed.
As a Fairy, it is odd for her to be hired by the Werewolf, obvious reason would be the difference in their race, as a hot blooded creature, the kind of fabrics and materials used in their clothing also differs entirely with energy consumed Fairy race, temperature doesn't take into much account to the designs of clothing, but some do take a personal preference of texture.
However, Fyure keen attention to detail and skill in creating different type of garment was recognized early on by the Suttern Royal Family. Thus, she was able to stay here for the last five years, becoming personal designer for the entire Royal Family as well as the former Lady of Qye. When her presence is not needed, she will come to the city and accept jobs on creating their dresses, charging them the amount they can afford.
As a fairy who used to live at Ertellib, Land of Fairies, she was actually surprised there is such a deal between Qye and Suttern. She used to think that perhaps the first daughter of Qye is always barren, that is why they married the Crown Prince when the time came, and eventually die inside Suttern.
Well, she is aware of the fact that the first Daughter of Qye is the strongest creature out there. She can easily kill a Dragon with a single spell, move the Great Mountain of Jroiett without lifting a finger or remove Ertellib altogether. However, she always assumed with the great power that she had, she had to be born barren and will never have a child.
It was surprising when the servant slowly told everything to her, the fact that it was all just a deal that had been done for centuries, just to rein the fear of the first King and to protect Qye from any possibility of war, had baffled her greatly. It was all a facade, the wedding between the two families, and she feels sad for the both of them.
The Crown Prince and Lady of Qye
Fyure sigh and stops in front of the room, previously used to be Lady Byrl's room. She was sad that day when the guard announces to the world that Lady Byrl has rested in peace, it baffled her more when the guard chose that second to announce the wedding of the Crown Prince to Lady of Qye, and thus their union will proceed as soon as possible.
Well, she was sad for both the announcements the guard made that day.
The Death and The Wedding.
Taking a deep breath, she plasters a smile on her face and knocks on the door twice, waiting for someone or perhaps a voice to summon her inside.
"Come in," a soft voice whispered, she shivered at the sound, but chose to ignore it and pushed the door.
Just like before, everything look neat and in place, she couldn't find any obvious change from the last time she visit this very chamber, a comfortable bed on the left side of the room with thick pile of plain blankets on top, a soft blue couch in the middle with table situated right in front of it, a small dressing table on the right side of the room just right beside a dark brownish closet with the blue frame window overlooking the biting cold forest behind the castle.
It's still simple, just like the last time she visited, if she happens to visit for the very first time, Fyure would think the servant is pulling on her leg, knowing very much the most powerful creature in this entire world couldn't possibly be treated like this.
One thing is different, this time Fyure eyes immediately fall upon her, the Lady of Qye.
She takes a deep breath, stunned.
She had heard the widespread rumors that said Lady of Qye beauty will surpass the previous one. Well, she knows now that it is not rumor but a fact.
Her eyes, just like Lady Byrl's, have two colors inside, fighting to dominate one another but creates a beautiful harmony, blue with a color of light red. Her white-blonde hair, somehow accentuates her face, a statement. Her pale skin complements her whole appearance.
As a clothing creator, she knows beauty when she sees one, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"So pretty," she blurted out, looking at Elleryn in the eyes.
Elleryn who at first tried to plaster her face with no emotions, looked flustered with the first thing Fyure said, she did not expect that word, not a bit.
Deair chuckles, aware that Fyure will like Elleryn within a second, while Yoani who stands behind the couch just shakes her head at what Fyure said.
"Um... Fyure? Isn't it?" Elleryn asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Oh, Dear! Call me Fifi. I hate my full name, my mom named me after the Fyur Lake. She said she met my father while taking a shower in the middle of the lake, which is gross! I never want to be reminded of the possibilities of my father drool over my mom naked body, that's why I want to be called Fifi instead," she smiles, glitters literally come out of her beautiful gold eyes.
Elleryn chuckles but nods anyway.
She sure is bright.
Deair smile this time, aware that Elleryn has softened her tone and was much more relaxed than before. But Deair knows what to come next, one of the things Fifi must do.
"Okay, can I look at your closet now? It is my job to make sure your clothes are presentable," Fifi smiles, instantly noticing the way Elleryn smiles falter, taking in the way her face suddenly becomes tense.
"I don't think that is necessary Fifi. I am aware it is your job, but I don't want a single of my clothing to be thrown away," Elleryn stated, the cold on her voice as clear as day.
Fifi blinks, looking confused, but then she smiles in seconds, surprising Elleryn by her nod.
"If that is what you want, we can move to do the measurement then," Fifi clapped her hand and proceeded to open her briefcase. Take out Ollium -a string to measure body sizes, scissors, needles and a piece of white fabric the size of her height.
Elleryn tilts her head, questioning her words in silence.
"Even though the Queen hires me, I know what is right and wrong. If you don't want your clothes to be thrown away, I will make sure The Queen is unaware of the fact that your closet is filled with Qye's dresses. However, you have to accept the dress that I make for you and wear it in front of the Queen. That way she isn't suspicious of anything, as a fairy I know what it's like to wear what I desire," Fifi smiles, showing her sparkling white teeth.
Elleryn smiles towards her, then she nods.
Liking her immediately.
"Now stand up, I want to measure your size and spend the entire night coming up with the perfect wedding dress. I know white is essential, but my mind is screaming that you need colors for your dress and I always agree with my mind," she ushered Elleryn to stand beside her, becoming impatient by second.
Elleryn chuckles again, and then stands up, taking a step closer towards Fifi.
Perhaps it's not bad after all.
Becoming a Suttern.
• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •
Night had fallen upon the land, cold seeping through skin while thick blanket of complete darkness gave a certain eerie feel to its surroundings, silence greeted the creatures inside the forest, as though every animal could feel it themselves, a forbidden existence which emits dark aura had taken a step inside the forest. Upon closer look, any creature will tuck their shivering tails between their two trembling legs, whimpering and staggering away from the close off meeting that night, the very enemies of werewolf.
Vampire.
Lord Valon leads this meeting, the very pure-blood vampire who has lived throughout the years and had witnessed the era of the first King until now, there are three other people within the circle, waiting for his command with utter subservient, each one willing to die for the Lord, will not hesitated to kills any creature who comes in their ways and expected to rise first to prove their loyalty to the Lord.
The silver hair Vampire smiles towards his three most loyal servants, addressing them with a proud smile, showing his perfect white teeth, his pale skin makes his presence known as his silver-white eyes glow in the dark night.
"I want one of you to capture someone for me and kill the other one," Lord Valon commanded, raising his chin. Looking down upon the three, all of them nod and bow their heads, letting The Lord continue.
The edge of his lips rose, as faint blood could be seen, eyes flickering with distinguishable excitement and expectation.
"Catch Daughter of Qye and kill the Crown Prince."