NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Sthena left the courtroom where the church members were and walked along the hallways of the castle with long and sharp strides.

The maids and servants all bowed their heads deeply at the king when he walked past them, his aura demanding respect and attention. There was slight urgency with the way he stared ahead of him while ignoring everything and everyone.

As he walked, the sound of other footsteps echoed and accompanied his sharp ones. Coming from the end of the hallway where he walked were Lady Rosamonda and Sarah who looked as if someone was about to cast her into a shark’s mouth.

She whined and complained to her mother, ”Mother, please renounce the agreement you had with the king. I’m still young to be sent away and to the arms of some man, who not only is he beneath me, but I also detest him!”

”A lowly man marrying a princess?!” There was a huff and bewilderment at the end of her words. As if what was going to happen had never been done or heard of before. But the older woman beside her was having none of her tantrums. She replied her,

”Sarah, if you badly want me to renounce the agreement with the king, why don’t you tell him yourself? Besides you brought this upon yourself. I think it’s time you started to face the consequences of your actions. This will teach you a good lesson.”

”Mother!” Sarah shrieked in irritation. The thought of getting married to a man who she saw as someone beneath her was enough to make her run mad with anger.

”How could you agree to ruin my life when I haven’t done anything wr...”

”Your language, Sarah.” Lady Rosamonda warned with a hard look that was enough to shut her up for a while until they saw the king coming in their direction.

Sarah was quick to leave her mother’s side and went to meet the king halfway.

”Brother,” She called in an overly sweet voice that was a sharp contrast to the angry tone she was using a while ago. She bowed her head at him before raising her head with her face full of smiles for the King.

Sthena raised his brows as if in surprise though he knew what the respectful greeting and bow were for. He had heard all that was spoken by the two ladies in the hallway before they noticed him coming toward them.

Even if he didn’t hear what they had said, he knew that his lovely sister couldn’t be this charming without having anything in mind. She always had something to ask whenever she displayed such an attitude. He knew her well, and he was all ready to humor her. He had always been ready to humor his stepmother and siblings, anytime and anywhere.

”What does my sweet little sister want, hmm?” He asked and tilted his head to the side, making his red hair fall across his face that made his smile look devilish. The impatient and angry look he had for the church members was replaced by his charming smile.

Lady Rosamonda rolled her eyes at the pretense of the king as if he will fulfill any wish of Sarah. She knew his smile was a facade to what he had in mind.

Hearing Sthena call her his sweet little sister, Sarah became ecstatic and the smile on her face widened more. Though she knew the type of man she was dealing with, it didn’t stop the hope brewing in her heart to become stronger than before.

She took a step forward with the smile still on her face, and she said, ”How are you doing, brother?”

”I’ve never been better, Princess,” Sthena responded with a smile.

”That’s good to know. I’ve been wanting to ask a favor from you which I know you wouldn’t refuse me.” Sarah stated in a gentle voice.

”Hmm,” Sthena hummed, urging her to continue.

Sarah stayed silent for a while calculating how to put her words forward. She opened her mouth to speak but the look on Sthena’s face made her hesitant to speak. It was one of the looks he gave someone when he was plotting one of his wicked tricks in his head.

Sthena grinned and flashed Sarah a wide smile and said, ”If I had known you wanted to stare at my magnificent self, I would have arranged for it than stand here when I have more important things to do.”

The subtle taunt from Sthena didn’t go unnoticed by Lady Rosamonda and Sarah who was fidgeting with her dress as she tried to figure out the best way to say what she wanted.

She knew that her request was like going against the word and orders of the king, and it would surely bring a punishment. But she didn’t care about the punishment when she knew what she wanted. They had all joined hands wanting to throw her out of the castle, her rightful home!

”Why don’t you get on with your request while I still have the patience to hear you out, sweet little sister?” Sthena asked, his eyes subtly narrowing down at Sarah.

Sarah shrugged to shake off the scared feeling away from her. She smiled and went on to speak with her head bowed, ”Brother dear, I have one request which if you grant it, would make your little sister very pleased and happy.”

She paused and looked up at Sthena with her red eyes that would make anyone have pity and do everything that left her lips. She requested, ”Could the King please renounce my marriage with the... Mr. Hans?” In between her speech, she almost called Mr. Hans a lowly man but had to bite her tongue to stop herself from completing it. It wouldn’t look good if she used any ill-mannered words against the man when she was asking for a favor from the King.

She bowed again and further spoke to convince Sthena, ”I am too young and naive to venture into marriage as I might make mistakes that might ruin my marriage and have both myself and the royal family shamed. I cannot leave the cas...”

”Will staying in the castle for a few more months make my sweet sister become a grown woman and learn everything there is to marriage?” The question from Sthena cut Sarah off from stating more reasons to stop the marriage.

Sarah raised her bowed head to look at Sthena with her eyes slightly wide. The king had misinterpreted her words. She didn’t want to learn anything about marriage and neither did she want to stay in the castle for only a few months. She wanted to continue living here with her future husband who will undeniably be equal to her status, and not some man who was far below a court member.

Sarah shook her head and explained, ”You miss understood me, brother. I don’t want the marriage to happen anymore. I don’t want to get married. Please, brother.”

Sthena shook his head negatively at what Sarah had requested. He said, ”We don’t get everything we want in life, Sarah dear. Even Mother dear can educate you on that. Isn’t that right, Mother?” He turned his gaze to Lady Rosamonda who stood with an annoyed look and her chin up in arrogance.

Lady Rosamonda did not reply Sthena knowing fully well what he was implying. Her jaws clenched in anger she held within her that wanted to burst and rip the head of Sthena off. He was the real definition of a cunning fox and devil.

Sthena raised his hand to touch Sarah’s head but hung it halfway before it got to her head. He said, ”Renouncing your marriage is something that would be done in front of the court members like it was done when it was announced.”

”But looking at it now, I think it would take some weeks or probably months before such a meeting will be held. I don’t think with the problems in the kingdom, that the court members will be entertained to hear the tantrums of our dear princess.” Sthena further spoke to crush the already broken heart of Sarah.

Sarah balled her hands into fists by her sides, her long sharp nail dug into her palm enough to draw out blood. With gritted teeth and fury in her eyes, she declared,

”If the marriage will not be canceled, I’ll kill myself. I’ll would rather die than marry someone like that m...”

”Didn’t know that some people still question my orders and authority. I should perhaps punish you?” The sweet smile on Sthena’s face vanished and was replaced with a sinister look that looked nothing less than a Devil’s smile.

Lady Rosamonda was quick to shield Sarah behind her. ”Your Majesty, please spare your little sister. She’s young and naive. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

Sthena rolled his eyes, ”Of course, I know she’s young and naive. She said so herself. It makes me wonder where all your and the governess’s teachings went to, hmm?”

The statement of Sthena brought a wave of embarrassment that washed over Lady Rosamonda as she looked away from Sthena, but her eyes were still filled with arrogance.

”I can’t believe you are also sending me away. Didn’t you say I’m your sweet little sister? Can’t you see I’ll die with such a man?”

”Of course, it is what I said. If you were not my sweet little sister, you would have been receiving the punishment for going against my words. Nothing will kill you, sweet sister. I know those balled fists of yours can smack the face of anyone who dared to touch you.” Sthena’s eyes briefly swept past Sarah’s hands by her side and she was quick to loosen her hands.

”Instead of you wasting my time to renounce your marriage, you should be on your mother’s neck rather than meeting me. The decision is all in her hands.” Sthena said with a knowing look and smile on his face.

The arrogance and frown on Lady Rosamonda’s face drastically changed to horror. Her eyes slightly widened as she stared at the King who began to walk past them.

”Tch, to even think I am building a mansion for my little sister, but it turns out she doesn’t appreciate the wonderful gift of this big brother of hers,” Sthena said and walked away from there. The playful and sinister smile on his face vanished along with his retreating body.

Hearing the words of Sthena, Sarah turned curiously at her mother and questioned,

”What did he mean by that, Mother?”

”Nothing,” Lady Rosamonda quickly said. ”Focus on your marriage and learn everything you need to learn and stop with your unnecessary tantrums and questions.” With that, Lady Rosamonda left Sarah in the hallway and quickly walked away.

Sarah stared at her mother’s retreating back and questioned herself, ”Why does it look like there is something they’re not telling me about this marriage? And I’m here suffering because of their conspiracy.” Sarah angrily stomped her feet on the floor as she looked ahead with determination in her dark red eyes.

She was going to do whatever it took to get the king to renounce her marriage with Mr. Hans!