Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 2

In a certain city whose name is forgotten, there lived a merchant-master called Lucifer who had been married and widowed twice. His first wife, Lilith whom he had married for love had died from extreme complications she suffered during childbirth. His second wife, Bethesda whom he had married for convenience was executed by the authorities for attempting to poison him so she could have his fortune all to herself. It was all tragic really, lost his beloved first wife too soon into the marriage and later was betrayed by his greedy second wife but he was not left alone by these great losses. For you see Lucifer had two daughters, each by one of his wives.

Helsa his younger daughter by his second wife was very attractive and refined. Black-haired, green-eyed, with an impressive long neck. She carried herself with the elegance one would often see with royalty and dressed herself in rich clothes. On great feast days when the house was set in order she would sit under silken canopies with lovers at her feet and jewels adorning her apparel. However despite her pretty face, Helsa was a vain, selfish, and greedy girl who always seemed to wake up with a bad temper and not one day went by when she didn't have a cross word to say to someone.

Charlotte his older daughter by his first wife was as beautiful as the dawn. Such a lovely maid was never seen. Her face was cherubic with a peaches and cream complexion, her eyes were an innocent blue, and her hair was of the fairest shade of blonde there ever was yet her beauty was not skin deep. She was kind, gentle, and loving. She would spend her festive days calling forth the local children to gather flowers with her or read stories to them or play sweet music for them with the harpsichord. She gave love freely to all who knew her and this in turn caused her perfect loveliness to outshine all other pretty maids in the land.

Lucifer adored Charlotte and she doted on him almost every hour of everyday. There was nothing in the world that she wouldn't do for him and although he reciprocated the same devoted love, he tended to be very controlling of Charlotte and would not always consider her perspective on a subject. He assumed that in every instance he knew what was best and that there was nothing more to say about it.

Helsa had little to no love for Charlotte. She envied her older sister for the beautiful face that God gave her and the love her kindness won for her. In her wretchedness, she cursed Charlotte and never missed an opportunity to say sharp cruel words to her. It hurt Charlotte that Helsa harbored such hatred and jealousy toward her but nevertheless she still tried her best to get along with her.

As for how the family lived it was a life that many would envy. Their home was a grand manor house with alabaster walls, trimmed with gold. The father gave his daughters magnificent gifts and spared no cost for their education. And the family would spend many evenings going out to parties of pleasure, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth. All in all it was a very content way to live.

But fortune is not always kind, one day all of Lucifer's ships which carried his fine goods were destroyed by an awful a storm that took place over seas which cost the family their wealth, their manor house, and all other valuable things that they possessed. So they had no choice but to move into a small house in the countryside where Lucifer farmed the land and his daughters were instructed to keep house. But Helsa merely forced her sister to do all the housework while she would sit around and talk foolishness about how she deserved better than this life. But Charlotte never complained and she did her best to remain cheerful despite the difficult circumstances. Her step was light, her voice was happy, and she was eager to help.

"Good morning Helsa." She greeted her sister at the start of the day.

"What's so good about it?" Helsa whined. "Another day on this God forsaken farm surrounded by dirty mules and filthy peasants! It's positively revolting!"

"Oh it's not so bad. The other farmers and the fishermen are actually quite friendly. Some of them are even willing to share their grain and fish with us. Why not come with me to the market next week? That way you can meet them and realize just how neighborly they are."