Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 3

First thing in the morning Lucifer sent out a message to Seviathan, granting him permission to court Charlotte while Helsa immediately set about beautifying herself for potential suitors. She figured that she wouldn't attract as many now that her father had no wealth to speak of so she decided to accentuate her looks to draw them in. However while she was pleasing to the eye, she could not compare to the charms of her sister. Before Lucifer had lost his fortune, Helsa had eligible bachelors calling on her by the dozens but as soon as Charlotte passed by all of the men's faces would lit up with awe. They would almost instantly forget Helsa and begin pinning for the fair haired maiden. Now Charlotte would always reject them politely for she had no desire to leave her father but still envious hatred stung her younger sister's heart.

Helsa secretly hoped that her brother would be the only man Charlotte would end up marrying because she wanted all other fine prospects for herself. So on the day Seviathan was expected to make a visit, Helsa went out of her way to pressure Charlotte into accepting no other man but him.

"Really Charlotte your hair is atrocious." She scoffed upon seeing her sister return from the outdoors. "And you reek of goat hide! You can't possibly expect to impress Seviathan like that."

"I'm sorry Helsa." She apologized. "But one of the goats had gotten loose from the pen and he was heading straight to the forest. I had to get him or he would have been lost for good."

"Will you stop fussing over those disgusting creatures? Once we're married we won't have to rely on them to make ends meat anymore."

She ushered Charlotte into a chair and proceeded to yank out all the tangles in her hair as roughly and painfully as possible.

"Ow! Please Helsa, not so hard." Charlotte pleaded.

"I wouldn't have to pull so hard if you would for once in your life take some pride in your appearance. You know Seviathan may be willing to take any woman but he has some standards."

"Helsa I'm not sure if Seviathan is the one for me. I'm not even sure if there is anyone for me. To be perfectly honest I would be very happy spending the rest of my days here with Father."

"But what about my happiness? And Father's? You may be content to stay on this God forsaken farm but Father and I are absolutely miserable here. Also without a proper dowry I'll never be able to find a husband. But if you were to marry Seviathan, Father would be well cared for by servants and I would have my pick of any man in the city. But if you want to be selfish and deny us a chance at a better life..."

Helsa was gifted in manipulation and playing on one's emotions. Particularly guilt. She knew that someone as kind and selfless as Charlotte was easily prone to guilt so Helsa would often use that to her advantage any way she could. And sadly her methods always worked.

Poor Charlotte could not help think that her sister was right. She was kind of being selfish by refusing to marry. After all she had seen how unhappy both her father and sister had been since they moved here, how desperate they were to return to their former lives of luxury that could  make them the envy of even royalty. Charlotte didn't want to keep them from what they desired most.

"No. No you're right." Charlotte complied. "I know how much you and Father hate it here. I would do anything to make either one of you happy again."

"Well the best way you can do that is to allow my brother to court you. At least give him a chance, would that be too much?"

"No. No it wouldn't."

"Good."

Seviathan arrived precisely at tea time and on the back of one of his prized steeds that was no doubt worth it's weight in gold. He was dressed in expensive clothes that made him look very refined and handsome. His hair was jet-black and his eyes were green just like his mother's and sister's, his jaw was chiseled, his face very youthful, almost like Adonis from the Greek myths. It really was no wonder why so many women threw themselves at him.