Witches of Regnum

XXIII

"Engagement ceremony?"

"Yes your heighness, the engagement of Duke Ren Rose and his bethroted at Winnzel Palace" the servant replies. Doa looks one more time at the scroll and rolls it up, placing it back on the serving tray the servant had brought.

"Alright, prepare a carriage for my arrival at Cyrus Palace, thank you" she replies as the young servant bows and leaves.

So Ren was finally having his engagement ceremony, meaning tonight he would officially be engaged her.

Something about the entire thing made Doa unhappy, and seeing that he even sent an invitation to her made her heart boil with both anger and sadness. It was like he was shoving his new marriage in her face, that, as mockery.

But then again why should she care? She has no relationship with Ren, he was free to do whatever he liked in his life, and so did she.

Rising from the throne she sat she made her way out of the throne room, finished with the hearings for today. She slowly walked up the main staircase leading to the royal sleeping chambers. The palace of Arcelia was none like any other, it had walls but none of them contained celiengs. All top most spaces led to the very sky itself, allowing whoever walked under it feel Asif they were walking in the clouds themself, the moon and the sun shining being the only source illuminating the household, and the sky creatures were trained and welcome any time.

As she arrived at her sleep chambers, she decided to close her roof. Bedrooms had the option of closing with a dome, for safety reasons ofcourse. She plopped unto her high canopy bed and wondered how it was all going to go. She was telling herself she didn't care but since hearing the news all she could think about was showing the Duke how much she didn't care, which was harder than she thought.

"Your heighness?" A soft voice was heard at the door. Recognizing it was her personal lady in waiting, doa smiled. "Yes Ella come in"

A petite figure appears from the door, short brown hair and electric blue eyes, she bows at the princess and smiles. She had been the princess's Lady in waiting for a long time. Along with her came two other ladies, assisting lady Ella in pushing in a long clothing rack with numerous outfits for the ceremony this evening.

But along with them came another familiar face.

"Lady Talia?" Doa asks in confusion. The dark witch smiles at her, playing with her hair which she had kept in a braid for a difference.

"Pardon me your heighnesses, but I wished to speak to you" she explains walking towards her. " Well did you have to come with my ladies in waiting? You could have asked for a priva-"

" Your heighness, the matter is urgent, but it's more of an assistance, I'd like to help you prepare for the evening" she says hiding something behind her words. Doa looks at her and then at lady Ella and she replies she princess with a shrug.

"Alright then" Doa agrees making Talia smile slyly. She goes towards the rack of gowns and shuffles through them, her eyes meet with a light pink dress incrested with gold details.

"This.." she began staring at it Asif she had found lost treasure. ".. your heighness if you will, I feel this dress fits the occasion most, it will surely make... An impression" she adds giving her a knowing look. Doa looks at her and then the dress a bit suspicously.

Make an impression? What did she mean by that? Surely she couldn't Know.

"Um alright then, ladies could you help me into it? " Doa asks, eyes still fixated on the dark witch that stared at her. The ladies nod and help her into her closet.

After some moments, she reapears dressed in the gown. Surprisingly it fit her quite well. The light pink complemented her skin and the gold made it stand out.

"It's... Quite nice" she says looking at herself in the mirror. She thought to how Ren always loved pink.

He loved her in pink.

"I'll wear it" she says looking back at Talia who smiled. "I'm glad you chose this your heighness" she replies.

The ladies help her with her hair and makeup before leaving the princess's sleeping chamber. Leaving only her and Talia alone.

"Is there a problem lady Talia?" Doa asks wondering why she hadn't left yet.

" Oh there's no problem with me princess Doa, there's rather one with you" she replies. Doa looks at her taken aback.

" Excuse me?" She asks offended.

"Your heighness.." she begins drawing closer. ".. I'm aware of what goes on between you and the Duke, Ren" she whispers. Doa looks at her shocked and freezes. Their relationship was unknown to everyone in the kingdom, even the princesses, how in the world could she have found out?

"I- I do not know what you're talking about" she replies trying to hide her nerves.

" Yes you do, your heighness I heard you twos conversation at Cyrus, I know what's going on" she says sending another wave of shock through Doa.

" I-"

"There's no need to worry dear cousin, we are family, and I am no snitch" Talia says with a smirk. Doa replies in silence and looks away.

" But what I would like is to help you" she adds.

"Help me? In what way? " Doa asks letting her curiously get the best of her.

" Well, cousin, after listening into your conversation the other day I felt what the Duke was doing is unfair, and when I heard the news of his engagement ceremony, I knew I had to do something" she explains circling her.

Doa furrows her brows and watches as she brings out a small bottle from the pocket of her dress.

"This, your heighness is a spell done by dark Witches for centuries" she says with a grin.

" What does it do? " Doa asks.

"It's a love potion, more descrete and undetectable than the ones made here, whoever drinks it only has to stare into the eyes of their lover for a good five seconds and poof! " She snaps her fingers " their heart belongs to them"

Doa looks and the bottle and shakes her head.

" No... No I can't, I won't-"

" Oh but you will, I heard that this fiance of his is no good, she will make the Duke's life miserable like she did to past lovers, you will be sparing him" Talia explains.

" But I do not even love the Duke, and to steal the groom of an unsuspecting girl with... Dark magic of all things, it's simply cruel" she explains.

" We must do alot of things in the name of love" Talia replies simply.

" Do you know what a scandal like this could cause? I could be punished or humiliated, Adultery in such dark ways could cause me my throne!" doa exclaims.

" Well no one will know, you wouldn't tell and I certainly won't, what's there to loose? You'd have the love of your life by your side forever, and if at all his fiance could be exposed for her past evil deeds" Talia explains. Doa looks away in silence.

No, this was wrong, if Ren loved her she wouldn't have to use any magic, she wanted true love not some spell.

"Thank you for the offer lady Talia, but I'd rather not risk it" Doa says justly.

" Alright then your highness I can not force you, but take it with you incase you might reconsider" she says handing her the potion.

" Trust me lady Talia, I won't" she replies.

" Okay then" Talia says with a sly smile.
"Uhm your heighness don't forget your purse!" She adds handing her the small bag that went with her outfit.

"Thank you" Doa replies heading for her door.

The dark witch smiles and follows her out of the room, her work here was done.