8 Sisters of KodaCait: The Original

Chapter Six: Echoes of Envy and Secrets

Odie was already a charming girl when she was adopted, but with the help of makeup and the best fashion in the whole of KodaCait, she had blossomed into a captivating, twenty year old beauty with her porcelain skin the colour of cinnamon and lacked imperfections. Her radiant, ash-brown afro framing her face like a halo. Her deep mahogany eyes sparkled with a blend of curiosity and quiet confidence, complemented by long, sweeping lashes that accentuated their allure. She was always the best dressed sister in her seamless blend of casual chic and timeless elegance. With her confidence, she was the tallest of the eight sisters. Yet, her allure extended beyond the physical-her intelligence shone through in every conversation, accompanied by a compassionate heart that drawed her younger sisters to her.

Since Isa was practically untouchable, all male eyes were on Odie as second choice. She had won the second highest prize at the contest: Miss Sapphire Sweetheart, and the words 'second' and 'Odie' were synonymous. The battle of who was prettier: Isa or Odie was the most popular argument in the kingdom. But Odie never let the talk of the people get in the way of her close relationship with Isa.

However, if there was one person who wasn't absolutely in love with Odie's charm, it was Mari, of course. Mari, fueled by jealousy, couldn't contain the bitterness that festered within her. The comparison to Isa, the acknowledged beauty of the family, and now Odie, bestowed with the title of "second prettiest," was a bitter pill for Mari to swallow. She felt like Odie had come in and taken the spot which was rightfully hers, and since then, she could never stand it when anyone complimented Odie's beauty.

"Oh, dear Odette, You have a unique and striking charm that sets you apart from the crowd!" one of the maids assisting her gushed.
"And Your eyes are absolutely stunning; they have a way of drawing people in."
"Especially the boys!"

Unlike Isa, Odie never knew how to take the compliments, whether to say "thank you" or to just smile was a mystery. For the moment, she just smiled and nodded. Even her smile alone made everyone swoon.

Mari was seated in the seat next to Odie's right, and overhearing the compliments, she was seething with rage. She kept passing Odie an abundance of dirty looks, wishing that they could swap places. She hated how the maids freely complemented the eldest girls, but were quivering when they approached her. They were jealous of her beauty- that's what she thought it was.

It got even worse when Queen Pandora gracefully strolled in to wish her daughters good morning. Mari folded her arms and tapped her foot on the floor frustratedly as her mother went to Odie first to gently kiss her forehead.

"Good morning Odie" the Queen smiled, after politely curtseying to the surrounding maids.
"Good morning Mum" Odie responded with one of her infamous charming grins.
"Oh, my dear daughter, You have a truly captivating smile that brightens up any room. You've got something in your hair, my love."

The maids around them nodded their heads synonymously in approval. As Queen Pandora approached her younger daughter to give her a kiss, Mari felt herself shaking with jealousy. Her stomach was churning in a thousand different directions. Mari, unable to mask her envy any longer, attempted to diminish Odie's accomplishment.

"Good morning, my butterfly" Queen Pandora whispered into Mari's ear, but she jerked her head back, pushing her mother away.
"Oh stop buttering up Odie the giant beanstalk, Mum! She isn't even that pretty! How do you even notice her face when she's so... tall" she snarled, staring fixedly at Odie.

Queen Pandora was taken aback. She placed a hand on her chest, looking hurt at her daughter's outburst. She had been like this ever since the adopted girls had come into the picture, and she still had no idea where she went wrong. The maids hung their heads down, almost expecting the verbal whiplash.