Two months had passed since Posy's ankle confined her to crutches, and now, with the promise of healing, she found herself standing on the threshold of a significant moment.
The night before the Chroma ball, King Augustine and Queen Pandora summoned Posy into their regal chamber. The weight of expectation hung in the air, and Mari, sensing the impending announcement, already simmered with discontent.
"Posy, my dear, come in. We have something important to discuss with you" Queen Pandora smiled gracefully at her daughter, welcoming her to their bedroom away from the other seven girls.
"Is everything alright?" Posy asked warily, frantically scanning the bedroom.
King Augustine reassuringly patted Posy's head, "Absolutely, my dear. Please, have a seat"
Posy did as she was asked and began fiddling with her dress, looking at the king and queen with bulging eyes.
"Firstly, we must express our joy that your ankle has healed splendidly. We were worried about you missing the royal ball" Queen Pandora expressed excitedly.
Posy blushed shyly, "Thank you. It's much better now".
"Excellent. Now, Posy, as you know, each year one of our daughters receives the special diamond necklace. Last year it was Isa's turn for winning the contest, and this year, it's yours" King Augustine explained.
Posy's eyes widened in shock. She could feel her heart leap for joy and sink to her stomach at the exact same time. She felt excited at the prospect of being the belle of the Chroma Ball, the girl who got to walk down last. This was a new experience for her and it was one she had dreams about, since she was the only girl of the eight sisters who had never received the necklace before. Thrilling, of course, but it was also incredibly daunting. The necklace looked dainty and awfully fragile, and one misstep could cause the necklace and the most important element of the ball to shatter to the ground in an instant. The thought filled her with dread and uncertainty.
"Mine? But why? I don't understand"
"Oh, Posy, you must stop underestimating yourself. Your father and I are so proud of you. You got third place in the horse race, and that is no small feat"
"I suppose, but still..."
King Augustine intervened, "No 'buts', Posy. You've earned this honour. We believe in you, and you should too".
Posy nodded, still feeling unsure. At that moment, Queen Pandora retrieved the diamond necklace- which still looked exquisite even after many generations- and placed it on Posy's neck, "And this necklace is not just a beautiful accessory. It's a symbol of our family's legacy, a piece of KodaCait history. You must cherish and protect it at all costs".
Posy glanced up at her parents and flashed them a grateful smile, "Thank you, Mum and Dad. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations".
"That's the spirit, my dear. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow's ball will be a night to remember"
As Posy calmly left the room, contemplating her new responsibility, Mari angrily barged past her. Mari was livid. She wanted to wear the necklace a second time, and the opportunity being ripped from her hands and given to her enemy made her shiver all over, and it wasn't because she felt cold. She didn't feel the need to knock on her parents' door, they didn't deserve it after the way they had betrayed her.
"What's the meaning of this, huh? Why does Posy get the necklace? I'm your daughter too, you know!" Mari shouted, breaking a vase near her.
As if the queen was taming an out of control lion, Queen Pandora placed her hands on Mari's shoulders, "Mari, darling, lower your voice. What's gotten into you?"
"I heard everything! You don't love me anymore! You promised me the necklace!"
King Augustine stepped in, his voice stern and authoritative, "Mari, that's enough. We do love you, very much, but you can't speak to us like this".
"Love me? You're obsessed with Posy now! She doesn't deserve that stupid necklace. She's dumb and clumsy. She'll ruin it!"
"Posy is a sweet girl. Don't speak about your sister that way." Queen Pandora defended Posy with a frown.
"Sweet? She fell off her horse and hurt herself. She's not even a good rider. How she got third place is still a mystery to me." Mari scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"She persevered, Mari. She showed determination and skill" King Augustine explained.
"You always favoured the other girls! I heard you talking about replacing me!"
Queen Pandora could feel her heart breaking, and her voice began to tremble, "Mari, love, that's not true. You're irreplaceable to us."
Mari turned to her mother, pointing accusingly at her, and gave her a dirty look, causing her to wince and shrink in fear. "You promised me the necklace! You're breaking your promise!"
King Augustine interrupted calmly, "Mari dear, we didn't break any promise. The necklace is a tradition, but it's not the only measure of our love"
"Love? Yeah, right. Idiot! You're probably having an affair since you're so obsessed with your new favourite daughter, Posy" Mari muttered snarkily.
"That's enough, Mariposa. You're out of line"
"I hate this family! I hate you all! Everyone can go to hell!"
Mari stormed out and slammed the door, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. King Augustine and Queen Pandora exchanged a look of deep sadness as they sat on their bed, hugging each other. The air, thick with hurt and unspoken grievances, hung like a heavy curtain, dividing the family in a moment of discord.
"Where did we go wrong, August?" Queen Pandora looked at her husband with a heavy heart after a moment of silence.
"I don't know, my love." King Augustine sighed, "We need to find a way to mend this."
The Queen rose from her bed and began pacing back and forth, clutching her chest, "I can't bear to see my little Butterfly so upset. Perhaps we should reconsider giving her the necklace. I did tell her last year-"
"Dora, we've been over this. The decision was made based on tradition and merit. Posy deserves the necklace."
"But Mari is our daughter too, August. And she's... well, she's more popular in society, and we both know why..." Queen Pandora spoke, biting her lip, "Giving her the necklace would garner more public approval. We must do what is right for our people..."
King Augustine stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders, his expression softening, "Pandora, we can't let public opinion dictate our decisions. Posy earned this honour through her achievements, not through popularity. We must do what is right for our family."
"I know, but..."
"And let's not forget, Posy's representation of our kingdom has been commendable. Third place in the KZLCX horse race is a big enough deal to deserve the necklace."
Queen Pandora sighed, nodding reluctantly, "You're right. But... it's always so hard to see my Butterfly so upset, it breaks my heart."
"Mari's your favourite, isn't she?"
She hesitated, avoiding his gaze.
"August, let's not make this about favourites. We love all our daughters equally."
"Of course, my dear. But we can't let our personal feelings cloud judgement."
"Alright then, Posy shall have the necklace."
King Augustine smiled triumphantly, pulling his wife into a hug, "Thank you, Dora. I know this isn't easy for you."
"I just miss the sweet Mari that everyone adored. She's changed so much." Queen Pandora tearfully murmured, accepting her husband's kiss.
"I miss her too, my dear. But we must have faith that she'll find her way back to us. In the meantime, we should get some sleep."
YOU ARE READING
8 Sisters of KodaCait: The Original
Teen Fiction"For the first time in the seven years since she first arrived, she began to think the Orphanage was a better place for her. She just hated herself, hated her life, hated everything. " King Augustine and Queen Pandora make a life changing decision t...
