Obsession and Betrayal: A Royal Love Triangle

Echoes of Deception

Later that same afternoon of her big day, Ida prepared for a night at the theater with her beloved Uncle. She stood before a full-length mirror, her figure was adorned in a breathtaking gown that shimmered like flowers on moonlite water. The gown was a flattering shade of soft blush pink and light blue satin that embellished the sleeves and train, with plum stained lace that cascaded around her slender form. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places before flowing down into a graceful train behind her. The colors brought out her black wavy hair and her nutmeg porcelain skin.
With delicate fingers, the handmaids had meticulously brushed and arranged her hair, allowing the wavy strands to cascade loosely down her back, framing her face and body.
As they fastened a single light blue sapphire pendant around her neck, her eyes sparkled with the stone as it matched her eyes perfectly. Her eyes reflected the excitement of the evening ahead. With a final glance in the mirror, she spun around watching her dress fan out as she spun, grinning with approval of how good she looked. She made her way to one of the sitting rooms by the entrance, holding her gloves and the play flier in hand. To pass the time she wanted to take another look at the flier.
"Echoes of Deception'' she read on the page
"A gripping drama that delves into the complexities of pain and manipulation. At its heart is the passionate yet tumultuous relationship between two lovers pushed together, Amelia and Edward."
This was the play she was going to see, she intensely read over the fliers and flipped the page to the cast. When her eyes stopped on a handsome man, who played Edward the male lead?!
She was shocked she had missed him when first looking over the flier before. She stared at his picture looking at his oval shaped face that seemed to have strong features, his dark hair falling down his neck and around his face made him even more handsome in her eyes. She sighed putting her head back on the neck pillow in the chair she was sitting in, her mind wandered to her early morning with Costello. The memories came back in steamy flashes played in her mind, the water splashing out of the tub, how passionately he kissed her that night, and how much she found herself imagining the man in the play. She let out an exhausted sigh walking around all day, and not getting enough sleep. Was not an amazing start to her long day. She hears the doors open to the entrance of the palace and the butler greeting what sounds like her uncle. She jumps up from her seat to head to the entrance.

"Uncle!!" she shouts with excitement throwing her arms into the air, skipping steps to throw herself into a hug with her Uncle almost knocking him over.

"What a way to greet your old uncle, don't you think Ida William" he says with his usual seriously sarcastic tone.

"Oh, my apologies", Ida says with a coy smile, stepping back dramatically to bow down picking up her long dress kicking her foot out doing a curtsy.

"Leonidas William Leverat Duke the III, it is an honor to have you here, " Ida can barely hold back her snickering, before lifting her head up to look at her uncle.

"We will arrive late if your behavior continues" Leonidas says with a big grin on his face.

"You were the one who shunned my loving embrace with a stuck up greeting" she says shrugging.

As they arrive in the bustling streets amidst the clatter of carriages and the chatter of passersby, the carriage round the long entrance road as he exits the carriage holding out his hand helping Ida down and out of the carriage. She looks up at the theater entrance, the lights decorating the entrance welcoming her with open arms. She wrapped her hand firmly in his arm, her eyes sparkled with anticipation as they approached the grand entrance of the theater. They took their seats, in a middle row close to the front of the stage. Her Uncle Leo couldn't help but smile at the wonder in his niece's eyes, her youthful glow reminded him of when she was smaller and he had showed theater. As the curtain rose and the lights dimmed, the play had started. An hour later, one that seemed to fly by, they took a brief intermission coming back to their seats eager for the final scene.

The lights dimmed for the final time as Ida sat eyes fixed to the curtains hiding the stage. When they finally parted. The male lead was bathed in a soft spotlight, he shouted and yelled. With each erratic expression and impassioned gesture, Ida felt like she'd been hit by a steam train. She felt like the air was escaping her lungs, her corseted waist felt like it was growing tighter as she struggled to catch her breath. As emotion seemed to drown her in an overwhelming fashion. His voice resisted with raw intensity, as he fell to his knees begging for life, expressing his misery.

"I am obsessed with you, you consume my body, mind and soul. I've never felt this way before. How can you torture me so with no regard. Even though I am not a privileged person, I need you to know how much you mean to me. You've brought so much joy into my life, how dare you think you have the right to take such a thing away from me. You do what you want with no remorse, and I can't imagine not having you in it. Not in a life of pain and misery,"

Mesmerized by the talent, and his good looks. She gazed at his browed shoulders and exposed chest, she noticed beads of sweat collecting on the forehead, some of his hair sticking to his neck and face. She stared at his green emerald eyes . She stared in awe as tears slowly fell down her face, cheeks hot, and her body feeling like it was melting from pleasure. In the moment, she felt a human connection, as if his emotions were forced upon her to share. As the final curtain fell,

she froze.

A coldness harsher than winter falling upon her, a applause thundered around her, patrons rising to their feet in applause. She couldn't stand from her seat as the chill  became harsher down the entirety of her, as a rising fit of jealousy made her feel sick. And all she could think about was how overwhelming everything felt. This is how she met,

Fredrick Newton