The Villager

8

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"The Chesire's everyone!" King Jaxson announces to the crowd at this beautiful ball he had done for Ugene and Josephine on their arrival back from their honeymoon.

Josephine and Ugene hold each other, walking down the steps of the Kingdom ball as eyes latch onto them but they do not pay no mind to anyone. They were all they needed.

Once Ugene steps at the bottom of the steps, he turns, opening his arm at King Jaxson whom holds a smile.

"King Jaxson and the wonderful Queen Arabella," he announces loudly, everyone clapping from all over the ballroom.

Jaxson and Arabella come together, hand in hand as they walk down the steps, gathering all the attention on them. Josephine and Ugene are long forgotten.

"Princess Serena and Prince Bridger Cunningham," Ugene then announces, earning more claps as the couple walks down the steps.

I stand on the side near Josephine, offering small claps with a soft smile.

Bridger leans into Ugene. "You forgot to add handsome or ravishing next to my name." Serena hits her husband's chest, stepping away as she nears my being. She grips both of my hands, squeezing them.

"I have not seen your face in a while," she observes.

"Likewise." I smile.

"I invited Lord Hampton and Miss Lumpkin..." She trails innocently.

I hum. "That is lovely to hear. I am sure they will have a grand time."

She eyes me, flipping her long blonde hair behind her back. She wishes to speak about the situation, but does not want to push.

"Serena, I know." Is all I speak.

Her eyes widened, she then awkwardly laughed. "Funny, isn't it?" I give her a small smile, lifting my eyes over the crowd of people that have come to celebrate the royal courtiers. Serena squeezes my hand again. "I apologize. He kept asking me where you live, and he has this spark in his eyes when he wants something and you cannot help but give it to him-"

"I am not angry, Serena." I soothe her worries. She breathes out. It was true. When Timothy wished for something, he always got it.

My eyes find him in the crowd, Tiffany's arm is around his, but they are distances away from each other. His body is tense as he frantically looks around for something certain.

Or someone.

Serena catches him in her sights along with me. She leans into me. "When I first met him, our parents wished for us to wed. Though, I could not and he knew that. He knew that I loved Bridger. He told me he could not marry either."

Of course, he couldn't. He didn't wish to until now. Why now?

"He was kind, charming, and caring," she continues as my eyes still latch onto him as the couple moves, earning looks of the newly engaged couple. Tiffany waves at a few people she knows, but Timothy never smiles at anyone, he simply walks like he has somewhere to be. His mind elsewhere.

His eyes flicker over the people until they land on my being. My breath gets caught in my throat, and I suddenly can't look away from him.

Tiffany looks up at him, noticing his eyes somewhere else. She catches sight of me, waving and pulling his being to where she wishes to go.

Oh no.

Serena giggles at my reaction, patting my arms. "They are coming," she sings.

"I know," I whisper.