The Bride

Chapter 9

     "I'm just not... sure about him as I was at first, ya know?" I was having a conversation with one of the handsmaids out on the balcony. We where sipping the tea that she brought me, and I had insisted that she stayed so we could chat. "I know I must sound awful, I really don't deserve him, do I?"

     "No, no, no, no, no, miss. You aren't in the least bit awful! You see... the Prince... well he's.." Before she could finish her thought, Bella came into the room, a slightly panicked look on her face.

     "Llana... the Prince wants to see you now," Bella says, her eyes darting over to me for a second before she looked back at Llana. Llana's face paled and her eyes widened. Bella seemed to notice this.

     "I could... I could see what he wanted for you, if you'd like?" Bella offered for Llana.

     "No, no he wants me, I'll go," She walks past Bella, and I hear her whisper something that sounds a bit like, "I couldn't put you through something like that again." I couldn't have heard that right. What could she have possibly been talking about? I walk over to Bella.

     "Bella, what did she mean that she 'couldn't put you through something like that again'?" I ask, my voice filled with skeptism and some worry. "Bella, is there something going on that I don't know about?"

     "I.... I'm not sure what you're talking about Arielle," Bella tells me, not looking at me in the eyes.

     "Oh please, he's been asking for you guys, the handmaids, a lot. Even the younger servants," Suddenly, I panic a bit, worried that something is wrong with him. "Is Ethan hurt? Is my husband okay? Why can't I see him right now? " I can't believe I ever had one bad thought about him. Maybe I was the one that he wasn't sure about. Honestly, I wouldn't know what I'd do without him. I loved him, and I always would. I am so selfish at times.

     "Your husband is fine," Bella says, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "I'm jealous of your innocence." She said in a hused voice I could barely hear.

     "What are you talking about?!"

     I reach for Bella's arm just as she was about to turn and walk away. She looked up at me, and I could see tears forming in her eyes. This startled me, and I let go of her. "Bella, what's going on?"

     "Maybe soon you'll see for yourself," was all she said to me before she ran back inside.

     "Bella! Wait! What do you mean?!" I shout after her. But it's too late.

     She'd already disappeared.

°°°

     The next day, I was talking a walk through the palace. Even though I may be the new Queen of Alanderia, I didn't have much to do just yet. Ethan was always holed up in his chambers. We only saw each other at meals, and in the night, where we barely got sleep. He wasn't much of a sleeper, if you only know what I mean.

     I was looking at his family portrait. There he was, with his beautiful eyes, his beautiful hair, his beautiful... everything. I sigh, thinking that my life couldn't get any better. I then examine his parents. His mother had his brown eyes and hair, but his father really stuck out. The King had strawberry-blonde hair, similar to mine. And his eyes bore a striking resemblance as well... I was torn away from my thoughts when I heard a soft moan coming from down the hallway. It was coming from Ethan's room. Curious, I started to walk over to where his room was located. The moans got louder as I got closer to his chambers. Suddenly, I heard a thump, and I rushed over. I was about to knock on his door to ask if he was alright, but I was stopped by the sound of a voice.

     "Oh, Ethan..."

      My heart stopped cold in my chest. It couldn't be...

     "Seleste..." I heard Ethan say in a breathy voice.