The Legend of the Dragon Princess

Thirty-third Part

Hard feelings between siblings...

Enjoy,

Serena12195

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Lyretta looked at Esmeralda and for some reason could not bring herself to smile at her. Actually, looking at her sister's face, her joy slowly dissipated.

Esmeralda's eyes were still shining with unshed tears, her lips were set in a firm line, and her already pale face had become deathly white.

"Are you...now happy?" Esmeralda forced those words out of her lips as a single tear fell from her eyes.

Lyretta looked at that tear and watched as it traveled down her sister's pale porcelain face.

Esmeralda waited for an answer, hearing none she shook her head slightly.

"What more do you want?" Esmeralda tears now began to fall in earnest. Her heart hurt too much, and she needed an outlet for her pain. As her tears fell on her neck she felt slight tinges of heat and those comforted her just a tiny bit.

"You took my mother's happiness, you now have a position equal to mine, my father ignored my wishes to humor you, the man I love pays more attention to you then---" Esmeralda's voice cracked as she continued.

"me.... so..." Esmeralda held on to Lyretta's arm even tighter and brought her face close to Lyretta.

"SO, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!" Esmeralda's glare was full of tears. Despair and hatred tinged her voice.

Lyretta did not have words to reply. She did not know how to comfort her sister, nor did she know how to assure her that all she wanted was to share her love with her father and with her.

Esmeralda's lips trembled as she smiled sinisterly.

"Alright. You can have those things. At least I know that my mother and father wanted me. Not like you who was born from a whore who slept with a man practically married!" Esmeralda was no longer sure of what she was even saying all she knew was that she wanted to hurt Lyretta.

Lyretta lost her bewildered look, and for the first time in her life she struck out against someone.

'Pah'

The sound of the slap was covered by a sudden crescendo from music playing in the background. Some people noticed what was happening, but pretended otherwise. Who wanted to get in between a fight between the future Queen and a lady of the Soumi clan... obviously no one did.

Marchioness Alitia however had been watching the entire time and she had heard most of what had been said. She had been about to stand up for her sister herself, she had never thought that good natured Lyretta would take the initiative to take such a heavy-handed approach. Marchioness Alitia once more returned to be a spectator and waited to see what Lyretta would do.

"Do not speak of my mother in such a way. My mother was once a maiden in love, she gave her life to give birth to me because of that love. Do not taint it with your words." Lyretta spoke very quietly but each word was said with sincerity. She could and would tolerate most things done against her, but she would never tolerate anyone talking badly about her own family.

Esmeralda held her cheek. "Ha! Hahaha, so, you show your true colors. Evil woman. My mother was right! You just aim to take what is mine, you are a usurper!" The words she had said had produced a bitter feeling in her heart, but Lyretta's heavy slap had wiped that bitterness, it had also stilled her tears. Her stinging cheek reminded her that the girl before her would always be her enemy. If any other person had hit her that person would have been put to death, to Lyretta-- what could they do? She was a princess now too. Even if she hadn't been the Soumi Clan was her background.

Lyretta opened her mouth but did not know how to refute her sisters mean hearted words.

Esmeralda did not give her a chance to think and simply pushed her away as she tried to leave the ballroom. She could not stand being in front of this usurper any longer!

Lyretta who had earlier been trying to get off the dais suddenly teetered backwards, unsteady on her feet.

'Ahh!' Lyretta closed her eyes as she fell backwards.