Dangerous Fates

Prologue

Prologue

Leila's POV

I almost died fitting into the dress. My mother pulled the strings so tight, you would have thought I was being punished.

"Mother! Do you wish to murder your favorite daughter?" I barely rasped out.

"You are my only daughter, and god forbid I have another after you. For heavens sake my dear, you eat more than your brothers!" She yelled another insult, sweating.

She heaved a huge breath and after securing three unbreakable knots, she put on a big smile and turned to leave.

I sarcastically smiled back "Why thank you mother, your company is always so pleasant. It's not like I needed a working spinal cord anyway".

She wagged a finger at me "If you do not catch the interest of a young man today, I swear to you I will feed you only bowls of spinach! That way maybe your pale skin can gain color", and with that, she left with her head held higher than the queen herself.

I stuck my tongue out at her as I saw my eldest brother round the corner with his three month old crying child in hands.

He laughed as he looked at me.

"I see your interest in joining the circus has returned" his smile was blinding.

"Your compliments are the highlight of my days. Shut your mouth before you have me loose my sight. Heaven knows your empty pockets wont be able to afford me surgery" I smiled right back.

Although I will admit I did resemble a clown at the moment.

"You wound me sister" I ignored his annoyingly perfect face and held my hands out to hold my beautiful nephew.

I swayed the child in my hands and hummed a lullaby. He looked at me in a very awed expression as the baby instantly quietened into slumber.

"He definitely went after his mother. It's good for I would pity the child who gets your looks. I suffered very much myself for having a troll as a brother" I joked.

We both looked up at each other and laughed. It was nice and my eyes teared up as I realized just how much I had missed him.

I put my nephew in a crib and tackled my brother in a hug with tears leaking.

"I could very much kill you, Liam. You caused me to ruin my make up!" I accused trying to keep a smile off my face. He remained silent, hugging me. Afterwards, he helped me to the powder room and washed off my face, pulling my hair out of the neat bun atop my head.

"Don't change yourself no matter what mum says. Your beautiful, you know that Leila?" His voice poured with honesty.

I softly shook my head quietly. "Mother's pressuring for me to marry. She is angry with me. She already has responsibility for four other mouths to feed. I don't know how to help her Liam. Dad's making her do this, he doesn't acknowledge me as his daughter anymore. I have become a burden".

Liam remained quiet for a bit "I've been helping as much as I can but I have my own family now. The balls today, so use this as your chance. You should probably cake on some make up. Men usually go after women who paint there faces like canvases" He jokingly teased in the end.

I cracked a small smile, washing away my tears. "Bye, Liam. The carriage- Oh dear it's pulling up! I must be going!" I shrieked, patting down my hair and running to our houses door.

It was a small house. We were mere farmers of this land, but for this one night I felt like a princess. I had my own carriage and I was adorned in a lovely gown.

Mother took a seat next to me, she softly held my hand. "My dear, when they see you, they will be fighting for your hand" she complimented.

Ha, that's what she said every ball. What would make this different? I would be lucky if they even noticed my hand. I amused myself quietly as my four younger brothers waved at Liam and his wife from the carriage.

I winked at Liam and the carriage sped away to a sure doom.