I Smell Foul Play (Arielle’s Suspicion)
Vampires believed that after a death is mourned, it must be celebrated. After a person is mourned, the life he’d lived must be celebrated with food and drinks for the person might’ve lived a memorable life. It was a belief that stemmed from the vampire's desperation to please the holy one and lift the curse that had been placed upon them. Because most vampires got old before they left the world, it had been an easy practice.
Although in most cases, family members mourn even while celebrating. To Elora, it seemed like this for the royal family. The silence that she met as she walked into the large funeral dining hall with Arielle by her side was bitingly terrifying. Guests were seated quietly on the floor cushions with a table each before them.
The servants led them to the platform meant for the royal family and they drew out chairs for them. But only a few seconds after they sat, the king and queen followed by the princess and prince's arrival were announced, causing them all to rise in respect.
“Long live the rulers of Elyria,” the crowd echoed.
The royal family was seated opposite each other with a middle walkway space. The queen sat at the opposite end of Elora while the first princess sat beside her mother. She had a full face of makeup and unlike Arielle, her eyes weren’t swollen nor did they look like they’d shed even the tiniest bead of tear. She stiffened when she felt the crown prince take a seat right next to her.
“Serve the food,” the king ordered after everyone was seated.
Silence followed afterward as the servants began to serve food and drinks.
She didn’t know why but she suddenly felt uneasy being surrounded by the vampire royals but Arielle’s presence beside her supported and calmed her. At least, she felt safe beside her.
“The second princess’s death is such a tragedy,” the queen’s voice tore through the silence, cutting it in half. “It’s such a shame. But we can’t question the decision of the holy one on whom to call.”
“I don’t think it’s the decision of the holy one, Royal mother,” Arielle sharply cut in. “I do think that my sister's death is suspicious.”
All eyes turned to the third princess immediately and murmurs began to circulate in the hall.
“What do you mean by that? Do you mean that somebody has a hand in her death?” The Queen fired, her voice stern and laced with a warning.
“Is it not so?”
“How dare you lay such an accusation? Her voice lifted. “The physician confirmed. The princess died due to the complications of childbirth.”
“How about her baby?” She yelled.
The first princess shot upright from her chair and pointed a finger at Arielle. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at my mother. You’re only like this because you’re born of the same mother as the second princess.”
It was true. While the third princess and Arielle shared a late concubine mother, the first princess, the crown Prince, and the third prince were born to the queen while Rafael was born to a human mother.
“You expect me to sit idle? This is a ploy. I smell foul play.”
The princesses shot glares at each other.
“You have no respect? Do you wish to be in the grave like your sister?”
Arielle’s eyes grew darker and before anyone could blink, she was right before the first princess with her hand wrapped tightly around her neck.
“You never respected my sister when she was alive and now you dare speak down at her?” She squeezed Lilth’s neck tighter, cutting her airflow while she cried for help. Everyone rose to stop the princesses. “Don’t forget that if it weren’t for partiality in this household, you would’ve been the one married to the prime minister.” The memory of a few years ago when her sister was forced to marry the prime minister flashed into her head. She looked around. “And oh, he’s not even here today.”
“Enough!” A slam of a table followed by the commanding roar of the king caused everyone to stiffen. “I am going to forgive this if you both take your seats right now. Otherwise…. You’ll both be punished.”
Reluctantly, Arielle pulled away from the princess and after shorting her a glare, she returned to her position beside Elora.
“Are…are you okay?” Elora worriedly asked. She’s been worried that a huge fight might break out.
“Don’t worry. The first princess is way too weak to hurt me.”
Lilth grunted in her seat, her way of saying that she’d in fact heard her.
The queen took over from the king. “We’re here to mourn and not to fight. Let us respect the dead and pray for the Holy One to cease its wrath toward us. We need to find a solution to the impending doom right away and the only person who can help us at this point is you, Princess Elora.”
Elora’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t think that she had heard the Queen’s words clearly. Perhaps she’d been too busy wondering what Rafael could be up to that she heard wrongly? How could she be of help to a country filled with powerful creatures like Elyria?
“Your majesty, I doubt I can be of no help.” She lowered her head.
“Of course you can, Princess Elora. You’re the only one who can help us.”
A servant placed food and tea on her table.
Her voice lowered. “But…how?”
The Queen glanced at the eunuch beside her. He stepped forward with a royal decree and after he opened the seal, he began to read.
“Elyria needs The Gifted One to be forgiven by the Holy One. The Gifted One must be mated with a Royal for her powers to bloom fully. If the princess of Yvlies gives up her pride and convinces the second prince, Rafael to take Lady Zireya as a concubine, we promise to send her back to Yvlies safe and honored. On behalf of Elyria, we plead.”