CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

 A fancy burgundy tulle ball gown with tiny embroidered black gems, showing my bare neckline down to my arms, was making me feel like a real princess of the castle. I tied my long black hair into a bun and a silver circlet was braided at the top of it, allowing the cold breeze touched my nape generously. I had nothing with me except for the invitation and a red purse.

The carriage dropped me in front of the castle. A royal guard came to escort me as I walked towards the stairs which was covered with red carpet. White and red rose petals were thrown around the place. The wooden double door was opened wide and the guests were coming inside.

“Welcome to the castle, my lady. Please allow us to check your name on the list.” he asked sounding so formal.

“It’s Lady Sharifa of Mahani Mountain.” I stated as I gave him the invitation. As soon as they found my name on their list, they immediately escorted me inside. An usherette came to me and led me to my seat. The castle was dashing, it was filled with wealth and power. It was giving a medieval atmosphere. Everything was screaming royalty and everyone was so elegant and classy. The hall was huge and the artistic structure of its stairway at the front was making the whole place more majestic. 

“Have a great day, my lady.” the usherette greeted before she went back to her post to usher another guest.

After I took my seat, I was then welcomed with delicious looking foods. It was placed beautifully in a round table in front of me, that even I would be shy to take bite.

When I finally stopped myself from admiring the castle, I immediately opened my purse to check for the ampule. The transparent container was letting me see through the red liquid inside.

I then scanned the hall for a possible sight of the third prince. And right then, I saw him at a corner, standing confidently. He was wearing a black suit and his brown hair was again, tied up. His dark feature alongside with his shoulder-length hair was giving him the attention he didn’t wished from the crowd. His aura was surfacing even without doing anything.

“That is Prince Keeram, the third prince. Even with his bad reputation, he is still attractive as ever.” a woman from our table, looking beautiful in her silver dress, said to her friends dreamily.

“Even if he is a prince, he shouldn’t have punched a member of the royal council.” the woman in red said. Punch? He seriously did that? He was really a danger himself. But I needed him for my plan.

“That is why he is under probation and is now regretting what he did.” the woman in silver dress defended.

“But I heard he had been leaving the castle for the past days. He is back from being a bastard.”

“What did you just say?!”

“Laila, relax. Come on! I was just saying facts here.”

I couldn’t believe I almost witnessed a catfight just because one had, obviously, a thing with Keeram, and the other one was saying ill words to him.

I then redirected by gaze to where Keeram was standing. His eyes were aiming at me, as if waiting for me to notice him. I automatically stood up from where I was seated when I saw him walking to a door. I followed him.

A long hallway welcomed me after I entered inside. No one was there except for Keeram who was at the other end and was making his way upstairs.

I moved from my feet and followed his steps. I had to lift my dress up a little to avoid myself from slipping as I climbed the stairs. As soon as I reached the top, a grip hustled me inside a room.

“Where is the potion?” Keeram asked before locking the door behind me.

“You scared me!” I exclaimed. I mean, I knew that we would do this in secret but he could just call me to get inside. Besides, no one was even here.

“Just hand me the bottle, Sharifa. Quit complaining.”

“Right!” I said, a little bit annoyed.

I opened my purse and revealed the ampule.

“Here.” I said and handed it to him. He stared at it for a second before putting it in his suit’s right pocket.       

“How long does it take for it to work?”

“As soon as he drinks it.”

“All of it?”

“A single drop would be enough. Just put it in his glass and make sure that he drinks from it.”

After I explained how the Love Potion works, he left me in this room. When a minute or two had passed, I decided to leave the room as well. I went back to my seat inside the huge hall. The servants were serving wine to the guests and the seats were almost full. The wedding would start at any time soon.

After an hour, a loud gong was heard outside and a mellow music filled the whole castle. The guests were all seated and no one was moving from here and there.

“The wedding is starting.” said by an old lady from another table.

Everyone darted their stare at the top of the grand stairway. A royal announcer was sighted along with a group of royal guards and usherettes. My heart started pounding hard.

“I am honoured and privileged to present to you, the royalties from the different kingdoms!” his voice was followed by a band of music.

“King Ryan and Queen Tatiana from Putua Kingdom, with their daughter, Princess Vanessa Moana.” he said and a big round of applause came to follow.

The royal family of Putua appeared on the top of the grand stairway. The princess was in between her parents, the three of them were shining like crystals. They climbed down the stairs and another royal family appeared from the top then was being presented.

The royal presentation continued for minutes. Until it was the royal family of Ramain’s turn.

“Let us welcome, the royal family of Ramain Kingdom! King Darius III and Queen Bebenie together with their sons, Prince Rauf, Prince Keeram, Prince Farouk, Prince Wakel and Prince Aber.”

I didn’t know not until today that Ameril and Keeram had three younger brothers. I thought Keeram was their youngest.

The five princes who were standing behind their parents were all tall and handsome. All were oozing with appeal but in different ways. The second prince, Prince Rauf, and Keeram were looking stern and dangerous, giving us the mysterious kind of atmosphere. While the other three were smiling and looking so friendly.  I didn’t know but I could feel that something was off among them.

“You heard about Prince Keeram?” the woman beside me, the one in floral gown, asked to her friends.

It was a whisper but loud enough for the girls in our table to hear. I didn’t mean to gather information by eavesdropping but I couldn’t just block the words going to my ears.   

“About what?” one asked.

“He is an illegitimate son.” she said, almost a puff of air. Everybody was so shocked, that even I found myself in deep confusion.

“Hey! Someone might hear you.” her friend reminded. They looked at me like I was some kind of an intruder.

I just stayed still, tried to avoid their line of sight and pretended not to hear anything from them. I focused my sight at the stage where the royals were gathered while waiting for the royal announcer to call the protagonists of this event.

 “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, of course. I heard it from my brother. He works at the royal court.”

“Which son is he?”

“He is the king’s other son.”

But right then, their conversation was cut short as the royal announcer presented today’s main characters.

“Princess Sahara, daughter of King Samuel and Queen Althea of Sylvor Kingdom. And Prince Ameril, son of King Darius III and Queen Bebenie of Ramain Kingdom. The bride and the groom!”

Princess Sahara, who was wearing the most beautiful wedding dress I had ever seen in my entire, was looking so expensive and elegant. Her smiles were diffusing and contagious. She was like an angel who descended from above. The perfect princess of every fairy-tale.

While on the other hand, wearing an expensive pair of white suit, Prince Ameril, the man who stole my fragile heart, was looking so lost and confused. His eyes were scanning everywhere, looking for someone from the crowd. And when his eyes met mine, his face brightened up. Like his questions were answered at the sight of me. My heart immediately faltered. I broke the stare and found another one. The third prince, who was looking at me straight to my soul, was talking to me using his eyes.

“Let’s be the antagonists of this story, Sharifa. Do evil with me.”

And by then, the whole castle went upside down when their perfect prince, Prince Ameril, announced the cancelation of his wedding.

“I am so sorry, Princess Sahara. I can’t do this. I am in love with someone else.” Prince Ameril said bravely in front of everyone, leaving his bride and everyone else wide confused.

I was then dragged to stand and a warm embrace welcomed me.

“Be my bride, Sahara. I love you.” Prince Ameril’s words were like flowers to my ears.

By then, I decided to be evil. I will then be recognized by history as the evil witch who stole the prince from his beloved princess at the day of their wedding.

“I love you.”