The Touch Of Fate

"Move! What are you looking at?" A rough-sounding voice bellowed out. I turned my head towards the source to see the guards trying to disperse the group of commoners clamoring at the gates of the palace Victoria. "Lady Fiona! We must make haste. The banquet will begin in a few minutes." My maid Calla promptly assisted the distracted me as I tried to hasten my steps as much as I could. It was the banquet of Victory. The victory of Aedion on the kingdom of Rowena. My heels clanked against the cold white marble slowly bringing me back to reality. The walk to the banquet hall appeared to be too short as we reached the huge double doors carved with wood and gold. "This is?" The guard in white golden armor questioned looking at the maid. I straightened my back and looked through the shadow of my hat. "Lady Fiona of Pérez household." My maid answered the guard who looked at the yellowish parchment in his hand. "You may enter." He spoke with a small bow and gestured the two other guards to open the doors. The sounds of trumpets and choir rose and fell. To say they were loud was an understatement. I, having no other choice, walked straight to where the rest of the noble ladies were. "Lady Fiona. Here you are!" A sweet voice echoed making me smile instantly. "Lady Gabriella! Of course, It's such an honor." I curtsied neatly holding the hem of the dress with my fingertips. Lady Gabriella smiled as she beaconed me to come closer. She handed me a glass of plum juice when I did. "I heard Dutchess Rodríguez will be attending this banquet." She whispered nonchalantly behind her detailedly embroidered hand fan while I took a sip of the juice as I tried to analyze the situation at hand. "But the Duke is yet to return from the battlefield? Isn't it the norm to attend it together?" I couldn't help but wonder. Lady Gabriella chuckled lowering her eyes before looking at me. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the blue in her iris. "The wife of the ducal house of Rodríguez, the empire's beloved daughter, the head of military strategists, formerly princess of Aedion, Despina Aedion Rodríguez. There wouldn't be a celebration without her." Lady Gabriella spoke each word with equal emphasis as if trying to ingrain it into my head. She averted her eyes from mine letting me exhale the breath I was subconsciously holding. "You have said it here. With me. But do not utter these words in front of the other ladies." Lady Gabriella folded her hand fan swiftly. A stray brown strand of hair fell on her forehead which was tucked away by her maid. "I am sorry Lady Gabriella!" I apologized bowing my head while my maid followed the suit. "It's alright. If you'll excuse me. I need to powder my nose." Lady Gabriella spoke before elegantly walking towards the hall. "Lady Fiona?" "huh?" I uttered in a daze. "It's time." She gestured handing me my hand fan. I took off my hat resulting in my long blonde hair falling on my shoulders. Handing it over to her, I headed towards the throne room with long strides. It was time for the king to arrive. ~.~ "All hail to the king of Aedion! All hail to the king of Aedion!" The nobles cheered as the king walked in with his queen in tow. Standing in front of the throne, the king and queen looked at each other. The king let the queen sit before taking his own seat. "After two long years of struggle, with the aide of Duke Rodríguez, my beloved Despina, and the pride of Aedion, my son, Ruther Aedion, we have ultimately obtained victory on Kingdom Rowena. It is a joyous occasion indeed. With this, I'm sure Ruther will fare quite well as a king. I can leave rest assured now." He spoke, his violet eyes gazing gently at the people who held their fists to their hearts as a sign of respect. "My king! Please don't say such ominous words." The prime minister spoke while the king shook his head with a smile. He looked at his hand, held by his queen. He tightened his hold in reassurance. "Alright, I won't say such things. Without any further ado, I hereby commence the banquet." Cheers and applauds reverberated across the throne room. The banquet was in full swing when the guards announced the arrival of the prince along with the Dutchess of Rodríguez. All the nobles were curious. After all, the Dutchess had just been married. It hasn't even been a whole month and the duke had to leave to the battlefield the very next day of the wedding. Who wouldn't want a piece of such juicy information? The doors were opened revealing a robust figure of the prince donned in a black three-piece suit with golden inlay of the kingdom's crest. His short red hair swaying in the wind like fire and violet eyes looking as sharp as ever. Their attention shifted to the petite figure just beside him walking in tow. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders reaching her waist and the deep violet eyes that hypnotize you. The deep azure hue and the minimalistic silver flower pattern embedded with small stones that covered the entire dress which hung perfectly on her body certainly made some of the noblewomen jealous. Gasps of surprise resonated in the room. Was this the same princess of Aedion? How come she looks more beautiful after her marriage? Wasn't she holed up in her room after the marriage? Was that just a baseless rumor? Oh my! The duke would be pleasantly surprised on his return. Look at the dress! I bet it costs a fortune. Ignoring the probing gazes of all the nobles, Despina and Ruther walked towards their parents. Reaching the foot of the stairs, Despina curtsied gracefully holding the hem of the dress with her fingertips while Ruther bowed to the king and queen. "Despina! My beloved daughter!" The king reached out to hold her hand while Ruther stifled a smile. The queen beaconed him to her side. "I hope the people at Ducal house are taking good care of you." The king spoke while Despina let out a small smile. "Yes, father. Everything is going well. Please be rest assured. You must not stress about these things. And take care of your health." She spoke while he patted her hand repeatedly. "Alright, I will. Have you eaten?" He questioned gesturing to the servant standing nearby. "I will father. But I am yet to greet the rest of the nobles." She answered politely while the king nodded his head thoughtfully. "Alright! But have a drink at the very least." The king spoke taking the glass of freshly squeezed plum juice which Despina took with a smile. "Alright father, if you'll excuse me." Despina curtsied once more to both the king and the queen before walking towards a group of noble ladies. "Ruther!" The king exclaimed in surprise seeing his son standing beside his mother. "Father, How is your health now?" Ruther bowed once again while the king shook his hand. "It's alright. How is Duke Rodríguez? Is he faring well? You know how worried your elder sister is, don't you?" The king looked concerned as he uttered these words while Ruther nodded his head. "As of now, everything is going as planned, father. Sir Duke Rodríguez will be returning by noon, tomorrow. If it were up to me, I would have called him back at the earliest." Ruther answered honestly yet the king felt his heart was still filled with unease. "It's just a day away. Do not fret about it." The queen patted his shoulder while the king gave her a small smile. "Alright, I will go check on Despina." The king spoke as he stood up from his seat and walked towards the group of ladies. The queen let out a sigh of despair while Ruther held her hand tightly. "Mother, it's alright." He spoke while the queen just smiled at him dolefully. ~.~ "I would love to stay father but-" "I am not willing to listen to any excuses! You must stay here for the night. I will inform the people of House Rodríguez." The king spoke hurrying off to his study while Despina looked troubled. "It's alright Despina. Stay for a day. I'll have your old room ready." The queen reassured her who smiled politely. "Thank you, my queen. Please rest well. I'll take my leave now." Despina bowed to her before walking towards her old room with her servants in tow. The queen looked at her retreating figure until she could no longer see her petite back. "She still doesn't call you mother," Ruther spoke coming towards the queen who smiled sadly. "Old scars. Even if the pain fades the memories don't. Take good care of her. She is your elder sister after all." The queen answered patting his red hair while Ruther pulled away from her hand. "She is not my elder sister. More like a half-sister." Ruther sneered while the queen glared at the servants to keep them in check. "Ruther!" She warned who in return shook his head and walked away. "Burn the scented candle for the night." She ordered the servant who bowed down before hurrying away towards the queen's room. The queen pressed her forehead in distress thinking about the situation before turning towards her own room. ~.~ "Lia, brew some valerian root tea. I will be visiting father now." Despina ordered while setting her shawl in place. "I will bring it right away, dutchess." The lady in waiting Lia answered bowing her head before heading to open the suitcase they bought along today. Waiting for the tea to be ready, Despina rechecked some of the important parchments she bought along with her. They were supposed to be given to Ruther but since she was here, she would directly give them to the king. Time had elapsed rather quickly. "Dutchess, The tea has been brewed." The lady in waiting Lia prompted while Despina nodded her head with a gentle smile. "Alright. Let us depart." She spoke as she stood up and handed over the parchments to the other maid before continuing the walk to her destination. Knocking thrice, the maid opened the door slightly. "Father, I hope I am not intruding," Despina spoke entering the study. "Despina! Of course not! Come and have a seat." The king stood up with a smile while Despina smiled back before sitting on the chair opposite to his. "I have bought some tea for you. It will help you sleep peacefully." She gestured her lady in waiting to pour some tea for the king. "Oh! How kind of you." The king exclaimed happily. The father and daughter sat in silence for a while before Despina gestured the maid to bring out the parchments. "I have bought a few parchments that need your attention," Despina spoke while the king put the teacup down before looking into them. "Are you saying, Count Raffel, is illicitly making money through the slave trade? I thought I had taken down all the slave traders. To think there was one in my own court." The king questioned while Despina nodded her head calmly. "Alright. I will get Ruther to look into it." The king spoke pressing his forehead. He took the teacup and chugged all of its contents in one go. Despina took the pot of tea and poured some into the empty teacup. "If it's alright father, I have a suggestion," Despina spoke as she handed the pot to Lia. "You may." The king said taking another sip from the cup. "You see-" ~.~ "Alright then, I will be heading to bed father. Please rest early." Despina bowed while the king patted her head. "Don't worry, everything will go as planned." He spoke while Despina smiled at him. The maids opened the door revealing Ruther who was walking towards the study. "So, Elder sister is here. I wonder what you both were talking about." Ruther spoke with a smile while Despina shook her head. "Just a few things about here and there." She answered before nodding her head at him. "I will take my leave then." She spoke walking towards her room while Ruther had a light frown on his face. "Come on in!" The king ordered. "Father, what were you and elder sister talking about?" He asked taking a seat across the king. "Nothing. Just some trivial things." The king answered as he turned his attention to the parchments on his table. While Ruther tightened his fist under the table. "Alright then-" BAM! The doors opened with a loud noise. The king angrily stood up to admonish the person only to see the bloodied head knight that he sent to war. "Y- your highness-" He spoke falling to his knees while the king moved towards him still in shock. "Du- duke Rodríguez-" He coughed hard as he spoke. "Duke Rodríguez has been murdered." He spat out blood as he painfully uttered these words. "Wha- what?" The king uttered in a daze. "You insolent! How dare you utter such ominous words." Ruther shouted as he drew his sword. "Your highness, please believe me." The head knight spoke with his face full of tears and blood. He reached for his pocket and took out a piece of cloth. It was the Duke's handkerchief that Despina sewed before their wedding. It also had his wedding ring inside. "huh?" Despina uttered in disbelief. All the three men looked back at her who was standing near the doors with a piece of parchment in her hands. Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper. "De- Despina?" Ruther looked at her with wide eyes. Hearing someone call her name she raised her head. Her eyes met Ruther's for a second before he could say a word she ran away to her room.