To Bewitch a Devil

42 The Arrival

Zavian nodded briefly and continued eating casually, as though people were not waiting for him at the gates.

Neera was not the king, nor was she royalty, so she could not walk in late at the welcoming, so she ate quickly and stood up and bowed.

“Your majesty, I’ll like to take my leave.”

Zavian waved at her, signaling her to leave. Neera walked out, and once she was out of the dinette, she ran to her room. She had smuggled out some pieces of bread and eggs for the bird, so she kept them by the window before hurrying to join the others at the Castle gates.

The crowd was tremendous. They were standing on each side, and in the middle was a long aisle sprayed with flowers as they awaited their arrival. Neera struggled to find her way through the crowd, as everyone was trying to see too. She could barely breathe, so she went out of the crowd and stood behind them, her eyes searching for Penelope.

Pen was nowhere to be found, so Neera just stood behind and listened to the crowd.

Suddenly, she heard an announcement.

“The king has arrived.” The speaker announced, and the crowd all bowed their heads as the king rode elegantly into the audience on his horse.

Neera bowed too, like the others, and when they raised their heads, she raised hers, too. She could barely see the king.

.....

“Open the gates!” His voice rang through the crowd and then she heard the creaking of the tall gates as the guards pulled them open.

“His Grace, Aaron, the Duke of Selesee and Princess Jasmine, of Selesee.”

The announcer shouted, and the crowd erupted in an uproar as the Duke marched in with the Princess and their men.

Neera could hear the crowd gasp, and she knew the Princess must be exquisite. There was no way she was missing this sight. Looking around her, she spotted a lone stone. Quickly, she ran to it and pushed it into a strategic corner, and climbed on it.

“Wow!” Neera exclaimed with lips slightly parted.

The Princess had a transparent veil covering half of her face, but you could still make out the beauty beneath the veil. Her dress was adorned with diamonds that sparkled as the rays of the sun fell on it.

Her eyes looked captivating like she could bore into your soul with one look.

Princess Jasmine smiled softly as she waved to the crowd. She looked delicate, like she could not hurt a fly.

The crowd cheered until they stopped in front of the king and bowed.

“Your Majesty.” They both lowered their head.

“Aaron. It has been years. How have you been?” Zavian asked, and the duke smiled. “it’s been wonderful. It’s good to see you again, my lord.” He spoke and bowed again.

Zavian’s eyes swept over the Princess, and then he turned to Aaron again.

“The guards will lead you to your chambers, rest, and freshen up. There is a lot to eat and drink.”

The entourage of Duke Aaron was led into the Castle by the guards, while the announcer called in the second entourage.

“His Grace, Henry, Duke of Darstun and Princess Lyra of Darstun.”

The crowd cheered again as they rode in. Neera frowned when she saw there was a man riding side by side beside the Princess. He looked like royalty, and Neera guessed he might be her brother.

He had a smile stretching his lips, and he was handsome. He carried himself elegantly, and he seemed like one that could get a lot of women. Neera’s eyes lingered on him before she turned to the Princess.

Princess Lyra had covered most of her face, and only her eyes were visible. She waved at the crowd and her fingers looked beautiful, so Neera could guess how stunning she was.

They greeted the king and accorded their respect before the guards led them in.

“His grace, Basil, Duke of Taos, and Princess Zelda of Taos.”

Neera’s lips fell open when they marched in. Unlike the first two, this Princess was fat. Although she had a pretty face, she did not carry herself the way the other princesses did.

There was not even a veil over her face, and Neera wondered if she had just come to fulfill all her obligations because she did not seem like she was interested in getting married to the king at all.

They greeted the king, too, and went in.

The next entourage was for the Duke of Grenao and Princess Kitana.

The Princess had a smile on her chin as they rode in. She did not cover her face, and she carried herself with great pride. She was insanely beautiful and had an intimidating aura around her. She was not shy and even when she greeted the king, she smiled elegantly.

“Neera!”

Neera jolted when she heard her name, and she turned around, and the smile on her face died when she saw Freya standing behind her.

Neera jumped down from the stone and bowed.

“Come with me,” Freya ordered, and Neera followed her. Freya took her behind the Castle, and Neera followed frighteningly as she wondered what she wanted to do to her.

Freya stopped walking when she reached a corner and turned to look at the girl. She stared at her for some seconds, then her eyes fell on the clothes she was putting on.

It was not a maid’s dress, and it looked new. She wanted to ask where she got them from, but she decided against it. If she found out it was the king that got them for her, she would be mad, and she did not want to get mad, not today.

“The dukes and very important lords from the kingdoms are in the castle, and I cannot risk having you as a topic today of all days. You will retire to your room and never come out till I say so. Is that clear?”

Freya spoke, and Neera nodded.

“Make sure no one sees you. Cover your face if possible. I won’t tolerate any mistakes. Just go to your room and stay there. Understood?”

She said and Neera nodded;

“Yes, your majesty.”