The whole town heard about Scarlet's marriage to the lord of werewolves and couldn't help but pity her but gossip and wild rumors spread like wild fire among the people of Woodville .
' Have you heard , lady Scarlet is getting married to the lord because she is with child in her womb.. ' one of the women whispered .
' And who is the father , don't tell me the man ran way ? ' even in the market everyone had an ear for juicy gossip , the lady asked as she picked up a few oranges .
' The father of her child is the lord himself that's why she was chosen as his bride , it was a secret affair ' the women continued in hushed tones .
' How scandalous of her , using her beauty to attract men left and right .... am glad Lady Charlotte is more reserved and mannered ' the gossip continued and the pity they had for Scarlet was reduced to disgust .
In Alvarez mansion
' Everyone is talking about our daughter Ed , and we can't do anything to save her from a lifetime of grief and sorrow ' Lady Lucy held her handkerchief close to her teary eyes .
Mr Alvarez had a frown on his face as he stared out the window lost in his thoughts.
He had tried appealing to the king for his daughter to not be used for the truce but it didn't help either .
Mr Alvarez felt very hopeless as he couldn't do anything for his daughter , her life was going to be in the hands of a ruthless creature and there was nothing he could do to change that .
The Alvarez family was not living their happiest days for the moment and no one understood what they were going through instead they just spread false rumours about the poor family .
Scarlet stood in front of her mirror and held the small vial , looking at it and planning what she would do with it .
She opened one of of her drawers and put the vial inside before locking it , it looked like she had no plan of using it on her sister .
She stepped out of her room and went to the drawing room , when she stepped inside she found Charlotte and the Duke's son hugging both lost in their own little world .
That should have been her in Henry's arms and not Charlotte , why should she have to live the rest of her life with a man she didn't have feelings for , why can't she have what her sister had when she was the oldest .
Scarlet's nails dug in her palm as anger , jealousy and pure hatred coursed through her being .
' Just a few drops and all that you desire will be yours....but with a price you must pay 'the words from the witch replayed in her mind like a forbidden tune .
Why did she have to have everything she ever wanted , a man who loves and cherishes her , wealth , status , respect and admiration in the eyes of the people of Woodville .
' You have everything that I have ever wanted dear sister but I won't accept this at all ' .
' I will take everything from you before you even realize it and that's a promise am willing to keep ' Scarlet stepped out and purposely knocked down a vase that ended up shattering and startling the embracing couple .
A while later after dinner Charlotte was in her room going through her wedding dress sketches when Scarlet knocked .
' Scarlet my lovely sister please come in ' Charlotte said as she placed the sketches aside but they didn't go unnoticed by Scarlet's eyes .
' My little sister is getting married , I hope that you won't forget to send my invitation in Willow Creek along with my husband to be ' Scarlet teased but her eyes didn't hold any warmth or joy .
Charlotte stood up from where she was seated and hugged her sister , ' I won't forget, if I do may lightning strike me down ' .
Scarlet hugged her back and a part of her didn't want to betray her sister's trust and love but her selfishness overpowered that feeling .
' let's celebrate this with some lavender tea and I will personally make it just for you ' Charlotte nodded and smiled at her sister's kind and sweet gesture .
Scarlet went straight to the kitchen and started preparing the tea carefully as if it was meant for a queen , when she was almost done she glanced around and there were only two maids there who were busy washing the dishes .
' Nitah can you get me the brown sugar cubes from the store room , I need to use them instead of the white ones ' her tone was sweet without a single note out of place .
The maid was surprised by the action but quickly went to get what she was ordered to get .
Scarlet couldn't think of any excuse so she stepped out for a minute and came back in .
' Grandmother needs you to assist her with something in her room , you should go now ' with a straight face she lied to the maid who without a doubt quickly left the kitchen.
Now that she was finally alone , Scarlet took the chance and fished out the vial from her pocket . She opened it and added a few drops in the cup of tea meant for her sister .
A weird black mist wafted through the air from the tea but quickly disappeared without a trace ,
Scarlet quickly put it back in her pocket before the first made came back with the sugar cubes .
No one had seen what Scarlet had added in her sister's cup and she didn't know what harm would befall her sister after drinking the tea she had prepared.
She took the tea to her sister with a big smile, ' The sweetest tea made with all my love for my dear sister ' she proudly said as she set the tray down on the small table close to where Charlotte was seated .
' Thank you Scarlet , you are the best but where is your cup . Won't you drink with me ? ' Charlotte asked as she picked up the cup of tea .
' I made it just for you , since you are about to get married soon and you need this tea to relax before your day ' lies were piling up on Scarlet and more were to come .
Charlotte raised it to her lips but hesitated when she felt that the smell was too strong to be lavender . Scarlet's heart waited anxiously for her to take a sip of the tea .
' This is lavender with mint , it smells different but since you made it with love am going to drink it ' Charlotte ignored the weird smell and hesitatingly took a sip , it was sweet with a distant muky taste .
A small victorious smile crept up on Scarlet's face as she mercilessly watched her sister down in the tea which will change their fates forever .
The two talked for a while before they both decided to go to bed , Scarlet stared at her sister who didn't look as if anything was bothering her .
But truth was the poison was already in her and it would take months before she has clear symptoms .
Charlotte slept dreaming about her wedding day and the life ahead along with Henry . But that life wasn't hers to dream about anymore her fate was changing but was it for the best or worse .