"You haven't found a wife yet, Lucerys. I am sure you are satisfied with the grace I have given you to play around the skirts of many young maidens because time is of the essence here. You have until the end of the week to choose a noble lady you wish to marry after that whoever I choose for you will be your bride." King George commanded as his voice rose slightly above the ceilings of the throne room where he and prince Lucerys were alone.
Lucerys chuckled slightly. He took the words of his father as though they were nothing but empty words. No one could ever threaten him to marry anybody not when he had chosen not to get a wife.
He clicked his tongue, arms crossed behind his back as he stooped before the king, "I understand your concerns, your majesty. If it is your fervent wish to see me married then there would be no further time to waste. I have deliberated long before now about who qualifies to be my princess and there would be no other person suited for that position other than Lady Aenyra, the only daughter of Quinn's family." Lucerys finished with a smug on his face.
The king was taken back for a minute and he needed time to absorb what his youngest son had just spoken. His brows creased together as he found it difficult to contain the words of Lucerys.
"Lady Aenyra, the voluptuous girl?"
"Yes, that is she. She would be my future bride and princess. This is the only marriage I would accept if you are not happy with it then..." He threw his hands in the air completing his statement, "I shall continue to be the prince who wastes his time indulging in fleeting relationships with young maidens."
The king's jaw was clenched as he eyed the prince in scrutiny. Lady Aenyra was known around the kingdom for being the most voluptuous yet still a beautiful girl. Her beauty surpassed everyone but her stature was the problem that made everyone look the other way. Indeed, she came from a noble family but it's been over a decade since they came to court. The king wasn't sure whether the Quinn's were going to look past the kingdom's past tragedy and create a new relationship.
King George sighed taking a deep breath. "Alright. If it is Lady Aenyra you wish to marry then at the congratulatory ball of your brother's victory the announcement would be made known."
****
*Two days later*
A door clicked open and a maid strutted in closing the door behind her quietly.
Aenyra who had been pacing anxiously around her room smiled as she saw her maid with a tray in her hands.
"Thank goodness you are the one, Siena. Please tell me that you have at least gotten some snacks for me. I feel like I'm going nuts inside here!"
Siena giggled as she uncovered the cloth covering the tray of delicacies she had smuggled from the kitchen. If it were any other day, she would have gotten caught but since it was the day of the ball and everyone was anxious and busy with work she had the chance to sneak into the kitchen to steal some snacks.
"You're lucky today, my lady. And yes, I brought you all these snacks."
Aenyra looked at the snacks in awe before taking a small piece of biscuit into her mouth. As soon as the sweetness of the biscuit melted on her tongue, she let out a soft sigh of delight closing her eyes briefly to savour the taste.
"This is so sweet, Siena. You should have a bite." She didn't wait for an objection before pushing a piece into Siena's mouth.
"Ughh! I was thinking how could my mother starve me for two days without food except water? How did she expect me to survive?" Aenyra grunted.
Seina finished eating and cleared her throat, "Thank you my lady for sharing your snacks with me but I shall leave now. No one knows of my visit to your chambers but if I stayed any longer then it will no longer be a secret. I shall see you tonight with your dress."
"You should go, Siena."
Siena bowed before walking out the same way she had come in. Sneaky and fast.
Aenyra's face fell. She was angry with her mother but angriest with herself for not knowing how to come down to a slim size.
She glanced at the tray of snacks beside her and she took a slice of cake in her hands. Her hazel eyes watered as she bit into the cake.
She had been locked up in her room for the past two days by her mother since a letter from the place arrived at their mansion. No one knew the contents of the letter not even her brother or grandma.
Her mother had come into her room two nights ago and Aenyra who was surprised to see her mother in her room was so happy. She didn't think and rushed to hug lady Evelina, her mother, when Evelina moved aside letting Aenyra to grace the floor of her room in a not so likable manner.
"How dare you try to sully my clothes with your body, Aenyra? Do you wish so bad to see them rumpled because yours is to be big to be kept neatly?" Lady Evelina's tone resounded in the room heavily.
"M- mother... I'm sorry. I-I don't... I didn't mean to-"Aenyra words got caught in her throat as her eyes were quickly filled with tears.
How could she be so foolish thinking that her mother would love to see her again.
"You are already so big that no one wants to marry you, child. See, all your mates are married or already engaged while you haven't even gotten a man to look into your direction. Is this how you intend to sully your father's name? You are already a disappointment as it is. You shall remain in this room for two days with nothing except water. I pray you lose some weight with this fast!" Lady Evelina stomped her foot and left her daughter's room.
Aenyra was still lying on the floor. She felt so ashamed of her body that she didn't dare stand to look at herself in the mirror. The heavy words of her mother struck her soul deeper than a knife would. Her words came from a place of hatred and disgust that Aenyra wished and cursed herself everyday for being born a voluptuous lady.
Why? She asked herself.
Why couldn't she be born like any other lady? Slim and tiny how every man loved their woman.
Aenyra laid on the floor that night crying her eyes out until she fell asleep from exhaustion.
The door locks were being opened and the sound quickly pulled Aenyra from her deep thoughts. She quickly hid the tray of snacks under her bed and pushed back the tears that were about to leave her eyes.
She looked towards the door, waiting to see her maid walk through the door but was disappointed and surprised when she saw two maids come into view.
"It is time to get dressed for the ball, my lady."