For a fleeting moment, I felt as though I had been carried somewhere beyond the earth itself. As though I stood at the gates of heaven.
Our carriage came to a stop before the grand entrance. A royal guard approached at once and opened the door. He assisted Mother first, then Ariel, and lastly me, his hand steady as my slippers met the stone floor beneath us.
Without a word, we were guided through the towering doors and into the palace proper. Once we had crossed the threshold, the guards bowed slightly and withdrew, leaving us to the vastness within.
I had thought the exterior was magnificent. The interior stole what little breath remained in me.
The walls were white, as though the very stone had been carved from moonlight. Gold trimmings traced the arches and columns, catching the glow of the chandeliers that hung high above us. Those chandeliers shimmered with countless crystals, each reflecting the candlelight so brilliantly that the entire hall seemed to glisten.
The marble floors beneath our feet were polished to perfection, smooth and gleaming like still water. They reflected the lights above and the movement of the guests, created the illusion that we walked upon a sheet of glass.
Music drifted gracefully through the air. Many maidens filled the hall in gowns of every color, their laughter soft yet constant. Some danced with the gentlemen in attendance, moving in elegant circles as the orchestra played. Others stood in small gatherings, fanning themselves delicately.
Everywhere I looked there was magnificent, and undeniably beautiful. And there I stood, small swallowed whole by the grandeur of it all.
Just then, my eyes drifted to the far end of the hall, where the grand throne stood, empty yet commanding in its quiet majesty. Beside it sat the prince, composed, yet the very air around him seemed to hum with an unspoken authority.
I could not see his face clearly from where I stood, but even so, I felt the gravity of his presence.
I let my gaze wander again, taking in the hall again. The marble floors gleaming under the chandelier light, the glittering crystal catching every flicker of flame.
A gentleman approached then, bowing elegantly with precise courtesy, which we returned, and my eyes sharpened when he turned to Mother, extending his hand toward her with the utmost respect.
"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me tonight?"
I could not suppress the small smile that tugged at my lips when I caught the baffled look on her face. Behind her, Ariel stifled a chuckle behind her hands, and I could not help but let a quiet laugh escape as well.
It seemed the man had mistaken Mother for one of the maidens. I could hardly blame him. She was breathtaking for her years, for the trials she had endured, she carried herself like a queen.
She had her red hair, loose and shimmering in the chandelier light, which framed her face with a youth and radiance that seemed almost impossible. She could have commanded the attention of the entire hall without uttering a single word, and here she stood, unaware of the power she held.
Not wanting to turn the man down, Mother placed her hand lightly on his and smiled, her grace effortless. "It would be my pleasure," she said, her voice soft but certain.
The gentleman, who appeared to be in his thirties, led her toward the center of the dance floor. Ariel burst into laughter behind her hand, and I could not help but chuckle softly as well. Mother, sensing our amusement, cast us a quick, sharp glare before she allowed herself to be guided back into the dance.
Ariel whispered with a mischievous grin, "What a big shame to us, that a man approaches your mother first before us."
I smiled faintly and shook my head. "Let her enjoy herself… Perhaps this is the beginning of her own love life."
Ariel's eyes widened in mock horror. "You would allow another man to take your father's place?"
I laughed softly, though it carried a thread of wistfulness. "No one can take Father's place, Ariel. But… even widows deserve a moment of delight, do they not?"
She studied me for a heartbeat, then her eyes shifted toward the far end of the hall. "By the Gods, from here I can already tell the prince is… breathtaking."
I studied her face and raised a brow. "And how can you tell?"
Ariel rolled her eyes, her gaze fixed on the other end of the hall. "Even a blind man could tell." "By the way," she added, "where is the king, and why is his throne empty?"
I shrugged. "I do not know… His throne has been empty since we entered."
She hummed thoughtfully. "I wondered where he is. I heard some people whispered that the king is as young as his son, that he has not aged at all."
"Really?" I asked, raising my brow.
"That is what I heard," Ariel replied, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you think… he is a vampire? Or a demon? I heard those creatures do not age."
I shrugged, letting a small, knowing smile tug at my lips. "It is possible. This is not the first time we have seen night creatures, demons, witches, and all manner of things that should not exist."
Ariel clutched her chest, her eyes wide. "Now… now I am scared. Ade."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head at the sheer terror painted across her face.
Demons, witches, and night creatures had existed long before humans ever set foot upon this earth. They were creatures of shadow and fire, of whispered legends that mothers once told their children to make them wary of the night. Some said they had once walked openly among humans, their power unmatched, their cruelty feared. Entire kingdoms had fallen beneath their hands, and villages had vanished as if swallowed by the earth itself. But then, the humans had learned to live alongside, or in hiding from them.
Over time, stories of these beings became rarer, until some believed they had vanished entirely. Some claimed they had returned to their own realms, leaving the human world to its fragile peace. Others whispered that they had been cast out, hunted, and slain because their cruelty could no longer be endured.
Still, there were always those who believed a few lingered, hidden in the shadows, moving unseen.
"So the king is a supernatural creature… and the prince?" Ariel asked, her voice trembling despite her curiosity.
I hesitated, letting my gaze drift back to the far end of the hall. "I do not know," I said slowly, my words cautious. "But… if the king appears the same as his son without aging a bit, then… yes. It is very much possible."