Neon's Curse

3

“What a fine man Lord Fredrick is, isn’t he?” There was a ball next weekend and my father had already lined up suitors for me. However, when they hear about the debt we owe, they back out talking about how they remember they were betrothed. They always do well to state what they would be missing and their regrets at their refusal. Lord Frederick’s hideous nature and his misogynistic personality drove maidens away; those who stayed eyed his money. It was quite unfortunate that he was wealthy and we needed his money.

“Quite fine, father”. My father knew I did not harbor an inch of love for Lord Frederick. My father shook his head and smiled to himself, he kissed my forehead and munched on the roasted fish that had just cooked.

“You are just like your mother,” he said to me, removing the bone that stuck in his teeth.

“Surely, not in the taste, seeing Lord Frederick is most appealing to my eye” My father’s laugh echoed. He held his belly as little tears came out the corners of his eyes. I smiled. I felt good inside. It has been a while since I heard his hearty laugh. I turned the fish around to let the uncooked part roast for some time.

My father’s laugh soon calmed down, and he looked serious again. “I don't want to marry you off, but…” I cut him off.

“It's my duty to the family.”

He wanted to say something but decided against it. He nodded, finishing his fish. He kissed the top of my head and went inside.

**

During the ball, everybody acted like they were meeting their betrothed for the first time. Before that day, dressmakers were always fully booked. Maidens try to impress their betrothed with fancy dresses and extravagant designs. The young men tried learning extravagant languages to impress their betrothed. It was almost funny. I wore my best clothing. Well, my stepmother made sure I did. I was to please Lord Frederick in any way I could. She suggested I read to him and gave me a small note to carry with me. My stepbrothers were to return that day and meet us at the ball. My father even dressed his best, making sure to spray the lilies scent to eradicate his strong fire smell. It didn’t work though. Thank the gods he was married. The work of the parents was to commute with the betrothed's parents, in a way to develop a closer relationship. In my case, Lord Fredericks' parents did not come, maybe because this was his umpteenth ball. He had never married anybody he was betrothed to. The last maiden threatened to kill herself and eloped with her lover.I didn't blame her. I couldn’t take any of those options as I was the one basically begging him to stay. A hand over my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts.

“Gihon!, you scared me,” I removed his hand from my shoulder, adjusting my dress and smoothing the fabric.

“When did you arrive?”

“Just now”, “I couldn’t miss your ball,” he smiled wide. I scoffed. I looked over his shoulders and saw KIllian coming. He swayed through the crowd and frowned whenever anybody hit him.

“Francesca, would you come here for a second?” he said immediately as he reached us. I furrowed my brows and pointed to Killian while looking at Gihon. He made a sound with his mouth and shrugged his shoulders. Killian rolled his eyes and walked away, hinting at me to follow.

At the corner of the room, I met the gaze of my stepmother. She gave me a warning look. I removed my eyes and shook my body in a bid to remove the wary feeling.

Killian took me beside the fountain, outside the hall. I had just noticed how big the hall was. The exterior was most exquisite, decorated with carvings of love quotes and the goddess of love. It was colored but in a minimalistic way.

Killian reached into his pocket and gave me an orb. Immediately my hand touched it, I felt as if my soul was at peace, like a part of me was reunited. I heard a faint whisper of my name, then louder, then a flick on my forehead. I gasped, Killian had been calling me.

“What is this?” I knew this was not a normal artifact he picked up along the way.

“Just an artifact I bought. I thought it would look good among your collectibles”, “but if you don’t want it…” he stretched out his hand to collect it back. I held it tightly and hid it at my back.

“No, I want it, thank you.” He nodded

“Come, it's almost time to meet…. Frederick, is it?”

I sighed and my shoulders hunched. “Yes,” I groaned.

I put the orb in between my breasts and followed him inside.

The air in the hall almost knocked me off my feet. It was a mixture of different harsh scents and sweat. I gagged as I made my way to my family who were now standing together.

“Where have you been?” My stepmother asked sharply. I pointed at Killian and her eyes softened almost immediately. I faced the front and caught my father's eyes. He nodded and so did I. We both understood what was going to happen next.

“Ahh, Lord Frederick!” my father exclaimed, smiling brightly. I knew it was fake, we all knew, well, excluding Lord Frederick. He shook my father’s hand firmly and nodded towards my stepbrothers.

“Lady Benedict," he said, kissing her hand bowing. My stepmother bowed lightly.

“Ahh” he started, looking at me, smirking. “ My betrothed." He took my hand and kissed it a little too hard. I forced myself not to snatch my hand away and scrub it with thorns.

I raised my skirt slightly and bowed. “Good evening, Lord Frederick." He hummed what I could believe was an approval that I didn't see as my head was bowed. But by the noticeable relief sounds from my father and stepmother,he was pleased with me.

“Francesca.” I turned to my stepmother. She looked at me. “Wouldn’t you love to dance with Lord Frederick and tell him of your skills in literature?” Lord Frederick raised an eyebrow. He was visibly surprised. He was pleased that I was not too dumb.

“Yes my lady.” It stung her but she didn’t say anything. I looked to Lord Frederick and took his offered arm.

A new tune was played and the middle of the hall was once again full. Lord Frederick dragged me by the waist closer and spun me around.

“I hear you can read and write,” he dipped me and brought me up dangerously close to his face. If he was a little good-looking and didn’t smell like wood, I might have been swayed. He was a good dancer.

“Yes, Lord Fredrick. I am quite versed with basic words and a few complex sentences.”

“Good.” “You will not need it though, as you would be busy with bedroom duties and tending to meals.” He laughed. I didn’t laugh with him. He continued telling me how I would entertain guests as I have a mesmerizing body. He urged me to learn more appealing, seductive dances so that he would not grow bored at me and would show me off to his friends.

Once the dance was over, I excused myself and went back to my family. He pulled me closer for a farewell and discreetly slapped my bum. My eyes widened and I quickly walked away.

The news of the marriage acceptance and wedding was sent to my father, and he rejoiced alongside my stepmother. My stepbrothers were indifferent to the news. I was the unhappiest. I hadn’t told anybody of the ill behavior of Lord Frederick, but I would most likely not be believed.