Ambrosia

Shopping

"I love the cold." "You say so because you're not human." "Not really but the weather in Arthandica is beautiful, it's one of the many reasons why I barely leave this place." She said with a placid sigh. "If you say so, but I think you should try asking them how they feel and you would know what I'm talking about."

"How they feel is none of my business. All I know is I'm enjoying my shopping in this beautiful weather and hey: when did you start caring about those weaklings expect when you need their blood for your sick spellcasting expirements?" She asked her best friend with a raised brow that said 'surprised.' "Never said I care about them, all I'm saying is the weather is not really favourable to them and it makes my work stressful." The beautiful lady with a deep ocean blue eyes and long natural wavy brunette hair said laying more emphasis on the 'stressful.' Spellcasting was not a child's play, some higher and ancient spells requires lots of blood sacrifice, specifically from humans. So having them freezing cold was definitely a turn off for a salemic caster like herself.

"That was not heartless at all." Blair said with her usual signature annoying smirk plastered on her doll like face. The sacarsm was not lost on her friends. Blair is an elf, the second princess of the Elfinwood kingdom. The three have been friends since the faithful day they met at a ball thrown to hounor the gods eight winters ago and they've been friends till date. Many young girls in Arthandica envy their friendship.... they are popularly known as the SEA beauties. Most people in Arthandica, both youngsters and old have the impression; there's nothing that would separate the three.

"Hmm...at least she's now acting like herself. I nearly thought an angel took over." All three of them doubled over with laughter as they knew their friend could be anything but an angel. But, trust you me she looks all Angel. The person in question herself knows she could never be an angel though she looks like one.

They silently went about doing their shopping only stoping to make small talks in between. Shopping together like this was a very rare thing as they don't reside in the same capital, they would no way in hell give up such a marvelous opportunity to shop together and gist each other of the happenings in their lives and kingdoms when the opportunity presents itself as this. The last time they met was about a moon and half, but to them, it felt like a whole winter.

"What do you think about this dress?... You think he would like it?" Juliana asked turning in her hands a midnight black silk ankle length dinner wear with an open back and low cut neck that will surely give her cleavage the much needed breath since it holds tight from the top allowing her succulent breasts to pop out, all the way to her appealing hips but flows down to her ankle. Not to forget the sinful split from her left waist straight to her ankle which would certainly give hungry onlookers something appreciating to feast on.

"And by he, you....mean?" Elisabeta asked looking at her friend skeptically. "Are you keeping secrets?" Juliana just shook her head looking very sorry. "Oh....girls, 'dropping her head in her hand' my bad. Thought I told you about him, guess it skipped me_" "okayyyy fine we get it ok? But can you kindly skip this speech of remorse and just spill?" Blair impatiently asked. "Well there's this guy.... and_ and he's interested in me" "Ok?" "He asked me out and I said yes. So we're going out." " Wizard?" Elisabeta asked running her hands on a beautiful silver grey knee length skater dress. "A vampire." Both girls sharply turned to look at their friend but decided not to make any comments for now.

"Out out?" Blair asked with a teenager I've seen my crush smile on her thin rosy lips." The initial tension soon forgotten. "Excuse me... Is there any other out I don't know about?" Elisabeta asked sacarstically with a roll of her Amber eyes. "Hey you can't blame me ok? It's Julie we're talking about here after all." Of course it was Julie, and Blair could not be blamed for asking.

Juliana would rather spend time trying to learn, master and cast forbidden ancient spells than waste her breath and energy on men. " I think he would like it. You know how the best is only at Dica Queens right?" Elisabeta won't allow any chance slip by her without praising Arthandrakukan and it's famous and extravagant fashion store ' Dica Queens' "Always the boastful bitch." Laughing it off they went back to picking clothes and shoes to beautify their already eye-catching closets.

"What's the last time you heard from the prince?" "Mm....like two winters ago? Why?" "Nothing really, can't I ask about my prince?." Elisabeta eyed her friend with suspicion not bothering to answer her question. Blair pretended not to see as she focused all her attention on a particular red wedged sandals like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Erm....girls....i-i- I think you need to see this." Juliana said, her eyes glued to one of the many screens in the boutique like a compulsion because she couldn't tear her gaze away from the screen. That was when they realized they were the only ones lost in their own world oblivious to the chaos in Dica Queens.

On all the screens in the boutique, the announcement made by the emperor played as they gave it their full attention leaving behind whatever thing they were busily doing.

"For the greater good of this Dominion and the will of the heavens I hereby accounce the union between the Dunkan's and the Bathory's."

Elisa clenched the dress in her hands after reading the message that flashed on the screen after the emperor's announcement. 'This union is between the first princess of the Amber kingdom and the crown prince Alaric Emrick Dunkan.'

She felt like puking, why Keket?. That bastard has taken everything she's wanted from her since childhood and now she wants Alaric too? There's no way in hell she would let that happen, she'd do anything to see that this union won't come on and even If it does? There would be no peace. She vowed. The will of the heavens her butt.

It was her, Elisabeta Bathory who deserves to be the empress of great Arthandica not some unwanted illegitimate bastard. She was scared, though by some unknown lottery she'd won, the prince favours her. But it's been two Winters already without contact, what if he doesn't want her anymore, what if he really goes ahead with the emperor's plan and marry her bastard sister without questioning. The mini devil on her shoulders was busy whispering into her ears all the what ifs that she didn't even hear her friends calling her back to earth planet.

Blair's mind was refusing to think. Ambrosia? Really? All this while she has been busily thinking the second princess was her only threat, It has never for once dawned on any one of them from the high society that their future empress would be Ambrosia. It was an open secret how she is the least favorite person of the nobles. For an illegitimate child who according to rumours, has never been educated. She was too arrogant and headstrong for her own good. Moreover, the said person has not been in Arthandica since the day she came off age. She would really need to slow her plans a bit and watch the two sisters destroy themselves before coming out of the shadows. No one could resist such temptation as sitting on the throne of empress would grant one unlimited power and authority. The legitimate princesses like herself couldn't even resist the temptation how much more an illegitimate child who has been deprived certain privileges while growing up?. A sinister smirk carved on her lips as she pats herself on the head for such a brilliant and stress-free plan.

"But it's not even time yet." Juliana who has just arrived from her long journey of shock said.

The sponsa eligens was done on the second moon of the third winter after the Prince's coming of age ceremony. But this time, the sponsa eligens was yet to be announced by the high priestess, all the noble young ladies were anxiously waiting for the high priestess' announcement which never came. And out of the blue they get such message from the emperor himself.

"Girls let's get out of here." Elisa said as she dumped the dress in her hands and pulled her friends along. "I'm not done with my shopping." They both said in unison after yanking their hands from Elisa's tight grip. She turned to look at them with pain swirling in her Amber eyes "I can't shop after seeing this... I need to go, come when you're done shopping." She said, walking out of Dica Queens.

---

Sitting in her usual spot, she gazed intently at the Raven perching on her left fingers twirling a glass of dark rich O negative blood in her right hand, as usual enjoying in a glass cup and not being a Savage. Taking a sip, she closed her eyes to savour the taste in her mouth letting out a little appreciative moan. "What do you think about me finding myself a boyfriend?" She asked, knowing the bird won't like it. Hellada turned her head away from her approaching fingers. "Jealous now are we?" "Hmm...I was only kidding Hella, you know I don't have time for drama." She whispered not knowing the hell of drama coming her way.