Throne of Burden

Chapter Three

A decade had passed since the letter to propose holy matrimony was sent. Here I stand before the mirror watching my sister's reflection through mine, but we had nothing in common. There was nothing of me to search for that was alike hers.

The gold crown embedded with diamond, and the expensive long dress that trailed behind did not bring me joy. I was getting married to the same man who took a matrimonial vow with my late sister. King of all coven or not I could find no joy in it. He had personally chosen me they say, as for why I don't wish to go there.

Mother fussed around my red hair that kept escaping from underneath the crown. Louisa on the other hand hasn't uttered a word since the letter arrived, I had caught her staring into space too many times.

For the umpteenth time, Mother sighed before signaling to the helps to give us some privacy.

She clamped her hand before twirling the ring on her finger.

"Your sister who was his beloved was not able to bear him a child, you don't have to try so hard to bear him an heir, being a good queen is enough. You can have someone else do it for you", she shrugged nonchalantly as if she hadn't just told me to let another female sleep with my supposed husband knowing how our kind feel about our bond.

" Just stay alive, doesn't matter if you are unhappy, just don't die", Louisa muttered. That sense of loss, of helplessness I have been getting from her these days skyrocketed.

"You are in my heart, sister", I told her through our minds. Her eyes widened slightly and moistened for a few seconds before a small smile graced her lips.

Mother scurried out to check again if things were in place and silence descended in the room for a while.

Louisa approached me, and I watched through the mirror as her gold bridal dress glided elegantly against her curvaceous body. Her oval face is curtained by her straight blond; she is a sight to behold.

" You are a sight to behold, sister. I've always thought you the most beautiful of us all", we shared a look through the mirror, and in her eyes was sincerity.

" From all angles, shape, and in all directions. And you are even much stronger than any of us", She laughed bitterly at her own words

She grabbed my shoulders from behind and her eyes looked deeply into my gray ones in the mirror as determination shuns in them "Look into yourself sister, you do not wish to be like Carlotta and you do not have to be. You are not obligated to anybody to fill the void she left. How can you be her, it doesn't fit. Is she as strong as you, as beautiful as you. Destiny has brought you here, dealt with you this that you have to be someone else's second chance. I need you to know that you are nobody's second chance, you'll only be if you think yourself one. If this works out, fine, and if it doesn't, do not beat yourself up over it. A lifetime is a long time and it is enough if you are happy by yourself",

She was back in her seat by the time the knobs turned and the heavy door was flung open.

" It's time", Father announced.

"I'll walk with you", It is a tradition that a queen walks through the corridor that is linked to the altar by herself. It gives her the time to think about her supposed responsibilities.

I'm thankful that I wasn't alone, I didn't want to think at that moment. As we approached the entrance to the alter, Father held on tightly to my hand at his elbow " Remember to come home whenever you are tired", He squeezed my hand one more time before walking away. My grey eyes moisten and my chest heaved as I tried to contain the emotion that was about to spill over.

I have never been so scared for myself before, not even then was I as scared.

The walk from the entrance was the longest journey in my life; all faces blurred out and even as I drew closer to the man I was expected to spend eternity with, I still wasn't able to make out his face; he was a stranger, a very powerful stranger.

He extended his right hand towards me to help me unto the altar, his sharp eyes glanced at me before looking away at the murmur of current that passed between us.

I refused to acknowledge it; he knows as I do that it was because of the family bond between Carlotta and me. Even if there was anything, there was nothing.

Whether I refuse to admit it or not, I am but a second chance; a second option.

He didn't hold on for longer than he should and together we faced the coordinator.

The coordinator said a lot of things, but I could not bring myself to concentrate, it was a new beginning for me and it would be happening where the mere sight of me would remind the people in Tenebrous of their lost queen.

I turned mechanically towards him as I noticed him do the same; it was exhausting, being under the micro gazes of the people I didn't know.

He retrieved the heirloom from a small box and slipped it into my left index finger; a jade that was firstly Carlotta's. It was torturous and I could feel it burn my finger.

I retrieved the one by my side and slipped it into his finger.

He said a bunch of words about responsibilities and obligations that we didn't bother to listen to, but as the orchestra started to play he placed my hand on his elbow and took me to the dance floor.

His eyes refused to look into mine like it didn't matter who was in his arms; it could be me or anybody. I didn't bother paying him much attention either, I didn't want to be there, in his arms.

The moment the first play ended, his hands dropped and we walked way in opposite directions.

"Brother, shall I have this dance", I heard a silky feminine voice call out to him.

I retreated to the farthest corner of the room with a glass of wine in one hand and the crown that indicated my status in Vesta Noir in the other hand.

" I thought you would be most delightful to have caught such a big catch", A female voice slurred and the peaceful moment I had hardly enjoyed collapsed.

Her lips dipped slightly as a mocking laugh passed them. Laura placed her drink on the satin-covered table and tapped lightly with her newly fixed nails. She knows how much such noise disgusts me, especially with our super sensitive ears. "He would not even look at your stunning face",

To me Laura was insignificant, her words never got to me. If she hadn't been mother's niece, I would have shut her mouth forever just to keep my world quiet.

" You'll never fill that void Carlotta left", her voice trembled. Laura and Carlotta were competitors when she was alive, with her gone, she seemed to miss her far more than I thought possible. She has this twisted obligation to protect Carlotta's territory; to make sure her things remain hers.

I looked up at her blankly, the excitement on her face gradually turned into boredom and her eyes dull "Uninteresting" she patted her permed hair before turning to leave.

I looked at the harmonious duo dancing; the woman's blue eyes shone as she looked up at the man in adoration and the man's eyes softened as he guided her patiently.

"Lovely, isn't it", A baritone voice complimented. His gold hair was pushed back and his eyes of the same color glistened in interest as he pulled a chair closer without breaking eye contact. He unbuttoned his blazer, swung it over his left arm, and sighed in relief.

" Long day, isn't it?

I raised my left brow in question as I placed my glass on the table to accord him the same attention.

"Shall I go through a little introduction", without waiting for my consent he began pointing out people with their titles.

" The woman in the arms of the king, your husband is your sister inlaw Roberta", His gold eyes gleamed as he gave me a knowing look.

"The guy in the corner even farther than yours; the one with his hair in a ponytail", he jutted his jaw in the direction of a man over six feet with a chiseled jaw and blue eyes.

"....is your brother-in-law", he added.

" Your mother-in-law is away and father-in-law...., is well, somewhere" he paused slightly.

"As for me", his hand extended in my direction and his lips curled into a smirk " I'm the Lord of Abbalone",

Usually, I didn't like being touched but considering his help, I'll do the guy a favor.

I've long heard the story of the heir of Coven Abbalone, but his current demeanor does not fit what I expected him to be like; cold and distant. After all, over two centuries ago, more than half of Abbalone was killed in a besiege, of which his parents were among.

Hence, the once most populated coven became one with fewer numbers.

My left brow raised in realization, he looked familiar; the voice and those molten eyes.

He looked at me expectantly, his eyes lightened in amusement.

Like a bell, a voice rang in my head. "My king you have a call"

A soft " Ah" left my lips

"You are him",

" Rigo", His lips curled

"Nice to meet you, My Queen", he added