The kingdom of Perimont was very quiet that sunny afternoon. Unusual for such a usually busy kingdom, but their highnesses had announced they'd be making an appearance about town and they all assumed they were preparing for it.
Isabel Arianna de Parsifal was not looking forward to it. She couldn't imagine anything more horrible. Watching thousands of subjects fawn over you. Ugh. What could be worse? Although her sister Sarena Amarantha de Parsifal, couldn't wait. She kept thinking she'd find some gorgeous prince form out of town. Ha! Isabel knew better. There was no such thing as love, and definitely no such thing as an enjoyable town visit. But Sarena insisted on dreaming. Every morning she'd sing a song about how she knew she'd find love, and that she'd be the one all the lutists were singing about. Isabel would just ignore her and wait for Helena to finish hemming her gown.
The loud ping pong of everyone's shoes on the stone castle floor was beginning to drive Isabel up the wall. She spun around in her mirror while Helena tied the back strings tighter.
"AH!" she cried in pain, "That's extremely tight, Helena."
"I apologize, Princess, but the entire point of the dress is too make your waist look so small everyone in Perimont will be envious."
"Please, Helena. They already are envious. My now constricted waist is nearly a formality."
Sarena, seated on the window sill velvet cushion, looking out the window, rolled her eyes. "Belle, it wouldn't kill you to wear a tight waisted dress to town, who knows you might attract a prince."
Now it was Isabel's turn to roll her eyes, "Oh please, Sarena, stop with the love nonsense already! Love does not exist! Next year when I turn eighteen, the king and queen will set me up with some annoying pompous cricket playing Casanova prince, and I'll end up hollow and lonely just like them. Then in a year, they'll do the same to you."
"No. How boring. The king and queen are in love."
"Ha! Don't kid yourself, Sarena. They were arraigned and they're practically strangers."
"Just because that's what happened with them doesn't mean it has to happen to us."
"Whatever you say Serena."
Sarena tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder and looked out the window again.
Helena yanked the strings on Isabel's gown again.
"AH! Stop!"
"I'm sorry Princess. Now you're done." She smiled as Isabel stepped off the stool and walked out of the room.
Now it was Sarena's turn for dress torture. She removed her long night gown and replaced it with a midnight blue gown. She detested the color but Helena always insisted she wear it for big occasions. Since she was darker skinned and had dark hair, it was best for her coloring, according to Helena. Of course, Isabel's was a lovely bright red, since she was slightly fair skinned and had blonde or light brown hair. She always insisted they weren't related, but it was clear Sarena took after her father's mother who was Spanish.
Sarena waited while Helena re-threaded the strings on the back of her dress, she finally decided to just ask, "Helena, do you believe Isabel's right…?"
She thought for a moment, then shrugged, "I can not say that I know, Princess. I do believe there is a prince charming for everyone, and I also believe that Isabel, and you will find them, but when you least expect it."
She yanked the strings, "AH! Goodness, Helena. I think I've heard father say they use this technique for torture in battle."
Helena laughed, "Oh my dear, you're a character." She tied the strings, "Now your hair."
Sarena hopped off the stool and sat on the chaise, "Why does Belle have you do her hair then her dress?"
"Because according to her, her hair is more painful."
Sarena nodded, "I hope she isn't right…" she paused, "You know about the Casanova idea. I can't imagine that."
"What? Isabel with a Casanova?" she giggled, "Me either."
"Yes." Sarena smiled, "Imagine him trying to court her and her tossing squashes at him!"
They both began cackling at the thought of that when there was a sharp knock on the wooden door.
Helena finished Sarena's small braid down her hair and jumped up to answer the door.
Marvin, the jester came skipping about with his pointed bell shoes as soon as Helena opened the door. He did a cartwheel then landed on one knee in front of Sarena. He shook his odd hat with pointed tips in every direction and bells on the end, they jingled as he shook it.
He sang, "Sarena, now of Perimont be…would thy accompany me to town to…day."
She laughed and was just about to reply, "Of course." When they had another visitor.
"Oh there you are Marvin," her voice made everyone stiff, it was the queen.
Helena bowed, and Marvin turned, still on one knee, then bent down completely. And Sarena rose to her feet.
"We'll be going into town soon, I suspect you're all ready?"
Sarena nodded, Helena nodded, and Marvin stayed bowed.
"Excellent, join us downstairs, hm." she quickly turned on her heel and was out the door.
"She quite terrifies me," Marvin stated.
"Oh she's harmless. Her bark's much worse than her bite." Sarena said.
"It doesn't seem like it. I think it's all pretty scary."
Sarena laughed, "Even father isn't terrifying. He's much more harmless than her."
Marvin leapt into the air, "Oooh! The king is even more terrifying!"
"No, no." Sarena shook her head, "Father is much more kind."
Marvin shook his jingle hat and said, "Either way, I never want either of them to be upset with me." He kicked his jingle shoes in the air and then headed out the door.
Helena smiled adjusting her braided chignon in their mirror, then smiled and hugged Sarena, "Show all those princes you're perfect, Sarena. And prove to Isabel love does exist." She smiled again.
"Thank you Helena! I will!" She smiled.
Sarena headed out of the room and down the long winding staircase. She about slammed into Isabel who was standing with the king and queen.
"Watch where you're going! You don't want to mess yourself up since you have to attract princes today!"
She cackled evilly.
"Oh stop it. You just wait, you'll be the one who ends up falling in love."
"Ha! Sarena, dear, you really have fallen out of the apple tree one two many times." She patted her sisters shoulder in false sweetness.
Sarena tried to think of a good argument, but nothing would come. She'd lost another battle to Isabel.
The king and queen lined up get into the horse drawn carriage to take them to town. The king first, then the queen, Isabel, Sarena, then Marvin.
Isabel couldn't believe she was being drug there again. It was the farthest thing from fun to her. She was also unbelievably annoyed with Sarena and her 'strong believe in true love.' Please. It didn't exist. And she was really tired of hearing that it did. Once in the carriage, they looked out the window at the green grass, and scenery. About a half a mile from their castle, set a bit far from town, there was another castle. Black. And evil looking with purple smoke erupting from the turrets.
There was a problem with the carriages wheel, and the coachmen beckoned the queen and Sarena to come and find out what was wrong. That's when Isabel noticed the black castle.
"Father…what is that? I've never seen it before…" Isabel declared.
"Shhh!" The king warned, "Come closer," he whispered, "She can probably hear…"
"Who?" Isabel asked keeping quiet.
"Lavinia von Perfidus, or…the evil witch of Perimont. She's also…your mother's sister."
Isabel gasped.
"They were both up for the arraignement to marry me." He sat back and smiled, quite proud of himself, "And it turned out your mother was the most qualified, she had poise and grace, and all the things a queen should, and her sister. My. She was twice as beautiful, but she was very power hungry, and didn't like to take a shotgun seat. She had to be the coachmen. But, as you well know, the coachmen must be the king."
"So of course, mother got to marry you."
"Yes, and got everything Lavinia wanted. Power, and…er well, more power. People fawning at her feet, servants, oh the servants. So she became utterly bitter and decided one day she'd get your mother back for all that she took from her. So be on the look out, I have a feeling she'll be in town today, and warn Sarena."
Isabel nodded, "What does she look like?" She has dark hair, like Sarena, and well, looks like your mother…" And always wears a black cape with a giant letter L on the back. In purple script."
"So black and purple is her signature…"
"Ah yes."
She nodded again.
"And she'll be very sly, you won't know she's evil, until it's too late."
"Ah just a rock." the queen said hopping back into the carriage.
"Really? I thought the whole wheel fell off!" The king said.
Sarena hopped in behind her, "I huge rock though."
"Oh Sarena that cas— "
"t, in that play in town is supposed to be spectacular. Right Isabel?" He gave her a stare that read, "play along or you're getting tossed right out the window."
"Oh yes. Amazing cast." she smiled.
Sarena nodded and said, "Sounds quite delightful, too bad we're only here for a day."
"I know isn't it?" The king said.
Isabel couldn't take her eyes off that castle. She wondered about what Lavinia was like, and why she decided to be so evil over her father. He was quite nice, but it was reason to wreck havoc over your sisters life for.