[Helia POV]
As I tried to sleep, I kept thinking about Flora. My mind felt so clouded and nothing seemed to make much sense. Every time I thought about Flora, instantly my mind would go to Krystal. The more I thought about Flora the more clouded my mind became and it was starting to become too much. I finally gave up for the night and decided to get some rest. Maybe things would clear up in the morning.
Helia's dream…
I stood at the ball, two masked ladies standing in front of me. One was wearing a light pink dress, her hair curled, a tiara on top of her head. The other one was in deep purple dress, her hair in a bun, also with a tiara. One was Krystal and the other was Flora. you only needed to look at them to know which one was which, yet something seemed off. My father stood beside me and spoke.
"Helia, take a look at these two princesses before you. using only what you see, pick one of them to marry. Do not think, for thoughts can cloud the mind." It was strange hearing him give advice of any kind, but I listened. I didn't I just looked at the two of them. Though both were visions of beauty they were not as they appeared. I only had to use my eyes to see the trick that stood before me.
"Father, I have made my choice." I told him. he nodded his head and I looked at the two of them.
"Princesses, one of you shall become my bride. Flora, remove your mask." The girl in purple did so and her appearance changed. Her ball gown was now a simple commoners dress, her hair now tied up, the tiara now gone.
"How did you know it was me?" She asked as I picked her up in my arms, twirling her,
"Simple. Your eyes, they were the first thing I noticed about you when we first met and they will always be the first thing I see."
I jerked awake and everything was now clear. I did love Flora and I still do. Krystal had tricked me, and the more I tried to think about it the more my mind had become clouded, but when I stopped thinking and just looked at them, everything made sense.
The sun was just peeking through the shut curtains of my room, when there was a knock on my door.
"Come in." I spoke, my throat a little hoarse. Krystal walked in and planted herself in my lap, her arms wrapping around my neck. I could smell some sort of perfume, which I figured to be from her moisturizer, and turned my attention back to her.
"So, I was thinking about the wedding and had a fabulous idea. With so many people coming to the wedding, the ballroom wouldn't be big enough to hold everyone and still have room to set up the reception afterward, so I thought we could hold the reception in the ballroom as planned and hold the wedding ceremony outside in front of the palace. We can have the servants decorate the outside, it will be perfect." She said gleefully. Her idea of a perfect wedding was so different from my idea; I had to tell her about… about… I shook my head, the pounding from last night returning.
"Sweetheart, is everything alright?" She asked me.
"Yeah, just a headache." I told her.
"Just stress from the wedding. But think in just 24 hours we are going to be husband and wife, leaving for our honeymoon on Visavore." She spoke excitedly. She kissed my cheek before leaving. I got out of bed and got dressed before heading down to breakfast.
"Helia my boy, come and sit down. I was just about to tell Krystal and her family about the sentencing I have chosen for the girl down in the dungeon." He spoke. My father always had a cheery quality to his voice whenever he was talking about sentencing prisoners. It was disgusting.
"So please, do continue." Krystal asked.
"Well, as I was saying her crimes are a serious one. So tonight at midnight she will be executed." She spoke.
It took me a second to realize who they were talking about. Flora. My head started to pound even harder than before, pain becoming excruciating.
"Helia is everything alright? Is something the matter?" my father asked me.
"Father, don't you think you are being a bit harsh on the girl. I mean what crimes has she committed?" I asked him, my voice growing loud.
"Conspiracy against you and me and impersonation of a royal. Both are high crimes punishable by death." He responded.
"What conspiracy? I saw her yesterday in the dungeon. I mean she couldn't hurt a fly, let alone plan a conspiracy. Father you must reconsider. Put her to work in the castle, exile her, anything but death." I tried to persuade him. I didn't know why I was defending her but something inside me was telling me to protect her.
"She may look innocent enough but hidden beneath that poor girl act is the heart of a dangerous criminal. As for the conspiracy, she impersonated a royal trying to over throw us and take the thrown for herself. So I will not reconsider. She is to be put to death at midnight." I ran out of there and back up to my room, my head now throbbing.