Chapter Nine
Forgiveness
After the procession, I spent an hour in my room, crying.
"What's wrong, sweet?" Kieren walked in.
I could only utter, "Those girls."
"Those girls what?" Kieren asked.
"Those girls were my sisters!" I cried out, "and they sold me into slavery!"
Kieren was silent for a while, but he put a steady arm around my shoulders and spoke in a soft, comforting voice.
"Maybe they've changed." Was all he said. At that moment, a page walked in, notifying me that my guests had arrived.
"No, I don't think so, Kieren." I walked out of the room.
"Welcome." I smiled at my hated sisters, and my gaze fell on Seth. He had changed. His flail arms had turned muscular, and his form was larger. "You must be Seth." I smiled at my loving brother.
"Yes, your majesty." Seth replied, "thank you for inviting my sisters to dine with you."
"The pleasure is all mine!" I replied with all the sincerity that I could muster.
My sisters, Seth, and I all settled in our seats to dine. We all talked, I asked them about their history in Biddle, and I told them about my plans for the future of Kulornia. When Stella knocked over my mother-in-law's treasured vase, I was filled with pure anger.
"How dare you break the retired Queen's treasured vase!" I shouted at them, "Guards! Throw this one in prison." I pointed to Stella.
"No!" Grace screamed. "Your highness, take me instead!"
"No, me!" Adelaide yelled. Soon, the banquet hall was filled with my sister's shouts of "Take me instead".
I scoffed, "You would sacrifice your freedom for a spoiled sister?"
"Yes." Grace whispered.
"Why?" I queried, "Why would you do something like that?"
"Because we wouldn't want our mother to go through the same pain again." Marie spoke for the first time, "You see, your highness, our sister wasn't killed by wolves. We were blinded by jealousy and sold her into slavery."
"We immensely regret our decisions," Angel sobbed.
"Please, your highness, let our sister go." Grace knelt and grasped the hem of my skirt.
My feelings for revenge broke. They had changed!
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I knelt beside Grace, "Grace, I'm your sister, Arabella, and I understand why you sold me into slavery, but I forgive you, because I know that you've learned your lesson."
"Arabella?" Adelaide let out a sob, "I'm so sorry!"
"We're all sorry!" Marie exclaimed as she rushed to hug me. Stella and Angel followed, tears streaming down their faces. Seth stood outside the group, his mouth open in shock.
"Seth!" I cried aloud as I rushed to hug him.
"Arabella, I thought you were gone forever!" I could see that he was trying to choke back sobs.
"I have so much to tell you all, so many stories to share," I laughed, truly happy. "You will all move in with me! Bring mother, too."