The sun rose sluggishly, casting a warm but eerie light across the hills, its golden rays creeping like fingers across the damp earth. The morning mist clung to the edges of the grass as if reluctant to let go. On the front porch of their father's house, Xandria and her younger sister, Elara, sat with a basket of freshly cut vegetables between them. The scent of lavender filled the air, mingling with the earthy freshness of the morning. The warmth wrapped around them, but it did nothing to settle the coldness gnawing at Xandria's heart.
"Are we still going to the festival today?" Elara asked, her fingers deftly braiding her hair into a neat ponytail.
Xandria glanced up at the sky, her gaze distant. "I thought we decided to skip it this year."
"But why? Everyone in the kingdom is going to be there!" Elara's voice was filled with excitement, as if the very mention of the festival was enough to make the air around them shimmer with possibilities.
Xandria hesitated, turning her eyes back to the horizon where the sun struggled to break through the clouds. "We have more important things to do," she said quietly, almost to herself. "We went last year. It's just another festival."
"But Mama—" Elara began, but she was interrupted by the sound of their mother's voice from the house.
"What are you two girls talking about?" Janet Greystone stepped out, a concerned look on her face.
Xandria shot her sister a frustrated glance. "Mama, don't tell me you were listening to us again?"
"If you didn't want me to hear, you should've whispered," their mother teased with a laugh. But there was an edge of concern in her voice.
"Talk to Xandria," Elara whined, turning to their mother. "She doesn't want to go to the festival."
Xandria shifted uncomfortably, her fingers tightening around the edge of the basket. Her heart pounded as her mother's gaze turned to her.
"Why don't you want to go, Xandria?" Janet's voice was gentle, but there was a subtle pressure behind it.
Xandria bit her lip, looking away. "No reason, Mama. It's just... overrated."
"Overrated?" Elara's eyes widened in disbelief. "You were excited about it last month!"
Xandria gave a forced smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Ever since the rumors had started circulating about the King's appearance, she had been plagued with strange dreams—dreams that felt too real, too vivid. She hadn't shared them with anyone, but they had become more frequent. And each time, they had grown darker, filled with an overwhelming sense of inevitability. She feared what might happen at this year's festival, though she could not explain why.
"I promise you, Xandria, the festival will be fun," Elara insisted, her voice full of excitement.
Xandria's stomach tightened. She wanted to say no, wanted to stop this, but she knew Elara had been looking forward to this for so long. "What's the worst that could happen?" she muttered, trying to shrug off the unease curling in her chest.
Elara beamed, her excitement contagious. "Now that's the spirit!"
Their mother chuckled. "There's no way you were going to miss it, especially with the King coming this year. It will be the first time he's attending since—"
Xandria stiffened at the mention of the King. Her breath caught in her throat. Why this year?
"Why hasn't he come before?" Elara asked, her curiosity piqued.
"No one knows for sure," their mother replied, setting the vegetable basket down on the table. "I've heard rumors that he's coming to find a bride."
Xandria's heart skipped a beat. She felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. The words find a bride echoed in her mind like an omen, but she couldn't understand why.
Elara jumped to her feet, her face alight with excitement. "I can't wait for the festival!"
Xandria remained seated, her mind heavy with questions she couldn't answer. The thought that something was going to happen at the festival lingered in her thoughts, and she didn't know how to shake it.
Evening came faster than Xandria would've liked. The night air was cooler, crisp against her skin as she adjusted her dark purple gown. Her mother had insisted on her wearing the peach dress she had bought, but Xandria couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't want to stand out, not tonight. The dark purple gown, simple and unadorned, would ensure that no one looked twice at her. She hoped that it would be enough to keep her unnoticed, keep her safe.
"Xandria, Elara, aren't you girls ready?" Their mother's voice rang from the kitchen, impatience creeping into her tone.
"We're almost done!" Elara's voice was barely audible from upstairs.
Elara entered Xandria's room, breathless and eager. The familiar scent of polished wood and dried lavender filled the space, but tonight it felt heavier, almost suffocating. The moonlight streamed through the windows, casting shadows on the walls that seemed to stretch unnaturally long.
"Do you have a hair clip?" Elara asked, rushing past the vanity.
Xandria quickly rummaged through the drawer and handed her sister the carved mother-of-pearl clip. Elara grabbed it without a word and hurried to fix her hair.
"Let's go, we're going to be late!" Elara said, nearly knocking into the doorframe in her hurry.
Xandria paused, her eyes scanning the room one last time. The soft click of the door behind her was the only sound that followed as she stepped into the hallway, closing her heart off to the unease that was gnawing at her.
The festival grounds were already bustling with people when the carriage pulled up. Lanterns floated lazily in the sky, casting a golden glow on the sea of people gathered below. The air hummed with excitement, but something about it felt... off.
"Is it just me, or does this place feel... enchanted this year?" Elara's voice was filled with wonder as she looked around, her eyes wide with fascination.
"It's not just you," Xandria murmured, her voice strained. She could feel it now, a strange pressure in the air that made the hairs on her neck stand up. It was as if something—someone—was watching.
Elara laughed. "It's just the excitement. The King's coming, after all. But magic? That's impossible. He banned sorcerers years ago, remember?"
Xandria didn't respond. She wasn't so sure anymore. Something in the air felt wrong, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was the calm before a storm.