Simran Kaur

Fantasy

4  

Simran Kaur

Fantasy

Beauty Impounded

Beauty Impounded

7 mins
278


                  CHAPTER - 1

The night didn't seem so pleasing. It was a full moon night, yet the moon was eclipsed in the dark shadows. The sky looked horrible in the quilt of black clouds. There was not a single star to be seen. The only light in the sky was that of the lightning, appearing constantly at the same point in the sky. It was horrible to look at the sky. The sharp screams of the woman from the palace were adding more terror in the terrifying weather.

'Whoa! What a horrible weather it is!'

'Have you ever seen such weather before?'

'Not in my lifetime I've ever seen such bad weather in Ottahana.'

'No one in the world would have even seen such strange weather at any place of the world.'

'Yeah! Right.'

The Ottahanians were talking among themselves. The queen of Ottahana was supposed to come up with a child tonight, and the same night such was the weather. Strange coincidence.


The palace was beautifully decorated to welcome the newcomer. For how long Ottahana had waited for this moment. King Balthasar was getting more nervous with every passing moment. Queen Cordeilla's labour pain was getting unbearable. The women attendants were trying to calm her, but she was screaming continuously, ill with labour pains.

The pain ended with a strong scream, followed by the silence from the queen. She could not speak but heard the cries of her child held between the hands of Gracy. The king had a sigh of relief when Ellen opened the door and said:

'Congratulations! Your majesty. It's a baby girl.'

Tears come out of his eyes. He was excited to see his little princess. But he noted that something was wrong. Looking at Ellen's face, he asked:

'What happened, Ellen? Is everything fine with the princess and the queen?'

'Yes, your majesty - they are fine. But the princess......,' Ellen dared not speak more.

The King went in to see the princess. The atmosphere of the room was gloomy. No one was welcoming the newcomer with excellent words, nor were there any blessings for her, in fact, there was a deep silence. Gracy came to the King and passed the child into his hands. The King was shocked at once when he saw his princess. He could not believe if she belonged to him and the queen. Despite their expectations, the princess had a dark face, big eyes, a large forehead and a small unshaped nose.

'How could my daughter be so ugly!', King Balthasar exclaimed at once, 'Tell me, Gracy! How is it possible that an ugly child could be born of handsome parents?'

'Then perhaps this child doesn't belong to you, King Balthasar', a voice was heard from the door of the room from where an old woman entered. She was in old ragged clothes, holding a thick stick to walk with. Her face was full of lines indicating her old age and vast experience. Coming in, she continued, 'This may not be your child.'

'How dare you speak such rubbish!', King Balthasar interrupted the woman, 'Who asked you to come at my palace, you foolish lady! Get out of my sight or I'll curse you, Balthasar was very angry at the woman. He called the soldiers and drew the old woman out of the room.

Queen Cordeilla was feeling better now. She asked the King to show her the princess. As soon as the King laid the princess near her mother, Cordeilla burst into tears,

'What is our daughter cursed for?', she complained.

No one spoke. A long silence fell there. At last, King Balthasar started,

'I know how to make it right.'

Everyone's eyes got frozen upon his face, and he said again,' My princess would be the most beautiful lady in the world. Yes, my little princess Estelle.'

'Princess Estelle!', exclaimed Queen Cordeilla.

The king hurriedly took the child into his arms and says,

'I request you all, what happened today should be kept a secret. I will be back by tomorrow. There would be celebrations everywhere.'

'Don't worry your majesty. No one would come to know about this. I take the responsibility, assured Ellen.

King Balthasar took the princess away from the palace in the dark silent night. It started to rain heavily in Ottahana as he left the country.


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