Chapter twenty seven

5 days later

Muzak arrived at the gate of the palace as he stared at the intimidating building that screamed power out loud, it expressed it's beautiful without shame and showed confident on what it own. The large gates opened up to him and he and grexiak who were seated at the carriage couldn't help but admire the place. The palace was really beautiful during the day as they had only seen it at night during the celebration and they didn't really get a good glimpse. Getting down from the carriage the palace butler came to welcome them with two maids by his side. "Your welcome please leave your luggages to them and follow me as the king requests your presence."

They followed the butler diligently as they took in there environment, when they got to the palace muzak saw the king and some other people there, he bowed at the king "Your highness and the council my greetings."

The king was pleased to see the boy but seeing the lady who had accompanied him which happens to be the same lady who tried to cause trouble at the prince's birthday party he wasn't pleased with that and he didn't hide that "Why is she with you?."

"I'm sorry my king but I'm quite familiar with her, your highness and since I don't really know anyone here I'll need a company of my own and i have her who I'm familiar with." he bowed showing his respect to the king.

"Hmm but everyone here is- very well." the king said not wanting to prolong the discussion and immediately jazzer bent to whisper something to the king and then the king called the butler "Take them to their rooms, and inform everyone about his arrival."

"yes your highness." the butler bowed and did as he was told.

After the council meeting the king made his way to his chamber with jazzer who followed him diligently.

"So zila and I had a talk yesterday before he followed Hatin and my father back to my father's place." the king said.

"Hmm."

"He spoke about the boy who we have chosen for his sister I don't know but it seems he has a grudge on the boy."

"I think the young prince know better than to keep a grudge." jazzer said taking the prince's side.

"I believe so too but he spoke about mutuality of feelings too, he said that the whole planning seems to be on gainful grounds."

"That's wise to say your highness. What he said makes alot of sense and you know we never can trust that family your highness."

"I do."

"For all we know you made Nate king of that kingdom as it stretched out to the other side, if not he was a meer governor and he is below you he might want your daughter as a pone to seal the deal of him not having to be beneath again."

"Hmm keep an eye on them, mostly the young man who will be marring my daughter."

"Yes your highness."

"Hmm about the situation you told me earlier what did you mean." the king dismissed the marriage topic as he will think deeply on it later.

"It came as an information to me from the village head, he said for some weeks now the ships used to carry loads and food stuffs to our other kingdom sink before they could even get to the place and recently there's been some complaints from the residents across the sea."

"Hmm we need to look deep into this, it's a major problem you know we wouldn't want my people to starve would we? the sea is our major means of transportation foods and other things to the distant villages."

"I do my king so what do you suggest I do?."

"Before I make any decisions I want you to get the head of the shipping affairs."

"He's out of the city my Lord."

"And why is that?."

"He went to the other city to check on the recent ship that sunk as two life's were lost."

"What about a representative?."

"Ahh his son is his second in command."

"Get him then." saying this he dismissed jazzer with a gesture from his hands.

•

2 days earlier

Mr locksmith visited again this time alone and him and Becky's father resumes there previous topic as finally Becky's father had invited him over after thinking about what they discussed last time.

"Mr locksmith thanks for coming on my call." he said as both of them sat down.

"It's fine I hurried here immediately I got your message." Mr locksmith said with a calm smile on his face.

Not wanting to waste the busy man's time, Becky's father went straight to the point "Hmm about what we spoke the last time, well I thought about it deeply and I decided to inform you that the young lady in question is still considered a minor and can't be given out now but Becky her elder cousin-."

"No Mr Steve Ray I think you misunderstood me I know the girl is a minor I want her and my son to get acquainted before they get married and coming directly to you is for it to be known our intention. I would have gone directly to your mother but I decided to come to you for old time sake." Mr locksmith quickly dismissed the thought of choosing some one else as he didn't want to complicate things.

Becky's father was angered by the rejection of his daughter but tried to act civil "Alright I'll have to talk to the girl as well as my family."

"Very well then I'll be taking my leave Mr Steve, I hope next time when we meet it will be a positive reply." Mr locksmith gave a peaceful smile

"Alright." Becky's father stood up together with Mr locksmith as they made there way to the gate. Arriving at the gate Mr locksmith remembered something and turned to Steve "I heard you were requested at the ivory village."

"Ahh yes yes, word really gets round fast." Mr Steve smiled softly as he scratched the back of his neck "two people were found dead by the sea and they were my loaders."

"I'm sorry about that."

"it's fine."

.

After the talk between Steve and lock, lock left and Becky's father came back in the house, not too long after he was called for dinner, while eating he kept looking at Bianca and his son Fred who assisted her, he wouldn't deny that he is aware of how smittened his son was by the young lady and he won't also deny that he hasn't thought of getting them married even if he knew there were distant relatives, after all he was in love with bianca's mother even when they were step siblings, he remembers kissing her forcefully at the waterfall minutes after seeing her holding locks hands. Right now, all these memories hunts him as he knows that part of the reason bianca's mother decided to leave was because of how overbearing he became at that time, taking a deep breath he called to everyone's attention "You all are aware I'll be traveling tomorrow." he started.

"Will I be accompanying you dad?."

"Not at all we would need someone here to take care of the family and Incase decisions are to be taken or my presence is needed by the council."

"Ok."

"But aside from that I want to say something.....I know you all have been visiting quite frequently well Mr locksmith is interested in someone in this house." and with that everyone including Becky stared at her father as she said "R-really."

"he wants his son and Bianca to get married but first get acquaint-." Becky who was listening becomes furious at the mention of Bianca's name she turned to Bianca who looked shocked by the information and though she saw disapproval in bianca's eyes she was too angry to care, she immediately stood up shocking everyone as she placed her spoon on the table with a loud thud and stormed out of diner, Bianca felt really anxious and followed Becky immediately just with that Mr Steve realized there was something wrong as it seem his daughter liked the young man, he sighed deeply as he kept eating his food as he stared at his elder son who didn't react to the information but Mr Steve knew well enough that the young man was battling inside. After few minutes they heard Becky screaming at Bianca.

"Becky Becky come on don't be like this probably there is a mistake somewhere don't lock yourself in, don't suffer alone." Bianca pleaded as she knocked on Becky's door repeatedly.

Becky paced from side to side in her room as she heard Bianca's pleading from outside, she was really angry and she really needs to vent it out to feel better, how could Bianca get the guy of her dream? how can they choose her when she was clearly younger and a minor, feeling angered she opened the door and pushed Bianca "How could you, you- you idiot you came here I accepted you, you stole grandma's love, you stole everyone's love and now! you stole the most important part of my life how horrible could you be!! I- I showered you with nothing but love Bianca nothing but love." Becky said while poking Bianca on the shoulder.

"Come on don't say that, don't be like this, you know I won't agree to it we are sister's and-." before she could complete her sentence she was pushed by becky who responded "you! you are not my sister you can never be so don't you ever! call me that."

"That's enough Becky, it's not her fault he chose her." Fred who had left the dinning to help Bianca as he knew how horrible his dear sister could be when angry, he was angry that someone wanted to take Bianca who he liked but he knew it wasn't the girls fault and he didn't blame her like his sister did, the major problem was the smiths.

"Yeah go on support her! none of you genuinely care about me y-your my brother but watch you take her side this place doesn't even feel like home with all of you here am hurting and that's all you could say!."

"And you think it feels like home for her having total stranger who she didn't know till now to call a family huh? your just being selfish with your words."

"Well I never asked her parents to die!." and with that Becky was slapped by her father who just came "That's enough." Mr Steve Ray said with fury. Becky was shocked as her dad had never hit her before, even if everyone was against her, her father had always supported her but being slapped by him now her heart ached and she just stared daggers at Bianca before entering her room and banging the door.

Bianca felt her heart shatter at Becky's declarations, Becky had really said enough for one night and it was too much to take in. As tears slipped down from her eyes she quickly stormed out of the house in the rain.

"Follow her it's cold outside." Mr Steve said to Fred as he made his way to his room to prepare for his trip as he'll be leaving early.

Bianca kept running not knowing were to go she went to the beach where the clowd were darker she felt her heart shatter in pieces, just as the cloud spread so did her heart shatter and just as the rain poured so did her tears roll bitterly, she knew it was true that they weren't sisters but she had always looked up to Becky as one and her saying this just showed her, her place, she felt her heart bleed but she understood that Becky was also hurting and wasn't in a good mood but the words Becky spat out still ringed loudly in her head like a the church bell which reminds it's followers of the time of prayer, she looked at the sky as she wondered why her life has to be like this, she was literally an orphan and it doesn't get better as Becky's family aren't direct relatives as she didn't even know where her dad came from and her mother was a step sister to Becky's father and the only bond they shared was their grandma "Why did you leave me mom." Bianca said as she recalled all the perfect memories of her mother.

•

Zila walked through the forest when he picked up a sound from the sea side which he was heading to, he just returned from dropping Hatin and decided to go get fresh air from the sea, he walked towards the sound to notice a figure shaking helplessly in the rain, he leaned on a tree and observed the little woman cry, he hardly see any one cry at home only when a maid or an offender was being punished, he wondered why humans were so pathetic when it came to their emotions, he saw the fragile figure shake again and decided to approach her but immediately a brunette dude stepped out with a coat and umbrella, he rapped her in the coat while taking her away from the seaside, they both seemed to be in a deep conversation that they didn't even realize there was someone there.

Zila heaved a sign as he made his way to the waters where they had stood earlier, he stared at the clouds which looked darker than ever as he recalled when he was little he was told it rained like this when witches plot or weep, looking at the people who left that place he scoffed and wondered how the witches got into clover without the knowledge of the royals.