The Moon's True Beauty
Princesses Stacia and Melanie of Gorebreath are polar opposites.Melanie is sweet and kind,while Stacia is cold and cruel.When it's their father's birthday,the girls has to go through a contest and the prize is the best in all the land.The handsome Prince Arioso of Dreghorn.Who will win?A simple story where love will conquer all.
The Moon’s True Beauty:
By WritersBlocksSlave:
The Moon’s true beauty is such a sight to behold
So much that a story unfolds.
There once was a princess of Gorebreath,
Who was vain and horrid in everything that she did.
The villagers didn’t like her much, and she knew this.
But still, she acted as horrible and selfish as she could be. She believed she was beautiful inside and out,
But the truth was that she was not.
She would look inside a puddle, a well, a mirror, anywhere to see her reflection and say, “Why, aren’t I a pretty sight? Why hasn’t anybody courted me, yet?” She would say this with insecurity. But then she shook her head and said, “I haven’t been courted yet because those fools has never seen a true beauty like me and doesn’t know how to handle it. They were afraid. I’m way too beautiful to be ignored.”
The villagers saw this act everyday and shook their heads at their future queen.
They wished that the princess’s sister, Melanie, could have been the oldest. Melanie was the sweetest thing on Earth. She sang to the birds and animals, gave food to the hungry, even gave up some of her wool to villagers without enough money to buy wool to make clothing without asking for anything in return. She was the prettiest girl any of the villagers have ever seen. She was always being courted by all of the princes in each and every kingdom. But the villagers could never say this aloud, since Stacia, the vain princess, was jealous of Melanie. The last time a villager said that Melanie was prettier and nicer than Stacia, Stacia had sentenced the poor man to death. That was the first and last time someone dared to say that anywhere near Stacia. But that didn’t stop the villagers from thinking it and whispering it to each other.
So here is where our story starts. Where a vain princess gets what’s coming for her in a way she could never believe….
It was a special day in the kingdom of Gorebreath. It was the King’s forty-fifth birthday. The palace was just oozing excitement. Stacia and Melanie each had presents of their own for their father. Stacia had only bothered to get her father a gift for two reasons. 1) She wanted to get on his good side and forever be his favorite daughter and show Melanie it’s her running this show and not her and 2) Her father said the person with the best present would be married to the most handsome prince in all the land, Prince Arioso of Dreghorn. Stacia would make sure it was her.
She walked in the throne room and saw Melanie near her father’s throne. She was smiling, which got on Stacia’s nerves since she did it every second of the day. Even when Stacia said and did mean things to her, her smile would never falter. It drove Stacia wild. It was more proof that Melanie was better than her, as it was that Stacia always sported a frown on her lovely face.
She wondered what was going on. Her father had a huge smile on his face, something that didn’t happen unless it was something really big. She faced her mother and father and spoke. “Good morning, mother and father. And I wish you a happy birthday, as well, Father.” King Luc de Deveraux beamed at her. “Thank you for wishing me well, darling. Melanie wished me the same this morning. She was actually sitting on my bed, hovering over me, waiting for me to wake up for she could wish me happy birthday. And she didn’t stop there. She also gave me breakfast in bed. It was lovely. Thank you, Melanie,” her father said, while beaming at Melanie. Melanie’s smile got wider. “It was the least I could do. You are my father of course. You deserved it. No biggie,” she said, blushing. Her father waved her protest away. “ Nonsense, Melanie. You are being modest. You flatter this old chap too much, you know,” he said. Melanie blushed a deeper red.
Stacia watched all of this with anger in every fiber of her being. How dare she? How dare she make herself look better than her in front of her own father? I’ll show her whose better one way or the other. Stacia vowed this on her own beauty.
A couple hours later, it was time for Father’s huge birthday ball. Every royal family had already arrived, including Prince Arioso of Dreghorn and his family. Stacia was dressed in her finest dress. It was made of blue silk, had a low neckline that showed a good amount of cleavage, and had light green waves of cotton on the hem. It was simply beautiful. She had her gift in her hand waiting for her father to announce to the guests the deal they had struck between Prince Arioso’s parents.
*****
Melanie was in the opposite hallway, next to Stacia’s, with her gift in her hand. She was wearing her finest dress, as well. It was made of pink satin, a short neckline, and a lighter shade of pink on the hem. She even had a pair of pink baby doll shoes on. And she was shaking. When she got a glimpse of Prince Arioso, she nearly fainted right there on the spot. He was so gorgeous. Her heartbeat went faster than it ever did before over a guy. She felt like she was taking a long run without taking a rest in between miles. She really hoped her gift would make it. If it did, she would be the happiest girl alive. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t try to take him away from Stacia. It was obvious she had the best gift. It wouldn’t be Stacia’s fault that she had the best gift. It would be Melanie’s. She could have tried harder. Well, she thought, let’s hope for the best.
*****
At last, Stacia’s father walked up to the stage. He spoke into the mic with so much enthusiasm than Stacia thought possible. “Welcome, my friends! I am so glad that you were able to come to my forty-fifth birthday celebration! But I have a surprise for you all today, as well. My very own Princess Melanie and Stacia is to vie for Prince Arioso of Dreghorn’s affections in the form of a gift. This gift will be evaluated by Prince Arioso and I. We will then deem which gift is better. Girls, come on out!,” he announced to the crowd.
She straightened her dress and walked out of the shadows of the hallway. When she walked out, she was greeted by cheers. Stacia had a true, genuine smile on her face, for she loved attention. Stacia looked to her right and saw Melanie standing right next to her, looking not at the crowd, but at the stage. Stacia followed her sister’s gaze and anger took over her. Her sister was looking at the prince, who was staring at her with eyes so dark with love. Love for her sister. He hadn’t even looked at Stacia. Not a single glance. Stacia was outraged by this. How dare he fall in love with Melanie and not her? She would show him how beautiful she was compared to Melanie. She would make sure of it.
*****
Prince Arioso was nervously standing on the stage with King Luc de Deveraux, waiting for the daughters to come. He didn’t want to get married. But he couldn’t defy his parents. They were constantly badgering him about getting married at his age of twenty-one. His father kept saying, “Son, you are a man now and a man in royal family gets married before the age of twenty-two in these parts. You should be keeping an eye out on the lovely ladies of the kingdoms. You’ll never know who’ll catch your eye.” Arioso heard this ever since he was fifteen.
When at last, Melanie and Stacia came out of their shadows, Prince Arioso almost had a heart attack, for he had seen the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had long, brown hair and long eyelashes. Her eyes were the color of a clear sky and her lips were full. Her skin was sun-kissed. She looked as if she could break at the slightest touch. Everything about her screamed fragile. Her pink dress didn’t help with that fragile state of hers. She looked as if she was the most innocent person in the Earth. And she most likely was in the Prince’s eyes. He must have her. He suddenly wanted to get married because of this girl. She would be the only one he would ever want.
She was his burst of warm air. Forever warm and keeping the cold out. He would make Melanie his. He hadn’t even gave Stacia more than one glance. And that was before he saw the exquisite Melanie. Stacia had cold, gray eyes the color of dark clouds. She looked pretty in a way, but all of that was turned off by the way her body screamed evil and cold-hearted. Her dress didn’t help his assumption, considering how she tried to get him to notice her physical beauty with that low neckline on her dress, and not the ugliness inside of her. He met thousands of girls like Stacia. And he didn’t like it one bit. Melanie was a flower, filled with life and beauty, while Stacia was a rock, cold and forever evil. Pretty looking on the outside but dangerous when you look at her personality. Her very presence made the hairs on Arioso’s arms stand up. But Melanie’s blocked out all of would make sure of it.
*****
When Melanie walked out of the hallway, she was greeted with eyes the color of tree bark. She was trapped in his gaze. For she knew this was the handsome Prince Arioso. Melanie suddenly wanted to get married to him even more and she hadn’t seen the rest of him yet! When she moved her eyes down his body, she had almost fainted. He had a lanky build, strong cheekbones, long, powerful legs, arms that looked like they could lift a car, and full, luscious lips. Melanie wanted to feel those gorgeous lips on hers. But she would have to wait. She had to win the contest. If she didn’t she would never forgive herself. Please, she thought, please let me win this contest and this wonderful man. With that, she started to walk towards the stage.
*****
King Luc de Deveraux saw this silent exchange with joy. His plan was working! He was happy it was his beloved Melanie and not his wicked Stacia. Oh yes, he saw through Stacia’s attempt to be like Melanie in his presence. He just played along to please her. Stacia having a temper-tantrum was not pretty. You’d rather be in the Devil’s Lair, getting eaten by the Devil himself, than witness and be the cause of Stacia’s anger.
That was what was happening now. The only change in the roles was that Stacia was not mad at just Melanie, but the Prince as well. And over something so stupid as this! She has to accept that not everyone will like her. Heck, nobody likes her. She’s way too evil to like.
I saw Stacia’s look of utter anger before I looked away. This is going to be quite a night, I must say. Let the games begin, as the young people says these days. Oh, indeed they will. And with that Luc de Deveraux laughed quietly.
*****
When Stacia saw Melanie walking towards the stage, she snapped out of her thoughts of ways to get revenge on the Prince and Melanie, and followed her sister. When both sisters were on the stage, the crowd erupted with applause. Her father stepped up to both of them.
I assume you know the rules, girls. If you don’t, then let me retell them. You will both show the Prince and I a gift. Then we will choose which gift is the best. The person with the best will get married to Prince Arioso. Do you understand?” We both nodded our heads. He clapped his hands together loudly. “Okay, then. Let’s begin.”
He faced the prince. “Which one do you want to go first, Arioso?,” he asked. The prince looked straight into her eyes and smiled softly. “Let’s begin with Stacia, shall we?,” he said. I gripped my gift tighter and walked towards the Prince. When I reached him, I gave him a smile that practically screamed Choose me or die. He smiled a sly smile that made her be wary of him back at her. She silently gave him her gift and went back to stand by Melanie.
Prince Arioso unwrapped her gift and laughed silently, but she could hear him alright. Her gift wasn’t stupid. It was a mirror. An expensive mirror, if I do say so myself. Roses with thorns was carved in the silver frame. The glass was the finest in all of the land. Glass made from the Lacroix family. They were the best glassmakers in the country. How dare he laugh at her gift?! He should be grateful for this gift. Appearance is everything. To make people like you, you have to look as pretty as you can be. Shouldn’t he know that being a prince?
Her father and the prince conversed with each other for a moment and both of them smiled at her. Her father’s was more like an apologetic smile, while Arioso’s was trying to stifle his laughter. He held the gift up at the crowd. “Here is Stacia’s gift to her father. A mirror of the most intricate design. Hmm, I wonder why she selected this item for her father. I guess we’ll get an answer later. Well, on to Melanie’s gift,” he said. He smiled at Melanie, but it wasn’t like how he smiled at me. His smile was filled with love and assurance. Melanie stepped forward, returned his smile with one of her own dazzling smiles, and gave him her gift. She then went back to where Stacia stood.
When the prince opened Melanie’s gift, the room was surrounded by a bright, white light. Stacia heard the most beautiful voice. Even more beautiful than Melanie’s own voice. When the light receded, Stacia saw the image of a woman who was even more beautiful than her and Melanie combined. The woman had long, black raven’s hair, pale skin, and red, luscious lips that any man will die to have one kiss from. She had a petite figure and was very tall. Stacia guessed about 5’6 or 5’7. Her aura just screamed power and friendship. She seemed like the kind of person who would only use her power when she felt like she needed to.
The woman faced the stunned crowd and started to speak. “I am Nyx, goddess of the moon and Night. I have come here tonight because I wanted to see my favorite person in the whole entire world besides my lover, of course. That special person is Melanie of Gorebreath. She and I have been friends since she was seven, when she wrote a poem about my moon that was beautiful I had to find the poet. And that led to me Melanie. We know each other’s weaknesses and strong points. We can read each other like a book. We know each other’s secrets. We know everything about each other. But enough of me and Melanie’s relationship. It is time I came to the other reason I came,” her voice was sweet and lovely. Stacia was intoxicated by it. She was also astounded by what Nyx said. Melanie wrote a poem at age seven? One that the lovely and powerful Nyx absolutely loved? Her and the goddess has been best friends ever since then? Her mind was spinning at the shock. Then it turned into anger. How could Melanie not share such a blessing as this with her? The goddess could make all of her dreams come true.
As if Nyx could hear her thoughts, the goddess faced her. “Melanie has told me quite a lot about you, Stacia. She tells me of how you treat her. She says it doesn’t matter and she doesn’t care, but I beg to differ. I have watched you since she told me and that was a very long time, I must tell you. Long enough for me to see the true person you are and not what you want others to see. You are horrible, cruel, evil, and just plain ugly. You might look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside you are the most ugliest creature on this Earth and the universe. Nobody can ever love you, just as you can never love someone else than yourself. You are the most vain girl I have ever met in my existence. And I have been living way before the creation of man. Take my words into consideration,” she said. She turned towards Melanie.
“ My dear friend, the other reason I came here was to give you the gift for the prince. It is the most precious item on my moon. It is a stream of moonlight. The moonlight will let you contact me. When I come, I will grant you whatever wish you want. But you only get one wish. So, I would choose wisely if I were you,” she smiled and winked at Melanie. “But I already know you will, Melanie, since you do it all the time,” she laughed and left.
The room was silent. Stacia was wounded by the goddess’s words. Stacia might have been vain, evil, horrible, and cruel but she wasn’t ugly and unlovable. Was she? You are the most vain girl I have ever met in my existence. The words haunted her and made her feel weak. And Stacia did not like feeling weak. So she straightened her back and put on her most haughtiest expression on her face. “Well, she’s gone now. You can stop acting like she’s still here and she’s the most beautiful person in this room. Right now, that’s me. And until she comes back, it will always be me,” she said, loudly. Everyone looked at her with pity. Everyone except Arioso, who was laughing silently at her statement.
The quiet was shattered by her father. He clapped his hands nervously. “Okay, now that all the drama is done with, we can go on to choosing the winner. Arioso? Who is your vote?,” he asked, facing the prince. The prince did not hesitate not one little bit. He simply said one word. “Melanie,” he stated, with love and happiness in his voice. Melanie smiled with so much love and happiness that Stacia almost puked at the sight of it. Hmm, she truly was cold and heartless like the goddess said. She had to be if love and happiness made her want to puke. She had a lot of things to consider. Her father spoke up again. “I vote for Melanie, as well. Clearly, the winner is Melanie. I hope she has the most happiest life on this earth with Arioso,” he said, happily. He turned towards Arioso. “And you better take care of my daughter, or I will personally kill you in your sleep,” he told the prince sternly. Arioso gulped. “I promise to keep her safe, happy, and loved for as long as I may live, sir,” he said sincerely. He walked towards Melanie and gave her a long, slow kiss. When they broke apart, Arioso whispered in her ear. Whatever he said caused Melanie to giggle and nod. And Melanie put her arm with his and they walked out the door. Well, after Arioso said one last thing. “Stacia, the goddess was right. You are the ugliest person I know and ever will know.” And then he walked into the sunset with his bride to be.
Stacia was so embarrassed by the night’s events that she fled the castle gates without a single glance.
*****
Fifteen Years Later...
Melanie and Arioso was married a month after the contest. They get frequent visits from Nyx time to time. They had two daughters named Alexandra and Isabella. They are both 7 years old. Melanie is happy and in love. Arioso has kept his promise to Melanie’s father of keeping her happy, loved, and safe.
Stacia, on the other hand, is no longer the queen of Gorebreath. The position went to her cousin, Catherine. She now lives in a cottage in a village far away from Gorebreath. She still is haunted by Nyx’s words. Every single day. She cries herself to sleep every night. She even lost her beauty due to her crying. She never looked in a mirror again.
The End
By WritersBlocksSlave:
The Moon’s true beauty is such a sight to behold
So much that a story unfolds.
There once was a princess of Gorebreath,
Who was vain and horrid in everything that she did.
The villagers didn’t like her much, and she knew this.
But still, she acted as horrible and selfish as she could be. She believed she was beautiful inside and out,
But the truth was that she was not.
She would look inside a puddle, a well, a mirror, anywhere to see her reflection and say, “Why, aren’t I a pretty sight? Why hasn’t anybody courted me, yet?” She would say this with insecurity. But then she shook her head and said, “I haven’t been courted yet because those fools has never seen a true beauty like me and doesn’t know how to handle it. They were afraid. I’m way too beautiful to be ignored.”
The villagers saw this act everyday and shook their heads at their future queen.
They wished that the princess’s sister, Melanie, could have been the oldest. Melanie was the sweetest thing on Earth. She sang to the birds and animals, gave food to the hungry, even gave up some of her wool to villagers without enough money to buy wool to make clothing without asking for anything in return. She was the prettiest girl any of the villagers have ever seen. She was always being courted by all of the princes in each and every kingdom. But the villagers could never say this aloud, since Stacia, the vain princess, was jealous of Melanie. The last time a villager said that Melanie was prettier and nicer than Stacia, Stacia had sentenced the poor man to death. That was the first and last time someone dared to say that anywhere near Stacia. But that didn’t stop the villagers from thinking it and whispering it to each other.
So here is where our story starts. Where a vain princess gets what’s coming for her in a way she could never believe….
It was a special day in the kingdom of Gorebreath. It was the King’s forty-fifth birthday. The palace was just oozing excitement. Stacia and Melanie each had presents of their own for their father. Stacia had only bothered to get her father a gift for two reasons. 1) She wanted to get on his good side and forever be his favorite daughter and show Melanie it’s her running this show and not her and 2) Her father said the person with the best present would be married to the most handsome prince in all the land, Prince Arioso of Dreghorn. Stacia would make sure it was her.
She walked in the throne room and saw Melanie near her father’s throne. She was smiling, which got on Stacia’s nerves since she did it every second of the day. Even when Stacia said and did mean things to her, her smile would never falter. It drove Stacia wild. It was more proof that Melanie was better than her, as it was that Stacia always sported a frown on her lovely face.
She wondered what was going on. Her father had a huge smile on his face, something that didn’t happen unless it was something really big. She faced her mother and father and spoke. “Good morning, mother and father. And I wish you a happy birthday, as well, Father.” King Luc de Deveraux beamed at her. “Thank you for wishing me well, darling. Melanie wished me the same this morning. She was actually sitting on my bed, hovering over me, waiting for me to wake up for she could wish me happy birthday. And she didn’t stop there. She also gave me breakfast in bed. It was lovely. Thank you, Melanie,” her father said, while beaming at Melanie. Melanie’s smile got wider. “It was the least I could do. You are my father of course. You deserved it. No biggie,” she said, blushing. Her father waved her protest away. “ Nonsense, Melanie. You are being modest. You flatter this old chap too much, you know,” he said. Melanie blushed a deeper red.
Stacia watched all of this with anger in every fiber of her being. How dare she? How dare she make herself look better than her in front of her own father? I’ll show her whose better one way or the other. Stacia vowed this on her own beauty.
A couple hours later, it was time for Father’s huge birthday ball. Every royal family had already arrived, including Prince Arioso of Dreghorn and his family. Stacia was dressed in her finest dress. It was made of blue silk, had a low neckline that showed a good amount of cleavage, and had light green waves of cotton on the hem. It was simply beautiful. She had her gift in her hand waiting for her father to announce to the guests the deal they had struck between Prince Arioso’s parents.
*****
Melanie was in the opposite hallway, next to Stacia’s, with her gift in her hand. She was wearing her finest dress, as well. It was made of pink satin, a short neckline, and a lighter shade of pink on the hem. She even had a pair of pink baby doll shoes on. And she was shaking. When she got a glimpse of Prince Arioso, she nearly fainted right there on the spot. He was so gorgeous. Her heartbeat went faster than it ever did before over a guy. She felt like she was taking a long run without taking a rest in between miles. She really hoped her gift would make it. If it did, she would be the happiest girl alive. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t try to take him away from Stacia. It was obvious she had the best gift. It wouldn’t be Stacia’s fault that she had the best gift. It would be Melanie’s. She could have tried harder. Well, she thought, let’s hope for the best.
*****
At last, Stacia’s father walked up to the stage. He spoke into the mic with so much enthusiasm than Stacia thought possible. “Welcome, my friends! I am so glad that you were able to come to my forty-fifth birthday celebration! But I have a surprise for you all today, as well. My very own Princess Melanie and Stacia is to vie for Prince Arioso of Dreghorn’s affections in the form of a gift. This gift will be evaluated by Prince Arioso and I. We will then deem which gift is better. Girls, come on out!,” he announced to the crowd.
She straightened her dress and walked out of the shadows of the hallway. When she walked out, she was greeted by cheers. Stacia had a true, genuine smile on her face, for she loved attention. Stacia looked to her right and saw Melanie standing right next to her, looking not at the crowd, but at the stage. Stacia followed her sister’s gaze and anger took over her. Her sister was looking at the prince, who was staring at her with eyes so dark with love. Love for her sister. He hadn’t even looked at Stacia. Not a single glance. Stacia was outraged by this. How dare he fall in love with Melanie and not her? She would show him how beautiful she was compared to Melanie. She would make sure of it.
*****
Prince Arioso was nervously standing on the stage with King Luc de Deveraux, waiting for the daughters to come. He didn’t want to get married. But he couldn’t defy his parents. They were constantly badgering him about getting married at his age of twenty-one. His father kept saying, “Son, you are a man now and a man in royal family gets married before the age of twenty-two in these parts. You should be keeping an eye out on the lovely ladies of the kingdoms. You’ll never know who’ll catch your eye.” Arioso heard this ever since he was fifteen.
When at last, Melanie and Stacia came out of their shadows, Prince Arioso almost had a heart attack, for he had seen the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had long, brown hair and long eyelashes. Her eyes were the color of a clear sky and her lips were full. Her skin was sun-kissed. She looked as if she could break at the slightest touch. Everything about her screamed fragile. Her pink dress didn’t help with that fragile state of hers. She looked as if she was the most innocent person in the Earth. And she most likely was in the Prince’s eyes. He must have her. He suddenly wanted to get married because of this girl. She would be the only one he would ever want.
She was his burst of warm air. Forever warm and keeping the cold out. He would make Melanie his. He hadn’t even gave Stacia more than one glance. And that was before he saw the exquisite Melanie. Stacia had cold, gray eyes the color of dark clouds. She looked pretty in a way, but all of that was turned off by the way her body screamed evil and cold-hearted. Her dress didn’t help his assumption, considering how she tried to get him to notice her physical beauty with that low neckline on her dress, and not the ugliness inside of her. He met thousands of girls like Stacia. And he didn’t like it one bit. Melanie was a flower, filled with life and beauty, while Stacia was a rock, cold and forever evil. Pretty looking on the outside but dangerous when you look at her personality. Her very presence made the hairs on Arioso’s arms stand up. But Melanie’s blocked out all of would make sure of it.
*****
When Melanie walked out of the hallway, she was greeted with eyes the color of tree bark. She was trapped in his gaze. For she knew this was the handsome Prince Arioso. Melanie suddenly wanted to get married to him even more and she hadn’t seen the rest of him yet! When she moved her eyes down his body, she had almost fainted. He had a lanky build, strong cheekbones, long, powerful legs, arms that looked like they could lift a car, and full, luscious lips. Melanie wanted to feel those gorgeous lips on hers. But she would have to wait. She had to win the contest. If she didn’t she would never forgive herself. Please, she thought, please let me win this contest and this wonderful man. With that, she started to walk towards the stage.
*****
King Luc de Deveraux saw this silent exchange with joy. His plan was working! He was happy it was his beloved Melanie and not his wicked Stacia. Oh yes, he saw through Stacia’s attempt to be like Melanie in his presence. He just played along to please her. Stacia having a temper-tantrum was not pretty. You’d rather be in the Devil’s Lair, getting eaten by the Devil himself, than witness and be the cause of Stacia’s anger.
That was what was happening now. The only change in the roles was that Stacia was not mad at just Melanie, but the Prince as well. And over something so stupid as this! She has to accept that not everyone will like her. Heck, nobody likes her. She’s way too evil to like.
I saw Stacia’s look of utter anger before I looked away. This is going to be quite a night, I must say. Let the games begin, as the young people says these days. Oh, indeed they will. And with that Luc de Deveraux laughed quietly.
*****
When Stacia saw Melanie walking towards the stage, she snapped out of her thoughts of ways to get revenge on the Prince and Melanie, and followed her sister. When both sisters were on the stage, the crowd erupted with applause. Her father stepped up to both of them.
I assume you know the rules, girls. If you don’t, then let me retell them. You will both show the Prince and I a gift. Then we will choose which gift is the best. The person with the best will get married to Prince Arioso. Do you understand?” We both nodded our heads. He clapped his hands together loudly. “Okay, then. Let’s begin.”
He faced the prince. “Which one do you want to go first, Arioso?,” he asked. The prince looked straight into her eyes and smiled softly. “Let’s begin with Stacia, shall we?,” he said. I gripped my gift tighter and walked towards the Prince. When I reached him, I gave him a smile that practically screamed Choose me or die. He smiled a sly smile that made her be wary of him back at her. She silently gave him her gift and went back to stand by Melanie.
Prince Arioso unwrapped her gift and laughed silently, but she could hear him alright. Her gift wasn’t stupid. It was a mirror. An expensive mirror, if I do say so myself. Roses with thorns was carved in the silver frame. The glass was the finest in all of the land. Glass made from the Lacroix family. They were the best glassmakers in the country. How dare he laugh at her gift?! He should be grateful for this gift. Appearance is everything. To make people like you, you have to look as pretty as you can be. Shouldn’t he know that being a prince?
Her father and the prince conversed with each other for a moment and both of them smiled at her. Her father’s was more like an apologetic smile, while Arioso’s was trying to stifle his laughter. He held the gift up at the crowd. “Here is Stacia’s gift to her father. A mirror of the most intricate design. Hmm, I wonder why she selected this item for her father. I guess we’ll get an answer later. Well, on to Melanie’s gift,” he said. He smiled at Melanie, but it wasn’t like how he smiled at me. His smile was filled with love and assurance. Melanie stepped forward, returned his smile with one of her own dazzling smiles, and gave him her gift. She then went back to where Stacia stood.
When the prince opened Melanie’s gift, the room was surrounded by a bright, white light. Stacia heard the most beautiful voice. Even more beautiful than Melanie’s own voice. When the light receded, Stacia saw the image of a woman who was even more beautiful than her and Melanie combined. The woman had long, black raven’s hair, pale skin, and red, luscious lips that any man will die to have one kiss from. She had a petite figure and was very tall. Stacia guessed about 5’6 or 5’7. Her aura just screamed power and friendship. She seemed like the kind of person who would only use her power when she felt like she needed to.
The woman faced the stunned crowd and started to speak. “I am Nyx, goddess of the moon and Night. I have come here tonight because I wanted to see my favorite person in the whole entire world besides my lover, of course. That special person is Melanie of Gorebreath. She and I have been friends since she was seven, when she wrote a poem about my moon that was beautiful I had to find the poet. And that led to me Melanie. We know each other’s weaknesses and strong points. We can read each other like a book. We know each other’s secrets. We know everything about each other. But enough of me and Melanie’s relationship. It is time I came to the other reason I came,” her voice was sweet and lovely. Stacia was intoxicated by it. She was also astounded by what Nyx said. Melanie wrote a poem at age seven? One that the lovely and powerful Nyx absolutely loved? Her and the goddess has been best friends ever since then? Her mind was spinning at the shock. Then it turned into anger. How could Melanie not share such a blessing as this with her? The goddess could make all of her dreams come true.
As if Nyx could hear her thoughts, the goddess faced her. “Melanie has told me quite a lot about you, Stacia. She tells me of how you treat her. She says it doesn’t matter and she doesn’t care, but I beg to differ. I have watched you since she told me and that was a very long time, I must tell you. Long enough for me to see the true person you are and not what you want others to see. You are horrible, cruel, evil, and just plain ugly. You might look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside you are the most ugliest creature on this Earth and the universe. Nobody can ever love you, just as you can never love someone else than yourself. You are the most vain girl I have ever met in my existence. And I have been living way before the creation of man. Take my words into consideration,” she said. She turned towards Melanie.
“ My dear friend, the other reason I came here was to give you the gift for the prince. It is the most precious item on my moon. It is a stream of moonlight. The moonlight will let you contact me. When I come, I will grant you whatever wish you want. But you only get one wish. So, I would choose wisely if I were you,” she smiled and winked at Melanie. “But I already know you will, Melanie, since you do it all the time,” she laughed and left.
The room was silent. Stacia was wounded by the goddess’s words. Stacia might have been vain, evil, horrible, and cruel but she wasn’t ugly and unlovable. Was she? You are the most vain girl I have ever met in my existence. The words haunted her and made her feel weak. And Stacia did not like feeling weak. So she straightened her back and put on her most haughtiest expression on her face. “Well, she’s gone now. You can stop acting like she’s still here and she’s the most beautiful person in this room. Right now, that’s me. And until she comes back, it will always be me,” she said, loudly. Everyone looked at her with pity. Everyone except Arioso, who was laughing silently at her statement.
The quiet was shattered by her father. He clapped his hands nervously. “Okay, now that all the drama is done with, we can go on to choosing the winner. Arioso? Who is your vote?,” he asked, facing the prince. The prince did not hesitate not one little bit. He simply said one word. “Melanie,” he stated, with love and happiness in his voice. Melanie smiled with so much love and happiness that Stacia almost puked at the sight of it. Hmm, she truly was cold and heartless like the goddess said. She had to be if love and happiness made her want to puke. She had a lot of things to consider. Her father spoke up again. “I vote for Melanie, as well. Clearly, the winner is Melanie. I hope she has the most happiest life on this earth with Arioso,” he said, happily. He turned towards Arioso. “And you better take care of my daughter, or I will personally kill you in your sleep,” he told the prince sternly. Arioso gulped. “I promise to keep her safe, happy, and loved for as long as I may live, sir,” he said sincerely. He walked towards Melanie and gave her a long, slow kiss. When they broke apart, Arioso whispered in her ear. Whatever he said caused Melanie to giggle and nod. And Melanie put her arm with his and they walked out the door. Well, after Arioso said one last thing. “Stacia, the goddess was right. You are the ugliest person I know and ever will know.” And then he walked into the sunset with his bride to be.
Stacia was so embarrassed by the night’s events that she fled the castle gates without a single glance.
*****
Fifteen Years Later...
Melanie and Arioso was married a month after the contest. They get frequent visits from Nyx time to time. They had two daughters named Alexandra and Isabella. They are both 7 years old. Melanie is happy and in love. Arioso has kept his promise to Melanie’s father of keeping her happy, loved, and safe.
Stacia, on the other hand, is no longer the queen of Gorebreath. The position went to her cousin, Catherine. She now lives in a cottage in a village far away from Gorebreath. She still is haunted by Nyx’s words. Every single day. She cries herself to sleep every night. She even lost her beauty due to her crying. She never looked in a mirror again.
The End
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