Fangs of love

Chapter One

Sarah stood in front of the mirror, admiring her new pink dress.

She turned slightly from side to side before looking at her younger sister.

“How do I look?”

Her sister smiled.

“Beautiful. You look absolutely gorgeous, Sarah.”

“Do you think I’ll succeed tomorrow and win the prince’s heart?”

“Of course! He’d be a fool if he didn’t choose you from among all the girls. You’re the most beautiful girl in the entire country.”

Sarah laughed at her sister’s words.

“That’s only because you’re my little sister. You’re bound to see me that way.”

She turned back toward the mirror, studying her reflection while her sister watched her.

Sarah was eighteen years old, blessed with striking beauty that naturally drew attention wherever she went.

Her delicate features, feminine figure, brown hair, and blue eyes made her hard to overlook.

Sarah was well aware of her beauty and the effect she had on those around her.

It wasn’t arrogance.

She simply knew herself and was confident in who she was.

“You know, I’m a little nervous,” Sarah admitted. “It’s my first time entering the palace.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Sarah. You’re beautiful, and you’ll capture the prince’s heart. I’m certain of it.”

Sarah smiled.

Her sister had done nothing but encourage her ever since the announcement of the ball—a grand event where all the girls from noble families who had reached the age of eighteen would gather for one purpose:

To choose the prince’s bride.

“Why hasn’t the prince married before? He’s already thirty,” Anne, Sarah’s sister, asked.

“I heard he was always busy with the war. He fought alongside the soldiers, and after they finally won and he returned to the palace, everyone decided it was time for him to think seriously about marriage.”

“And how do you know all of that?” Anne asked, her eyes widening.

Sarah laughed.

“I have Aunt Jacqueline to thank for that. You know she’s a close friend of the queen’s sister.”

---

Sarah tried to sleep, but sleep refused to come.

It seemed to have escaped from her eyes and had no intention of returning, no matter how hard she tried.

She felt a little nervous.

Tomorrow was the day she had been waiting for.

How would she look?

What would the palace be like?

What would the prince look like?

And what about the other girls of marriageable age from the noble families?

Would she really capture the prince’s heart, just as Anne had promised?

So many thoughts invaded her mind.

Every time she tried to push them away, they returned again.

“I need to sleep so I can be awake and energetic tomorrow. Damn it.”

---

The following day was anything but ordinary.

It was the day she had been waiting for.

Everyone was busy, while Sarah felt increasingly unwell.

Her heart was beating faster and faster.

Her breathing became uneven, and she found herself gasping as though she had been running.

Her stomach refused to accept any food, and she felt as if she might throw up at any moment.

It was anxiety.

No matter how hard she tried to push it away and calm herself, she simply couldn’t.

Sarah got ready and put on her pink silk dress.

She adorned herself carefully while her mother styled her hair and decorated it with beautiful flowers, making Sarah look utterly enchanting.

---

Now Sarah was sitting in the carriage with her parents as they made their way toward the royal palace, where the ball was being held.

“Are we going through the forest?” Sarah asked, secretly hoping they wouldn’t.

“Of course, my child. We have to pass through it to reach the palace,” her father replied.

A look of displeasure appeared on Sarah’s face, and she frowned.

Her mother noticed.

“Is something wrong with passing through the forest?”

“I don’t know… but I’ve never felt comfortable there. I’ve always felt as though eyes were following me and watching me.”

Her father laughed gently.

“It’s only your imagination, sweetheart. The forest is gloomy and frightening. I understand why you feel that way.”

Sarah said nothing.

How could she explain what she felt?

How could she tell them that whenever she dreamed, her nightmares always took place in that forest?

Somehow, she felt that her doom would be waiting for her there.

At last, the carriage arrived at the palace.

It was enormous, magnificent, and dazzlingly white, with numerous balconies painted gold.

The palace gates and the grand entrance were decorated in the same color.

There were countless carriages outside.

Relatives of the royal family and their close friends had been invited to the ball, even if they didn’t have a daughter of marriageable age who could be considered a suitable match for the prince.

As Sarah and her parents entered the palace, she realized that the inside was no less impressive, luxurious, or elegant than the exterior.

The floor was made of gleaming crystal.

If someone wasn’t careful, they could easily slip and break something.

Sarah walked cautiously beside her parents, looking around.

Sometimes she glanced at the grand hall they had entered, and other times at the guests—especially the girls.

They were all beautiful, dressed in their finest and most elegant gowns.

Just like her.

Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet echoed near the entrance of the hall, announcing the arrival of the king, queen, and prince.

The guests moved aside, clearing a path down the center of the hall.

A red carpet stretched from the doors all the way to the thrones where the king, queen, and prince would sit.

The doors opened.

The king entered first, carrying the commanding presence of a man whose stern appearance and disciplined manner demanded respect.

His personal attendant followed close behind him.

The queen came next, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting.

And finally, the prince entered.

Sarah’s eyes immediately settled on him.

He was handsome, with sharp features, blue eyes, and golden-blond hair.

He was tall and walked with such confidence and steadiness that he looked like a soldier marching toward battle.

The ball began.

Music filled the hall as many of the guests started dancing, while servants moved among them carrying trays filled with glasses of drinks.

One of the servants approached them.

Sarah took a glass and lifted it to her lips.

Before drinking, she looked at the servant and thanked him.

She noticed that he was staring at her in admiration.

Despite herself, Sarah smiled.

Then she thanked him once again.

The presentation of the girls began.

One by one, the girls stood before the throne, each accompanied by her father or eldest brother, holding his hand.

Eventually, it was Sarah’s turn.

She stepped forward beside her father.

The man standing beside the throne announced her name.

“Sarah John Bryan.”

Sarah gently gathered her dress and curtsied before the royal family.

Her father bowed as well.

The prince smiled when he saw her.

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

Sarah felt her cheeks growing warm.

She knew they must have turned red.

She quickly joined the other girls, but she couldn’t shake the strange feeling that someone was watching her.

Damn this feeling.

She turned, searching for the eyes she could feel upon her.

And her gaze collided with the prince’s.

A faint smile appeared on her lips—so subtle that it was barely noticeable.

Then came the part of the evening where the prince danced with the girls.

When his turn with Sarah arrived, he looked deeply into her eyes.

“You have unusual eyes,” he said. “They seemed purple at first, and now they’re as blue as the sea. Looking into them makes me feel as though I’m about to drown in an endless ocean.”

Sarah laughed softly.

“Are my eyes really that enchanting?”

The prince laughed as well.

“Absolutely.”

He paused, then glanced around.

“Well, I think if you looked at the other girls, you’d find them quite angry and jealous of you. I’ve spent far too long dancing with you, and I have no desire to look away.”

His gaze returned to her face.

“Looking at your face is one of life’s pleasures, and diving into the sea of your eyes is a dangerous adventure.”

Then, almost as quickly as he had spoken, he bowed to her, ending their dance before moving on to another girl.

---

The ball was drawing to an end.

It was finally time to announce which girls would remain at the palace.

Only five girls would be chosen from the ten candidates.

The man standing beside the throne began calling out their names.

“Mary Claude…”

“Julia Parker…”

“Sarah Bryan…”

“Catherine Ford…”

“Megan Hans…”

Sarah could hardly contain her happiness.

She had been chosen.

Out of all the girls, she was one of the five who would remain in the palace.

Now she was more confident than ever that she would become the prince’s bride.

---

Sarah sat in her room, gazing through the window at the dark sky and the glowing moon.

Every now and then, her eyes wandered toward the palace gardens.

Suddenly, she noticed something moving among the trees.

She jolted upright and stared more carefully.

But there was nothing there.

How foolish of me.

Perhaps it had been one of the guards.

A bird.

Or even a cat.

What is wrong with me? Why do I keep feeling that strange things are happening around me?

A knock sounded at her door.

“Come in,” Sarah called.

She was surprised to see one of the girls standing there.

Julia.

She was wearing her nightclothes.

What could have brought her here? Sarah wondered.

“I know my visit is a little strange,” Julia said, “but I need to speak to you tonight. I may not get another chance.”

“What is so important that you came here to talk to me?” Sarah asked, frowning in confusion.

“Withdraw.”

Julia smiled widely.

“What? I don’t understand.”

“Withdraw and leave this place.”

“And why should I obey your orders?” Sarah asked sarcastically.

Julia laughed.

She had black hair and striking black eyes, a beautiful face, and full pink lips.

“Yes,” she replied. “You’d better do as I say… unless you want everyone to learn the truth.”

“What truth?”

“Your brother, Sarah.”

Sarah froze.

How could Julia know about her brother?

She remained silent, staring at Julia, waiting for her to say more.

“Would you like me to remind you that your brother is lying in prison?”