Meow

HART'S CASTLE

Onora stared at herself in the mirror after getting dressed; she was surprised with the way she looked so different. She had never dressed in such an expensive outfit before.

"You look so good, my lady," Miranda smiled and Onora looked at her.

"But what's the occasion? Why am I getting dressed?" she asked.

Miranda smiled.

"Follow me."

Onora followed as she said, without argument. They left her suite and continued to walk in the large castle and it was beginning to look like Onora was getting tired.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Probably to introduce everyone here to you," Miranda smiled.

"Is that necessary?" Onora asked.

"Of course, my lady," Miranda replied and Onora sighed.

They walked some minutes more and finally entered a big hall where all the servants were waiting already.

Onora was shy as she entered; she kept her face down. She had never faced such numbers of people at the same time and she felt like running out at that very moment, but she couldn't—not when they were all staring at her.

"Good morning, Lady Onora!" everyone greeted in chorus and that was when Onora raised her head.

Head Maid A smiled at her and moved closer.

"Everyone, move forward one after the other to introduce yourself. You know how it's done," she said to the maids.

Onora stood there, watching as they stepped forward one by one, telling her their names and what they could do for her.

After the long introduction, Onora decided to take a walk around the castle—that's all she could do anyway—and especially when she heard that there's actually a library in the castle. She felt so glad; maybe life isn't that bad. She loves reading so much.

As she walked, she suddenly heard the sound of a cat in the air; she stopped and looked around.

"There's a cat?" she asked no one in particular.

The "meow" sound came again and she turned toward the direction to look for it. She found herself in a beautiful flower garden and there it was: a white-fur kitten, looking like it was stray and lost.

"Oh, look at you," Onora smiled excitedly and moved closer to the kitten. She squatted in front of it and patted its fur softly.

The kitten leaned closer for more touch and pat.

"I guess you're lonely, just like me," she mumbled and gently carried the kitten in her arms, still patting.

"It's a female. Wow, cute. Do you have a name?" she asked, as if the cat could talk.

"Let's give you a name then. How about... uhm... Whitey?"

The kitten didn't make a sound.

"I guess you don't like the name. What about... Lolly? Like Lollipop, Lolly?"

"Meow," the cat sounded and Onora smiled.

"Fine! Nice to meet you, Lolly. My name is Onora. I'm twenty and married to a man I don't know. Sad story, right? And I don't think he's ready to meet me. I mean, I've been here since last night and still..." Onora sighed and shook her head.

"Finally I can talk to someone," she mumbled.

But suddenly she felt a headache, her vision blurred and she collapsed.

---

Onora's eyes opened, little. She was still in the garden. She stood up; Lolly was seated beside her. She carried the cat and wondered why she collapsed — it was just a headache; maybe she had just stressed herself.

She walked out but she bumped into someone; her gaze met a tall woman.

Kaliyah glared at her from her head to her toes, back to her face.

"She's really the bride?" she asked loudly, still staring with disgust obvious on her face and in her voice.

Onora took her lower lip in and said nothing.

Kaliyah hissed and walked away, making sure her shoulder hit Onora's own.

"Hmm," Onora groaned painfully at that.

Of course, Kaliyah was bigger than her—taller, thicker and looked older and more exposed than her. Even her outfit screamed that she's not Onora's level at all, so Onora was curious: who is she?

And the face? Only the faces can't be compared: Kaliyah has the mature look, while Onora is the opposite. She's like a pretty doll, with her long messy and curly hair passing her butt, her long lashes that look fake when they aren't, then her small but round plump lips, red and pretty.

Then her cute emerald-greenish eyeballs, always getting kissed by the sun into a pretty shiny green color. The only thing she hates about herself was her stature.

Sometimes she would stand in front of the mirror wondering why her boobs aren't as big like her sister's, and her ass doesn't help things either—she's a real definition of 'flat.'

"She's beautiful," Onora muttered.

She refers to ladies like Kaliyah as beautiful, and slim ones like herself, pretty.

"I wish I'm like that too," she mumbled and sighed.

"My lady, you're here; what's wrong? We were searching for you," Miranda showed up and Onora stared.

"Don't tell me, you met Carlos."

"Who's that?" Onora asked.

"He is your husband's brother," Miranda replied and Onora nodded with a sigh.

They started walking together.

"Why shouldn't I meet Carlos?" she asked.

"His majesty doesn't like his siblings and Carlos is one of them," Miranda replied and that made Onora wonder: who doesn't love their siblings? Well, hers doesn't love her.

"And why?" Onora asked.

"I'm sorry, I have no idea. Even if I do, I'm sorry, my lady—nobody is allowed to talk about it," Miranda replied.

"I understand," Onora sighed.

"You took that kitten? Wow. I've seen it countless times and I fed him once or twice. I think it's a lone cat."

"Yeah. I'm gonna take care of her from now on. She's cute. Her name is Lolly."

"Oh wow, that's fast," Miranda said and they both laughed.