Girl of a Castle

There was a little girl who grew up in a small town with a troubled family life. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother immersed in material pleasures, caring less about the only daughter they had. The girl grew up with the staff of a huge inherited household. She was home-schooled until kindergarten. Once her parents stopped her schooling, she turned to books thereafter to learn about the mysteries of the world.

The day she looked forward to celebrating her 16th birthday with her staff, her mother surprised her with a birthday bash for the elite from their small town. She was confused why her mother was suddenly giving her that attention.

At that party, strangely there were no kids, the girl’s age or otherwise. The girl was lonely as her mother sternly warned her not to mingle with the staff at the party. She didn’t want to be embarrassed in front her high class friends.

Then, a young boy about a year older than the girl entered along with his mother. He was also a victim of the fake life. He found solace in music on his iPod that he took everywhere. He saw the girl wandering around the snack tables and guessed it was her birthday because there was no one else his age that his mother spoke of before getting there. His mother had enunciated that he needed to befriend the girl so that she can hang out with the girl’s mother and mingle in the circle of rich wives. The boy thought it was selfish but he had no choice because he loved his mother and would do whatever she wanted.

So he went to speak to the girl. The girl saw him approach and did not know how to react because she had never come across any kid, leave alone a handsome boy. She shied away just when he was at arm’s length. She moved to a table and sat with a punch from which she sipped clumsily. The boy saw that she spilled a little on her dress and offered her a napkin. She acknowledged him with a thank you. He smiled.

After she was done wiping off, he introduced himself as Keefe Shay while he continued to smile. She returned the smile and said, “Sorry, I get clumsy when I’m nervous and I don’t know why I just told you that.” Keefe waited for her to introduce herself because his mother did not mention her name when she dragged him along to the party.

The girl wondered why he was still standing at her table. She lifted the napkin to give it back to him, but he gestured to keep it. He probed, “I don’t believe we have been introduced.” She realized his hint and introduced herself as Emilia Schuler. She apologized again saying, “I never thought I would meet someone so handsome the moment I turned 16”. They both laughed at the thought. Keefe coyly said, “I feel the same only that you are more beautiful than a princess”.

They shared their likes and dislikes, while dancing and laughing throughout the night. Their mothers were happy that they found each other and bragged about their riches, which were nowhere close to the real deal. Each of them had a hidden agenda for their children’s friendship that involved becoming financially secure. They wanted their children to become an item and ultimately get married.

Keefe knew of his parents’ motives but Emilia was clueless about her mother’s devious intentions. She was simply happy that her mother was finally giving her some attention and not neglecting her completely.

Emilia and Keefe’s dates were gradually turning intense and intimate. Keefe kissed her for the first time in the foyer when they returned from one of their many dates. She hesitated but kissed him back and blushed away into her princess room.

They were now madly in love and Keefe knew it was love based on a lie. He needed to let Emilia know about his parents’ scheming plans. His guilt gave him little to no sleep and woke him with a start each time he dreamed of losing Emilia because of the truth.

Finally, Keefe found the words to explain the plot to Emilia on a date at a cafe. her words quivered, “I hate you”. She came home to tell her mother but heard her yelling at her drunken father that if he had not spent all the funds in gambling and drinking, she would still have her inherited riches. She was compelled to place Emilia as bait to get money from the Shays.

Emilia was heart-broken with two betrayals on the same day. She took off to another town to cope from the hurt induced by her family and the only love of her life. It made her stronger to face the hardships and trials of the world. Thereafter, she never returned and no one knew her whereabouts.

© 2025 Marieannette Pereira-Fernandes. All Rights Reserved.

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