Long silver hair covers her back as a large and flat hat fixes itself on her head. She wore a violet one piece dress that accentuated her figure, with fresh designs of black patterns that covered the middle of the dress to the bottom, which was black in colour. The silky texture of the dress could be seen in the way it shone in the light, the softness of the fabric moulding around her every movement.
Her dignity and aura as a ruler exerted a pressure over her surroundings, her confidence leaking through her monotonous expression. Her refined movements coloured the atmosphere as she stepped towards the entrance of the orphanage.
Our orphanage was decently large, it had a large shared room for all the children to sleep in, a similarly large recreational room, a decent storage room and finally a reception area at the front of the entrance. The toilets were spread throughout, and there was a backdoor for ease of transporting goods. Things like food and toiletries were delivered monthly.
It looked like the sunlight shining through the window was made to light up the queen's surroundings and spread her beauty. Her hair was well kept, with a couple small curls on her sides that emphasised her cute yey elegant facial features. Her silver irises gazing into everyone's thoughts.
She enters the recreational room, catching everyone in their relaxed state, playing around. Her appearance freezing almost all the children. Only the ones who've been here for a few years were truly relaxed to be able to approach her nonchalantly.
"Fez-sama!" (Chloe)
"Auntie!" (Frudreick)
"Hey! That was rude!" (Chloe)
"She said it was okay last year!" (Frudreick)
"Yeah bu-!" (Chloe)
"Alright that's enough, I visited today to check on how things were going on, not watch you fight." (Fez)
"Ah! I sincerely apologise, your majesty!" (Anna, caretakef)
"No, it's fine. Speaking of which, where are the new kids? " (Fez)
"..."
"..." (Douglas)
"I see, are you guys doing well in your new home?" (Fez)
"Y.. Yes!" (Douglas)
"..."
Yes, I'm doing we- Ah... a-re~? My voice won't come out... Something warm is leaking down cheeks?... Why? I'm happy here, I'm happy the way I am. The other kids may not have known, but other than my name I remember nothing about my parents. I don't have any memories of the 6 years of my life... So why am I like this? The curse... How annoying, is this person... Her majesty somehow connected to my curse?
"Ah! We're sorry. She's new here so do give her some leeway." (Anna)
"..." (Fez)
Reaching out her hand, her fair beidge skin peaks out of her sleeves. Her palm reaching for my cheek. More warmth envelops my face and neck where she had placed her hand. Her thumb wiping tears off my right eye. She had a smile on her face, so why...? Why do her eyes look like they are crying? What was this unnatural warmth swallowing my face? Clearing my clogged throat, I mustered my voice.
"Ahem! You..."
No... I shouldn't inquire on her emotional state. Instead I should further my own goal first. I have no emotional attachment to this person, other than her being the orphanage's benefactor.
"You... Were you the one who cursed me?" An endless supply of confidence enveloped me, something was supporting the depths of my heart as I pursue this solution of an awful problem.
"Wha?!" (Chloe)
The care takers donned surprised looks. Did I go too far? Well it doesn't matter, I'll earn their trust later.
"And why would you ask that?" (Fez)
"You seem to be the type of person that's good with messing with curses."
"!..." (Fez)
"Hey Lilith! That's enough. Apologise to her majesty right now, for insulting her with such crude questions. She's our benefactor and queen!" (Anna)
"You... You have keen insight. So why do I feel that it's unnatural to possess such talent? It's a common occurrence between tacticians or other similar posts in the making... Yet... Well, you are right. I used to dabble with curses back in my teens, but unfortunately I'm not the one who cursed you. "(Fez)
" Your majesty! To possess such a variety of talents... "(Anna)
" You literally just insulted that proffesion! "
".... I'm sorry. I should have known you were more mature than to harrass her majesty. Anyway, doesn't that mean her majesty could cure it? Though we shouldn't bother her with something as trivial as this and consult someone else. "(Anna)
"Don't even bother. If I can't cure it nobody can... Give me a sample of your mana waves, I'll analyse it and see what to do from there. I'm the best in the Kingdom, so you shouldn't worry." (Fez)
"... The Queen treating a lowly peasant's curse? "
" Ah... Please don't look at it like that. The conditions aren't bad right? I'd say that you have at least 4 years to live before anything serious happens. When that time comes, an analysis is needed again. It's better if I look at it now. "(Fez)
"m... Mhmm! I'll give it a try."
"Done. Sorry, it was just to sate my curiosity. I've never seen this curse before. "(Fez)
"!"
" I just needed your permission. Anyway it seems this place is doing well. I should be heading back. Anna, did your boss say there was anything that needs looking into?" (Fez)
"No! There's nothing for your majesty to worry about." (Anna)
The unusual visit had concluded, leaving some dumbfounded in the orphanage. Her steps echoed, ringing into the surroundings as her proud back fades into the distance. Disappearing into thin air in less than a second. Was that magic? Magic and skills were synonymous, they were both phenomena fueled by mana, a source of energy that gives possibility to the impossible. Skills were more potent than magic, but they are also made out of magic.
"... An uncurable curse... It caught the interest of her majesty..." (Anna)
"It's...that right? It will have to happen now..." (Chloe)
"Yes, it's merely part of the duty. Kuh! We have no choice but to make it happen..." (Anna)
Patting her back, the caretaker, Chloe looked on into the floor. What she was hiding wasn't a crying expression like Anna's, it was a blank stare.
I see. Unfortunately, Chloe was the same as me.If that's the case, we are unable to predict the feelings of the other. This results in an element of surprise. I have to be careful. For now, I should just maintain my facade of ignorance. It was fortunate that I was already unexpressive before all of this happened. I had not enough emotion to need any hiding anyway.
Walking back to the toy corner, Cress was seen sitting there while watching me intently. This one is much more percept live than I thought, better make a mental note.
"What are you doing?"
"Just the usual. The Queen talks to the new kids every year, it was just your turn to experience it, so I figure I shouldn't steal attention." (Cress)
"Hehe, you are kind aren't you."
"Wha- what?! It's just courtesy. Come on, let's continue from where we left off." (Cress)
"Sure."