17 years ago...
Lady Jane of the Baroque family walked down the majestic and massive halls of the House Paxley. She and her husband together with their younglings, a ten-year-old Lancelot and Guinevere who is five years her older brother's junior..
Despite still being in primary school, Lancelot's mind is highly advanced. He's mature for his age, very poised in everything.
Guinevere was the opposite, no doubt about it. She was still little. Jane has high hopes her daughter will change when she grows up. For now, Guinevere should enjoy every bit of second in her childhood.
"Is that a real knight?" Guinevere gasped, full of gay as she gaped at a display set of knight's armor. "Mummy, mummy, I wanna touch it!"
Jane chuckled at her little girl. "Guinevere, where are your manners?" Her father asked sternly, making Guinevere pout her mouth shut. Satisfied with her speechlessness, the Lord smiled.
"Go easy on her." Jane whispered to her husband's shoulder. "She's just a child after all."
"Lancelot is a child as well yet he's already as matured as as an adult." Her husband retorted, giving her the stink eye.
After the Paxley greeted the Baroques in the lobby, they went to the dining hall. The dining hall was set in a garden and the architectural design must have been inspired by green houses and nature. There were fountains and tropical plants.
Guinevere couldn't contain her astonishment. She immediately ran towards the fountains. To her childish imaginative mind, it looked like an indoor jungle rather than just a place to eat and gather.
"Careful now, dearie. You'll slip!"
"Mummy, there are fishes in the water! Whoa, are these gold fishes?"
"It's all coy fishes." An adorable brunet boy who's slightly taller than Guinevere responded.
"Coy?" The elfin redhead blurted, not yet fond of the noun.
Jane slightly bent over to his height. "You must be the youngest of the Paxley children. What is your name again?"
"Gusion." He said.
"Gusion, I would like you to meet my daughter... Gwen, dear?"
Jane looked around the room for her daughter. After her eyes did a full scan around, she finally found her. Guinevere was kneeling down in front of the exotic vegetation of banana leaves, playing with what seems like a small white butterfly.
"Lady Jane, I'm so glad to finally meet you!"
Jane spun around to face a fair woman who looks to be no more older than her than a few years. Just by the tone of her voice, it was obvious she was a woman of manners. A crown-like headband sat on her pixie brunette hair, decorated with fine green satin and a carved gemstone with a mysterious dark mistifying color. It was the first thing Jane saw on the lady.
Though Jane admits to herself. She has never seen the woman before. But she assumes this must be the Lady of the House.
"Good evening, milady!" Jane greeted giddily, scolding herself in secret for not knowing the very person before her. "Apologies if I never knew you in an instant. I-It's just that we've never met before is all."
"No need to apologize, my dear. Though I'm surprised you don't know me. My face and name has been known by everyone in the Empire nevertheless."
She speaks such of great pride, Jane thought, awestruck.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the Lady continued and curtsied. "I am Lady Cirilla Paxley, the predecessor of the House Paxley."
Jane decided to return the formal greeting. "I am Lady Jane as well, milady, the second wife of Lord Baroque."
The Lady Cirilla nodded in acknowledgement. "Second wife? No wonder why you look so youthful, no offense therewithal."
"Ahem. Dinner will arrive in an minute. Please kindly take your seats!" A servant announced.
Lady Cirilla smiled flatly. "Do meet me in my study after dinner."
"Why so, milady?"
"I have something very important to give you, my Lady Jane."
⚜️⚜️⚜️
Dinner was adjourned. The children were released as the adults bonded in the great room, delving in desserts and musical entertainment. Jane excused herself to the powder room, when in reality she was going to Cirilla's study as told.
The study was neither big nor grand. It was simply a medium-sized room with two windows. A desk in the midst of the room was the only furniture in sight besides the chairs.
Cirilla was facing her back against Jane. She was looking over the window on the right, admiring the beautiful night.
When the door opened by itself behind Jane, Cirilla turns around and began, "I've heard lots of awful stuff about you, aside from you being a village girl and being once a lower class. My good lady friends told me you are an awful social climber and I strongly believe them."
Jane felt all the more uncomfortable. She should've expected herself to be called upon here to be rather trivialized.
"Look at me, girl." The woman ordered sharply, a tone similar to what Jane's husband always uses whenever he was angry with. Jane looked at the woman with submissive eyes. "Every family of magic living in the Land of Dawn will never stop downgrading you mercilessly until you prove to us you deserve your title as much as you deserve to live another day."
"T-Then please tell me!" The young woman begged in tears. "What should I do?"
"This."
Jane stared intently as Cirilla brings her forward. She plucks the peculiar gemstone from her headband, moving it to the locket of a necklace from the table.
"It is a bloodstone, a secret parting gift from an old friend of mine. I want you to have it, Jane. I want you to prove to everyone, including I, that you're anything but!"
"How does one use this, though?" She asked slowly, becoming lost with the necklace.
"You see, girl. I was once like you. I was sold to my husband at the age of seventeen by my own parents for gambling money. What a pity, I know. The upper class hated me for breathing the same air as they, sharing the same title and position as they are. Everything changed when this stone was given to me. I've not been underestimated twice ever since and my husband, loved me even more, seeing me as a goddess even. Though I must warn you, Jane. This stone is powerful. It will transform you into a different person so do be careful."
Jane began smiling from ear to ear. "How should I ever repay you?"
The woman shook her head, smiling. "No payment, my dear. Just go out there and be the queen you already are."
⚜️⚜️⚜️
I'm sorry if it's short. I really wanna post this chapter as my last update for 2019. Happy new year, guys. I hope ya'll have the best year this 2020 yet!
(ALSO EEEEKKKK!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 8K READS I LOVE YOU ALL AND SENDING ALL OF YOU THE VIRTUAL HUGS I CAN GIVE!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!)