"Why do we have the same sign on our wrist?"
I interrogate her more aggressively. From that moment, I didn't realize I was tightening my grip on her wrist more than I should have.
"Y-Your Highness. . . !"
The maid raised her voice as she howled. I realized that I was practically scaring her and immediately let go of her slightly injured wrist.
"S-sorry- I mean, I deeply apologize. I shouldn't act like that."
I could feel the panic rising inside of me, though only for a moment as I before composing myself.
From that particular emotion, I subconsciously changed the way I talked. From hostile to a guilty one. Because of that, I apologized to her once again.
"It's really alright, Your Highness. There was no harm done."
She sighed as her lips curved into a reassuring smile.
"Now that Your Highness mentions it, did Your Highness stay too long inside her bedroom to the point where Your Highness herself could forget what the sign on our wrist symbolizes?"
She exclaimed with a chuckle as I laughed nervously.
"Y-yes, it probably is."
I stammered my words while I scratched my cheek nervously as a response.
I looked up to her as she still smiled tenderly towards me.
"Your Highness. The sign on our wrist is our birthmark."
She replied to my previous question calmly while continuously rubbing her wrist gently.
"Birthmark?"
I asked curiously with a raised eyebrows.
It was also a mix of suspicious things. In logic, it is entirely impossible for two people to coincidently have the same birthmarks that appear on a specific body part.
'This doesn't feel quite right.'
I still stand in my place as I wait for her to answer my question.
"Yes, it is, Your Highness. Everyone inside this kingdom has a birthmark on their wrist, though most of them will have the zero one."
". . . Zero?"
I asked, confused as my eyes widened in surprise. It was beyond my expectations.
It didn't strike my head that almost all the people who reside in this kingdom had the same birthmark.
'How can the majority of people have the same mark? What's the cause of this?'
She smiled.
"We are all born with the '0' number on our wrist. Even Your Highness herself has it before."
My eyes once again widened by her statement.
'What's with this kingdom?'
"If we have '0' at the beginning, then why do I have '2' signed on my wrist?"
I inquired for an explanation as I showed her my wrist with the number '2' on it.
My head hurts from thinking its way through the confusing statement because it is a strange thing.
'It doesn't have a clear purpose, so why does such a thing exist? Unless does it only affect the royal family or high-status people?'
"It's not just Your Highness's case. My birthmarks also changed, including others as well. Sometimes they can change randomly. Similiar from zero to one, from one to two, and it goes on."
'So. . . It didn't happen to just royals or nobles. It could also change suddenly to the commoners.'
I looked at her before shifting my glance to my wrist.
'The number two (2)'
I wondered to myself about the possibility that the symbol on our wrist could have a special meaning to the user.
But, if the locals themselves think it was an ordinary phenomenon. . .
'I have to ask more about it.'
"Why does the sign. . . change randomly?"
"Well,"
She put her hand on her chin.
"The elders once said that the person whose mark changes is a good sign. That's what I remember at least. Because mostly, they only have '0' and nothing more."
'A good sign?'
Despite getting a lot of information, I still couldn't make a thorough understanding of these marks and I'm not really satisfied.
'Is this a type of prosperity? A gift from the Gods? Or could it just mean. . .'
"In short, having a number other than zero makes you special?"
". . . I think so. You could say it like that, Your Highness."
I just stood there, dumbfounded with other new information.
It was barely a day and I already found many things I wasn't aware of before. I could say this place is beautiful yet strange at the same time.
"Ah, also,"
I came back to my senses when she started talking again.
I looked at her as I was waiting for her to finish her lines.
"Your Highness, are you going to go to the public execution this time?"
When I heard the question, I couldn't feel myself breathing. I just froze the moment she asked that sentence.
'. . . What public execution?'
". . . Huh?"
The maid tilted her head in confusion before deciding to explain the situation.
"W-well, this day, someone is going to be executed. He comes from a noble family that Your Highness knew well. I thought Your Highness left her room this time to attend his execution."
My eyes went wide as confusion filled over me.
"E-execution? Who, why, how?"
I basically asked a pointless question as panic rose inside me again.
She raised her brow in confusion while looking at me.
"Your Highness asked why. . . ?"
'Why did she sound so confused? Especially how calm she is right now.'
"Of course it's because he violates the Directive Order."
Hearing unfamiliar words, I suddenly feel the need to slow down.
". . Wait, wait, wait. . ."
I raise my hand to my head, trying to process what she just stated.
". . . What is the 'Directive Order' ?"
With that question, the maid chuckle innocently. It was like she was holding herself from bursting into laughter.
'Am I humiliating myself?'
". . . Geez Your Highness, pardon my rudeness but you shouldn't be staying inside your room for too long."
She continues to chuckle with a friendly smile as my lips parted shakily and let out an awkward laugh.
". . . Ah. . hahaha, I think I stayed too long inside my room."
I scratch the back of my head nervously, trying to keep up the conversation.
". . . Your Highness. The Directive Order is a set of rules or orders that the Kingdom has for over 120 years."
With that answer, I immediately laugh to cover myself to avoid suspicion.
"Of course! How unsociable I am Alright, I promise I will hang around other than inside my room next time."
I exclaimed as I form a toothy smile.
"Well then your highness, you should get ready. You are going right?"
"H-huh?"
"The public execution, it's the same as justice!"
"A-ah! Yes, yes!"
She forms a sincere smile.
"Then, I will send the maids to your room right away!"
I can't say anything back because I'm stuck inside my thoughts.
'It's execution. . . why are they so happy?'
-
Just like I expected, the maids prepared me a black dress with black as the base color and a light, small crown with a little diamond in the middle leaving my hair down as it is.
I forgot about all the problems because of how nice the bath was, but the moment I see the black dress again, everything became clear.
"Your highness."
The female voice interrupted my thoughts as I immediately react to it and turns my head towards the owner of the voice.
"Yes?"
"Everything is ready."
She slightly bows as I nodded.
'This is strange.'
With a few maids walk behind me, one of the maids that I assume the head maid, guide me to the front door towards my carriage.
'. . . This is the first time I will ride a carriage.'
Just like I imagined, the carriage is big and luxurious, fitting for a princess.
However, before I could even enter the carriage, something caught my interest.
It is the knight.
I almost drop the small bag I'm carrying because of the shocking sight in front of the gate.
All the knights stood side by side in every corner of the castle, with the same uniform and the same white helmet that covered their heads.
It's normal for a knight though, I won't complain about it.
But, their voice almost sounds the same and robotic that actually scares me.
"Your Highness, pardon my rudeness but I am present here today because I will check your belongings including your carriage and bag."
One of the knight that stood in front of me exclaimed bluntly as my eyes went wide.
'. . . Checking my things and my carriage?'
I know that I'm not at the place to say this but, I think this is not how they treat a Princess, especially the only bloodline of the royal family.
In addition to this, I could be completely wrong but I do realize something.
'In his sentence, there is no place for an argument. He didn't ask for my opinion either. It's just like. . . he's suspicious of me'
I just stay silent while waiting for my things to be checked by him and two other knights.
After everything is clear, I can finally enter my carriage without any more inquiry and five knights will guide me while riding their horses.
Even though they didn't find anything suspicious and was just merely checking on me, my heart was beating so fast as if it would burst.
When the carriage move, I positioned myself closer to the window to see the view of the kingdom looks like further.
I have to consider that this is my first time going outside on the first day I came here.
When the carriage leaves the castle, I could see a better look at the kingdom.
The reality harshly overthrew my imagination.
Red flowers everywhere.
Similar to the ones in my garden.
Even though the Kingdom is filled with trees, the only flower visible to my eyes is that red flowers ever since I arrived.
'. . . They're everywhere.'
My eyes grew wider the moment I saw a bunch of the same knights roaming over the town like they would prepare a war.
I understand that they didn't bother the villager at the slightest bit, but the knights being everywhere is too much.
I raise my hand and cover my mouth because of the shock I receive.
It is surely beautiful and peaceful, but it's weird, it's really strange, and it's disturbing.
I filled up my courage and open the carriage door to be greeted by one of the knights that are accompanying me.
". . . Why are the knights are everywhere even though the current situation is peaceful?"
"Diurnal Inspection."
My eyes went wide.
". . . P-pardon?"
.
.
.