"Bring that child to me." That was an order.
'Child'
It reminds me of how I struggled with my studies to be the best student in school. The aim was to escape the hardship of living with my grandma.
We were living in poverty in a faraway village. Mother & father left us to work in the city. Once a year, they will return home if their employer allows them to leave together. Most of the time, mother returned alone with all the new things from the city. After a while, they never return home. Grandma was devastated and blamed everything on Mama. She blamed Mama as a 'devil's child' who stole Grandma's son. Grandma's eyesight was not that good, and her memories were so poor that she always called me 'child' although I was already twenty at the time. My brother was called her only son.
Grandma repeatedly blamed us; women are useless to the family; That one day, women of the family will leave to join her new family. True to her words, years passed, my two elder sisters left the family as they married. Now, only the three of us siblings are taking care of the aged & grumpy grandma. Housework falls to my youngest sister and me. Brother never lifted his finger to help us with any of the housework nor the fieldwork. All he did was hang out with the other children or his friend around the village or school.
"She is only a child. Stop bossing her around. She's too young to do all the chores." Grandma always sided with my brother or my little sister. Too young, my ass. She got her first menses last year, and she can't be taught about all those home chores. I glared at my sister, and she stuck her tongue with a smirk.
One day, Lala left home to work in the city when grandma realised everyone was leaving. She becomes silent and always alone in her room, staring into emptiness.
When Aunt Lian visited grandma, she was sympathetic with grandma's livelihood since her children and most of her grandchildren were not taking care of her. She insisted we join her in the city, but grandma was too stubborn to listen. Aunt Lian's smart & smooth talker finally gains her trust, and grandma reluctantly leaves her fifty years of living at that small broken house. I was relieved, especially when her health has deteriorated, especially her eyesight.
That day, I helped her pack her belongings while talking to her the whole time, only to get silent responses and soon a soft sniffle from her old, weak & tiny body. She turned away quietly & her body trembling as she let out a little cry was the signal that I should leave her alone. Ah Ma, she has been living in this house since she was a young bride. So many memories in that house. I leaned outside her bedroom wall, closed the door behind me. Listen to her heartbreaking sobbing the whole night.
The next morning, she returned to her original brave, beasty face. But no more cursing on us women. She was quiet and looked exhausted.
"MiLady, please." The guard's loud voice wakes me from my momentary daydreaming. "You can go in ahead."
I smooth up my garment and take a deep breath as if I am heading for an important viva voce examination before graduation. My heart beats hard, my palms sweating as it trembles in anticipation. I have never been to a palace before. Not even had an audience with royalty in my whole life.
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When I first met the Duke of Hamdel two months ago, he insisted that I was definitely his sister, but I was not convinced. Not until High Priest Romou turned up the next three days, asking to meet me personally from brother Jacobs after he abruptly left me. I entered the chamber and saw him in deep thought and seriousness. I would never have imagined seeing that side of the High Priest being so obedient, polite and defenceless. He is always on guard with his eyes wary of his surroundings like a hawk spying its prey. Every time he opens his mouth, he sprouts out thorny & sarcastic words. I almost had my ears bleed listening to his pouts. Not seeing him for three weeks after I arrived at the mansion makes me miss his sarcastic lectures.
But I was wrong. The first sentence that came out of his mouth almost gave me a heart attack. "Get ready to marry the crown prince." My fixed smile froze & twitched at the corner. I almost say I miss his sarcastic lectures.
"Why?"
"If you want to leave this world, you shouldn't argue." His threatening tone took me the wrong turn. I stared at his serious expression. How cruel can this man be?"
"Now you're telling me you know how to get me home?" I felt frustrated with his scheme. "What game are you playing now, old man?" I laughed sarcastically. My annoyance with him is at its limit. He stayed silent but turned away when I looked straight up to watch his expression.
"I did what you asked me to do, didn't I?"
'No'. Another silent. I turned away from him.
"I fed those magic trees. I healed them, right?" My voice raised, and my breathing was heavy. "You don't actually care, don't you." I dropped to my knees. My eyes felt warm, but no tears at all. My eyes were dry. I desperately want to cry, but I can't. How cruel is this whole world? I can't even cry my eyes out in this world. My hands trembling as my whole body shudders in realisation. 'She is a monster. I recalled a hazy memory a long time ago, someone once calling me that, but who?
"I'm sorry. I can't possibly be of any help to get you home." High Priest Romou looked remorseful. "I can't think of any way other than to think that you're present here from the other side of the world only means that you're destined to be here."
I shook my head sideways. "I don't believe you." I slowly get up to my feet. "Why should I trust you?"
"Help me in this matter and return. I will get him to see you." He doesn't respond to my distrust. "He's an old acquaintance." He looks determined for once.
"Take me with you to meet him."
"It doesn't work like that. I can't bring baggage along my journey." I frowned at him. His tall & thinly figure is hovering over me, but I don't scared of him any bit. "It's time for me to 'return'. The current situation is in dire need of my assistants in the west."
I knew it. He was talking about returning to 'Origin', where all life begins in this universe. KIrai explanation about the 'Origin' intrigued me to know more, but Kirai never was there herself. Only some urban legends from the elderly priestess at the Grand Temple.
'Origin' is more likely the Garden of Eden that I heard coming from a bible. I was curious to know more, but my main aim was to get home. "Well, be good and stay with Duke Hamdel." He gave a soft pat on my top head.
"I'm not his sister."
"I'm aware of your identity, Raine."
"Well, tell him that."
"Duke Hamdel is aware of your identity as well."
"Wh... What? They can't punish me for the mistake they made kidnapping me right."
"You should deal with Duke Hamdel yourself. He'll listen to you."
"Will you return soon?"
"Soon. I will come for your wedding, Idiot." I was about to punch him in the gut, but he already disappeared into thin air—just a pool of water on the floor where he once stood.
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"Greeting to your Majesty, Descendent of the Guardian of the Gate." my voice echoes throughout the massive empty throne room. I looked up at the high ceiling-like dome with beautiful drawings displayed.
"Welcome to my emperor, Lady Coriane." A man with a majestic aura looked excited and walked towards me. He was aware of what I was doing, mimicked my action and looked up. He let out a chuckle. I hurriedly cast down my gaze to my little slippers. "I see that you love drawings, Lady Coriane?"
"I apologize for my imprudence, your majesty." I gave a slight bow of apologies. He didn't say anything at all but kept staring at me for quite a moment now. I felt awkward at his action. He walks around me back and forth, up and down, with his hand on his chin as if sizing me up. It gives me the idea of a buyer come to buy a cow at the cowshed before being sent for slaughtering house for Raya Qurban in one of Islam's celebrations. 'Be done with the sizing already.' I'm screaming at the bottom of my heart. Watching him with annoyance.
He let out a hefty laugh, and everyone, including the guards were on alert and relaxed after realizing what's going on with the emperor. I had been briefing about the emperor after that crash lesson 101 with seven instructors two months ago.
"Alright, let's do it."
"I'm sorry." I tried my hardest to hold my frustration towards this emperor. "May I know what that is supposed to mean?"
"We can proceed with the wedding ceremony in a month."
"What?!"