•Elia
The person in the poster… that's me.
"Is that…you?" Lita points towards the poster, her voice a soft whisper. She's also as surprised as I am.
"I-I think so?" I answer.
It's like looking at a realistic drawing of me. Only, the artist gave me blonde hair instead of Auburn.
I notice we're now the center of attention, as people who should be passing by, are staying behind to watch the drama unfold.
"Seize her!" The man orders, causing two of the guards to start walking towards me.
Wait, they aren't joking? This is serious?
Out of fear, I take a step back, but before they could reach me, Lita steps in front of me.
"Hey, this is just a misunderstanding. Tha-That's not her." She stretches her arms wide, like her body can shield me from all of them, and I instinctively hold on to the hem of her shirt.
She's not even tall enough for me to hide behind. We're basically the same height.
"Do not disrupt us." The man says.
Then one of the guards pull her away from me, restraining her.
"Hey! Don't touch her!" I bark, but they don't acknowledge me. Instead they bound my hands together behind my back with what I think are ropes. Ropes that don't seem to need tying.
"Lia!" Lita calls out. "Let her go! She's innocent! She doesn't even know why this is happening!" She says as they begin to lead me towards what I think is a carriage.
"She's right! That's not me!" I try to defend myself.
I open my mouth to say something else when Lita's words stop me in my tracks.
"Take me with her!" She shouts, "If you're taking her, you take me as well"
I know she can be crazy sometimes, but, is she crazy?!
"Lita, no. Wait for me, okay? Find my mom's old house, or her friends, and wai-"
"Take me as well." She continues, looking at the man in command, completely ignoring my pleas.
The guards stop, maybe waiting for his instructions.
"We have no reason to take you in." He replies flatly and turns around, walking towards the carriage. The guards follow his lead.
"Wait! I spoke to you disrespectfully. Isn't that supposed to be a crime in these times?" She questions.
If my hands weren't bound, I'd have face palmed myself.
"Being disrespectful to me is a crime, yes. One you are not guilty of." He answers without stopping.
I'm surprised he even gave her an answer.
When we reached the carriage and I was about to enter, I glanced back at Lita to see her smiling.
She somehow manages to free herself from the guard holding her, although, he was going to let go either way.
"Hey! Mr commander guy." She yells, walking towards him really quickly.
He stops with a sigh, and by the time he turns around, she's standing in front of him.
Right then, it registers in my head what might be going through hers.
"Please don-" I try to stop her but it was too late.
The man is standing there with his eyes shut in frustration and something wet on his face.
Lita had just spat on his face.
Well, to be fair, I thought she was going for a slap.
"Disrespectful enough for you?" She looks straight at him. And though she is smiling, her anger is evident in her eyes.
When he opens his eyes, the anger in them surpasses the one in hers. Or maybe it's a tie.
"Seize her as well." He says, his calm tone a huge contrast to his expression.
One of the guards hand him something to clean his face with, while another bounds her as well, before leading us into the carriage.
It's shocking how we're the only ones in the back, while they've all gathered either in the front or the other carriage riding in front of us.
"I can't believe you did that Lita" I whisper yell.
"I can't believe I did that either." She replies.
"Nah, just kidding. I believe I did that. I believe I will do it again." She smiles confidently.
•••
I feel the carriage come to a halt, and I'm not sure where we are. Not just because I don't know anywhere here, but because it's a closed carriage with no windows. I'm surprised there was still a sufficient amount of air in here.
The door opens and we're led out of the carriage.
My mouth opens in shock as I take in the scenery in front of me.
My guess was that they were taking us to the royal castle to receive judgment from the royals.
But..
Is this the royal castle?
It makes sense, I think.
This is a magical world, so I suppose the castle should be the most unique magical looking building. If it even is a building.
It looks like a really tall tower, shaped like a tree.
Or is it a tree, shaped like a tower?
A really tall and wide black tower. Covered by a cone shaped roof… Cone shaped roofs?
When I get closer, I realize it's not the only building there.
There are smaller, tree themed buildings in the vicinity. It looks like a tiny little estate of tree buildings.
Really black tree towers… tower trees.
Is this what they call… 'a deadly beauty?'
Seeing as I might just be sentenced to death in this beautiful place.
I shudder at that thought.
Dad, I should have listened to you.
I am not fine.
As we step inside, I'm hit by the smell of.. nature.
That's the best word to sum it up.
Because it smells like a blend of greenery, flowers and the ocean.
It's meant to be a calming smell, but it makes me feel even more anxious.
As we reach the end of the hallway, where we're met by a huge door, the guards take Lita in the opposite direction.
"Hey! Where are you taking her?" I ask
"Her retribution is in my hands. Whereas, yours is in the king's." The commander man says, gesturing to the door in front of us.
I give Lita a terrified look.
"Don't worry, Lia. I won't be far." She tells me, "And if I do go far, I'll still find my way back to you." She smiles, before being led out of sight.
I sigh out heavily. At least we're both inside the palace.
As the doors open and we begin walking inside, my heart lunges into my throat, and jumps back.
When I look down, I notice where we're stepping on is covered by a red carpet, which leads to a throne.
The throne is placed on a high platform, and sitting on it is a middle aged looking man. Probably in his early forties.
He stares at me with eyes the color of the ocean under the midnight glow.
Funny enough, his eyes are also as cold as the ocean.
I'm guessing that's the king.
He is surrounded by guards, but none of them stand beside him. Except one person who looks different from the others.
I'd have thought that was his son but he looks nothing like him.
His eyes are a rich deep crimson color, and instead of dark black hair like the king, his is pearly white. And to top it all, he has pointy ears. Like how elfs are described in fairytales.
Definitely not his son.
"Ella?" The king addresses me in a soft tone, his cold eyes turning into something softer.
I look away from the white haired guy realizing I was staring— We were both staring.
I swallow the lump in my throat.
"I am not Ella, your majesty." I hesitate, not knowing quite how to address the king.
"Nonsense! Do you think you can just run away, alter your hair color, increase your height, and return after twenty-one years expecting no one to recognize or remember you?" He slams the armrest of his chair, making me flinch a little.
Will they ever believe me?
I never even knew I had such an uncanny resemblance to my mom. Is that why dad was so paranoid? Why didn't he tell me this tiny but important detail?
"Where have you been all these years Ella?" He asks. Not in a commanding tone, but in a worried one.
He doesn't sound angry.
He sounds concerned, relieved and…hurt?
"I-" I open my mouth to speak but pause, trying to gather my words carefully.
After taking a deep breath, I meet his gaze.
"Ella kiyoni," I start, "was my mother."
His eyes widen
"Your…mother?" His words have a mixture of hurt and confusion in them.
"My name is Elia Richwood. My mother, Ella Kiyoni, died sixteen years ago."
At hearing my words, the king goes pale.
"Leave us." He orders the guards, a slight crack in his voice.
They all turn to leave, except the commander guy and the white haired guy.
"That includes you Ian." He gestures to the white haired man standing beside him. Ian.
As he heads towards the door, his eyes meet mine and we stare down at each other before he leaves.
"Kyron." The king calls
"My king." The commander man answers.
"Bring me my enforcer."
Kyron nods and bows before exiting.
When it's just the two of us left, the king rises from the throne and walks towards me.
"You will answer my question truthfully. Do not lie to me." He waves his hand in a circular motion and I feel goosebumps on my skin.
Was that a-a spell?
But I don't feel any different. Is that how it works?
"Who are you?" He questions.
I stare at him, not sure how exactly to answer the question.
I reply anyway.
"Elia Richwood. Daughter of Ella and Harrison Richwood." I answer, feeling completely in control of myself.
He wavers a little but continues.
"Ella Kiyoni is really your mother?" He asks.
"Yes."
"And… she's really…dead?" He asks hesitantly.
"Yes."
He looks taken aback.
He stumbles backwards, almost falling to the ground but he catches himself.
"I-It can't be." He whispers.
His devastation makes me realise that no one here might know about my mother's death. Not her parents, not Liv, not Leon.
"You called for me, your majesty." A man, looking about the same age as the king enters.
His features look awfully familiar, like someone I should know, but don't.
He looks at me like he knows me. Like he's shocked to see me.
I turn to the king to see him in a composed state.
Whatever emotion he might have been feeling, is now completely masked by that of indifference.
"Give her somewhere to rest for now. I will call for her later." He directs.
"Understood." The familiar looking man answers with a bow, before leading me out.
As the door slowly shuts behind us, I turn around and glance through the little open space to see the king falling to his knees, right before the door shuts completely.
"Ella?"
I turn around to see that the familiar looking man has a huge smile on his face.
"Are you really back?" He asks.
I give him a confused look.
"I know I look a little different. It's been twenty-one years after all." He laughs a little.
"Although, you haven't aged one bit. Advantage of being a princess, I see." He continues, placing a gentle hand on my face.
Did he just call me a princess?
Could it be?
I remove his hand and ask
"Who are you?"
His smile wavers slightly.
"Don't you remember me?"
I stare at him blankly.
"It's me, Leon."