A solemn, sweet melody from the citharas enveloped the palace. One signal from the chamberlain and I glided through the silk curtains, toward the grandiose hall.
Poise. Calmness. Confidence.
Three things I've learned from the mistress of imperial performers. The years of practice taught me the perfect stance, moves, and all the gracefulness I needed.
Dancing for the royal court's entertainment has been my life ever since I reached puberty. I've long accepted the life fate had offered me. This is my fate. To be a slave, to be caged in this palace forever.
The Kingdom of Eravia is where the mages rule. It was where my mother lived throughout her life. She was also one of those less fortunate people who was born as a slave, but not as unfortunate as the commoners, for she was a royal entertainer with imperial privileges. But to me, it wasn't privileges. All those years, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy whatever the palace could offer me. It felt as though I was always chained, someone who couldn't bend any orders from those in power.
The moment I reached the center of the hall, I felt nothing. There was no anxiety nor excitement. I felt empty, just like always. Through Mistress Ursula's very strict guidance, I learned how to dance with one, golden goal—to entice the audience. That job is nothing to me now. It comes out naturally every time I perform. But it wasn't passion. It was more like a necessity. Something I mastered through effort and time to avoid punishments.
Mistress Ursula knew I can do this better than any of the royal performers. The reason why I was chosen to perform in this special occasion. It's the King's birthday, and a lot of special guests are present, nobles and even royalties from other kingdoms. She knew I wouldn't fail to entice every eye in this huge hall with my dance.
My hair, black as ebony, was flowing down my back, with little crystals hanging from the golden hairpins. My eyes resembled the thin, silk dress I was wearing—sea green. Even the thin cloth I wore as a mask had the same color. My nose down to my chin was covered by it. It was always like that. As part of the palace rules, an entertainer is not allowed to let any of her audience see her face. A mere slave couldn't offer more.
I placed one foot slightly behind the other, bending my knees as a respect to His and Her Majesty. The moment I rose back to my stance, another rhythm enveloped the hall and it was my cue to start.
Hundreds of eyes were watching me but my heart not even leaped a bit in anxiousness. Dancing with utmost gracefulness has been my job for years. Now it only felt as if I was just doing a simple routine.
My eyes drifted to my King and Queen, then to the people around. Only in occasions like this I get to see people from the outside. We, slaves, are never allowed to go beyond the palace's tall barricades unless an imperial decree is issued. So every time I perform with massive audience, I take the opportunity to look, stare at other people.
With the little sorcery I've learned from Mistress Ursula, I proceeded to the next level of my performance. I went to the pool of water with petals of roses, and started the next phase of my dance, which is dancing at the water's surface.
I do not have any exceptional abilities. In this Kingdom, majority are mages. Those in high ranks, like the nobles and royal families, held the most authority not because of their status but because of their abilities, in particular. They are the spirit mages. The ones who doesn't need any aid from tangible things to perform sorcery. As for the those in lower ranks, they need aid from things like mage papers, amulets, and rituals to do sorcery, but their abilities have limitations. They can only do things like make a little fire, fix a broken glass, or something not very substantial.
However, in my case I cannot do any of that. I tried many times to do something out of mage paper but I just couldn't. Only ten percent of the population in Eravia can't perform even a simple sorcery out of mage paper—the most basic sorcery that a pure blooded mage can do, and I'm part of it.
Fortunately, through years of practice, I've learned how to dance in the water's surface, a dancing trick Mistress Ursula had taught me. Well, at least I finally got something I can do as a mage, right?
Water splintered like glistening crystals as I turned and followed the rhythm with precision. I closed my eyes as I continued on my track, there was another smooth splash. Once again, I turned and leaped a little, then faced the audience and opened my eyes.
I thought I'd see my expectants watching me in awe. But to my surprise, my line of vision was directed to a pair of unfamiliar pitch black eyes, the darkest shade of black I've ever seen in my whole life.
His eyes were round, deep, but very clear like it was made of dark crystals. He was staring at me—straight to my eyes, as though he was waiting for me to look at him, to notice him. Or... I could be wrong.
Judging his clothes, he could be an aristocrat or something. He must be closer to that since this celebration wasn't open for commoners. But if he was from this kingdom and part of the upper class, I should have seen him at least once in the past royal occasions. It was the first time I've seen him so I was thinking... maybe he was from another kingdom?
His attire was all black, only accented by gold and silver linings, face was stark like it was carved from the most expensive granite, jaw was angular and clean-shaven which made him look more manly than any man I've seen, nose straight and pointed, tall and lean but more than his physical attributes, what caught my attention was how he simply stood there, with air screaming in power and authority as if he was some sort of invincible man.
Who is he?
It was a useless question, I know. Regardless of how curious I am, I would not have any chance to know the answer. That is beyond what a slave is capable of. And why would I want to know who he is anyway?
I ended my performance with a sigh. Praises and applauses for me filled the hall, but like what should be done, I exited at once.
"Job well done, Ophelia!" Mistress Ursula was waiting for me beyond the curtains where I came from.
"I made the right choice of choosing you to perform in such big event. The jewelries and gifts from the King is already in your chamber as compensation for your service."
She touched my cheek happily. At times like this, she's nice, but most of the time, she's strict and really has a bad mouth. I guess I should just accept that I'd be working under her guidance for as long as I serve in this palace. At least, you're not starving, Ophelia.
Right.
I didn't say anything and went straight to my chamber. I've already done my part in the occasion, and slaves can't stay long after we've done our designated jobs. We are only living for our superiors. To serve, to entertain them with all we've got.
Life was never fair. Some are born with silver spoons in their mouths, while the less fortunate people like me, are born as a slave, and will also die as one. Ruthless as it seems, but that is how life plays with people's fate. You can never hide from what is destined for you, you'd just end up accepting it no matter how worse it could be.
I looked at myself in the mirror—something I always do every time I miss my late mother. Her exquisite beauty was a reflection of my own. Only that, her hair was dark ocher, and her eyes were brown. But except those two traits, we looked so much alike.
Maybe I got my sea green eyes from my father. I never had the chance to meet him, or know his name at least. My mother didn't want me to, and I couldn't push her to do something she didn't want. She was a very soft spoken and kind woman, I wonder what could have went wrong between her and my father. But later on, I concluded that maybe he did something that hurt her. That simple idea gave me so much motivation to hate him. If it's true, I don't know if I could ever forgive him.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
I miss you, Mother... I whispered silently. She was my home, my only peace in this palace. And now I have no one but... silence. Just empty silence.