I stood in front of the mirror in my now-room, the same room where I'd been resting for half a month. Different servants walked in and out, carrying heaps of clothes with them.
I checked myself out in the mirror and thought, "Why didn't I ever attempt to wear something like this before."
At the top of my head was a golden tiara with a lot of gems on it in various shapes and colors, which, by the way, the maids deemed very necessary for me to wear. I had on a loose dark evergreen dress shirt and a dark blue cloak hung on my shoulders, draping my back. The cape was long and heavy as it was mostly made of Griffith wings, or whatever creature it came from. I also had on a dark brown vest and similarly colored pants to match. The belt I wore was the same color as my dress shirt and it was gem encrusted too, making the overall outfit look funkier than it should've been.
Honestly, it made me look like I was cosplaying Peter Pan with a blue cape and a very shiny, shiny belt.
To top it all off, a maid handed over a pair of dark blue gloves that had similar cloth material to a shiny spandex. I wondered what technology they used to make these clothes. Then again, Haruo, it's a mythical world. It's a mythical world.
It has been roughly a week since my last conversation with Kleis. Today is the proposed date of the wedding ceremony and I am currently getting myself ready. I honestly thought that Kleis and I would be spending more time getting to know each other since there is the whole norm of "til death do us part". But, the marriage is political anyways. I don't think Kleis is the type to care about meticulous details like that.
Instead, I spent the last few days getting tutored in their language, Ayasib. The groom and bride must say their vows in the language of the kingdom they are getting married in, or in this case, the language of Eir. Other foreign languages are unacceptable to the custom, and the high elders wouldn't count it as officially married.
But of course, how could I possibly learn a whole new alphabet, much more a new set of vocabulary and grammar in just a week?
My tutor, Taja, however, was patient with me. We both just ended up practicing the speech for my vows, getting the intonations and stresses of the words right.
I could only see Kleis whenever we ate together in the dining hall. Indeed her uncle, the King, rather, only came by frequently. Right after last week's meal, he had already left for the capital which left me and Kleis in the mansion, along with perhaps fifty other servants. I'm not sure, I lost count.
From time to time, I tried to interact with the helpers as well, trying to test my proficiency with Ayasib. It was cute that they would also help me so that I could say the words clearer and better than how I think they should be pronounced.
After a couple of days of being here, I began to realize what Kleis meant when she said, "We were still protected by the royal family in some way, but we were shunned by the public for ruining the family image like that."
Taja would sometimes share stories about the kingdom and what it felt like working for the royal family. She used to serve the previous queen as a personal maid back then, but everything changed after she abdicated from the throne. Despite being a mom of three kids, she sure was working hard for this family.
Surprisingly, the royals were not what they were depicted in history books from my world. Kleis' extended family still kept secretly giving their support, knowing that Kleis is the only one left from her side of the family. The current King would even make sure that he visits this mansion at least twice a month, to ensure Kleis will never feel like she was ever abandoned.
Even applying for or recruiting servants to help around the place required a huge ordeal for the King. He wouldn't accept anybody who thought less of the former princess, since a vast majority of the citizens are biased toward Kleis' mother, the formal queen.
Many nobles believe that giving up your throne is equivalent to giving up your life. In this world, if one decides to sacrifice their life for the title, then it is strongly similar to dying.
"What use is your life when you, a true bloodline heir to the throne, abdicate? Might as well die and live off as a lowly peasant." Taja once told me.
I found their rules pretty harsh if I must say, as someone who lives—or used to live—in the modern era. I am very much confident that a bunch of teenagers would be ranting about these issues on social media, and throwing rallies about freedom and justice.
I guess it's not a thing here then.
But who was I to judge them? I am a mere passerby in this world. I do not intend to stay long, that's for sure. Though I could never go anywhere from where I am if I do not step up and do something, whether it was for me alone or others' benefit.
At this point, none of it mattered yet to me. It was like I was a helpless abandoned dog that had been living in a box for so long. I couldn't do anything because I had nothing to call home. Perhaps that was what Kleis had been feeling all this time. She probably wanted to reclaim her dignity and status in society, and the only way to do that is for her to have a partner to stand by her at all times—knowing how patriarchal this kingdom is. And if she needed me, or my hidden powers to do that, and if it's just within my powers to do something in this world that will eventually help me break free, then that is probably the duty I must fulfill to attain my true goal: to go home.
But, first things first, I must finish this goddamn wedding already so I could take off these ridiculous clothes. They started to itch me all over.
I heard a faint knock on the door and it was Taja, holding a wooden box. She entered the room and handed over the small chest to me.
"Here, Haruo," Taja said. I opened it and saw that they were two small silver knives, almost the size of a finger.
I asked, "What is this for?"
"You'll need it for later." Taja smiled and patted my shoulders. She took a step back and glanced at me from head to toe.
"Boy, you look dashing. I wish you all the best and all your endeavors with the princess. Yahobam!"
I thanked her for her encouraging words then exited the room after a different servant, the house butler, Sabes, came in and told me that it was time.
Starting to feel nervous, I gripped the box tightly and let out a deep sigh.
Mom, sis, I'm getting married now.