“Is that all?” she asked. “It’s almost as if I was your…”
“Daughter? Indeed, that’s why I took you. I don’t have any children, only one boy, but he is the fruit of my husband love with his previous wife. And he is also a boy.”
“Do you hate him?”
“No, of course I don’t. But he is not treating me like his mother. He is polite but doesn’t call me ‘mother’. Quite cold, isn’t he? But it wasn’t always like this. He found out I wasn’t his birth mother when he was nine. Before that he would tell me everything and we had a good mother-child relationship.”
“So that’s why you took me - to be your daughter?”
“Would you please accept this?” asked the lady looking hopefully at Claire. The girl thought for a bit then said:
“I accept. It would be my pleasure to be your daughter”
“Then, please call me mother, would you?”
“Very well, Lady… I mean…mother…”
“Thank you, you made me really happy, Claire.”
As they were talking happily a servant walked away quickly from the room’s door. “What should I do, what should do…” he asked himself repeatedly. “This is certainly not good news. I should report it immediately!”
The scarlet colored sun was setting surrounded by a brilliant combination of pink, yellow, orange and violet. The newly mother and daughter were watching the beautiful sunset wondering what will tomorrow bring.
“What do you say about a ball - to celebrate my new daughter? What do you say?”
“If it isn’t too much trouble, how about in five days? I will turn 16 that day.”
“Really? But we can’t. We are invited to the prince’s anniversary. It seems that the two of you were born on the same day…”
“Will he also turn 16?”
“Ah, no. I think that he will be 17. He is one year older. I’m sorry Claire, I would really like to celebrate you then, but it would be considered rude to be absent at the prince’s ball.”
“Ah, don’t worry, that day is not my real birthday. Since I was found in the forest, my father didn’t know when my birthday was, so he chose as my birthday the day in which he found me. He assumed I was one, so I’m not quite sure about my age also.”
“Oh! Then let’s keep it that way, let’s celebrate your birthday just the two of us, a day before the prince’s ball”
“It would be a great pleasure, mother.”
“Then it’s settled. Now, what do you say about choosing you a dress. Actually two dresses: one for your birthday and the second one for the prince’s ball. What do you say?”
“May I come with you at the prince’s ball?”
“Don’t you want to?”
“Of course, I’d love to, but I’m not invited.”
“Oh, but you are invited. I am in charge of inviting people.”
“But why?”
“The ball will take place here, at the Rose Palace
“But why will it take place here?”
“Because…,” tried Lady Augusta to say, but was interrupted by a servant who said:
“Lady Augusta, your son, the prince of Saint Land has returned. He is in the dining room, waiting for you so you can have dinner.”
“His Majesty has also come home?”
“No, he hasn’t. His majesty still has some work to do at the temple.”
“Thank you. Go and tell my son we will come to the dining room immediately.”
“We, your highness?”
“Yes, we. My daughter and I will come to eat as soon as we get changed. So prepare the table for three.”
“Understood, Milady.” said the servant and got out.
“Is it ok for me to dine with you?” asked Claire.
“Why not? After all you are my daughter, are you not?” said Lady Augusta.
“May I ask another question? What did you mean by << “His Majesty has also come home?”>>?”
“Well… let us go to the dining room and you will understand.”
“um, very well then…”
The two went to Lady Augusta’s room and got dressed, Claire ending up being dressed by her new mother with a beautiful golden dress. Then they went down the stairs and entered the dining room. The dining room was actually the ballroom, hence, a huge, elegant and beautifully decorated hall. In the middle there was a round table with three sets of tableware and three beautiful chairs, made of wood and decorated with gold and silver models. A young man that was sitting on one of the chairs stood up and bowed in front of the two ladies.
“Good evening Lady Augusta. I’m back from the temple.” he said.
“Welcome back. How was your journey?” asked the woman.
“I cannot say it was pleasurable, but neither hateful. I see we have someone new around. I am Wolfgang Conrad von Wolfram. How do you do?”
The manly voice of the young man resonated inside or Claire’s mind. He was handsome, fit, slim and had a beautiful white feature. His pitch-black long hair was braided and gave him a noble air. Also, his deep dark-brown eyes were so beautiful and kind, almost warm. Claire blushed and hid her face bowing her head so no one could see her flushed face. “I should hurry and answer him, otherwise I will seem rude
“How do you do? My name is Claire…” said the girl but stopped as soon as she said her first name. “What should I do? My surname should be as Lady Augusta’s now but I’m not the one who should tell him he got himself a younger sister…” thought Claire.
“Claire…?” asked the boy expecting to hear her surname.
“Um….” Claire didn’t know what she should do. Suddenly, she heard a firm man-voice from behind her:
“Julia Claire von Wyncote. Right, Augusta?”
Startled she turned back to see who it was. Then she understood everything. The man in front of her was the emperor himself, so Lady Augusta was probably his wife… And the young man was his son than? But how…?
“Excuse me, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can you explain more thoroughly?” said the girl with a shy tone.
“Hm, so you don’t remember” said the man with disgust. Then I will let Augusta
“Well… I wasn’t sure, but it seems like it’s true. Julia Claire von Wyncote was also lost 14 years ago during the extermination of the Wyncote family. Also, you look a lot like your mother when she was 16.”
“But then why did you take me?” asked Claire panicking. “You told me I would be your daughter!”
“I’m sorry, girl, but it was an act just to catch you and exterminate you, just like we did with your whole family. Those ignorant people were always and always doing everything for the people of the Saint Land. That’s why I killed them. The royal family is supposed to exist only as a sacrifice for the goddess!” said the man with a cruel tone.
“What do you mean?” asked Claire terrified.
“Did you know? The goddess takes a new body once in 20 years. And the body has to be of royal blood. Sadly though, it seems that it also only has to be a Wyncote. So it’s great, since in three days the goddess has to change bodies. And you appeared on time for it! Hahahahaha!” laughed the cruel emperor. “Now, boys, take her to prison, tomorrow we leave for the temple.”
“Wait! Please Lady Augusta, tell me it’s not true!” cried aloud Claire watching hopefully towards the woman with her tearful eyes.
“I’m sorry, Claire.” murmured Lady Augusta and bowed looking down.
Claire started crying and let herself fall on the dark floor. So she was right… she was the unluckiest girl alive. Two soldiers approached her, took her arms and lifted her.
“Only a bit, I don’t have to wait much longer…”The young woman on the temple on the top of the mountain chuckled for the first time in 20 years. “My new body is on the way…” she said and closed her violet eyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment