Nychta - The Bloodrose Kingdom

Chapter 23 - The Royal Feast

Being hungry back then meant another day of stealing and running and fighting. But I was the candidate for the Divination and I was sure as hell that everything would be served on a golden platter.

I gazed at the grand dining room and felt my stomach rumble from the beautiful view and the amazing scent of the food.

At the center of the room was a long golden dining table, with flowers of different varieties and colors adorning it. They were handpicked from the garden, with a random but delightful and aesthetically-pleasing arrangement.

The girls and I stepped inside the room, Eudora leading all of us.

It was a small island in the center of the room, the rest of the floor being flowing blue water. The sounds relaxed me as I stared at each detail. The walls were designed with giant golden spirals and patterns, the ceiling hung with thousands of lights attached to chandeliers. Truly, the richness of Bloodrose’s history reflects on its arts and designs. There was nothing superior to this.

“Welcome, ladies,” Faeric says. I didn’t notice that he was there at first, didn’t see his dapper robes filled with sparkling glitters on golden satin. It would’ve tacky and flashy for someone else, but it was him, after all. He carried himself with such ease, such unmatched elegance that only a man like him can do.

The girls covered fake giggles and plastered smiles on their faces.

I looked at beside the table and saw were the three mentors, different emotions on their faces.

Lilian of the Sorcery had a purple cloak hung at her back, wonderfully complimenting a purple gown made with silent but sleek velvet. She smiled at us and looked at each.

Carmel of the Spirits was wearing a simple long gown that reached to her sleeves, clean and pristine. She didn’t want color nor extravagance. She was after all, a moral compass, and such show for pleasure didn’t suit. She bows slightly at us and keeps a neutral face.

Brawn of the Fists looked tight in his brown leather, along with brown pants. His muscles was well defined, too well defined, even. It must be because of his large size, with I was sure didn’t fit easily to most tailors’ known sizes. He waved slightly at us and looked at the surroundings.

The blue pool radiated the lights from the ceiling, giving them continuously moving waves that danced at their skins.

“Now, all of you, please take a seat,” Faeric says as they finish their welcome. The four take their seats, which were golden and gleaming chairs with royal carvings at the top. The only thing that signified our designed seat was the color of the cloth that lined in the middle of its spine, which were made of velvet.

Black velvet wasn’t so hard to find. It was the farthest right, the edge that faced its complementary edge. I followed the girls, walking in a slow but graceful pace. I made my way to the chair, confidence in check.

As I finally took my seat, I noticed that the plates were made of absolute silver, the forks, the spoons, the plates. They all looked clean and sleek, like each and every one of them was to be used by the queen. In my theory, they probably threatened the makers death if they did not make an above satisfactory quality. Tyrants.

I looked at each of the candidates now sitting, their gazes focused on the food. It was true that some of the towns here in the queendom was richer than mine’s, and had comfortable lives and comfortable food. They probably always had a warm bed to rest on, food made for them, even servants for some. This was all a luxury that they can afford, but there was definitely those like me who doesn’t have it.

But as I looked at each and every longing looks, the trail led me to the food placed on the table.

It was an understatement to call it a feast. It was eye-popping, tongue-licking, appetite-enticing. It was simply the best I’ve ever seen.

The main courses were roast lamb, steaming chicken, and fried beef. There was sauces circling each dish, from green onion and sour cream, barbecue sauces, and sweet honey. The desserts were mainly green and leafy vegetables with thousand-island dressings, and frosted milk creams mixed with vanilla and strawberries. Nightberries filled small plates, pea-sized ones that was as dark as a lightless night. They tasted bitter at first, and then sweet after. It made us intoxicated, and it was best when crushed and turned into a drink.

Tonight, I was going to have the best meal of my life. But before I do that, there was one thing to remember: table manners.

There was a golden velvet cloth at my front, and I took it and wrapped it nicely around my neck. The other girls not trained, specifically Thea of the Thunder and Matilda of the Machines quickly followed, noticing their lack of manners. I would’ve been the same if such a woman like Rosemary of the Books didn’t mentor me. She was definitely the Creator’s blessing.

“These hearty chicken soups are heated at the highest levels at the hearth maintained by fire gems. These lovely leaves and fruits are maintained by our garden servants, grown and taken care of with precise amount of attention. These delicious meals are all made by the finest chefs, their expertise specifically given for them to do,” Eudora proudly says as she showcases the food. She is flanked by her clones, all of which who bowed after her talk.

Faeric gives a small and pleasant clap.

“Wonderful, Eudora,” he says, showing his gleaming teeth for the maid. The old lady smiled back sweetly, with a slight lustful movements from her shoulders. There was nothing more hopeless than seeing such a creature expect to have any sort of love for a man who does not give interest of any sorts. Particularly if that man is Faeric of the Gems, leader of the Illuminae.

“And now, we shall eat,” Faeric says, clinking his fork and spoon together. Margaret of the River instantly made her way to the roast lamb, her hands slicing with unprecise cuts and large chunks. There was no one as hungry as a girl like her, lacking manners and obviously always in a rush.

I followed suit, my aim at the fried beef. Its tender and crisp skin was easily cut by my knife. I also took a strawberry from the wide array of fruits, their colors pleasing to the eye.

I tasted the berry, its sour and sweet flavor invading my parched mouth. It gave such a surprising taste, probably enhanced by those with the garden gems. It was like an exploding firework, like it was literally more than its small size.

“How’s the palace, ladies?” Carmel of the Spirits asks, her first casual talk with all of us. We kept on tasting the meals, the crunchy beef making me press my fists from pleasure. This was literally heaven on my mouth, the meal not being too oily or salty. It was perfect.

“It’s simply the perfect place for a queen,” Rosetta says, her voice sweet and charming. She was definitely accustomed to the palace, definitely have already seen the place even in her childhood. It was natural with her movements, her gaze at the place. She was, after all, without the need for confirmation, a part of the Illuminae. It reflected on her manners, her speech, her appearance. Not to mention, her unruly time of joining the Divination.

“We do our best to make it feel as if the queen is still alive, as powerful as ever,” Carmel replies. They frequented this place, it seems, for she knows her way of saying it.

“How exactly was the queen?” Millicent of the War said. All of us stared at her, shocked from her sudden talk. After all, she was the quietest out of all the contestants earlier, and she was a woman of short words. Now that we all looked at her, I guessed we had the same thing in mind: this was a tactic to know how to win.

Our ears perked and our eyes focused as we followed Millicent’s lead.

Carmel was taken aback, but she immediately recovered, her smooth and suave grace still seen in her. She fixed the long sleeves of her gown and looked at nothing in particular, as if recalling something sad or bitter in the past. Was the queen harsh to her? Did the queen take her as a favorite? Did the queen always listen to her as a moral compass?

I doubted Carmel of the Spirits since the moment I saw her anyways. I always knew how mostly every queen of the queendom so far has been tyrants, cruel and stubborn and selfish. It seems that the foundation of the Illuminae was really what made us survive in the long run, avoiding near-scarcities or famines and drought.

But as I looked at Carmel of the Spirits now, I began to think about her role more. She seemed motherly, nice, even.

“Diana of the Ice was quite a peculiar. Of course, it is to everyone’s knowledge that most of the queens had a terror-inducing iimage or a cruel demeanor. I wouldn’t deny it either. However, with Diana, it was different. She was one of those that acted with a heart, but always seemed to shroud herself with a veil as to obtain respect. I saw behind her, saw beneath that,”

“But because of that, not everyone liked her. And so, she had more to do. She was to be a horror inside and out, and eventually, the palace went into her mind. Her only forms of relaxation was the water in almost all of her favorite parts, which always seemed to soothe and calm her mind. I cannot say everything about her, but girls, please know that our former queen was quite different. I hope that the next in her line will be someone with more courage to face her fears, someone who is capable of going on top of expectations,” Carmel said.

I let that sink in. If Diana of the Ice was really of a different heart, maybe, a smoother and softer heart, then did that mean that there was to be a driving force in the castle? Does this mean that there was something evil behind it, like an influence that drives the queens to be as evil as they projected?

“That was a very nice insight by you, Madame Carmel,” Faeric says, his voice coated with respect. Out of all the mentors we had, it seems that Carmel will be the nicest. Even Faeric of the Gems respected her, after all.

“How about you, girls? Do you think anyone can be as light in heart as Carmel said?” Faeric challenged, looking at each and every one of us. Word travelled fast with Eudora it seems, and her clones certainly did a good job on telling everything that happened this afternoon.

“Oh, I’m sure that everyone here knows their place very well,” Judith says, coating her words sweetly. It was a big contrast from the noisy brat she was earlier, complaining and fighting and thrashing.

“Of course,” Rosetta replies, batting her eyelashes at the former’s direction. Judith smiles back in return, albeit, a forced one that was threatening to turn into a snarl. They were about to form a rivalry at this point, if it has not started already.

Faeric nodded slightly at both of them, but with both of his eyes looking at them hardly. It seems that they took the message, seeing how their cheeks turned red from humiliation. It was never a fight of outright confrontations, it seems, but rather, with eyerollings and backstabbing.

I took a bite of the salad mixed with the thousand-island dressing. It was mouthwatering to see, and now, it invaded my taste buds. I savored the sweet and salty taste, the leafy green vegetables crunchy and watery.

But Judith was now looking at Rosetta hardly. There was a non-physical battle going on between them, seeing Rosetta’s reply, which was a cold and cruel stare.

“Lucia,” Lilian of the Sorcery said, her smooth and mature voice ringing instantly. Lucia was surprised for a while, but managed to put down her spoon and fork, with her almost taking a bite out of the fried beef before being called. She looked Lilian as she combed her hair.

“Have you made any friends of sorts yet? Does the girls like you?” Lilian says, weirdly curious about Lucia. Was there something about her I didn’t know too? Something like Rosetta’s connection with the Illuminae? Or everyone’s stories in here?

“Yes I did, ma’am. She’s Machiavellian,” she says, her face looking at me as she smiles a warm one. I bit my lip in reply, flustered from the sudden attention that each girl gave me. Thea of the Thunder looked meekly at me, shy but curious. Margaret of the River took a large chomp out of the roast lamb, and then looked at me as she chewed heavily. Unnecessary and uncalled attention. This was going downhill really fast.

“Mach,” I said, trying to recover fast. If Lucia was looked to be someone who was friendly and warm and pure, then that was completely the opposite of the image I was trying to project to everyone. If everyone knew a single bit or a tiny part of my true weaknesses, then I was already screwed.

Faeric looked at me, interest dawning on his face. Lilian looked at me and smiled.

“Lucia is such a pure girl. It is a good thing that you are keeping her company,” she says, smiling at me.

I smiled back in reply, full of fake confidence and masked terror. I had to hide beneath it if I wanted to survive.

I saw Adelaide of the Woods giggling by her table, getting the Nightshade berries for her to eat. I knew that it looked pathetic, like a small kid’s introduction of a friend. But at least, it seemed to entertain the mentors. This was not a time to lose, after all.

“Matilda, how’s the machines?” Brawn asks from his table, his words muffled because of the food in his mouth. Lilian eyed him sharply, with the former noticing it. He instantly finished the food in his mouth, his manners reminded to him by none other than the lady of sorcery. It seems that they all knew each other quite well already.

It also meant that they knew the queen very well.

“T-They’ve been oiled and geared and fixed daily,” Matilda weakly replies, none of that girl starving for the crowd’s attention there anymore. This was a small girl beneath the metal anyways, and it was really showing now.

“And?” Brawn asks, still waiting for more replies.

“Regular maintenance procedures are going really good. Daily system rerouting and booting occasionally fails at first attempts, but every thirds of each morning gives more opportunities for valuable results. Gears are mostly intact, with three of them still being fixed. Everything is going fine. Or so I hope,” Matilda says quickly, and then gasps for air after. She was mouthy when asked about stuff of her expertise, it seems.

Some of the girls giggled at that, including me, even though I tried hard not to. Even the mentors did, amazed and entertained by Matilda’s sudden outburst. Her shoulder was now being patted by Emeline of the Tides, who was sitting beside her. She was also giggling.

The time passed by quickly, with us being filled with the food. I felt my belly being full for the first time, a very rare occasion. The first time that I had ever recalled such a memory was with Gretta, Silverfang’s librarian, making a huge batch of chocolate cookies the day before she died. I remember feeling too filled that day that I teared up. The second was when Eman stole huge chunks of beef from the market one day, filling me for two days.

We all stood up, finally finishing our meals.

“Did all of you like it?” Eudora says as her clones acted fast, carefully taking our plates from the table for cleaning. When no one seemed to answer, she gave us all a sharp looking, her eyes widening. Some of us nodded in return, forced to ask stupidly for all of them.

“We’ll see all of you tomorrow,” Faeric says, bowing a final one at all of us. He was still smooth as ever, handsome and refined like velvet. The three mentors waved back, each of them going to their parts outside the main palace, to go their offices or houses which none of us knew about.

“Girls, follow me,” Eudora says, her other clones doing the jobs for her. Faeric looks at us one last time, his long blue hair riding through the night as he finally made his way outside. I looked at the moving water by the sides of the room, dazed and enchanted by it. Diana of the Ice had good tastes, and it really did relax anyone who would be by it.

We formed a straight line, the same as our positions back in the carriages. However, one girl seemed to be out of place. It was none other than Rosetta of the Roses, now looking at us from the side.

“You can go beside her,” Lucia said warmly as she called her. Rosetta still looked dignified even as she went beside me, as if this was planned and she had been just like any other contestant. As she did, I instantly smelled her flowery perfumes, mild and serene but still full of impression. I nodded slightly at her to give a sign of acknowledgement, and she returns the gesture.

As we walked through the open halls, I saw the full moon outside, the blue night warmly embracing it. It felt cool and chilly as the wind blew from the sides, relaxing me and calming my thoughts.

“The nights here are very best, even with the arrival of the new sun. All queens I have served so far has always lasted for a while in this area, usually contemplating and reflecting,” she says, still talking as we walked.

I looked below the marble ledge and saw the garden. My heart tingled at the sight of it, seeing the small and tiny lights now lingering by it. It was in white, calmly illuminating the whole scene. From those tiny lights, the colors of the flowers shone brightly, not too violently to look active, but not dull. It was just a calm painting, giving inspiration and mood.

“They look pretty,” Rosetta says beside me, her eyes lingering at the garden. As I looked at her, I didn’t feel any rose-tint on my sight, no sign of those charm. She was still beautiful though, but tonight, I didn’t feel the urge to please her or to take her as the queen of Bloodrose.

She didn’t use her power now, especially when she was so distracted looking the flowers. The calm moonlight shone on her smooth and pale face, its eyes focused on the garden. She was another painting of her own.

“I know. I’ve never seen something as beautiful as this,” I say as I looked at her. She instantly notices. She then looks at me with a grin on her face.

“What is beautiful? The garden or me?” she asks with menace in her voice. She was smiling, expectant of my answer. At that point, I didn’t know either.

“The garden,” I replied, smiling back at her.

We locked eyes in that moment, eager of each other’s presence.

“Hurry up,” Lucia says as she looks at the both of us. “And yes, I do know that the garden is beautiful. You too, Rosetta,” she says, and then winks at her. We followed after her.

We were finally shown to a hallway that led to many huge ebony doors, all with silver adorations and intricate carvings. It was mostly leaves and flowers, like most of those in the palace. They were as tall as three times myself, and as wide as ten times of myself. It was big, and I was sure that it was quite spacious inside.

We were in the lounge outside, the floors with alternating black and white stripes. There were red velvet sofas, a fireplace by the middle, and tables and small lounging chairs spread everywhere. There was also a giant carpet at the middle, also in red velvet. It looked comfortable and sophisticated at the same time.

Eudora goes to in front of the fireplace, which lights up instantly at her presence. All of us takes our seats in the lounge, feeling tired from this day’s exhausting events. After all, this was the day when I was given a lot of reminders by Rosemary, the day when I received the gown. This was the day when she gave me the necklace and the ball, the day when the crowd cheered for me. This was the day when I finally let go of Rosemary’s supervision, when I finally saw that I was to be a contestant of the Divination.

And I was sure that my thoughts didn’t differ from anyone in the place.

“Of course, I already know that most of you already feel tired and exhausted from this day’s events. But worry not, for I already know. That is why I will finally reveal your room assignments, for you to be able to go to your respective rooms. There, I have prepared your bed and bath and clothes, all tailored for you with your mentor’s suggestions and tips taken into mind by our tailors,” Eudora says.

It sounded tempting and comfortable to hear all of that. I almost wished that this was how I wanted to be always treated, having everything in front of you whenever and wherever you wanted it. Only the queen can afford such a luxury.

“First off the list, Judith of the Frost and Hilda of the Knives,” Eudora says, her eyes looking at Judith sharply. Hilda of the Knives was crossing her arm and then nodded at Judith, who was only stone-faced. They walked beside each other as they went for the first room.

“Millicent of the War and Thea of the Thunder,” Eudora says after. Millicent looks neutral, while Thea was obviously bothered by it. I can see that she was intimidated by the former, given how made an obvious and wide space between them as they finally entered their room.

Lucia looks at me worriedly, given the arrangement’s random manner. Who knows, she might be even partnered with Adelaide of the Woods, which is certainly not a big fan of her either. Or, she might be partnered with me. I was sure that she wasn’t coming out alive of the room if that happened.

“Alice of the Cards and Matilda of the Machines,” Eudora says. Matilda of the Machines shakes Alice of the Cards’ hand, who returns it gladly. But as she finally removed her hand, the latter’s hand becomes detached all of a sudden, causing her to scream and jump out of shock. But instantly, a yellow powder comes out from behind the sleeve of her gown, giving her a new hand. Another one of her tricks, which now made Matilda cry as she walked towards the room. Alice was laughing along with us as she ran towards the room, tipping a hat that she summoned out of thin air at us. This was a performance to her, like everything else.

But I knew she wouldn’t last long. If we were running for queens, she was more like a jester, maybe. A fool, for tricks and shows. She had no place for Bloodrose’s highest seat.

“Margaret of the River and Adelaide of the Woods,” Eudora follows with. I instantly sensed Adelaide of the Wood’s irritation as she looked at Margaret with her eyebrows furrowed, the latter oblivious to it. She was too busy still laughing at Alice’s trick, with it working for her too much. Their partnering wasn’t necessarily bad, but it definitely didn’t mean they would be friends either.

“Emeline of the Tides and Rosetta of the Roses,” Eudora says, her voice loud. I heard the crackling of the wood behind her, quiet and serene.

Emeline of the Tides fixed her hair by the back of her ear as she bows at Rosetta, who nods lightly. Rosetta looks one last time at both Lucia and I before following Emeline to their room.

“And of course, that leaves the both of you as partners for the last room. Take a rest now, as tomorrow is the start of your first trial. You won’t like it, that’s for sure,” Eudora says. That was the most supportive advice she has ever given us, though it was kind of blurry between that and terrifying.

I looked at Lucia, who was smiling, as she tugs at my arm, leading me to our room. Eudora only looks at us from afar, the last image of her I see before I shut the door.

The inside of the room was majestic, calm red and black plastered all around the walls. It was designed with royal patterns. There was a huge window in at the side of the beds, where the sea was silently moving. It was calming and serene to look at, a good view for the both of us.

I heard a thump as Lucia lands her whole body at the bed she chose, the one nearer to the door. I followed her example, letting my body rest on the pure-white bed with the smoothest sheets and pillows made of feather. It was very comfortable, like landing on clouds.

“This is so much fun,” Lucia says as she waves her body through the sheets. I looked at her, like a mother looking at a daughter having fun. I saw light in her eyes, saw her innocent smile. I saw how she naturally radiated of positivity, how her mere existence made everything light.

And as I saw more of her, I saw less of myself.

I looked at her with such a feeling of want. Of need.

I wanted that happiness which childhood didn’t give me. I wanted that comfort that life had so much taken away from me. I wanted that aura, the thinking that at the end of the day, everything will be normal. But it wasn’t the way it worked for me.

Lucia must have noticed, given how she stopped jumping and now looked at me instead with innocent blue eyes.

“Mach?” she asks, now sitting properly again. She must’ve realized how hard it was for her to be that active while wearing a gown. It was like being trapped by linen, suffocating every movement. I looked at her.

“Yes?” I asked her, already knowing what she was about to ask.

“What’s your problem?” she asks gently. She was innocent, and yet, knowing. She already knew I had a problem, and she wanted to know fast.

“It’s mostly just the palace,” I say, trying to hide it. It was weird to admit it to her, with me sounding like a crazed fan or a jealous woman if I did.

“And?” Lucia pried. Damn, this girl knew how to pry information out of someone.

I looked at the window and saw the gentle waves, the moonlight being reflected by it. It felt calm. It felt relaxing. And because of that, I might have just let my barriers come down. Even just for today, even with someone who I knew would be my greatest competition.

Right now, it was just two people talking about themselves.

“I’m mostly just surprised by you. I’m surprised by how you make yourself positive. I’m surprised that you manage to be innocent at such a scenario. I’m surprised that you become an icon yourself, a role-model. You’re basically everything I can never be. And that’s not a bad thing either, it’s just that I’ve thought of possibilities when I could’ve been someone like you, and the possibility that I might have enjoyed it,” I say honestly. It felt releasing to say that, some burden of mine being carried off.

Everything I said was true. It was nothing but the frank truth.

And yet, she only smiled at the sea outside, the both of us now looking at it.

“How do you even manage to do that?” I say out of sheer curiosity. This time, I looked back at her. I looked at her white hair, her blue eyes and her gentle face. I looked at my greatest enemy.

She swept her hair by the side of her ear.

“Simple. It’s only because we need one every once in a while,” Lucia says lightly. And with that, I instantly knew that I had made a third friend. In my whole life, never had I met someone who talked and acted so selflessly as her. She was just too nice.

“And do you ever feel lonely being the only one like that? You’re definitely the only person I know who thinks like that. I wonder about what it feels when the whole world is against you.” I ask again.

She only looks at me looks at me for a long time.

“Do you ever feel lonely being the only one like that?” she asks me in reply. A question for a question. My question, to be exact.

And as she asked that, I asked myself too. Mostly, I was just alone with the fact that I was an outcast from the world because I had no friends, no connections, and no ties. I was to die without no one knowing and no one caring, much like Gretta. Was it lonely? Of course it was. But did it bother me? Not really.

As I looked one last time at the waves of the sea, Lucia also doing so, I felt that I had embraced myself more. I felt that I had more of myself to offer now, as I reflected more.

And Lucia had definitely been a big part of it. The greatest enemy is now my greatest friend, and the thoughts of war and battle is only a distant thought. I let everything in my head clear out now as I finally dressed in the outfit that Rosemary gave me, a clean black nightgown, comfortable and hanging loosely around my body.

“Good night,” said Lucia.

“You too,” I said.

The light and dark repulsed each other

Like the poles and the day and night

Like the wind and itself

Like flowers and death, like the Raven and the Light

I carefully crept out of the bed, my feet touching the solid ground. An hour has now passed, based from my careful counting on top of my bed. I made sure to pretend as asleep as I could, barely moving.

I looked at Lucia’s bed as I crouched, seeing her figure buried with a blanket, dozing off into the night.

The first night was the night when I hunted for the palace’s shadows and secrets, and I was more than ready.

My steps were slow and steady, wearing leather slippers lined with red velvet. The black carpet barely made sounds as they felt my steps slowly.

And then as I touched the door, I looked back at Lucia’s bed. There was more time to talk to her tomorrow.

I touched the cool door, letting myself feel the intricate carvings of the ebony door. I let the fact that I was doing this secretly sink, letting all my senses become awake.

I was opening the door in three counts.

One, I touched the door’s handle while gripped, sweat falling down on my temples.

Two, I felt a coo rush of air as the wind went through the small crack I opened, giving me goosebumps everywhere.

Three, I finally opened the door.

And there crouching on the floor outside the door was also another creature with the same intention was mine. But it wasn’t the creature that I would ever thought of doing so. It was the innocent creature, the blue-eyed and white-haired girl.

In front of me was Lucia of the Light, wide-eyed with shock and surprise.