Nychta - The Bloodrose Kingdom

Chapter 19 - The End of a Thief

“Now this is what the errors of the society gives off. Thieves,” Faeric says, eyeing Eman with disgust. He was the leader of the elite after all, and so he naturally despised the poor.

But little did he know, he was also the one responsible for this. This was a queendom, where the rulers were meant to raise the scums. But this, is what comes off from a society where elites rule. This is what comes off a queendom that favors the rich and makes them richer. The poor dies of starvation while the rich slobber from the former’s hard work.

And yet he had the guts to eye him in such a manner. I fisted my palms. Being angry wasn’t an option. I was to become a queen, and as such, I was to blend in. For a while.

Eman only looks at him as his head was forcibly bent on the floor, his eyes filled with fury. Fury of from the days when we were forced to steal. Fury from the all the guard’s lashings and beatings, each bitter pain a reminder that scarred not only their bodies but their weary souls. Fury from all the lies they spread, from the repression they’ve caused.

And when powerful gems came out of the poor nychtas, there were only two paths: be the queendom’s pawn, or be the alchemist’s toy.

Eman spat on the ground, sweat pouring from his temples. His spiky hair was wet from all the running and magic that he has used for today. Truly, everyone was convinced that he had called for the power of the shadow. Little did everyone know, it was only a trick, a fight with nothing but illusion. Such tricks made him Eman of the Illusions.

Faeric only looked at him again, this time, with a certain glint in his eye and a tiny smirk forming in his lips. Naughty, evil thoughts.

Eman’s eyes looked at the arena, scouting every girl before more guards held him down. And as he took his last chance to look at us, he bent his head again to my direction. In an instant, his eyes went upon me, scanning every feature.

I suddenly became aware of my gown. The long, feathery lower part, the huge quill in my back, and the revealing curves it gave me. It all dawned to me that this was a new look for me, not the usual, dirty girl he only saw during missions, mostly bloodied or bruised.

This was the new girl, Machiavellian of the Raven, who was now looking back at him.

But as if the old one was back, I felt my gaze soften, his piercing gaze looking at me. His emotion was unreadable. Was it anger? Fear? Surprise?

He was always a joker, but now, it didn’t seem like I even knew him. Not that I didn’t notice it before my I was captured.

But my gaze wasn’t as prepared. I told myself that I was to become a queen, someone better than my former self.

But it seems that none of the preparation as enough to kill the weaker self, and so I retracted my gaze. I chose to ignore his look, and instead look at the pretty girl that newly came along.

“Mach,” Eman says weakly again, but I didn’t look at him. Not even once, as he was dragged by the guards mercilessly, his fate unknown after it. I knew that he was surely to be killed, no mercy given as to even make him an experiment for the alchemist.

Rosetta of the Roses looked at me once again. The girl was as beautiful as ever, her charms constantly changing. She was to become a tough competition, seeing her obvious iron control and appeal. There was something about the beauty, a sharp, deadly edge to the rose that stands before me.

It looked like Hilda wasn’t the only enemy.

And as things finally settled back to normal, the arena a large empty space where the crowds once sat, Faeric started to gather us. The silence was almost deafening, a huge contrast to the earlier lively mood.

“Participants of the Divination, I call for your attention,”

The girls instantly stopped what they were doing. Thea of the Thunder was fixing her gown, some sheds present already. Was it the thunder that she used that destroyed it? Or did a catfight happen that I wasn’t able to witness?

But one girl in particular didn’t just accept what happened.

“Was I the only one that saw what happened?” Judith of the Frost said, her loud voice heard by every participant. She fixed her posture, formerly leaning on her bluish-white carriage, adorned with snowflakes and spirals.

She started walking towards Faeric.

“Why didn’t you do anything to stop what was happening? What were we even supposed to do, if ever the situation got out of control? Should we just watch?” She said, her voice high and complaining.

To this, Faeric only smirks. He slowly starts his walk towards Judith.

“Ahh, my darling. You see, it was only an amusing show of power,” when he came at Judith’s said, he started stroking her light blonde hair. The latter crossed her arm, still annoyed.

“You didn’t even do anything,” she said, her head turning towards him. It was a challenge. Will he still able to keep his cool composure?

But true to this character, it seemed that nothing can bother him.

“I am Faeric of the Gems, after all, and such silly things need not my intervention. Now, let’s ask one of our contestants if she found the spectacle amusing, shall we?” Faeric says, his head turning to the rest of us.

Everyone started to become stiff, their attention fully at Faeric. Lucia of the Light bit her lip. Matilda of the Machines played with her fingers.

But then Faeric said, “Machiavellian of the Raven, what do you think?”

My heart thumped at the sudden call of my name. Instantly, the girls looked at my direction, full curiosity on me. Surely, they were doubting me now, seeing if I was really connected with Eman in any way.

I felt sweat come out of my temple. I was never a social person, and I was being tested today.

Do not ever tell any associations with the boy, the voice said within me. I lightened up at its sudden arrival.

Following Rosemary’s advice, I coolly put both of my hands at the sides of my hips, authoritative and sure of myself.

“It was really amusing. However, I definitely will not associate myself with such a lowly form of nychta, and so I didn’t put much interest to it,” I say, coating my words with both ease and conviction.

I looked at Hilda, the only who knew about Eman’s relationship with me.

She only looked at Faeric, inattentive of whatever bullshit came out of my mouth.

“Good, good. It seems that the boy was an avid fan of our girls,” Faeric says, making the weight forming in my heart lighten up for a little bit.

“Well, now, it is time for us finally visit your place of residence. The Crimson Palace is prepared for everyone in here, and I hope you prepare yourself for the spectacle that awaits you. Representatives of the queendom of Bloodrose, long live the queen’s glory!” Faeric says, raising his hand.

We follow suit, Rosetta included, probably representing the queendom capital, Bloodrose.

“Long live the queen’s glory!”

Carriages of beauty and glory

Carried through the forest

Capsules of death and glory

Awaiting for the best