Nychta - The Bloodrose Kingdom

Chapter 11 - The Gown of Death

This was the day.

I was bathing in the grand tub again, but this time, with every possible oils and fragrances I can find in Rosemary’s scent cabinet. The tub was of a brown color, with a smooth surface that padded my body comfortably. A curtained window was placed in front of it, with it overseeing the green forests outside. The sun was rising now, its golden rays hitting me and giving me a warm comfort against the cold feeling I was getting because of the tension for today.

Today.

Today was the official start of the Divination. We have trained for three weeks, calling for whatever power I may have and the skills that I needed to use for physical tests. Not to mention, manners and etiquettes that a queen must have.

But for all the preparation Rosemary had given me, it seems that I still lacked in mental determination. A lot of it.

To be fair, I was only grabbed by the last minute, with me only being a petty thief from a small town. I wasn’t born to be a queen. The most decent label I would call myself is a novice scholar who is able to read and understand. I wasn’t capable of being a leader, much less, the leader of Bloodrose itself.

But now, I didn’t have an option. It was not only me, after all. It was also the black gem, the power that chose me to be its handler. If anything was capable of leading the people, it was this power. I needed wisdom and wit that cannot be harnessed in just three weeks. It would take a proper raising and a culture community, not like the scums and filths I grew up with.

I felt my naked body, of an average height but long limbs. I touched every part, trying to keep the nerves at bay. It was good that I was basked in the scents of different flowers, for the terror of facing the whole crowd was now overpowering me. It was only the scent and the warm waters that kept some sense in me.

I looked at the surroundings. Rosemary was quite the mentor. Sure, she had her mood swings and terrible temper but I was sure that there was none like her. She wasn’t strong physically, and so she used her charms and powers in the kingdom to look for those capable of training me. I had almost memorized all the possible powers I may face, from basic elements, to the quirkiest and most unexpected ones. I battle those capable in ice, to fire, to robots, and many more. It was all because of her.

Her backstory, with her killing her best friend, for the sake of having a seat in the kingdom, did not make her image worse for me. If anything, I found her terribly determined, but only with her moral compass getting out of the way sometimes.

If I was a princess too, and if I was always overshadowed by my twin sister, I would’ve done the same thing, but not in the same way. Killing was too much, even for someone raised through crimes like myself. There must’ve been something deeper behind the action, and I was sure that it was most likely justified.

But seeing how she thrived here made me like her more. She told me that the place used to have only one storey, and was mostly abandoned by the queendom, who mostly favored war equipment and weapons. She used her knowledge and wit to build a castle of her own, which stemmed into other forms that later gave birth to two of the most vital parts of the queendom: the alchemist and the Illuminae.

The Illuminae, she had explained, used to be a group of scholars that frequented in her library and filled most of the books in it. Later on, with the help of the place, they managed to be a strong organization that became the queen’s right hand, often giving advices on rulings and court meetings.

But for all she had done, there was still something mysterious about her. Queen Ida of the Storms, her twin, was the first victim of the Queen’s curse. And when The Divination was still being held, the Illuminae took the seat of the Queen first, with Faeric of the Gems, their leader, taking centerpiece.

But it would be a betrayal of interest if they were behind the queen’s curse. There was nothing that they can take from taking over the role of the queen, as the position is only to be held by one person, according to the natural laws. When the night shifted to stay only in our side of the world, the rules of the Creator made it possible for Bloodrose to only be ruled by one woman and Gaia to be ruled by one man.

If the Illuminae planned to do anything of such sorts, then they will not have any benefit in doing so. Plus, they wouldn’t have needed to perform the Divination anymore if they didn’t need a queen.

But for all the troubles, it seems that my knowledge was still little to be able to know anything clearly.

I put my thoughts beside and decide to step out of the shower. There will be more time to think in the actual Divination.

It was now time to put in the dress.

Stepping inside my room after I put on my undergarments, I saw Rosemary sitting by the side of my queen sized bed, looking like a calm and sturdy guardian. She was also to present herself for today, and she was definitely prepared.

Her age wasn’t evident in the least, given the waves of her auburn hair which was now adorned with black metallic figures that signified ravens. It was held by a long chain of silver, as if it was a curtain with huge gaps in between each strand. Her face was a mask of both coldness and knowledge, in theme with the new part of my name: Of The Raven.

She was wearing a simple black gown that gave emphasis to her curves, with long sleeves that were adorned with intricate weaves that resembled ravens. Her left shoulder had a cloth that resembled a raven attached to it, with its eyes red and sparkly. She looked like a queen herself, as if she was a candidate for the Divination.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” she teases me, a grin appearing in her mouth. She was back to being motherly, I guess, which was her best mood. She takes hold of some of the bedsheet and then rises up to meet me. She walks with a calculated grace. Her hands rested on top of my shoulders, giving me a sense of warmth I had barely experienced before.

“I am proud of you,” she says, her eyes glinting with a friendly glow. I couldn’t help but smile at her, for how much she had helped me. It was true that I suffered from hell and back these past few weeks, but it was a pain that made me feel that I was doing something. The pain that reminded me that I was valuable, and that I was worthy to hold the black gem’s power.

“Thank you,” I told her. It was one of the most honest things I have said. A pure sentence out of a mouth of lies and deception. It gave me tingles, for I rarely said anything like it. But it was justified, not enough, even.

“It feels good to have somebody like you, helping me and training me,” I say, as she leads me to a large hanger rack which was covered by a black cloth. It was the dress I was going to wear and flaunt around in the streets.

“The pleasure is mine, of course, except for the snooping part, that is,” she says with a laugh.

I laughed back in reply. “It feels good to have a friend by my side,” I say, with a bitter tone. I realized that for all the years I had with Eman back in Silverfang, I was making myself a fool. I was alone, and yet, I chose to hang on to whatever foolish faith I have. Of love. Of connection. Of something deeper than stealing and living off to what I can for the meantime. This was a friendship I have never felt before, and I will surely value it.

“You are a friend of mine. A daughter, even,” she says proudly. She wasn’t exactly a full mother-type of friend, for she frequently went through the boundaries of that and being an unemotional trainer. Perhaps to give me focus on what I needed to do.

“Are you ready to see it?” she asks me as she takes one step further. She holds the black cloth covering the gown, making my heart pound faster in anticipation.

“Seeing this gown is more than just seeing your parade clothing.It’s a brand of your courage and bravery. It’s a symbol of your willingness to show off your abilities, and be crowned victor at the end,” she says, her voice a lullaby that soothed my heart.

“And to lead the Bloodrose,” I added. Her eyebrows raised at this.

“I have plans for you,” she says quietly instead.

I wasn’t going to dig deep any further, for the anticipation was making my skin shiver already. She takes the cloth firmly in her hand, and gives me one final smile as she finally uncovers the gown.

The gown. It was marvelous thing of beauty.

As soon as she lifted the covers, my breathing staggered as my eyes widened in surprise.

The upper torso was embroidered with a thin and loose black cloth, to give attention to the cleavage and to the skin above. The lower part though, defined the gown itself. It was a very long tapestry of black feathers, each of them neatly arranged to have ghastly but grand feeling. The lower part spread out before me widely, the front part almost reaching my side when it fully unraveled.

The back side was adorned with a huge quill that rose beyond the left shoulder, a wonderful accessory that bloomed along with the cool vibe of the gown. It was deathly and gloomy, but it was beautiful and majestic at the same time. I took it all in one stare, preparing myself for such a delightful gown.

“It came from the best tailor I know. She was stingy though, for I made her do it in the span of three weeks, including this,” Rosemary says, gesturing to her equally-beautiful gown.

I breathed hard and bit my lip. Rosemary replied with a knowing look, pride flaring in her eyes. This gown was perfect, in every way possible.

She raised her left eyebrow and put on a confident smirk.

“The gown won’t dress you itself,” she reminded teasingly.

I take small, careful steps towards it. As I felt its smooth and detailed cloth, I thought about the weight of it. The price that it took for me to be dressed in it. I remembered the Divination, the trials that went along with it.

But I was ready, readying for anything in my path.

Rosemary slowly took the gown from the hanger, taking hold of the lower part in her other hand. She takes one last look at it, her head angling to the right, and gives it to me.

“This dress came from Aquamearn. The tailor’s name was Lola.”

She hands me the dress. I took care of it as if it was a baby. It felt heavy in my hands.

“She told me that she poured quite some passion in this dress, hoping that finally, a worthy queen will be able to take the throne,” she says. She looks at me as I began to untie that laces at the back of the dress.

“You know, up to this date, I still have no regrets in killing Duncess. Vision was her power, to see things far more clearly than most of us. And that didn’t only limit itself to colors and shapes,” she says, her smooth fingers, devoid of any rough work, helped me continue untying.

“She also saw emotions. She knew when people lied, when people were interested. She read the soul of the people she saw,” she says.

To that, I asked, “And she did not see your intentions?”

She stops untying my lace as a bitter emotion passed through her face. It quickly passed though, with her remaining her usual composure.

“I-I….I used that to my advantage,” Rosemary says, her voice quavering. She continues her job.

“Hmm?” I asked in reply.

She clicks her tongue in annoyance.

“Forceful girl,” she says, giving the knots a strong pull.

“I-I used her power to make her…believe. To make her see me as someone else,” she says.

“You used your power too…” I say, my voice drifting as I realized what she did.

“She was in favor of females too, as romantic companions. And so I made her believe I was a candidate, a willing nychta that returned her attraction that I’ve long seen before. I was a princess, after all, and I was expected to be charming and attractive and loveable. Everyone did, but hers was an attraction that was so obvious. Obvious enough that I used it against her,” she says.

Used her. Manipulated her. That was what she did to hold her current position.

“It wasn’t all an illusion anyways. In some of the days I spent in the library, there was a genuine attraction to us, not only an illusion of some sorts,” she said, to give her some space for respect.

I recalled how I had snooped around in her room.

It was one of the nights after practice, with Rosemary calling a particularly cranky old man who was named Bern. He called for the power of the sun, giving off heat in particularly strong and concentrated beams, which he gleefully faced against me. Wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t the best too.

I had a plan that day, for I barely trusted anybody until now. Sure, Rosemary, was one to be trusted, but I still had to have an advantage. In case I ever faced such a situation.

And so I went to the chamber in the uppermost part of the library. After a dizzying walk above the winding stairs that led to the top floor, with my breaths already coming in staggered because of how I was drained from the practice, I had made it there. Conjuring a small ball of light that came from my unknown arsenal of talents, I sneaked up to her room, where she was peacefully slumbering.

It was grand and incredibly furnished, with lots of wood and royal ornaments used for design and for aesthetic appeal. She was the queen of the library, even if she wasn’t the queen of the queendom, and so she tried to make the best out of it. Maybe she would’ve turned the horrific image of the Red Palace to a better one if she was seated in it.

I knew that her power was knowledge, but physically, she was quite limited.

I made the best out of that night, being able to read a diary beside her bedstand, look at various trinkets and personal materials that may contain any sign of information about her. That was when I discovered about her being the princess back then, how she had a twin sister, Ida, who became the queen later on.

Weirdly enough, the only part of her that didn’t have an evidence in her belongings was the Illuminae. Not that she spent many of her hours in interaction with them, anyways. She built the organization, but I didn’t think she liked to be near them, or to have anything to do with them. There must’ve been a part of the story that I still didn’t know, it seems.

“I found a couple of parchments in your diary too. Quite careless of you, might I say,” I teased her.

She gave a haughty laugh in return, her confident eyes flaring.

“I knew you would do it. Have seen enough of you to see what you were capable of,” she says, as she finally unties the final knot.

I took a breath. Readying myself to wear it.

“So you did it on purpose?” I say, as I finally put the gown on my body. Her silence was enough of an answer.

It was a different feeling, wearing it. It felt like a heavy medal, or a brand of some sorts. It defined me now, Machiavellian of the Raven. Of dark and limitless power. Of unseen capability and potential. They will finally see the girl who will be the next queen, even if that girl was unsure of it herself.

I held my chin high, trying to justify the power that came along with the clothes. I looked at the mirror, looked at my body as I tried to study the curves of the clothes, trying to find the highlights of how I should face the crowd.

“You look perfect,” was all she said. She looked at me as if I was a creature of beauty, as if I was a treasure worth keeping. I have never felt such pride within me, never in my life.

“And you will destroy them. Destroy them and take over the crown itself,” she continue.

To that, I clutched the hems of my gown tightly. Braved myself as I dared to ask, “if I wasn’t a creature of this gem and if I was still a thief back in Silverfang… would you still find me? Would you still treat me the same?” I asked. It was a foolish question, I know. It put Rosemary into a bad light, as if she only used me for my powers. I wouldn’t judge her for it, for that practically explained everything as to why I was here.

She thought for a minute, her eyes staring at mine. And then smiled. Smiled that warm and effervescent smile of hers, full of love and pride and a motherly sense. She smiled and said, “No. But it is not me who will save you. It is true that your powers make you fit to be a queen, but your soul, that is what made me choose you.”

My eyes watered as silver drops of tears ran through to my cheeks. My lips started to quaver, a sensation running in the back of my throat. It was tears for all the hardships I went through, for everything I had to put up to reach for where I was now. It was true that I had no family, only one friend to look back to. But I think that that was the thing that saddened me the most. The void of any emotions. It was as if I was destined to live and die alone. And so that gave me such a force that willed me to survive. Maybe it was the hardships I faced, but never did I once attempt to end it all. I stole, I begged, I ran for my survival.

“When I saw you fighting hard against Jurian, I knew that there was something in you I haven’t seen ever. Not even in myself. The grit… the determination,” she says, as she pats my head to comfort me, her fingers going through circles with my black hair.

“Hair as dark as the night, powers as abundant as the Bloodrose, and a soul as solid as steel. Describing you is poetry to my ears,” she adds.

“There is no point in thinking about what would happen if the gem didn’t choose you. There is no point to belittling yourself, when I’m sure you’ll be able to do something great anyways without my aid, or the gem’s,”

I listened to every word of her, nurturing my weary soul within. I looked up at her, her aged but beautiful features looking at me. I hugged her in reply, emotions waving off through me. I have never experienced such love, such warmth. And here she was, giving everything I had missed through that sixteen years. I didn’t know that my love for books was also to be shared by someone I will now see as a mother. A guardian. A savior.