A Wallflower (Kingdom of Anthos)

Chapter 1: Camellia

…and I woke up, inhaling a deep breath a bit painful as if my lungs have stopped breathing, beating heart slow to faster than normal, as if suddenly realizing it has to beat.

Inhale…Exhale…Inhale…Exhale

Trying to open my eyes…dry eyes and dried tears gluing it shut I think…

As I opened my eyes slowly. I can only see darkness. But my brain supplied it as darkness of night time.

I can feel myself lying in a bed, so soft as if I am atop of clouds or feathers cocooned with a soft blanket. Despite the comfortable bed, I feel clammy and wanted to remove the blankets, but my body feels too tired, my limbs numbed and I can feel an incoming dizziness, lightheaded and as if sleep is luring me back, inviting me back… to close my eyes and relax.

I accepted that invitation, my body did not give me a choice and accepted it wholeheartedly wanting to rest and heal even if my mind is awake. Closing my eyes, I fell to slumber but a tug on my sense woke my mind, opening my eyes I realized that I have gone back to the eternal darkness, an abyss of nothing but black, no longer bound to a feeling of having a body as if I am a soul floating to nothing. A scary notion but I cannot feel scared nor can feel anything at all. An impossible feat, a feeling of dreaming and not at the same time. An out of body experience perhaps? Weird. Even how I compose my thoughts here are weird.

A few seconds or was it minutes, time cannot be sensed here anyway…soft glows of lights appeared…falling like snow…falling from nothing to nothing. No limitation. With nothing to do and a newfound braveness I looked at the soft glows, willing them to come near me. Taking a look, I realized that they are images, small clips akin to a commercial on the TV or a trailer of a movie. Images of someone else life…memories. Ignoring my rational mind, I touched one with my consciousness and I was immediately pulled into the memories, watching in like a TV program as if I was there but in a very fast forward motion. I shouldn’t be able to understand but I did. Weird.

What I was seeing were memories of a young lady named Camellia. Camellia Lilian of Strelitzia, A beautiful young redhead with a startling amethyst colored eyes. She is the daughter of the Grand Duke Strelitzia of Anthos. Officially called as The Young Lady Camellia heiress of Strelitzia but mostly known as Lady Camellia of Strelitzia. Anthos is a big kingdom under an even bigger empire in a sort of mixture of Victorian Era and the Middle Ages, which I never heard of. Grated I don’t know my history but I think and am convinced this is a different world entirely. A world both old and modern where a bit of basic electricity and plumbing exist but no telephone nor automobile. Weird, but not really surprising because this is not the most bizarre thing that is happening to me right now.

This Camellia is the second child and only daughter, raised in both strict and loving family. Taught about etiquette, music, art and everything one would expect from nobility. Raised in an environment that every girl who believe in fairy tales would dream of. But despite being a noble she was kind to commoners always trying to see the world with her own eyes and view; all her servants love her. She see them as equals, but despite this she is very naïve to the under workings of the world. She still see the world in rose tinted glasses. Fault not because of her but because of different people trying to shield her.

Naivety is not limited to the under workings of the world but also on how to deal with the opposite s*x not her family and servants. Camellia grew up with very few friends and thus use her time in reading numerous literary arts. To her romance is how the poets describe it in their works, she believe it in literal sense. Believing that a time will come when a man will sweep her off her feet and proclaim his undying love of her in flowery words and such at first dance and first glance.

The fairy tale view did happen in a sense just without the proclamation and flowery part. As a child of nobility a young woman in a semi-patriarchal world, she was expected to marry a noble or a royalty, she being technically royalty herself, a pureblood noble lady. Camellia became the fiancé of the kingdom’s first prince, His Royal Highness Prince Lark; son of His Majesty the King of Anthos and his concubine. It all started with a dance and a gentleman’s assistance.

Prince Lark with his hair of topaz blonde and mesmerizing cerulean blue eyes. She had fallen for the prince that one night, quoting every romantic poem to describe it, badgering her older brother for any information and had done everything that is possible and appropriate to be his fiancé. Granted she really did not have to do much she is the daughter of the only Grand Duke, the only thing she really need to do is convince her Father. Despite the possible political repercussions of such possible union, the Grand Duke agreed. She was happy, and people can see that Prince Lark was smitten with her, a bit reserve but he does care. She was content and happy until the time came that she entered the Royal Academy of Anthos.

The Royal Academy located at the Royal Circle of the Royal Capital is the most prestigious secondary school of the kingdom. It only accepts students of noble status, commoners of really high standing [known merchants and the like] and commoners of special cases [ward of a noble and scholars of the Royal Family]. The Royal Academy is somewhat like a boarding school in the modern world, where the students are expected to attend starting by the age of sixteen and graduating by the age of eighteen and in a span of that year will be their coming of age ceremony. But the coming of age ceremony still depends on the Noble Family. Classes include the core class of Language, Mathematics and Science, but also including the Governance, Business, Etiquette and Healing. And many extracurricular studies and specialization to hone the students skills. But the most important is that the Royal Academy is where one are expected to build their own network, to make a name for themselves or improve their families’ social standing. To court different Heirs and other nobles to be their allies, a business partner and to look for possible engagement that will bring good reputation to the family and for continuing their line. Nobility and politics really go side by side…including what we call dirty politics.

Going back with Camellia. When the ninth month of the year started Camellia on her sixteenth year entered the Royal Academy. She was really excited for a new experience oand of course to be with her Prince Lark. His Royal Highness Prince Lark is a year older than her and in the same year of schooling with her older brother Jarred. Both are in their second year of schooling.

But the expectation of smiles and happiness and love was replaced by sadness, anger and jealousy, a whirlwind of emotions that is a first for her. Camellia is a very kind and understanding young lady but for some unexplained reason she have hated one young lady at first glance. Lady Althea of Leonis Ora as what she was officially known. She is a daughter but not an heiress of Viscount Leonis Ora. All sons and daughter of nobility are called heirs and heiress but only the one who will officially inherit the family title is called The Heir or Heiress. Lady Althea is a beautiful young lady with caramel brown shoulder length hair and big round olive colored eyes, a “beauty of innocence” to quote her brother. She is a beautiful gentle young lady and when she blush and cast her eyes down, it tempted you to protect her. The briefest appearance of her sweet smile shot arrows through the heart of guys who love the innocent type.

For Camellia, Lady Althea is nothing but an airhead who throws etiquette and clings to young men of higher status in the society, jealousy at its finest but she is not exactly wrong. Jealousy, why? Because Lady Althea have taken Prince Lark’s attention. She is in the same year as Prince Lark and her brother and their friends/allies. She was always with them. Even if Camellia tries to approach them, befriend them or hang out with them, she was always cast aside and as such unable to stay longer. Even if she was there, Prince Lark will not talk to her, only with Althea. His attention is only for Althea, and it hurt Camellia very much. Watching them interact wondering why Prince Lark does not look at her like how he looks at Lady Althea. She even asked her brother Jarred, but was only spurned away saying Lady Althea is kind and amazing and she should try to befriend her and stop being prideful. Even her sweet brother Jarred have changed because of Lady Althea.

Without really meaning to love and jealousy blinded her. She might have started to snub Lady Althea whenever they meet or when she greeted her; which is technically allowed in etiquette since Camellia is of higher standing. Started rumors about her and subtly bad mouth her to other students. Other students does not really need further convincing specially other young ladies. Most of them have also hated Lady Althea at first sight. One simple rumor have escalated to a bigger and worse rumors. Lady Althea have been known behind her back as a gold digging lady who is enticing and forming of her own harem of young men of higher status and can’t wait to sink her claws to the Prince.

Every memory is a whirlwind in a really fast forward motion except for one. An afternoon on the fifth day of the week, Lady Althea have invited Camellia for an afternoon tea. Camellia was skeptical at first because they are not close and she made it clear she does not like her one bit, but she accepted against her rational mind. Lady Althea talked about things that are not really connected to anything, a topic of no substance. With a growing annoyance, Camellia used this opportunity o tell her off. That Lady Althea should distance with her Prince Lark that she should respect that Camellia is his fiancé. Lady Althea could flirt with other young men even with her brother Jarred, but not with her Prince Lark. She can take anyone but Prince Lark. But Lady Althea only smiles, smiled and smiled at her. Not bothering to give her a reply and only offered tea. Camellia accepted the tea and looked at Lady Althea with determined eyes still waiting for her reply, but she changed the subject and talked like she never heard Camellia’s request. Looking at her, her face, her gesture and catching that minuscule smirk that appeared for a second, Camellia realized something. Insulted and trying to calm her anger and keep her tears at bay, Camellia decided to leave. Setting down her tea cup and standing with much dignity looked at Lady Althea looked down at her and said “For such an innocent face you are a shrew of a woman. I might have judged you based on jealousy but I didn’t realize that it was really true. A snake in a sheep’s clothing”. Upon seeing Lady Althea’s widening of eyes for a split second, Camellia felt a bit of satisfaction. She left without looking back and vowed that she will do something about Lady Althea even if it means asking for help from her parents.

Going back to her room in the dormitory, Camellia stayed there distracting herself with reading and trying to calm her heart, not talking to anyone and only leaving for the dinner time. When dinner time arrived, she left for the great hall and was greeted by her acquaintances. When the door of the hall opened again and there it came Prince Lark with Lady Althea at her arm and their court following behind, walking to a vacant table without even bothering to look or greet her. And there she saw it again, those looks full of love only for Lady Althea. It broke her heart, and made her realize that even if Lady Althea disappeared or avoided Prince Lark, by that look he gave her, he will probably still look for her. Camellia will never have his heart in full. And thus the fairy tale romance was broken. Not finishing her dinner, she excused herself and left for an early night. A night full of tears and frustration that left her light-headed and feeling of unable to breath evenly, her body shutting down telling her to just sleep it all away. And as the time pass by, I watch Camellia die alone and heart broken.

I have loved him with all my heart…

That voice again…Camellia?

I have decided to let him go…but…

But you can’t anymore…

I’m sorry…

Why are you sorry?

But I am still thankful for granting my wish…

What?

I am happy to see you again sister…Good Bye

Wait!

Everything turned black again and I can feel my body waking up and I can’t wait to wake up and find answers. Is this real? Who are you Camellia? Are you a dream or a figment of my imagination? Whatever it is that you said that I agreed to, I want to know!

I can already guess that I have been hit by a car and probably in coma. If I am still alive anyways. I felt the air shift and a pull on my senses, I can feel myself waking up. Looks like I am alive after all, but do brains come up with imaginative worlds when in deep sleep or coma? Time to finds out.

Wake up Me! Wake up Azalea!