The Legend of Callistana

Chapter II

The sun has not risen yet but Callistana was already awake, just like the servants. She fixed her own bed, folded the comforter that she used and she made sure that the pillows were properly arranged. Using her soft and delicate palm, she straightened all the wrinkled part of her bed to make sure that everything was perfectly set.

Everything needs to be perfect because her teacher, Ali, would check it later once he visits her room. There would be a consequence, or even a punishment once he noticed even a small imperfection. Ali is very strict and he wants to see that everything that she does would be perfect because all of it is her practice to serve the next king.

But since she has been doing all of these since had her consciousness and until now that she is already twenty years old, she can be considered an expert in doing it. She always passed the test once Ali checked it.

She started to do her everyday routine. Callistana cleaned herself and she was excited because today, she was allowed to take a bath all by herself. She doesn't do that regularly because three times a week, she had to be bathed by her servants to make sure that her body was properly cleaned. That thing was ordered by the Emperor because he didn't want her to have any skin problem that is why, she considers it a privilege when she's allowed to be alone in bathe.

She is also going to fix herself alone. She will be the one to pick her dress and shoes, and also to brush and style her hair.

She stared at her own reflection in the mirror. Like she was always told to, she smiled. It was a perfect and sweet smile that anyone who sees it will feel their heart flutter. But her smile slowly faded. She silently sighed and closed her eyes.

"I am tired of this kind of life even if I try to be grateful for what I have," she murmured to herself.

She inhaled sharply then opened her eyes. Callistana forced herself to smile again then she filled herself with more strength and patience.

Anyone who will be in her place could get tired of the kind of life that she has. There is no freedom, even just an ounce of it. Everything is controlled, even the smallest detail of her life. She can't even decide for herself. And as far as she can remember, it has always been like that. Callistana receives abusive remarks and statements from her male teachers since she was a child.

She never had a female teacher because in that world, women are considered worthless and treated lowly. They were only there to be slaves to men, born to serve them. They should never have any connection to the things that would be considered as something intellectual and smart. They were never for that thing.

That is why her, Callistana, who was being prepared as the Empress of the near future is illiterate. She doesn't know how to read and write, even the basics. All of her lessons were just about discipline and how to serve the future Emperor that she will marry. She's being taught how to be a slave.

She walked out of her room then went to the kitchen so she could watch the servants cook. As the next Empress, there would be a time that she has to cook for the Emperor and their whole family that is why she also needs to learn about it.

"You have to sauté it really well in order for you to bring out the exquisite taste and flavor of the dish. It does the magic..." Beatriz explained to her while showing her how to do it.

Callistana nodded while watching attentively. "By just looking at it, I am sure that it is delicious. My teachers are lucky to eat such foods," she said then looked at the servant with a curious expression. "Beatriz, what is the taste of a beef? I am curious if it is really that delicious... As well as the chicken and pork. Do you know how they taste?"

The servant smiled at her gently then nodded. "Fortunately, I was able to taste different kinds of meat even just a small amount and I can say that it is really delicious. My favorite is the beef especially if it was properly cooked with the right amount of time and heat. Once you put it in your mouth, it feels like it just melts. It is heavenly and really delicious, my Lady!"

Callistana's lips parted as she listened to Beatriz description of the beef. She swallowed hard. Ever since, she has never eaten any meat. It was not on her approved diet. She eats food that will maintain her perfect figure, avoiding food that could make her fat according to her nutritionist that was assigned by the emperor. Fruits and vegetables are her daily intakes and sometimes, fish and other seafood.

She sighed dreamily. "I hope I could also eat those," she mumbled.

Beatriz stopped on what she was doing then she quickly looked around, glancing at the other servants. Then she stepped closer to Callistana after making sure that no one was listening to them.

"Do you want to taste it now?" she whispered to her Lady.

Callistana's eyes widened and she was about to nod in excitement but she froze when she remembered something. Her expression became sad but she forced a smile to Beatriz.

"No, Beatriz. I shouldn't. My teachers might know it if I try to taste one. I don't want to put you in danger just because of that. It is not worth it..."

The servant's forehead creased. "Are you sure, my Lady? We can do something about it to make sure that they won't know about it. You can just brush your teeth immediately right after I let you taste even a small portion of the beef."

Callistana heaved a sigh. She really wants to try it especially since she can smell the tasty dish that Beatriz was cooking but she doesn't want to risk it. If they get caught, she will not be hurt by her teachers because her skin was not allowed to have any marks or bruises. Her punishment would be her, locked in a room full of worms. The worms won't do anything that could harm her physically but mentally and emotionally, they could destroy her because worms are one of her greatest fears. Beatriz would also be punished and surely, it could be a merciless one.

"I don't like to try it, Beatriz. Thank you," she firmly said then smiled. "I have to leave the kitchen right now because the smell is really inviting. I might lose my self control," she added then chuckled softly.

She bid her goodbye to the people in the kitchen before walking away. Callistana then went to the living area and sat on one of the sofas. She stared on the window and focused on the view. The sun was slowly rising, it was starting to light up the surrounding that was dark just a while ago.

Callistana blinked twice when she noticed something. There was a small part in the giant window that was broken. It was a thick glass window that is why she can't believe that is has a broken part now. She stood and slowly walked towards it. She was being drawned by it especially now that the sun was shining brightly. She put her hand near the broken part. Her lips parted when she felt something.

"It is warm just like when I go near the fireplace..." she uttered in awe. Her eyes widened then she looked at the bright view outside. "Is that warm feeling from the sun?"

Callistana was so amazed by her small discovery. It was new to her. She then noticed a butterfly on the outside, flying around. Then it went near the broken part of the window. Unconsciously, she put her fingers through that broken part. She gasped in amazement when she felt the warmth from the sun even more. It was really cold inside the palace-like place that she was staying in that is why the warmth from the outside was surprising her.

She smiled genuinely. "It is the first time that... I felt the sunshine," she murmured. "It feels so good," she added. Her heart was jumping in so much joy.

She gasped then giggled when the butterfly outside rested on her fingers.

Callistana was about to touch it using her thumb when a baritone voice called her. It was loud and scary that even the butterfly flew away in fear.

Kinagat niya ang labi at napahagikhik nang dumapo sa kaniyang daliri ang paru-paro.

"Callistana!" The voice was like thunder in the middle of a stormy sky when it called her.

Her eyes widened and she immediately removed her fingers from the broken part of the window. Even she did it quickly, she made sure that it was careful because she's not allowed to have any wounds. If she get wounded, the servants would be punished.

She faced the man who called her then she hid her hands behind her back. She covered the broken part of the window with her body.

"S-sir Ali," she acknowledged him with a shaky voice. Obviously, she was shocked and frightened.

Ali looked at her with clenched jaw then walked towards her. He pulled her aside when he noticed that she was hiding something. Then he immediately noticed the broken window. Her teacher faced her with a suspicious expression.

"What did you do?" he asked with so much authority.

Callistana shook her head. "I just saw the broken window and I just looked at it," she answered with her natural soft voice.

Ali can feel her fear. He touched her chin na pushed it up so he can look at her eyes. Their eyes met for while but then he felt like he was being hypnotized by her eyes. He immediately stepped forward and looked away from her.

"Tell me, did you put your hands out of the window?" Ali asked her after he composed himself.

Callistana blinked profusely, feeling scared. Her lips quivered a bit. "S-sir Ali..." she stuttered.

He squinted his eyes on her then he glanced at her hands.

"Let me see your hands!" His voice echoed.

She bowed her head down in fear. "I—I apologize, Sir—"

"I said, let me see your hands, Callistana!" he shouted that made her flinch on her spot.

She swallowed hard as the fear embraced her tighter. She slowly showed her hands to her strict teacher. Callistana looked at her own hand and noticed that the part that she put out the window is a bit red and it was noticeable. She almost shook in fear when she saw that Ali saw it. She closed her eyes tightly when she realized that she is going to be punished today.

"How many times did we have to tell you that you are not allowed to get under the sun, even just a small part of your body!" Ali shouted after he examined her hands. "You went against the order of the Emperor and you shall be punished. You are going to be locked in your punishment room for three days and you are not allowed to eat anything."

Calistana was frightened after she heard that. She really hates that punishment. It punishes her soul!

"Sir Ali!" A woman's voice called the teacher.

Callistana opened her eyes then glanced at Beatriz who was behind her. The servant glanced at her before bowing her head.

"I apologize for interfering but I just want to tell you the truth. Lady Callistana didn't out her hand out of the window. What you saw on her skin was just the reaction from the heat when I let her stir on the pot where I was cooking. It's not from the sun. I deeply apologize for it. I didn't expect that her skin would react after that. I am really sorry."

Her eyes widened after she heard the made up story of Beatriz. That is not true. Beatriz would never let her do that. The servant is just covering her up so she could avoid the nerve wrecking punishment.

Callistana was about to speak but Sir Ali began to shout.

"You, i***t! You didn't even let her wear a protection? You, women, never really think. Do you even use your brain even just once? Useless!" The teacher uttered those insults angrily.

Callistana wanted to tell the truth but Beatriz shook her head at her secretly.

"And you, Callistana? You clearly know that you should never let your skin be exposed in just any temperature. You're careless. You don't think!"

Callistana can't speak. She is confused what to do. She is so scared of what might happen next.

"I am so sorry, Sir. This won't happen again..." Beatriz pleaded.

"Ha!" Ali laughed for a bit then looked at the both of them. "That won't really happen again because I will make sure that you won't forget this. You, servant! You are going to receive thirty five whipping on your back. And you, Callistana! You are going to watch all of it. Stay here and wait for me for the punishment!" he ordered before he turned his back to the two of them.

Tears clouded Callistana's eyes. She faced Beatriz then reached for her hand.

"Why did you do that? Why did you cover up my mistake?" She shook her head. "I won't let this happen. I will tell the truth to Sir Ali once he's back. I can accept that punishment. I can do that, I will be able to take it. I don't want you to get whipped because of me!" Her tears fell from her eyes.

Beatriz smiled at her while her expression remained the same. It showed strength and determination. "Let me do this. It is done. I have already lied. Even if you say the truth, I will still get punished because I lied. So I'd rather be punished alone than the two of us," she gently said. She was assuring her Lady.

Callistana shook her head and cried even more. "But Beatriz, you are going to get hurt! I can't watch you receive those lashes especially it's because of me!"

She gently caressed Callistana's face and smiled. "I am strong, my Lady. Don't worry. I can do it," she assured her. She knew that her Lady would be calm down everytime she's being gently caressed in her head so she kept on doing that. "Did you like feeling the warmth of the sun, my Lady? It feels so good, right? Your dream since you were a child finally came true. You've finally felt the sunshine. I am happy for you."

Callistana cried harder because of sadness and guilt then hugged the servant. "I am so sorry, Beatriz. I won't do that anymore. I won't do anything bad again. I apologize."

Beatriz hugged her back. "What you did is not bad, my Lady. Don't worry. Please stop crying..."

CALLISTANA was forced to watch Beatriz get whipped on her back. She was seating in front of her. Ali did that so she would see every pain on Beatriz expression. In every whip, Callistana was crying. She can't help but to close her eyes as she watches her dear friend get punished because of her.

And Beatriz on the other hand tried her best not to show any pain that she's experiencing to Callistana but she can't. It was excruciating. Every whip was really painful and she couldn't help but to cry silently.

"You are not allowed to get whip, Callistana that is why she's the one who's getting punished for the two of you. Are you going to go against the Emperor's order again?" Her teacher Ali asked her after the punishment.

Callistana immediately shook her head while staring at Beatriz who already lost her consciousness.

"No, Sir Ali. I apologize again. I would never do anything against the Emperor's order ever again."

Ali smirked in satisfaction before signalling on one of the servants that was watching. He let all the servants watch the punishment so they would get scared and won't do anything wrong in the future.

"Come and get her. You can treat her wounds if you want or you can also just let her die," he said without feeling any remorse.

Callistana's eyes widened and she immediately went near Beatriz while her eyes were begging for help from the other servants.

As soon as Ali left, the servants immediately went to Beatriz and brought her to their sleeping quarter. Callistana followed them and stood at the corner as she watched them treat Beatriz. They cleaned her wounds before treating it. Beatriz was lying on her stomach naked, her back was full of wounds that were long and deep.

"I hope this served as a lesson to you, Callistana! Don't put us in danger just because you won't get hurt by them!" One of the servants said to her while glaring at her.

"Nari, be careful with your words. Address her properly, call her my Lady," said by the other one who was busy treating the wounds on the back of Beatriz.

"Why would I? In this world, we are all the same and equal. Callistana is also going to be a slave of the emperor. No one is higher than any of us. No one is special. Their treatment is just getting worse and worse but no one is better!"

Callistana bowed her head down, hear heart was full of regret. "I apologize to all of you. I am really sorry," she uttered sincerely.

"You don't have to do anything! You only need to study how to serve the next Emperor. We all do the hard work here so why would you do something like that? You are endangering our lives!" Nari said.

She closed her eyes tightly as she accepted those words because those are true. She really risked the life of Beatriz. She was selfish.

After the wounds were treated, the servants left the sleeping quarters and went back to their own works. Callistana then went closer to the bed where Beatriz was lying. She silently cried as she watched her dear friend who was still unconscious. She had to experience that painful punishment because of her.

"I am really sorry, Beatriz..." she whispered in between her sobs.

Why is she even forbidden to be under the sun? That is just one of the hundreds of strict order of Emperor Remenov as the standard of her way of living. Callistana's life is being controlled by the emperor that she has never seen yet, not even once.

"M-my Lady... please stop crying..." Beatriz weakly said. She's slowly regaining her consciousness.

Callistana immediately stood then went even closer to Beatriz. She kneeled on the ground to level her face to her friend. She stared at her intently.

"How are you feeling, Beatriz?" she asked with a shaky voice.

Beatriz's eyes were still close but a faint smile curved in her place lips. "I am feeling good, my L-lady. N-nothing to worry about."

Callistana hugged her friend through her nape. She put her face on her friends face.

"I'm really sorry, Beatriz. That would never happen again. I'd rather have not any of my dreams come true just so you won't be hurt again. I will be content to your stories about the things I am curious about." She hugged her tightly but also carefully not to touch her wounds on her back. "It will be content to your stories. When you told me how grasses feel like, I almost felt it too. There are grasses that could cut you, but there are also grasses that's soft and ticklish. You are so good in story telling, Beatriz and that is more than enough," Callistana said to Beatriz.

She was convincing her friend that her dreams to experience things are not important anymore and she's convincing herself, too.

"N-no... No, my L-lady. Don't stop dreaming because one day, all of that will come true. You will be able to run under the rain, play on the snow, catch butterflies, feel the sunshine with your whole body... and more. All of your dreams will come true. I will do e-everything to make all of that your reality, not just a dream."

Callistana shook her head. In her mind, she has to be more submissive to make sure that her dear friend and other servants would stay safe.

But Beatriz was also firm in what she wanted for Callistana.

"I promise you that. I am going to sacrifice my life just for you to experience all of that, my Lady."