Transition: Battle Against Fate

Chapter 4- Were you whipped again?

Freya slowly turned around.

"Your highness?"

"I shall not say one thing twice" she said and laid back on the bed, flipping through pages of the book she read.

"But your highness, there could be glass shards in it" she said, astounded.

"Are you objecting?" Irene asked without taking her eyes off the book.

"I dare not!" She said quickly and proceeded to lick up the spilled tea on the floor. So many glass shards kept wounding her tongue but she didn't stop no matter how painful it was. She didn't have the guts to stop and incur the wrath of Consort Irene.

"Your highness, the horse whips are here" Susan announced with a smirk and Irene smiled, rising from the bed. She took the whips in her hands, studying them.

"They look good. You always go for the best, don't you?" She asked softly as Susan giggled.

"Strip her of her clothes till she's just in her underthings!" Irene ordered harshly and some maids came in. They stripped her and left her just the way Irene requested.

"Let's see how beautiful you'd be after adding a few more scars to that body of yours!" Irene growled out and lashed at Freya with all her energy. After about twenty minutes, Freya lay almost unconscious.

"Don't think of passing out because I'm not done yet. You must pay for the humiliation I went through today" she said and continued whipping. When it became obvious that she couldn't take any more beating, Irene stopped.

"Get some pepper powder and pour it over the wounds!" Irene said harshly and Susan bowed.

"Yes!" Few minutes later she was back. She poured the pepper on Freya's back instantly waking her up from unconsciousness with a painful yell

"Good. Now Freya I want you to know that this is far from over. I'll definitely get revenge, mark my words" she said and looked at Susan. "Get someone to throw this pathetic dog outside. I don't want to see this wench!" She ordered with a hiss

"Yes!" She said and clapped her hands lightly. Maids and guards quickly came in.

"Send her out!" She ordered and they bowed

"Yes ma'am Susan" they said and dragged Freya outside who couldn't walk easily. They threw her out on the floor in front of Consort Irene's Chambers.

★ ★. ★

Dawn hid the whistle in her waistband and continued her journey to the garden. As she approached the garden, she saw her mother coming from the opposite direction.

"You're back so early?" Freya asked with a fake smile

"I should have been here thirty minutes ago. Changing the flowers brought along a lot of unforseen drama. Are you okay, mother?" She asked with a curious gaze as she set down her pot

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" She replied, arranging the flowers in the pink pot and balancing it in her arms

"You changed your hairstyle?" Dawn asked as she noticed how her mother's hair which was left to cascade down her back was now tied up safe for the fringe and a little side parting that covered her left cheek.

"Ah, yes I did. Isn't it pretty and more comfortable?" Freya asked with a chuckle

"It is. But you seem pale and I'm sure it's not the frequent trips that caused this. Is something wrong, mother?" She asked in worry and Freya chuckled

"Of course not. Why do you ask?"

" Because that expression on your face is a very terrible attempt of a smile. Mother, If you're unable to smile then don't force yourself to. Your acting doesn't can't deceive me anyway. You look like as if you're being bullied"

" I'm fine. Why don't you run along now, hmm? I promise to be quick as possible and come back to teach you embroidery including the new design I saw on Lady Cara's dress today. What do you say, huh?" She said cheerily. Then she noticed Dawn staring at her like she'd grown four heads

"Why that look?"

"Because you're always chirpy and defensive when you lie. Can you look me in the face and say you're okay, mother? If you can, then I'd believe you" She said with folded arms and a stubborn stance. Her mother tried to look her in the face but lost the ability to speak everytime she looks at Dawn's face

"Dawn" she said crestfallen " maybe if you didn't remind me so much of your father then it'd be easier to lie to your face" she said before turning around, heading to Consort Jewel's Chambers. Dawn's face fell as she felt agony seize her heart, squeezing it.

"Were you whipped again?" She asked, voice quiet and small. But Freya just went on her way without giving any reply. Taking the last pot in her hands, she ran to catch up with her mother

"What are you doing?"

"Don't worry, I'm not delivering the flowers. I'll just wait in front of the house so that you don't make this trip twice"

"Go back Dawn. Thanks but there's no need" she said, shooing her away

"You really love suffering, right?" She said and continued when she got no response. "Well, I also love suffering. I think it runs in our veins. What do you think?"

"I think you're the silliest child I've ever seen" she replied impassively and continued after a short pause

"What would you do about the guards?"

"Hide from them? Knock them out?"

"You better not be naughty!" She warned and Dawn giggled

"You can count on me, mother" she replied before scurrying off. As soon as her mother was out of sight, she stopped running.

"Just now, Mother looked so broken. I'm sure of it. Did they whip her again? Or did the Emperor force himself on her again?That had better not be the case " she vowed angrily before making her way to the mansion. She stood some distance away, watching the guards silently from her hideout.

"I guess I can wait here. Getting closer will only cause mother trouble" she murmured with a sigh as she settled on the grass, balancing the pot on her thighs carefully.

"Consort Pearl is surely going to be the next Empress. Have you heard the way court officials speak so highly of her?" A guard said as he passed by the place where Dawn hid. At the sound of their approaching footsteps, she quickly snapped out of her short kip

"To whoever it may concern! It's none of my business. What concerns me is my duty, food and bed" a second guard retorted

"Can you keep your voice down?" The first guard, Jerrison whispered sharply, looking around. "Anyone could be listening" he said and the second guard scoffed

"Whatever!" He snapped, tightening his hold on his sword

"Well I've got something more better to tell. You know that sexy slave, the one that changes palace flowers every morning?' he whispered excitedly, finally getting the attention of the second guard, Kenneth.

"The one that has a daughter? I think her name is Nora or is it Laura?" He asked thoughtfully

"Her name isn't important!" The first guard said with a nonchalant wave. "I saw her leave the Emperor's Chambers this morning."

"And what has that got to do with me or you? Can't you mind your duty and business? What does her leaving the Emperor's Chambers have to do with you? Everyone knows she's the Emperor's woman"

"Emperor's slut, you mean?" He asked with a scornful laugh. Dawn's fist tightened as she trembled in rage

"Her status is none of my business"

"Why are you so boring? Everytime duty, duty, duty! Don't you ever get tired of the word?" He retorted but got no response.

"Anyway, so I was telling you I saw her leave the Emperor's Chambers. She was looking so gloomy like as if she didn't enjoy it one bit. Yet her moans could put a cannon to shame! If she wasn't the Emperor's personal slut, I'd have made sure to have my way with her. Letting such good creation pass me by is not usually my style" he said dreamily, smacking his lips together. Dawn quietly stood up. She was about to make a move when her mother's warning echoed in her ears. With a defeated sigh, she slid down to the floor.

"You should have been a woman. Or maybe you're a woman trapped in a man's body. You gossip a lot! It's a pity that I'd have to endure your nonsense for the rest of this week. After my shift is over, I'll talk to General Anderson. I can't cope with you or your gossips. Please give me a break!" He hissed and walked away.

"So boring! I wonder if he's even a man. Imagine growing big abs and great muscles only for it all to go to waste. I mean, it won't hurt to have some fun, right?" He asked with a shrug, running up to meet his colleague. Dawn quietly stood up and crept out of her hideout, then going on all fours she crawled towards a pillar from where she could see her mother as she returned.

"Mother! Over here!" She whisper - yelled frantically to an absent minded Freya.

"Thank goodness you insisted on waiting. I'm so tired I doubt if I'll be able to make the trip back home." She said and took the flower pot carefully.

"Wait here and please avoid the guards"

"I will, mother" she replied in the affirmative as her mother made her way into the mansion.

"There she is!" The gossiping guard on duty whispered, nudging his colleague.

"Who!?"

"The sexy slave of course. Can you look at her now and say she isn't pretty?" Jerrison said with a knowing smirk

"I never said she isn't pretty. No, she's damn gorgeous. But her beauty is none of my business. Get it into your head that she's the Emperor's woman and stop fantasizing about her, period!" Kenneth retorted, averting his gaze

"And so what if she's the Emperor's woman? Is there a law somewhere that says soldiers aren't allowed to ogle pretty women? It's okay to fantasize, y'know"

"And it's okay to shut up as well. Whoever said you're a soldier anyway? You're just a guard. You know nothing about the blood spillage and m******e that happens on battle fields. You really flatter yourself, don't you?"

"And who's the knowledgeable one here? You?" Jerrison asked with a scoff. "You see, my friend. You're no better than me. No, you're not. You're just a palace guard like I am. Don't let your head grow too big or it'll fall off"

"I know my status and I acknowledge it. Infact I appreciate it because I love my job. Unlike some people who like to reach for clouds while on the floor. They'll never be satisfied or happy because they'll never get beyond their position. At the end, they can only watch and admire the clouds as they roll by."

"They'll never be satisfied or happy" . What is that supposed to mean? Is that a curse?"

"It is whatever you want it to be. If you'll please excuse me, I have work to do at North Wing. I wish you could just die, y'know. To save me unnecessary stress" Jerrison said and turned to leave

"And to save you from an early death, you might want to add. Get used to my pretty face because I don't plan on dying anytime soon. See you later love. I have work to do at West Hall" Jerrison said, blowing Kenneth a kiss as he frowned disapprovingly.

"In your next life you must come as a beetle. You're too much of a nuisance to be a human"

" Deal with it" Jerrison replied with a nonchalant shrug as they both went their different ways

"Finally!" Dawn murmured as she quietly stood up, bending back and forth to ease her sore waist.