I am Reborn through Revenge

The decision that changed Marie's life

***Marie's POV***

“Marie." A familiar voice yelled. Maybe more than twice, she couldn’t tell— she was too weak to answer. It was early so she still needed to enjoy her sleep one more time, she thought.

“Marie! Marie!” the voice continued. “Please, wake up. You are going to be late!”

“Yes.” Marie hummed weakly as she responded. Trying to recognize whose voice it was. As she was starting to regain her senses, she listened again, It was Madam Alice Von Grant’s voice.

‘Where did my senses go?’ Marie asked herself. ‘Who else could it have been? Of course, she is the only person I stay with,’ Marie poked herself gently on the head in disgust.

Madam Alice Von Grant was a tall, blonde, small eye middle-aged woman

She raised Marie for as long as she can remember. She was the only father, mother, or sibling she knew since she was seven or eight years old. She was family to her. Marie had always called her mother which of course, she didn't like for reasons best known to her.

“Please, wake up. Have you forgotten what today is all about?” She asked in her calm crackly motherly voice.

Marie squinted her eyes while she was still under her blanket, she saw madam Alice. She was on a lengthy rumpled brown gown that made her look older than her age.

Madam Alice was searching for something just beside the wooden bed that Marie was sleeping on. Marie lifted her head a little while supporting herself with her elbows, she noticed that madam Alice had been in the room far too long than she had imagined. She saw her sweating while she was going through her stuff.

“What are you doing exactly?” Marie asked, eyes heavy. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes with her fingers to get a clearer vision.

“What does it look like I am doing?”

“How am I supposed to know? You tell!” Marie was curious. Even though she was still waking up but her deep blue eyes were still very bright. Her eyes traveled fast like a stone falling from the sky, frankly assessing what the woman she would have called her mother was doing in her room that early.

“I told you to sleep early last night but you wouldn’t listen my child.” Alice’s face looked worried.

Alice left the sorting of clothes she was tending to and she leaned closer to Marie, kneeling.

Marie could see Madam Alice giving her a sparkling gaze. She rested her hand on the edge of the bed and looked at her directly in the face. She was just a breath distance away from Marie.

Even though she was getting old but the beauty of her youthful years was still embellished on her face.

Alice's voice was crackly, yes! But it can even melt a frozen heart. Marie always paid attention to her because she doesn’t blow two sentences without blessing them with knowledgeable words. The only problem Marie had with her was, she sometimes speaks in parables which were very hard for her to understand.

“Today is the day the maids that will serve in the courtyard and also serve the Queen of Zahrin will be selected. Or have you forgotten? Remember that was one of the main reasons I brought you to this kingdom and I wouldn’t want you to miss this chance for any reason and not even sleep could cost us this opportunity. So, wake up and go have your body soaked in water and deepened in a strong perfume,” Alice said while caressing Marie's hair as she crouched closer.

Alice had always told Marie that smelling good always brings good fortune.

“But Ma, why do you need this so much? I’m not even sure if I will be selected as a servant in the palace, to begin with. For what purpose am I going there? I. . . I don’t even understand the need or why I should serve as a maid in this kingdom. I still don’t understand why anyone would love to be in a position where he or she would be told what to do every day and when to do it. Where someone will be under the palace prying eyes. It doesn’t. . . it isn't worth it. I have always been a simple girl raised simply. So tell me ma, why do you want this type of lifestyle for me?” Marie asked with a heavy heart and a long face.

Her lips became wider as she grimaced. Her dimpled face was unearthed, which normally happens when she wants to cry. It was obvious she was angry but yet, trying to conceal it all in.

“I’m sorry my daughter for all things can not be explained in a way you will understand. But you should know that—that you have a connection to the royal family. It is your destiny and duty to be there but how you will get there is what I don’t know. But. . . I uh. . . think we have a good start and that’s what matters now.”

“Oh no!” Marie forced out a deep breath and an obvious sigh. “Why do you keep repeating this? This is not the first time you have said this! How can a girl bore of a simple woman have ties with a royal family? If I did have a fickle, just a fickle relationship with them then why would I have grown up in the wilderness with you? Why didn’t I have all the luxuries that lie therein as a member of the royal family? Okay, let’s even agree that I do have a tie with them, will they have my best interest in their hearts especially if I go in there as a maid? Huh? Or have you forgotten some of the stories you used to tell me about how the royal families and how they treat their servants like slaves and how they have them executed sometimes on any slightest provocation? Oh, c'mon. Have you forgotten how some of their servants are charged with treason even when there is no concrete reason?” Marie spoke fast. There was a note of anger in her voice. She paused to calm herself down. She held Madam Alice on her both hands by placing her palm on top of hers. Unaware, teardrops began to roll down slowly from her eyes.

“Have I not done everything you have always asked of me? Have I not been a good daughter to you for the past 17 years? Please, can we just let this one slide? please,” she added. Her voice was weak.

“No! No! Please, don’t say this Marie!” Alice shrugged and shook her head repeatedly.

“Then tell me why you need me to do something that is not of my judgment. Tell me why I need to carry this heavy task without any purpose?” Marie cried uncontrollably. The tears were cold. The tears dripped down her skin, it made her body quiver in pain. Her eyes were heavy as her heart was waiting for an explanation. But will she get one?

“My daughter Marie.”

“Please stop! That’s not even my real name.” She shouted mockingly.

“I know that. I know it's not your name but you won’t need to be called your real name for now. It is not necessary. Please, Marie, you need to do as I tell you to do, or have I ever made a wrong decision for you before? Maybe a decision you regret my daughter?”

Marie tried to remember an answer to her question as she narrowed her gaze to the corners of her room but there was nothing to tell. “No, you have never made a wrong decision for me as far as I can remember but what I am saying is please. . . allow me. . . just please allow me to make decisions for myself from now on for I am no longer a child! Please mum!” Marie pleaded, her voice was now low and she even forgot that she had always been warned not to call her mum again.

“Please lower your voice, don't call me Mum." Madam Alice cautioned! “I have told you! We need to be careful. You need to wake up and take responsibility for yourself” Alice said with a high-pitched tone as she forced away her hands from Marie's grip. It was obvious she was already angry. “There is only but one thing you should know, you will go into that royal family as a seed but I want you to come out as a fruit. Bear this in mind, you are destined to be great. You need to come out from your comfort zone baby girl. Now stand up and go prepare. This conversation is over for now so just do as I say and stop asking further questions.” Madam Alice's voice seemed like it would boil down the small poor room that Marie was managing.

She stood up and made a brisk walk to the door. As she left, she jammed the door with anger. The force at which she had slammed the door extinguished the two burning candles hung on the walls of her room. Marie had never seen her in that mood. It was crystal clear that Madam Alice didn't want to listen to her point of view.