I am Reborn through Revenge

Journey to the palace

***Marie's POV***

It was obvious madam Alice was mad. Marie didn’t want to make it worse than she had already. She gently stood up and made her way to the washroom to take her bath.

While she was at it, she kept thinking about how her life in the palace would be in case she was chosen after all. She removed her nightgown slowly while she draws the bucket of water closer to herself.

She rubbed her body gently with her sponge while she sprinkled water on herself. It was early, so she was careful not to expose her body to cold temperatures.

They had a small and simple bathroom with a single tub. They lived a poor life after all, so both of them lived in a peasant house where there was no luxury whatsoever though all these were the least of Marie's worries.

Every time the thought of being in the palace came to her mind, there is this quake, this heaviness she can't explain.

She just didn't understand why she felt that way. It kept bothering her.

While madam Alice was angry at her for refusing not to go, in return she was scared to death if she remembers that it was a journey she must have to embark on. She had never been that scared before.

She wrapped herself in her towel when she was done and made her way back to her room. While she was seated on a chair, she made a quick braid on her hair and packed it using a hairpin. She sat close to a mirror. She thought after the cold bath, she would regain her strength. She didn't, she still felt tired. She looked into the mirror, then, she noticed that the girl she used to be wasn’t there anymore. Even though Marie wasn’t the type that boasted about herself or admired her beauty, she noticed that it wasn’t herself she was seeing. She looked pale and worn out.

Her dreamy deep blue eyes which often shine had lost their charm. It was obvious she was tired even when she wasn't supposed to.

But does she really have a choice?

She brought out her small wax canvas makeup purse she always kept in a small locker in her room. She looked herself in the mirror again and she struggled to make herself look good. She faked a smile.

'C'mon, you grumpy me! I can do this. Yes, I can," she mumbled to herself, forcing herself to laugh.

It seemed stupid just to laugh alone but she liked it.

She went to her box and picked a dress for herself. She picked a strapless twirled midnight blue gown that has a silver-white lining at the hip. It was the costliest gown she ever had. The dress gave her a nice fitting at her waist spreading widely to her feet.

She stood up from her seat to check if the outfit was perfect.

She didn't know if she looked good or bad. She wanted someone to say some nice words to her. She wanted someone to say to her that she looked beautiful. At least, that would help her muster some courage.

But who would do that for her?

The only person in the world who could say that to her was Madam Alice and she would be the last person to say that Marie doesn't look good. She knows this.

So, it was needless to ask her, Marie thought. She sure looked like someone though she couldn't tell who she looked like when she changed from her casual wear into the twirled gown.

Her shoulders were bare. She just didn't want to reveal too much. She brought out a small light jacket and wore it over her shoulders.

When she was done, she made her way to their small sitting room and she saw madam Alice chopping pieces of cotton into different sizes. It was a hobby for her and her business as well. Madam Alice and Marie had been surviving with this even before they came to the kingdom of Zahrin.

“I am ready!” Marie said, forcing a smile on her face and walking slowly to where madam Alice was sitting.

“Wow! You look…You look amazing!” Madam Alice's gaze glided quickly on her outfit. “All this while, your beauty has been shrouded by all these casual clothes you wear often. You look more like a precious jewel to me and you are the most important thing in the world right now." Madam remained motionless as she admired Marie. "Seriously, you might find favour in the eyes of the royals. Don’t you agree?” she added smiling and giggling.

Marie wasn't flattered.

She looked unfazed.

She wondered if Alice's attention was to connect herself to the royal family in Zahrin using her as the scapegoat!

The anxiety in her returned as she heard what Alice just said.

Quick shivers ran down her spine. The way she felt, she wished she could un-hear what she said.

‘Find a royal what? No way!’ Alice grumbled to herself as she nodded her head in disagreement.

“Is this not the dress I got you on your birthday?” madam Alice asked, smiling.

“Yes! That’s correct!”

"My goodness, you are looking good."

"I know you would say that."

"No! I mean it, you look good."

"Thank you!" Marie smiled.

How could she be smiling? She should be angry.

She wanted to hide it but she couldn't.

“Alright. I guess you are all set. I’m happy you have made the right decision. Are you wearing your pendant?” Madam Alice asked as she pointed her hands to her neck.

“No! It is inside my bag” Marie answered uninterestingly.

“You need to always put it in on my daughter. Okay?”

“Okay,” said Marie as she opened her small brown leather bag. She picked her pendant and put it back on.

“I am sure you are hungry. I can make some food for you if you want” Alice suggested. Looking directly into Marie's eyes.

“You don’t need to. I am okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course! You don’t need to worry!” Marie insisted. Her lips were narrowed as she stretched her cat-like eyes. She creased her face in a quick smile that didn’t reach her heart. It appeared she was sad again.

“Okay. If you insist then my daughter. I want you to know that I will always pray for you no matter what. I know that I am forcing you I do something against your desire, something you didn't quite understand but I don’t think we have a choice.”

‘We don’t have a choice? We have thousands of choices. So what are blabbing about?’ Marie disputed within herself. In between thoughts, she queried. She puffed away some air. She was disgusted by the choices but she doesn’t want to make any further argument about it. Maybe it was too early or maybe she just doesn’t have the energy to argue further.

“I may never have told you this but I am also as scared as you are. If I have the powers to make things go the way I want them to then I wouldn’t want this to happen. I wouldn’t want to lose you, Marie!”

“Oh! P…please!” she murmured as she shook her head in disagreement.

“What is it, Marie?”

“Marie?” She protested lightly. She knitted her brows, as she blinked a few times her cat eyes. “That’s not even my real name!” She added in a harsher tone.

“Why would you need to bring that up now?” Madam Alice asked. Her countenance changed. It looked like she wasn’t expecting Marie to bring up such an old topic.

“At this point, I don’t even know who I should even believe again Alice. I’m sick and tired of you telling me how to leave my life. I have a lost and confusing identity yet you can’t even explain them to me. Every time I asked you, you wouldn't tell me but you would always want me to me do everything you want me to do. That’s unfair.” Marie's irritation morphed into sadness as water welled into her deep blue eyes until a stray tear glistened down her cheek.

“Please my daughter, I….”

“Please, I don’t want your apologies!” Marie reprimanded.

Madam Alice was mad. Her gaze looked like a sharp sword that wants to make a deep cut. Her mouth tightened in a brim, and her lips became razor-sharp as she pushed them inside her mouth. The wrinkles close to her lips became visible as she tightened her lips in resentment. When she couldn't hold back anymore, she slapped Marie on her jaw.

“Silence Marie. Please don’t make me look like I am the bad person here. All I am ever doing is for your best interest believe me. I-I know that what you are about to do involves an incalculable risk and may put you in great danger. But this poor lifestyle I have made you endure all these years isn’t worth it and there is no greater danger than that. The only way for you to have a better life is for you to do something different.” Madam Alice relaxed on an old stool very close to her. “My child, please do forgive me. I know I have been asking too much from you without even giving you the chance to make your own opinions. If you feel like you can not do this then I would advise you not to. I know I am being selfish here so please, if you can not go, just don't go. I will never force you to do something against your wish,” Madam Alice said. She stood up from the old stool and went to her job.

Marie stood motionless for a while.

“It is already too late. I have made up my mind, I will go,” Marie declared.

Alice turned around quickly and looked at her.

“Hmm. . .Are you sure about this?” Madam Alice asked as she paused what she was doing.

“Yes! I am sure!” Marie's voice, stern.

“If you don't like it then. . ."

“I said I will do it,” Marie insisted, and grimaced. She had decided to go after all.

Madam Alice got up excitedly from the bench she was sitting on, with a smile on her face, she hugged Marie tightly.

“I’m proud of you my daughter," she said, smiling. "Take all you need. But remember, I will always keep you in my prayers. Nothing is going to happen to you no matter what, so do not be afraid.”

Marie cursed through her breath. She knew it wouldn't be that simple.

“How would you know?” Marie murmured more to herself than to Alice.

“What did you say?”

“Uh! Nothing. I said nothing,” Marie denied.

At this point, Marie had already made up her mind that she would be going to the Palace. She grabbed her small sack where she had kept the things she would need.

“I think it is high time I leave ma,” Marie said. “I will be seeing you,” she added as she leaned back slowly.

“Sure! Sure,” Madam Alice nodded. “Grab whatever you will need, my daughter.”

“You don’t need to worry. That has been taken care of,” Marie uttered, with a note of anger in her voice.