Death-Bound

Cottage

Chapter Twelve

The next day, she took me to a cottage on the out skirts of town. It was big; most of the Emperor’s Guest would stay in the Castle but in some occasions, some guests would request for housing outside of it. Margaritta and I are now occupying one of the said housing. The river is flowing just outside the back yard. A garden was on the front yard. A gardener tends to the plants. The cottage has three bedrooms, each big enough to house a family. A library and study room, a kitchen to cook in, a dining area with a traditional sixteen seats long table, and a receiving area were also present. She took me to one of the rooms, and then asked me if I wanted to eat. I just nodded. I couldn’t bear to even give off a smile. I walked lazily toward the table. She prepared a meal for the both of us. A simple meal to ease the hunger which came after our little journey. I sat silently and ate my meal.

“Child, I can’t bear looking at you like this.” She said finally breaking our silence. “You, seem to be so sad all the time. You said you wanted to stay away from the castle, but then you looked even more depressed now that we are out here.”

“I shall be fine Margaritta.” I said not even looking at her. It felt heavy, my chest. It felt like I am drowning in my own breath. If felt like I am dying, yet here I am alive. “I wanted to walk outside. To see if I can live like I am free, even if I am not in many ways.” I gave her a reassuring smile. But I know she could see right through me. She sees the sadness that had engulfed me.  But she nodded slowly.

She just let me do as I please. I felt like having my heart in my chest beating, but have lost it. I left it with my master. I would usually take my daily walks at the forests edge. Bus sadly, there I would look at the castle from a far. It was as if I was still trapped inside even if I was out here. My soul longs to see him, to be by his side. But here I am not being summoned. No more talks was ordered after the latest victory had been won.  I was but a pawn, only summoned for my master's convenience. And deep down in my heart of heart it stung. Truth hurts.

Weeks turned into months, virgins would come from all over. Sometimes few would visit, thinking I am one of them. They say that I have an extraordinary beauty. I was still the one to search of the one who would rule beside my master. I had to meet them. I had to mingle with them. I had to be one of them in order to see and know who would be the best Empress our Empire could have.  And one did caught my eyes, Princess Tashia of the Roses’ Elves.

I had been playing a role whenever I am around the Princesses. They call me as Lady Jem the Maiden of the Red Stones, a little kingdom from the far south of the Empire. The King never had a daughter, so, he wasn’t able to send anyone. The Emperor had sent him words about his plan that the king was willing to connive with him. It was his honor after all.

Then two months flew by fast , but the Princesses never got bored of socializing with themselves. As a Princess it is one’s duties to represent your kingdom in the most modest courtesy. I call it being fake. My father once told me that he wished for a son, for sons can only be in the castle, unlike daughters, who could easily be taken as a wife of someone, be it to a king or to the Emperor himself. Sadly I had that fate. I was taken from my land only to sealed as a death-bound slave.

On the second week of the second month I received a message from Solom saying:

Hyacinth,

I haven’t thanked you enough about the way you saved our land from the hands of my father himself. Anyway, I wanted to visit you but the Emperor is somehow doing something to hinder me from seeing you. I heard that he is looking for a wife now, maybe we could see each other, now that he’s busy with all the women he had surrounded himself with now a days. I asked him for a little visit there just to escort one of my sisters to meet him—yes, he even invited my sister, the second child in our family since I am the oldest. I had his permission, but it would only be for three days. We can see each other right? I know you are smiling while you are reading this! I’m so excited to see you this afternoon!

Love and kisses,

Solom of the Land of Olives

A seal of the Land of Olives ended the message. Indeed, I was smiling after I read his letter. The first smile I did for these past few weeks. At that moment Margaritta came from the garden, she just harvested some of the vegetables we planted about a month ago. It is a skill for a princess to grow plants in our land. A princess with a green thumb in a desert would assure a greener future for our kingdom. She dropped the vegetables, when she saw me smiling while holding the message.

“You are smiling?!” she exclaimed her face full of gladness from my sudden change of mood. I gave her a questioning look. She smiled at me and picked up the vegetables she dropped. “So...who’s coming for a visit?" she asked like the gossip that she is, " The emperor, perhaps?”

“No,” I said still smiling. Looking once again to the letter which I was holding still, “Solom is coming. He is escorting his sister for the gathering. Should we prepare a feast in his honor?” I was excited, to see him—an old friend!

“Solom? The King of the Land of Olives?” she asked in disbelief. “We better go to the Market and buy us some meat! We can’t feed him these!” She showed me our produce, which was quite impressive giving that we grew them ourselves. She pulled me immediately to the front door and gave me basket. We were laughing as we got our way to the market. A sudden change of air could be good to a dying soul. Indeed!