Phantasmagoric

7

We ate in silence. The atmosphere was so awkward that if needle fell, all of us would flinch by the small impact. I guess this is just what ladies are in this world. Wear a smile and pretend everything's fine. If this was in my world, we would have started bickering and would then make things a bigger scene. Even so, I miss that. I rather fight with words than stay silent and not be able to do anything at all.

"How was your sleep, my dear Alzbeta?" Miranda smiled sweetly at me but I know that the smile she wears is fake. I'm not as obedient and kind as the original Alzbeta anyway.

"It was fabulous. Almost too serene I was afraid I won't be able to wake up by the morning." I answered together with a sweeter smile to annoy her. Well, I hope she gets annoyed. The Duke almost choked from the food on his mouth when he heard what I said while Miranda shoots me a short glare. Wouldn't she be happy if I won't wake up though? Why is she mad? 

"That's good. All of us are concerned with your well-being, after all, Alzbeta. Just tell me if you need anything and I will do my best to give it to you." Her eyes which twinkle with mischief obviously tell me that when the time comes when we're both alone together, she'll do something like what she did to me in the garden again.

"Of course, Mother. I hope I can ask Father too?" The Duke almost snickered at the words being exchanged between Alzbeta and Miranda and when he heard himself being suddenly included, he was almost shocked but was able to check himself and answer,

"Of course, Alzbeta. You are after all my daughter."

"Thank you, Father." We both smiled at the same time and maybe it became the last straw for Miranda because she suddenly said she's done eating even though her meal is only half-eaten. She stood up and told us her goodbyes calmly as if she's not like a volcano erupting inside.

The Duke and I both finished eating without any disturbance after that. He didn't mention what just happened and I was also reluctant to open to him about my opinions regarding Miranda so I didn't speak either. When I was about to stand up, the Duke speak.

"Do you still wish to talk about what happened last time in my study room?" I continued to stand up and looked him in the eyes.

"If you wish to tell me, just call for me but of course I would still understand if you don't. After all, you're only thinking of the consequences and feelings of your daughter, right?" I smiled at him to show him how understanding I feel about his decisions.

The Duke's mouth closed and opened like a fish but in the end, he also smiled and said fine and that he hopes I would always remember how he just thinks things through about what's the ideal for me.

Maybe because the concept of his parenthood is different from what I have experienced, I find it uncomfortable and sometimes I come off too strong against his concerns. The shouts are now replaced with silence and when I think about how the Duke always thinks about the well-being of her daughter even though she doesn't remember him makes me feel jealous again. Even though this life is temporarily mine, it still is temporary and I might return to my body suddenly. I don't want to get attached to anything in this world, may it be people or things because I don't know until when it would last.

When I arrived at my room, I asked Diane if I could have her borrow some books about history of this place. When she arrived, she carried a thick and large book. As I was reading, it was as if all that this world contains is a fairytale and almost a duplicate of what Christians believe on Earth. The story goes like this:

The Goddess of Darkness was lonely being alone in a world where she's the only thing that exists. So she created the God of Light which could shine on everything but it was too bright. Where darkness exist, there would always be light; and where there is light, there would always be darkness. But the God of Light didn't bring any colors and leaves only pure white on his path. So she created the Land for the Ones. The place was barren and it seems like nothing would be able to live there. And so she added landforms and water forms which alike created the mountains and oceans. But it still didn't satisfy her and so she made the animals with diversity from small to large, poisonous to none, and dangerous to something akin to a pet. She was happy for a while watching them prosper but sooner the big animals started to harass the small ones. And so she made the Guardians who will serve to maintain the peace and harmony that the animals would need. But the God of Light thought that the Guardian would be lonely just like the Goddess of Darkness before without him. And so he asked permission from the Goddess and he also made a Guardian. In these times, they are known to be the Guardian of Light and Guardian of Darkness. These two are also prayed upon and offered sacrifices. Both Guardians fell in love with each other and that's where the kingdom began. This is why the King of the Kingdom always has a combination of light hair but dark eyes or dark hair and light eyes. It is meant to express the harmony that must always exist in the Kingdom that the God and the Goddess has made.

It was really a wonderful story. It broadcast how important it to be not to be alone. It makes me wonder what had happened to those Guardian? Could they still be alive? A history like this is something that delights and scares me at the same time. Imagining greater beings walking together with normal people and how they could as easily trample them is scary. Especially about the big and small animals. Could there be also dragons here like what I've read? I hope not. That would be too scary.