Jiji no. 8

Rebel?

Holder cannot believe what he had done. He had been disrespecting a princess without knowing he was actually doing it. Cold sweats ran down through his forehead as his inside turns boiling—afraid that the princess would punish him.

But then, when he heard the harmonic laugh of the woman who had brought her on the maze garden, and made him listen to the lullaby song, he felt something more. Why, his insides is running in turmoil, his chest is pounding hard, his heart is fluttering in chaos, in deep regret, in fear of something, but… he liked it. He was smiling.

Is he crazy?

As he listens to the laugh of the woman whom he was bowing to, he was smiling, his heart is pounding. What’s wrong with his emotions? Did it became abnormal because he had misused it when he was training with Nameless?

“Stand up, Holder. Everything is fine for me. I just wanted a friend,” the Princess said.

Holder quickly, yet hesitantly stood up. He started being uncomfortable as soon as he realized that he was in front of the only princess of the Kingdom of Agnosbadtt.

“I—I am sorry, Princess. I did not recognize that it was you,” Holder hit his head, “I should’ve been more careful with my words!”

He then continuously, repetitively hit his head with full of regrets.

“Hey, Holder! You have to stop that!” Princess Ellaine quickly went towards Holder, and forced his hand to stop hitting himself.

When he realized that the princess is touching him, he stood frozen, unable to believe that it was really happening.

He then looked at the Princess. At her face. And he started to froze even harder. His teeth clenched, his joints locked, his muscle tensed.

Shit, why would the princess smile that beautifully?

Her lips, pink in feminine curve, was smiling at him in a delightful manner—and Holder never once saw a smile as beautiful as hers.

“I—I am sorry, princess. I—I am acting strange in front of you.”

“Oh, no, it is okay. I understand where you are coming from.”

Holder’s cheeks felt hot. He touched it mindlessly as he smiles.

“But as a Princess, I need you to follow this command I will give to you,” said Princess Ellaine.

Holder stood up quickly. Alerted. “What is it, Princess? I will do anything just for you.”

The Princess again, smiled. And Holder wants to fly, swirl and dance in the sky, and catch every stars every time he would see the Princess smiling to him.

Not to mention, she was smiling… because of him.

“Do not treat me as a Princess. Treat me as a normal person,” the Princess softly said.

“Huh? But that would be a disrespect to your position as the Princess of the Agnosbadtt. I might be punished from doing that.”

“What is it that is more punishable; disobeying the princess from her request, or ‘direspecting’ the title of being a princess even she clearly asked to be treated as a normal person? Holder, I want you to treat me as your friend.”

“Uhm…”

“Holder, one of the privileges of the royal bloods in Agnosbadtt is to have the right finding someone who can be a friend regardless of status or living.”

“But it was…”

The Princess then stomped her feet. “Forget it!” she said. She then crossed her arms and pouted. She rolled her eyes upwards and turned her back towards him.

What? What was happening? Why did she started acting weird?

“If you don’t want me to be a friend, then fine! No one wants to treat me as a friend. I should’ve not brought you to the labyrinth.”

Holder started panicking. Now he ruined the mood of the Princess. If she became angrier, then it would be the end of his life. She might order the court to kill him, or worse, torture before killing.

But it was really difficult for him to stand as if a normal friend now knowing that she is the Princess. Their positions were at the two opposite extremes—she was at highest peak, he was at the lowest.

He sighed. He cannot believe he was doing this. But he has to.

“Fine, what could I do to such a brat Princess like you,” Holder said.

The Princess quickly looked back at him with a shocked expression.

“What did you say?” she said, the tone of her voice is disbelieving.

“What? You have asked me to this, right? I never thought that a princess could be this spoiled. She wants everything that she wants, and she will get it with the use of her power.”

“What? Hey, that is not what I had asked you to do! I never—”

“What? You asked me to be your friend? But you never introduced yourself to me. Never did you shake my hand for a formal ‘friend’ introduction.”

He smiled wickedly. But in truth, he wanted to scream in fear, for the princess might get offended with his acts, and would then, finally, order the whole kingdom to kill him. Oh no, please, not.

The Princess stood for a moment, looking in the space, as if she realized something.

Her lips were hanging open as she nods her head. “Right, I have not done that,” she said.

Without hesitation, the Princess placed back the smile on her lips, and offered her right hand towards Holder.

“Greetings, I am Princess Ellaine Grend. And I am eager to have a friend.”

Holder then returned the smile she was giving. He sighed in relief. Then, he took the Princess’ Ellaine’s hand.

“Xin Holder Viscus. I want to be your friend.”

For a moment, they let their hands stay in the place, holding and feeling each other’s smooth skin.

And then they laughed.

The whole palace is quiet, and the only thing that can be heard, is their joyful laughs swirling into the dry, sunny sky.

“That’s too immature!” said Ellaine, pertaining to formal introduction and the shaking of hands and every what-acts they have done.

“But since you’re ‘eager to have a friend’, you bit the bait,” Holder said.

Ellaine then laughed harder. She sat on the grassy ground as her stomach started to feel pinches pain from being unable to stop laughing.

“That—That is true,” she said, and laughed again.

For a minute, they shared laughs and jokes as if they were two crazy people who have no other thing wanting to do, but to laugh.

“Hey,” Ellaine called Holder.

They have finally calmed down from laughing. What they are doing right now is sitting on the green grasses, and staring at the purple Kohns flying above the sky, sprinkling Majicules in the palace.

“Hmm?” Holder asked. He looked at her. For a moment, he again froze as he stare at the angelic face of the Princess. She was smiling as she look upwards, with her eyes laid in peaceful emotions while staring at the flying Kohns above.

When Ellaine looked at him, Holder quickly gazed away from her. His cheeks burned in heat.

‘Ah! What is happening to me?’ he asked to himself.

“Do you have any idea where is your Sankt partner now?” Ellaine asked.

“Jiji?”

Ellaine nodded.

“Uh, no. I have no idea where he is right now,” he said. “I am starting to get worried, you know.”

“Yeah, you must be worried now. But I know where he was.”

“Really? You know where Jiji was?”

Ellaine nodded. She then stood up, and covered her head with the brown cloak she was wearing.

“He is currently at the laboratory of the professor.”

Holder stood as well. “Would it disturb her if I visit the lab? I am kind of worried to that slime.”

“Of course not. In fact, Professor Zen asked me to bring you to her.”

“Wow, the professor did that? Asked you for something? To a princess?”

Ellaine then laughed. “It is okay. I am actually fine with that. Because for a moment, I am not a Princess.” Melancholy started to invade her beautiful smile.

“If that then, you must remember that when you’re beside me, I would not treat you as a princess as well. I will only, just, treat you as a beautiful girl.” And then he winked at her.

Ellaine laughed from his words. “Make sure that you can maintain your role, gentleman.”

Soon, Ellaine grabbed Holder’s hand, and then, they started to run going towards the inside of the palace.

“Quick, we’re going to get your Jiji back!” she said.

They run as they enter the palace. And just like earlier, it seemed like they turned invisible as they passed through the soldiers and knights guarding the palace.

Holder just then realized that they were not travelling to the usual path that he was always taking whenever he was inside the palace. When Entering the palace through the main gate, there are three alleys leading to different direction that one would meet. One alley is leading western wing of the palace, one is eastern, and one is at the center, leading to the middle of the palace. Usually, he was travelling to the eastern alley, because that is where his room is located. But now, guided by Ellaine, he found himself travelling to the alley in the middle. He knew, it was towards the grand hall, where royal throne could be found. But this portion of the palace, he wasn’t familiar yet.

“Where are we going, Ellaine?” he asked.

“To the laboratory of Professor Zen.”

They had travelled on an alley in which the design in the walls is much more different than the eastern side of the palace. This was more elegant, more fascinating than the usual design he always saw.

And then, the end of the alley is a huge door. It was made of an enormous wooden door in which the surface is carved with different designs—mostly, is the depiction of different mythical creatures showcasing their domineering power.

Ellaine pushed the door effortlessly.

The loud, whole sound of an opening door started to invade Holder’s ears. He even jumped from shock, because he was not expecting that the door would boom into disturbing loudness as it opened.

And then, after the loud sound, it was the bright light that soon invades Holder’s eyes. He squinted for a moment, and tried his best to adjust from the bright surrounding.

When he was sure that he had finally adjusted, he looked in the front.

The first thing that he saw is the beautiful face of Ellaine, warmly smiling at him.

“Welcome to the grand hall,” she said.

Behind Ellaine, he saw what she had welcomed to him.

The grand hall.

The beautiful grand hall.

It was invigorated with white color that it reflects to every corners of the place: to the floor, to the wall, to the pillars, and even to the chairs. It was bright in white color, too pure and almost unreal. The only thing that somehow contradicted the white contrast, is the marbled floor in which there are running black lines swirling and curving as a form of design.

At the end of the hall, there he saw the throne. It was, just like the black lines in the marble-white floor, has contradicting the contrast of the grand hall.

One throne, in spikes and sculptured heads of beasts in the arm and back rest, was in black, night-bound color. It was bigger than the other throne beside. And so, Holder believes it was the throne for the King. The other throne, beside the black-colored throne, smaller than for the King, is what Holder supposes as the Queen’s throne. If the throne of the King was made of a mineral called the black gold, the Queen’s throne was made of silver. At the arm and back rest, there also exists sculptures. But, it was different than the King’s. The sculpture is of birds, butterflies, doves, and flowers and pixies.

“Wow,” Holder said. He was fascinated. He cannot believe that a palace have this kind of wonderful, bright place.

“The contrast of the Grand Hall is quiet annoying for me,” said Ellaine.

“Yeah, I have to agree. But despite that, it was still beautiful. Too surreal.”

“Well, I too thought that it was beautiful. But…”

Holder saw how Ellaine clenched her fist as she look at the whole surrounding. “This is a hypocrite’s hall.”

“Hey, Ellaine, what are you talking about? Someone might hear you!” Holder said, panicking. Because, as what the law of the Agnosbadtt says, that anyone, even the royals, even the princes and the princesses, and the King and Queen, when expressed hatred and disgust to the throne, would be subjected to punishment: Death.

“I am not talking to the throne, Holder. Though perhaps, half of what I mean is that but—”

Holder’s eyes were bulging—shocked—when he covered Ellaine’s mouth who sputtered hatred towards the Kingdom.

“Someone might hear you, please stop that.”

Ellaine calmly removed Holder’s hand away of her mouth.

“Don’t worry, No one is here. They were outside, joining the King and the Queen in the news they were sharing.”

“But still… you are risking your life.”

“Do you sense my hatred?” Ellaine asked.

Holder nodded. The first time she saw her, when she was still wearing the brown cape, he had this impression that this woman is rebellious. When he found out that she was the Princess, it somehow changed. Because why would a royal be a rebel of the kingdom? But now, he confirmed it. Or perhaps, confirmed half of her intentions.

“I know, you somehow hate the kingdom,” Holder said in a small voice. He was afraid that he might be caught if he spoke the way how Ellaine speaks.

“I don’t hate the Kingdom, nor my Mama and Papa. I just… I just hate their system.”

Holder observed the totality of the Grand Hall, to see whether if there is someone in the palace that was listening to their conversation.

No one, he concluded, after a minute.

“What do you hate to the Kingdom?”

“This place is one.”

“But this place is beautiful,” Holder replied.

“It won’t look good to you if you are aware what was the situation outside.”

“You mean the provinces of Agnosbadtt, outside the guarded wall.”

Ellaine nodded. “They were oppressed. They were suffering. They were—”

“Under-rewarded.”

Elaine looked at him straight in the eyes, and nodded. “They were the one working like a slaves, while the people here inside the kingdom is enjoying all of their hard works. And yet, those people outside the wall … they were living in pains and suffers.”

Holder did not confess that he was from one of that province to which Ellaine was pertaining to.

Instead, he said, “Just like Hem.”

“Yes. The province of Hem was the one mostly being oppressed. While the hypocrites in this palace… they were just doing nothing but enjoy the luxury of life in which the farmers should have been enjoying. Not them.”

“Can I ask you something, Ellaine?”

“What is it? I’ll try to answer it the best that I can.”

“Were you a part of the rebels?” Holder straightforwardly asked.

Indeed, there are rebels in the Kingdom. They were just here, placing their feet in the Central Kingdom, planning, trying to dethrone the King and the Queen.

Thing is, the fear of the royals and of the higher-ranked officials does not just arouses outside of the Kingdom. It was also being brewed here, inside the Kingdom, inside the palace. It was not just of the other Kingdoms—Xaphan, Guion, and Fashan—planning to invade the Agnosbaddt. It was, as well, about the people who have managed to breach the wall, and would try to make the kingdom crumble from attacking inside. They were just here, waiting for the perfect timing to make a perfect move. They are the rebels.

Ellaine was looking at Holder, and Holder stared back, trying to read what was those eyes for, and what was those stares are for.

“I am not a rebel, Holder. I don’t want to ruin what my father had built. But I have one mission.”

“What is it?”

“To make the rotten values of the Kingdom be erased into our systems.”

“How would you do it?”

Ellaine swallowed. She then broke off from her stare to Holder.

“I can’t disclose it to you, I’m sorry.”

“But you are telling me this, because you want me to be on your side when you’re about to execute your plans, isn’t it?”

Ellaine nodded.

“But … I am still not sure. I don’t know. If the enemies of Agnosbadtt attacks, then perhaps I would set it aside, and just focus on helping our kingdom first. My plans would be useless if the Kingdom is ruined.”

“Then, count me in.”

Ellaine looked back at Holder. “What do you mean?” she asked.

“Whatever your plans, count me in. Tell me when you’re ready. If you are still hesitating about me, whether if I am trustworthy or not, then do not tell me everything. Just tell me what I could help to execute your plans.”

“Why?” Ellaine asked.

Holder then stared at her questioningly. “Huh? What why?”

“I mean, why do you want to help me?”

Holder smiled. “Because I have promised someone, a Baba. And I think I would fulfill it with your help and plans.”

“Huh?” Ellaine asked, wondering more.

Holder then jokingly mimicked Ellaine’s gestures a while ago: he placed his hands on his chest, and acted like a woman. “I’m sorry, I can’t disclose it to you,” then he pursed his lips, looking anxious just like what Ellaine looked like a while ago.

“Hey!” Ellaine, blushing, hit Holder’s chest. She was totally embarrassed.

Holder just laughed from what her reactions were. And then he said, “but seriously, you would soon know why I want to help you with your plans, whatever it is. But for now, just trust me.”

“But do you trust me?” Ellaine asked.

“I do.”

“Why?”

“Here we go again with your why’s.”

“Why?” Ellaine repeated, stressing it.

Holder sighed. “I trust you, because…” he looked straight at Ellaine’s eyes. “You are beautiful.”

And Ellaine blushed from that stupid answer. Because, only the stupid Holder would base his trust to anyone, just by looking at their physical looks.

Sooner, the marble floor of the Grand hall started to move. The place started to shake.

“What is that?” Holder asked.

“Professor Zen. Her laboratory is below the floor of this Grand Hall.”