"Is Lady Serina Lourdemayne around? I was sent here to deliver a message from the King."
Pulling the gate, the girl who seems to be aged around 10 motioned the man to enter. The trembling man swallowed his hesitation with a deep gulp and spoke a quick prayer in his mind. Surely his visit in this old mansion will be the talk of his colleagues for days, whether or not he'd make it back alive.
"I assure you we do not keep any carnivorous creature here, Sir. Please do relax yourself."
That short speech earned a little jump from the man and his anxiety rose rather than relieved. Knowing this won't do him any good, he calmed himself with a silent breathing exercise. Still at the state of unease, his eyes tried to wander around the labyrinth-like yard.
His journey from the Palace to this remote place was a long one—crossing rivers, even a hill, and dark forests. This manor house's theme, being literally in the middle of the woods doesn't compliment less with its surrounding. It is, however, too grand anyone would feel like they entered a portal that leads to another world — a world of fairies would fit the best.
After almost a minute of walk, the little girl in front of him took a turn left and as he follows from behind, what was shown before him was truly a wondrous sight he wish he could preserve like a painting at that very moment. A picture of a lovely lady glowing under the direct sunlight would make the best subject no painter could possibly let go of.
The red waves of hair tucked behind her head was made more vibrant with the warm light of sun wrapping it, and her pale white skin radiates the rays like a bright full moon. Oh, this lady can't be one of those wicked creatures, he thought. Surrounded by tiny fairies, she seemed to look like their Queen as she shower with their fairy dusts.
"Teacher, a messenger from the King," the girl introduced the man to the lady she calls 'teacher'.
Turning her head towards the two, her pair of deep green orbs first met the man's occupied ones. "I see," she responded in a low and calm tone. The fairies then left as she walks forward to meet the man.
The messenger felt the same level of panic he had earlier but this time, it was no fright.
"Mister?"
"Y-Yes! Uhm. . ahem," clearing his throat, he continues, "The King of Londevé, King Wilfred III, is asking you to personally see him at the palace as soon as possible, Lady Lourdemayne. He also had me deliver this letter to you." He reached out his trembling hands to give her a white paper envelope containing the words the King wanted to reach her.
"Wil . . ." she uttered softly, scanning each words written on the sheet of paper. There was a slight and quick shift of emotion almost got uncaught by the two people present near her but no one dared to at least speak a word.
The three remained silent for a few seconds until the Lady herself broke it. "You have my gratitude, Mister. I am more than honoured to see him. Anyway, would you like to stay for a while to rest? Your travel must have been troublesome."
The now flustered messenger came to his senses and immediately turned down the offer, then politely asked the permission to leave.
After assisting the messenger, the girl went back to see her teacher who looks somber sipping her tea, staring at nowhere.
"Teacher?"
"Ah, yes. My apologies for spacing out. Anyway, tell Mr. Rossi we will be having a little trip."
***
"Looking good today, eh?" It is a young girl, probably a seven-years old. Her small arms does not look so burdened with the heavy wooden tray she's carrying, even placed it atop the bed of a sick-looking man at a height higher than her chest."You think so, my little Anne?" The man, the young girl's father answered with a weak genuine smile.
An adorable scene it is, from the eyes of a spectator who just came but for the one's who knew them for long, it is something worth a shed of tear. The girl's enthusiasm is just a fake facade. Even at a very young age, she's more than aware of the tragedy her father would end up with sooner or later — a tragedy the two of them share with their predecessors.
Resting her chin on her father's bedside, the girl spoke, "Is she really coming? It has been like 2 days since you sent your messenger out."
"She does not break promises, little one. Her house is just really far."
"Ooh yes! I read it in a book that witches hide themselves on—"
"Anne," he seriously called, not too loud but sharp enough to serve as a warning. The girl's sudden drop of energy made the King felt the guilt for spoiling the mood for such a shallow reason. No, it mustn't be like this, he thought, he has no such time left to start something he would regret later. But before he could even utter his first word of apology, another presence barged in, and spoke, "Sorry for interrupting your conversation, Your Highness, but Lady Lourdemayne has arrived already."
The arrival was an expected one but the King's face shows otherwise, his pale, ill-looking face fainted even more.
"Is the council complete yet?"
"We're still waiting for two more, Your Highness."
"Then lead Lady Lourdemayne here before we start."
***
"Uhm. . Ms. Attendant?" the Princess called out of unease. With her bedridden father busy catching-up with his visitor, the little girl was left outside his chamber unable to do anything but wait."Yes, Your Highness?" one of the three maids present answered.
"Uhm-ah. . how many minutes has it been?" It was a question far from what she has really been wondering about for she knew they will not be able to answer her anyway.
"More or less twenty, Your Highness."
Real question aside, she realized her father never had the energy to at least have a decent talk with her for ten minutes since symptoms of his illness affected his physique. Who is this woman, really? Her face gloom with sadness and her chest started to get heavy. But before she could even shed a tear, the dull squeak of the wooden door in front of her made her hastily raise her head.
And that was the first time the round window of her blue set of orbs met her sharp emerald ones.
Enchanting..
The woman — a witch not by nature but by kindred— is undoubtedly far from what she had imagined.
Breaking the gap between their height, the lady kneeled down, matching the level of the little one's face, and with a gentle voice she spoke; "You are. . Princess Antoinette, right?"
"Y-Yes," she shyly and nervously replied, almost a whisper.
Even with full acknowledgement of the girl's fear, the lady attempted to continue but was then interrupted. "Lady Lourdemayne?" a servant called.
"Coming," eyes still on her, she continued, "I will see you later, little one." With an elegant flourish of her slender index finger tracing the bridge of her tiny nose without touching it, the innocent princess was left clueless — did not even notice the lady be gone from her sight. 'Was it her magic?' she couldn't help but wonder.
"You and the King seem to have a very close relationship, Teacher."Those words, identified as neither a compliment or a sarcasm was heard but was not responded to."By the way Teacher, what is this curse you spoke about?" Even with complete awareness of what is currently going on her master's head, she did not hesitate to raise the question she believes won't let her sleep later on."Euphemia. . " Luckily, the answer is what's bothering her the entire trip, and as she reminisce that one particular event from the past, she spoke, ". . one of the three witches who once brought this country to ruin. It's hers. We sealed her power after her defeat, declaring victory as ours thereafter. However, unbeknowst to everyone, she killed herself and used her soul to activate it. Shame we were unable to figure it out 'til the next two rulers died from unknown causes before reaching the age of 30."Following a deep sigh, she raised her hand up to supp
Several years later. . .The whiteness of fine flour covering the rustic kitchen made it seem to look like a thick smoke from a hot spring, though it is no magnificent sight nor relaxing to see in the young baker's reality. A violent yelling from a familiar antagonistic voice coming close to him brought chill down his spine, without actually uttering anything he spoke to himself, "Argh. . . what an early execution of this week's failure. . ." and with an aggressive expulsion of particle mixed air from his lungs, he cleared the atmosphere using the back of his hand, waving it back and forth."Tristan -- Argh! You just wasted a day worth of flour again, you freak!" the master baker, still fixing his half body apron came over after exactly witnessing the mishap of his apprentice from the window on his way to work.Dragging a pair of long handled broom and a dust shovel with him, he inclines half of his body in a very low bow of apology, "I am really sorry, I
Mid morning is probably the time when most people ought to prepare for their daily agenda. However, for the one whose every hour is already arranged beforehand, it is where her limited chance to breathe lies.Stepping out of her office veranda to greet the gentle sun, the tranquil wind sways her emerald sheath skirt as she walk towards the stone railing. The sight of the capitol from her viewpoint is indeed pleasing to the eye, but for her, it is more than the cityscape that catches her favour.Even after a decade of being bestowed by the highest responsibility and power over the country, she cannot help but be impressed by the continuous improvement she observes every opportunity there is. 'Not bad for the inferior beings,' she thought.Also, from the perspective of someone who witnessed the tragedy this same country had faced a century ago, the survival of this civilization is undoubtedly worth being the pride of humanity."Is it
Despite his seemingly disdainful and snub treatment towards his older and only brother, Johann is always quick to notice any strange action he does — be it little and unnecessary. Maybe it roots from his mindful nature, or maybe his sibling instinct. Whatever it is, the repeated back and forth marching he has been doing since he got home from the town this morning is already quite concerning as it looks.Finally finding it unsettling enough as he work on bathing their livestocks while he's supposed to be sweeping hays, he was ready to give his silence up to break his brother's troubling engrossment."Have you seen a fairy before?"Left with his mouth slightly open, he was unable to properly vocalise his thoughts and in addition, the words his brother spoke made him even more confused. Even so, being a master of his expressions, he completely hid it off his face, showing his usual irritated intonation and emotion instead."Not yet.
It was indeed a long day for the young Princess Anne who had to take part on the funeral of the deceased honorary servants of the country at the Queen Regent's absence.Despite having a close communication with the noble family members like the Hansens, she has never showed up on any occasion outside the palace if not for official meetings. Although no curious soul ever dared to ask her why for it is an obvious thing, she would say it is to not cause fright over the civilians she would meet by the road.All dressed in black, the Princess directly made her way to her 'aunt's' office, only to be greeted by her apprentice alone who happens to be fixing papers on her Aunt's desk. "Hi, Sherfy. . ." she wearily replied back to her bowing before slumping her body down the couch."Ugh, that was tiring. I just had to attend the guests and meet families on her behalf and I'm this exhausted already. . .""Maybe it's your mental capacity speaking, Princess," Sh
"Jump in.""N-No way. . ."Entering the cave alone appears almost like a test of courage for Tristan who has never been familiar with such darkness and the terror it brings. Now as per the lady's demand, he must take another step towards uncertainty, which she disguises as an alluring shortcut towards his most sought objective.There is not enough light to make the path in front of him clearer to begin with, but the chilling breeze from below his feet petrifying his entire body tells him of the dreadful fate that awaits him soon as he decide to move forward.It is a huge, black hole on the ground, just a foot away from him."I-I'm going back—""No, you're not.""You said I could always—""You said you want to serve the country," she brought up."This has nothing to do with that!""It's for the sake of everyone, believe me."When she said she would help him earn a place on
"D-Don't come any closer. . please, my siblings are still young and they depend on me for living, so please. . we can still talk it over, right?" he pleads. With a blink of eye, the woman's expression suddenly became darker as her red lips curved into a terrifying smirk."We're here now. Why not try a free fall. . ."Tristan's life flashed through his eyes as he felt the tip of the woman's index finger gently touched the light-cloth covering his left shoulder.That touch was something he could not explain in that he was literally electrified, causing him to unconsciously close his eyes. The next thing he knew, his feet no longer touches the ground and the darkness that surrounds him is now closer to nothingness.He was falling.For how long was he being pulled downward, he couldn't even tell, he was too terrified to even notice such detail.'Once you fall down there, your physical body,
"Believe me, aunt. My friend. . he went through all that because of a mysterious woman who intends to bring a Witch back to life!"Since Anne made it back to the Palace the night before after a day of complete disappearance, one serious news was brought into discussion between her and the Queen Regent. Going back, she was greeted by Serina and her professor, Sherfy's combined force of fierce, deadly stare, enough to make everyone kneel before they could even utter a word.And so she did."I-I'm deeply sorry, Aunt, Teacher! I-I will wholeheartedly take all the sanction you could think of to atone for my misconduct, I promise!""Do compose yourself, young lady. You're making it appear like we're some sort of abusive guardians here," Serina calmly addresses the Princess' action."Oh, he he, that's right. ." Anne stood, eyes still on the floor. "Again, I really am sorry, please grant me my punishment now."Head bent down, displ