Chapter 14: The Blue dress stained in Red (I). 

Chapter 14: The Blue dress stained in Red (I).

Elizabeth's POV

"You've decided to leave for the party, your highness." (Victoria) tells me, not sounding too happy about my decision. She shifts over to my closet fixing my clothes, the dresses in the wrong color for the theme of the party were ignored.

I hummed thinking of my decision to come to the party and the weight of it.

While I could reject the invite, I would miss the opportunity to meet my Uncle.

He would never go to any of my public events so I've been curious about what kind of man this was but regarding the letter that he sent me- I have an inkling of what kind of personality he has.

"The council has approved and has encouraged my decision. Family, and blood ties us more than water, it's thicker. They, of course, would like us to get along wouldn't they?" I told her as I held up the dress I planned on going to wear for the birthday party.

The theme of blue, is a symbol of dependability, stability, and trust, along with consistency, authority, and strength.

My maid tightens the corset as I hold out my breathing.

I chose a shoulderless gown, with sleeves embedded with jeweled beads, and it was layered. It felt heavy for my little body to bear but the pain could be felt more by my feet, the little sizes of heels as if they were prickling me with needles.

Wearing this is much proper for nobility, though I would have to say- that I look adorable, seeing my reflection through the mirror.

"Ever the wiser, your highness." (Victoria) lets me sit down at my vanity table, pulling a chair and holding down my hair gently loosening the end of it for her to brush. "What would you like for me to style your hair for the party?"

"Something simple would be nice."

"Agreed."

The brush that she used to comb me was the empress' gift also known as my biological mother. I had wondered if the empress passed down her motherly duties to Victoria as soon as she passed.

I could feel my personal maid's face looking solemn as she stared at the end of the wooden comb with my engraved name. It was many of these rare moments I had seen her so vulnerable.

I wanted to... not see that expression on her face.

"Victoria?"

"Yes?"

...

"You promised to tell me where you lived... your childhood and what food you ate." My hands felt a little nervous reminding her of what she had promised to tell me, I had hoped I didn't sound too invasive into her private life.

For I felt her hands had stopped brushing my long silver hair, I feared she was angry with me.

"I... did promise, apologies if I made it seem that I had forgotten." (Victoria) ties the top of my hair into a braid. I could feel her hands gently organizing them into a group of strands before telling me her story.

"I was a former slave and orphan who had nowhere else to go."

...

What...?

"The reason why I couldn't give a response to your curiosity about my life, your highness was because where I have lived- what kind of food I ate in my childhood I couldn't tell you because I couldn't remember." (Victoria) continued to braid my hair, my heart felt so heavy not knowing that she- she had a life like that.

I turned silent, hearing her tale.

I wanted to know more, but it would feel wrong to open up any old wounds that still haven't healed.

Victoria notices my silent state, she pats my head and I could hear her let out a chuckle. "But there was your mother."

My head turns to her face seeing her smile so widely.

"The empress?"

"Yes, my dear friend who has found me a place where I could call home she saved me from my master who did nothing but... hurt us as we did our best to service her."

Service... her?

I didn't want to disrupt her story so I continued to listen.

"I stayed in an orphanage in the countryside far away from here. I haven't visited in years, I want to but- I fear for your safety if I am not here danger might've doubled." (Victoria) places down the brush and holds my chin up looking at my current reflection in the mirror.

A pretty pale face, snow-white skin, silver hair, and gray eyes. Such features of beauty were handed out to me. This... I looked like how I was in my old life just- in different colors.

"I take my duty to protect and care for you, your highness very seriously." she let go of my chin gently and I felt safe hearing those words but...

I felt this guilty feeling inside that she couldn't go back home to the place she once stayed, the old friends and acquaintances that must've been looking forward to her visits. How have they been faring?

Could it be that they miss her, have I been selfish keeping Victoria to myself?

"You know that- I'll be fine right? I haven't had anything bad happen to me in years- if you visit back now then it's going to be okay." I pulled onto her sleeve, wishing her to go back but my request for her to take a break was followed by another chuckle.

"The reason why you're safe now, is because I've been doing my duties even when you're asleep, your highness. Perhaps you're old enough to know now, I wanted to keep you out in the dark." (Victoria) tells me as her eyes darkened, my hands froze.

Years, I've been safe.

In comfort.

Victoria, all of it was your doing? Do you ever sleep?!

"But I've witnessed that your emotional state is a strong one that I trust you to know, the life of the future empress that has been paved for you is a dangerous one." (Victoria) tells me, slowly walking away from the vanity table and opening the door out to my room.

"Victoria, I commend your loyalty and duty to the crown's protection. I know you will not be by my side often-" I got out of my vanity mirror, hearing Victoria's story made me feel grateful that I have such a wonderful loyal person by my side- and that I won't take her for granted anymore.

"But once... I can protect myself. I order you to go back home and come back once you've decided to. Your old friends, old life, and perhaps even your sweetheart are waiting..."

When I have caught up to her by the door she smiles, holding my shoulder.

"Princess Elizabeth, know that I will be your maid and knight. Amid night and day by your side, I serve. My home... is with you now."

My lips formed a smile before I quickly hid it fearing that Victoria would see.

"Thank you."

It was all that I could reply to. We walked together, picking up the gift that I had prepared by my chef into a neat pristine paper box and by then we were ready to leave the castle.

.-.-.-.-.

From the letter he gave, he told me that he was to 'fetch' me in a carriage he will be providing.

"It seems it's still not here," I muttered to myself, holding the hem of my dress and letting it down to the ground as we waited.

It would be rude not to use the carriage my Uncle Damien has provided, how considerate of him. Still, I much prefer to use my own.

I have several guards in tow with me while we wait for the carriage provided by my uncle. Some will be walking while others are left to walk.

I was bored, so I started talking to one of the guards- whom I recognized.

"The unicorns," I muttered so randomly, but I was so bored out of my mind because the carriage was rather slow on coming to get me to the birthday party.

I was well aware that the Dukedom of Erhenzig was a mere two to three hours away depending on your carriage and the route of the map we use.

"Your highness?" The guard looked at me surprised and I stared at him before replying.

"The unicorns you've told me I want to know more about them."

...

"Y-You remember me?!" He exclaimed happily and I tilted my head in confusion.

"Yes, should I have not?"

Did he not think I would not remember him over the hundreds of guards that take turns in patrolling me?

...

After half an hour of waiting, my newfound friend named Tobias Unclein. He was a chatty lad, he would always remember to call me by my title before telling me such fun facts about unicorns.

Like how they were rumored to have war with fairies.

Their horns have magic by the tip, and they were real and not just myths their village made to entertain children. "Your highness, there's even a festival dedicated to unicorns, if we offer them some fruits and vegetables our houses will be protected with their magical charms. It has also become a sign of a good harvest."

"We also have a horse racing event for the unicorns to watch in their honor. Many prizes were given and you can get a trophy for winning first place." He tells me, trying to keep his excited voice in.

Tobias' legs were shaking to the point I could tell he wanted to jump.

It seems Tobias was a man who was fond of unicorns. If you would look at him the first time you've seen him, you wouldn't have known. A man well in his thirties, talking about ponies… my.

"I want to see this festival of yours someday," I tell him, genuinely I am interested in my kingdom's different festivals, cultures, and cuisine.

"Ǔnchein Festiva is worth it to experience! Err! Your highness!" (Tobias) was growing into me, I like him.

We had talked about unicorns the whole time, I even found Victoria in the corner looking jealous of our new sudden bond with unicorns. "When is that carriage arriving? I swear- if it's not here by the next five minutes- we're taking our own no matter the insult looking it seems towards the Duke."

Victoria crosses her arms as we finally see a coachman off in the distance.

Clack... Clack...

It was the sound of hooves walking in our direction, the coachman stopping at the horses' heel to the sound of the whip.

"Mrrrph." The horses seem to be tired, their body full of red marks, and the coachman didn't seem to care that what he was doing was hurting the horse entirely.

Panting, the horses looked at me.

"..."

"Your highness, I have come in Duke Damien's orders to escort you to their estate." The coachman with his suit and top hat greets me with a smile, as if he was happy to see me but underneath all that I know he wasn't.

I gave a fake smile, I don't flatter people who hurt animals.

"I've been waiting for a long, it's not wise to make the future empress wait unless you want an equal punishment that comes with it." My eyes turned dark, I didn't like to treat people the way they expect.

"Grrr."

Hmm...

I thought that it was something like a stomach grumbling, but to my surprise, I could see Tobias looking so angry toward the carriage.

"The horses..." (Tobias) mutters out and I could feel his emotion of anger seeping through towards the coachman. It wasn't only unicorns he was concerned with, he was even worried for the horses the other guards paid no mind to it but-

"..." (Victoria) looked angry but she tried her best not to show it, her eyes telling it all the more I observed her.

He and Victoria seemed to be the only ones with empathy.

"Please forgive me, your highness. The horses were rather slow. I have been thinking of getting new ones provided by the Duke but- as you can see they seem to be a bit broken." The coachman goes down from the driver's seat and points at the horses looking tired and beat.

Broken…

The horses' legs shaking in the cold... made me remember how my parents would think nothing of me when I was stuck for hours out in the winter season in my old life.

Somehow… I felt the horses' pain even without their words to tell me.

They are not broken but hurt.

I stood tall, the expression on my face was calm but my voice had a tinge of anger.

"Broken... They are animals, not objects." I tell him and the coachman stops his words looking at my eyes and his face shows fear. "Thou dare compare the importance of life in my presence I will not hesitate to order my guards to cut a finger out and we shall see what else is broken."

"..." (Guards)

"..." (Victoria)

"..." (Coachman)

They were all stunned in silence, a seven-year-old girl threatening a middle-aged man on what life was important. I couldn't take this crap anymore, "These horses are unwell for travel. I would like to use ours in exchange, do not dare lay a single scratch on them or I will have your head for the taking."

I looked behind Tobias, who had known me for an hour to be someone in delight to talk to with unicorns who were smiling.

He seemed to be happy that I'd gained his respect just by doing… this?

"Fetch me our fastest steed and get these two treated inside the castle, consult with our stable boy to get them some food and water," I tell them and the guards salute taking my order.

"Yes, your highness!" (Tobias) salutes and runs off immediately, volunteering to get the replacements for these horses to be placed in the carriage.

"But your highness the Duke provided them for you too" The coachman was going to try and talk me out of it but something was amiss.

"Your words of them being broken, you dare say the Duke of Erhenzig provided broken horses for the future empress?" (Victoria) steps forward with no fear, no matter how much this man uses the name of the Duke she will always have her way of fighting back.

"Isn't this an insult to her highness, coachman?" she continues jabbing a finger three times to his chest with a grin. "What now? Should we write a letter to the Duke of how horrible your poor choice of excuses is?"

The coachman provided by Uncle Damien realized that he was alone.