3 Bully

"1...2...3....1....1....3" Mother Elise snapped her fingers delicately as the young girls spun and made strides according to her step guide. If they got a step wrong, or missed their timing, she'd give them a stroke of her wooden stick.

She stood tall and thin, her silver hair styled smooth just as the tight bun on her head. Her nose is a hawk's beak, her eyes are sharp as she monitors everything in the room. She always looked angry, acted like a wild boar whenever we made the slightest mistake.

She was strict, and less friendly with me. I was the only one from my foster home that got admitted into the Maiden school and each day that passed, I'd wonder what befell the children that made me feel at home in this strange land.

The girls here are toxic, they try their best to make me feel inferior by all means. When I arrived they were irritated whenever I tried to speak to them or even by chance touch them. It was evident in my behavior and the hours I spent crying that I didn't like it here. Mother Elise is also hostile towards me and I once overheard her say "she's not pretty...she's dark. I can't believe it's her that's going to be our Queen" I was unable to see the substance of the individual she was conversing with yet I'm certain it was one of the senior girls, most likely Mary, the girl that hardly got along with me.

She was worse than the others. She'd made it clear to me the day I arrived, that they didn't like how I look. They found the way I'm different terrorizing and Mother never did anything about it no matter how many times I tried to make them all see that I wasn't a bad person. I was just different, in terms of my skin.

"What are you thinking of?" I was struck on my back and noticed Mother Elise in front of me, her cane tight around her hand as she slowly tapped the long stick on her thenar just to intimidate me more than I already am.

"I'm sorry" she smacked me again then hauled me by my ear to where the other girls were standing. I joined the rear of the line and got in position. I was too reluctant to react to the pain I felt because it would make her even more angrier and she was capable of doing worse.

"1...2...3....3...3...1...2" it was undeniable that I was the best dancer in the school, notwithstanding the torment I'd feel in my muscles and joints, it didn't prevent me from moving. Back home moving was what fulfilled me, whirling, bouncing around with my folks, house cleaners as well and furthermore my siblings... 'My siblings'

Remembering them brought me to a stop and before I knew it, I was smacked on my right leg. If they kept on hitting me on my legs, I wouldn't be able to dance anymore nevertheless walk properly.

Mother Elise gave me a malevolent look and the young ladies behind were clearly deriding me. A tear slipped from my eye and I immediately wiped it away.

"Well that's all for practice today"

"Yes mother" we bowed as she left. The girls left in groups while I stayed back and took a seat to rest a little and massage my swollen leg. She'd hit me harder than before on my right leg, the swell was enough to testify.

When the sun went down we as a whole assembled to the dinner room to eat roasted turnips and mushroom tarts. Unlike when I was home whenever we were having a feast, I'd step up to pray but they never did so in this country. It was entirely evident that they knew No God and perceived no divine beings. I'd supplicate all alone and favor the nourishment. I think I heard from a source that being religious was a crime, I'm not so sure.

As usual, i'd wait for the girls to finish eating, clear all the plates, wash them, scrub the kitchen floor and clean the walls before I get to eat, sometimes I don't find food to eat. I'd sleep hungry. Despite the fact that I was experiencing hellfire in the maiden school, I thought of it all as doing good for my people. As the prospective ruler, I need to be a generous kind, I'll attempt to do that. Excusing isn't in every case simple yet sometime in the future, regardless of to what extent I keep resentment I'd discover it in my heart to pardon.

"ANNOUNCEMENT LADIES AND NOT THE SHADOW AT THE BACK" the girls started to snicker however I grinned, attempting to not take what mother said as an offense even though my blood was boiling. "OUR LORD WILL BE HERE BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO SPEND SOME HOURS WITH US. SO I NEED YOU ALL TO WAKE UP EARLY, DRESS PROPERLY, PRACTICE YOUR MANNERS AND LOOK PRETTY" whenever the no faced king was mentioned there'd always be some sort of excitement one way or another. This time, I couldn't wait to see him too.

Once Mother came to wake us all up, we all got on our feet, the girls at the top of the bunks took the risk to jump down. The girls scampered, looking for hair brushes, the best of their dresses while I could do nothing but watch. I didn't have a fancy dress to wear, I didn't have anything presentable. I simply went outside, sat under the apple tree in the garden and kept on weaving a coat I've been needing to give the lord since I came. I have to appreciate him one way or another for sparing my life and giving me a place to stay.

My eyes diverted from the wool in my hands to the feet around me. I looked up to see the faces of Mary and her friends. "What do you want?"

They traded glances then snatched the coat away. "mother's orders" I got up angrily and slapped the girl holding the coat and a fight burst out. It was one again six, I was clearly outnumbered but all I needed was the unfinished coat. They pushed me to the ground and my head hit the bark of the tree.

I was stunned by the sharp pain but the beating didn't stop there. They stomped and kicked me then left when mother called for them. I cried, fingers delving into the dirt How long would I suffer? What if the king doesn't choose me. I heard the maiden academy was for the beautiful girls of the country, the place where many men, home and abroad, the wealthiest come to pick a wife. The best were always expensive but the no faced king had his privileges. He could choose as many as he like without paying, but no one in the family line had ever done that. Some hardly pick brides from the academy, but earn money from it.

I'd decided to not see him, I wasn't in the state to. I had scratches all over my body, and a dark circle around  my eye caused by Mary's blow.

I struggled to get back on my feet and go back to my bed to rest and probably hide myself under my blanket and also cry whilst the other girl's would be having fun with the king. I was so close to unlocking the door when I was disturbed once again.

Mother's gaze locked onto me, her pink painted lips turned up in an evil smile "You're obviously not in the state to stand before our Lord" Mother pulled me by my hand to the cold store room then pushed me in. She ordered that I stripped myself as punishment for doing the unknown. I plunked down, completely uncovered watching her take my garments, likely not to wash it but discard them. She locked me in there and I changed my stance to a sleeping position. They'd probably come for me when he's gone, or they won't come for me at all.

The door was opened and the girls filed out, doing a short dance routine to welcome their king. Mother Elise additionally bowed as he gradually strolled in observing the splendid corridor of the institute building. He took a seat and the girls served him tea, muffins, fruits and many varieties of soup made by the academy leader and the kitchen team.

None of that got his eyes. He was searching for something different. Mary was modest to converse with him. She didn't feel qualified to do as such, being near him was all that could possibly be needed. Mother Elise was certain Mary would be the following Queen and if The ruler looks at her, odds he'd fall were high. She was more endorsed than the shadow.

"Mary? That is your name right?" The girl nodded. He gave her permission to sit beside him which fully exposed her inner fangirl. She was squealing internally, totally excited about sitting down next to a monarch.

The king looked up to the elder, Elise, and asked her to call the other girls. He had gifts for them all. The girls swiftly ran to meet him, a bright grin on their faces as his servants handed them all their individual gifts, with their names on it. "Now where is my jewel?"

"My lord?" Elise turned her grin to a glare in a split second, she would not like to think he was requesting the shadow of the institute. That would've been silly of him.

"You think I'm foolish for asking for my jewel?"

"Gracious! My lord, I'd never think such" she went on her knee promptly her Heart hustling, beating hard against her chest as her sweat dropped.

"I'm a liar?"

"No-" she heard that he could read minds, and she casually thought he was ridiculous for wanting the shadow.

"Now tell me...where. Is. My. Jewel"

The iron door opened and I thought for a second, was it evening time already? Had the king gone without asking about me? I gradually sat up, hands hurting as I utilized them to situate my body. Finally I could go warm my body by the furnace. I looked up with a forced smile on my face "Mother..." my vision was blurry as I held my hand out and surprisingly, it was intertwined with a much bigger hand. I blinked a few times and soon I was able to see who was in front of me clearly.

A man was in front of me In my humiliating state. He had a powerful feel. As soon as i figured out who he was, i felt more embarrassed.

It's everyone's dream to come in contact with him in life and I was lucky enough to be one of those whose dream came true, twice. He still had his mask on but a different one from almost two years ago, this time, a pure gold, has two horns like that of a devil. It's most likely intended to resemble a craftsmanship no one but he could comprehend. It secured his entire face, scarcely demonstrated his jawline and eyes. I wondered if he could see, or if he even had eyes at all.

I didn't know where to start from, how to acknowledge his presence. I was too ashamed to move. "I'm sorry my lord..." tears began to slip from my eyes down my cheeks. I've always planned to meet you but not like this. Soon he wrapped his furry coat around me, almost covering me up like a cocoon.

I could feel something weird stirr up in my stomach, I haven't seen his face but my heart was already feeling this way.

"What is your name my jewel?" He asked, finger running down my face to wipe the tear drops off "Amal Ryan"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen" I couldn't read his expression or how he felt through his voice, everything was just flat but deep and low.

"You're honest. I like that. Now tell me...who did this to you?"

I could spot Mother and Mary from the back pleading for me to not say a word. If I did it would put their life at risk. If I lie, I have no idea what the King would do to me.