Helping Hand

Viella struggled against her two brothers, wrestling her way out of their grip at every moment. However, it seemed the more she fought them, the more they found pleasure in dragging her body through the courtyard and into the palace. 

Only when she saw where they were going did Viella stop struggling, curiously glancing at her half-brothers as they looked on guiltily.

They even loosened their grip as they walked up the stairs and into Safana's bedroom. 

Viella held her breath when they opened the door without knocking. 

No one entered the Crown Princess's room without knocking—it was unheard of. But it seemed the two brothers knew the Crown Princess was not there, as the room was completely empty. 

"Why would you bring me here?" Viella asked suspiciously. 

Finn stood behind her, holding her still as Jasper found something behind a wall-sized tapestry. Viella wasn't sure what he did, but the wall started to move like a door. 

Behind it, a hidden space illuminated by torches greeted them. Viella frowned as a sinking feeling in her chest sent shivers down her spine.

She had been cleaning this room almost all her life, and yet she had never known there was a hidden space in Safana's room. What was she keeping in there? 

"Move! B*****!" Finn yelled. 

Viella felt his hand so hard against her back that she nearly tripped on the stone floor, catching Jasper's vest to keep herself up.

Jasper ignored it, helping her before the three of them faced a spiral stairway that seemed to go on forever. Slowly, she noticed the small windows disappearing along the way. 

At the bottom was a wooden door illuminated by a single candle held by a wall sconce. Its flame burned steadily, casting shadows around the rugged walls. 

"Get ready for your birthday gift," Finn said excitedly, then shoved Viella inside. The two followed right behind her. 

All the way down here was what she could only describe as a beautifully decorated resting room. Everything followed the color palette of soft pink, yellow, and white. 

In the middle, set on a large bear fur, was a beautiful settee decorated with colorful cushions.

Her three sisters sat there, each with a cup of tea, giggling among themselves, their evening gowns so delicate they were almost transparent. This would explain why her two brothers looked extremely uncomfortable, their faces downcast like scolded children. 

"Ah, Viella! You look so pale. Whatever is the matter?" Safana asked, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulders like woven silk. 

Next to her, Princess Catrina, who had a darker shade of blonde, looked at her with a sour expression. 

"Is that how you greet the Crown Princess? No wonder Mother was not so kind to you," she said, her eyes narrowing at Jasper, who, without direct orders, pushed Viella. 

"Greet the Crown Princess properly!" he exclaimed, though halfheartedly. 

Viella did as she was told, meaning to give Jasper a break. Of all her siblings, Jasper was always the kindest. It was only over the years, as they grew, that he felt the need to follow in their footsteps of being unnecessarily cruel. 

"Why did you bring me here?" Viella asked once she'd risen from her respectful bow. 

"Why? We wanted to help you, of course," said Tara, who sat on the other side of Safana. Of the five siblings, only she took after their father, with copper hair just like his. 

Viella's face softened with curiosity. "You want to help me?" It was an unexpected turn of events, but a pleasant one. "Are you going to speak to Mother on my behalf?" she asked. 

Safana smiled sweetly. "Of course. But first, we need to prove to her that you are worth more as a herbalist than as just a rich man's wife," she said meaningfully. 

Viella put both hands together in gratitude, though it was tainted by guilt. By the next moon, she would be gone forever, and all of their efforts would be for nothing. Still, Viella would leave knowing they did care, albeit a little. 

"What should I do?" Viella asked, her heart pounding in excitement. There was nothing like standing in the greenhouse and studying all the benefits a leaf might offer.

It was so much more rewarding when someone was cured by her potions. 

"Heal yourself," Safana said, still smiling. But this time, it did not reach her eyes. Her two sisters sat beside her, holding the same cold gaze that sent a heavy, unsettling feeling into Viella's chest.

She gripped the fabric of her skirt as she listened to Jasper and Finn grunting behind her. 

The two boys placed a pillory in front of her and then opened it. 

Viella's breath caught. "How long will you keep me here?" she asked, fearing she would not make it to the docks by midnight.

The three sisters giggled, delighted by the paleness of her face, which Viella could feel physically as the blood drained from her. 

"Dear sister, if I may?" It was Finn. Viella glanced at him, her breath starting to quicken, uneven and frantic, fearing what he would say. No one had told them yet what she was doing. 

While they were all distracted, Viella carefully took the ring from her finger and placed it in her pocket. Beside her, Jasper glanced at her hand, his piercing eyes heavy upon her. Viella stared, begging him to keep it quiet. 

"Is that so?" Safana said, almost with amusement. "Our dear Viella has found herself a lover!" She clapped enthusiastically.

Both Catrina and Tara clapped as well, though none of them seemed amused. Rather, there was something else there—jealousy? Viella thought, confused. 

"Have you lain with him?" Tara asked curtly. It was such a vulgar and intrusive question, nothing a princess would ever ask, that Viella found herself taken aback. Answering that would also be as vulgar and unladylike. 

"Well? Have you?" Catrina pressed. 

"It's hardly any of your concern what I do in my privacy," Viella answered defiantly. 

It must have struck a raw chord in Safana, for at that, she dropped all pleasantry. Her face soured as she snapped her fingers. 

Like soldiers, both Jasper and Finn moved, their grip like iron as they held her down. Viella started to cry, realizing they didn't only want to trap her in the pillory but to strip her as well. She begged Safana, crying for mercy as the coldness of the room kissed her bare back. It spread to her side and then to her bare chest. 

Jasper threw her on the ground, then placed her in the pillory. It kept her head and hands in place as she knelt on the cold stone floor.

Viella looked up, "Crown Princess, please, find mercy in your heart! I am your sister, just as they are!" 

"How dare you stain our existence with yours!" Catrina cried. "Your birth was a curse; it took your mother's life. How can you put yourself on the same standing as us?" 

"I did not ask to be born. If I could take it back, I would," Viella said, tears streaming from her eyes. 

Jasper knelt beside Viella. She felt a soft, warm fabric placed on her bare back as he spoke. "Dear sister, please. This is unnecessary," he pleaded. 

Safana ignored him. "Finn, bring me my case," she said with a spoiled tone, like a girl asking for a box of sweets. 

Finn presented the leather box in front of Safana, revealing multiple whips with different heads. At that moment, Viella could see even he did not find it amusing. He stepped back then, his gaze falling. 

"Safana!" Jasper exclaimed, surprising everyone in the room. "This is too far! You're doing this out of cruelty, not because you want to help Viella. You were never going to speak to Mother, so please spare her!" 

Safana, who had never been spoken to like that, leaned back as if physically pushed. Her bottom lip started to shake, but not long after, she regained her composure. A greater darkness glinted in her eyes. 

"I never knew you held such affection for Viella. I'm sorry, dear brother; I should have listened to you. But now that I've gone this far, I will see to it that I get my way," Safana said with a soft, caring tone, her gentleness deceiving. 

"I'm going to do what I want while I can. Considering I'm not yet an adult, I'll be pardoned for my transgressions. Well, no one would care if I transgressed against her, but at least I can skip a day locked in my room." Safana glanced left and right at both Catrina and Tara, her sisters returning her look with one of agreeable amusement. 

"So, you know what, I've made up my mind. I know what you can do to help Viella," Safana said, striking fear in her heart.

Viella looked over to Jasper, begging him. Their gazes met in understanding. He would do what he could to help her. 

"Very well, sister, tell me. What can I do?"