The Teacup

Valerianne's eyes shot open in a panic. She sat up, only to fall back as her body couldn't handle the strain. She rubbed her neck, still feeling the pain of the guillotine. 

'Why do I feel so weak? What will I go through now,' she thought, falling into a daze. She looked at the familiar pink canopy of her bed in the Rosille chamber; the very room she spent her childhood in. Then, she heard the door of the chamber open, she tried to get a better view of the person who arrived without straining her body, only to fail. She laid there, quietly waiting for the person to come into her view, her ears perked up.

The person neared the bed, something fell down. Valerianne heard the splash of water, she looked up to find a maid, her brown hair tied into a neat bun, hazel eyes wide and mouth parted.

"Ella," Valerianne murmured. Her nose soured as hundreds of memories arose in her brain.

"Young lady, you're awake," said Ella, regaining her composure. "I shall go get the doctor. Milady, do not move around, your body is currently weak," she instructed, helping Valerianne sit up. Without wasting any time, she cleared the mess and retreated respectfully.

'Composed as always,' Valerianne thought, amused. She glanced down at her hands, fully expecting to find chubby hands, as she did everytime she woke up after death, but instead she found long, bony fingers resembling that of a teen.

Squishing her brows, she looked around the room, observing each item inside. Her eyes fell on her once treasured tea set, she noticed that all the teacups were in their place. 

'Ah,' she mused, a picture of a maid lying dead in that very room with a piece of the teacup stuck in her bleeding neck flashed in her mind.

It's strange, she commented. If Ella was her maid, then she must be over thirteen years of age. This had never happened before; she had always arrived at the age of eight. She looked around the room, seeking to find a clue that could answer the anomaly.

But rather than answers, she was filled with questions as her room was… odd. The large doll her parents gifted for her 11th birthday was missing. The room was overly filled with frills and lace. She noticed the addition of some items which she had never seen in all her lives. Her study desk was missing as well. The decor of the room was the same as the decor she had when she was a child. She reached out under her pillow, and just as she expected, her dagger was missing.

Why though? Why change things now? Valerianne's heart started beating fast, she started panicking. Her dead feelings seemed to arise, not in a good way. Before her mind continued on that train of thoughts, she was interrupted by a familiar knock.

"Come in," she calmly replied, and Ella came in along with the family doctor who ran to her side with teary eyes.

"Milady, you are finally awake! Saint Idris finally listened to our prayers! we were so worried," sobbed Thomas Eringh, the resident doctor of the Feyrer Duchy, which was quite a contrast to his looks. Thomas was a middle-aged man, wearing doctor garbs. He had brown hair, which was whitening at the tips and a scar on his forehead, he did not look like a doctor, but a mercenary instead. Contrasting his looks, his personality was akin to a teddy bear. Thomas started inspecting her after he was done sobbing. He took out a stethoscope and held it over her wrist, quietly listening to her pulses. 

Valerianne caught a whiff of a calming scent that hovered in her room. She inhaled and realized it was coming from Thomas. Upon further inspection, she could recognize the scent of thyme, rosemary, and various other medicinal herbs. The one which caught her attention was the musky scent of the plant she is named after- Valerian.

The woody fragrance of Valerian took her on a journey to the past.

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

It was a beautiful day. The sky was blue with milky white clouds hiding the sun from view. The garden was filled with various flowers, butterflies hopping from flower to flower, bees collecting nectar and birds chirping. The garden stood in its full glory. And in the centre of the garden was a glass greenhouse. Compared to the joyful setting outside, the inside of the greenhouse that was filled with herbs and flowerless plants gave out a calm vibe. Inside such a greenhouse, sat a woman putting together a flower crown, her movements filled with grace. Her black hair was tied into a low pony behind her neck, she wore a yellow dress, which complemented her light skin tone. Sunlight fell through the glass making the lady look like an elf.

This beautiful woman was Duchess Lillian.

"Momma!" Called out a ball of frills and ribbons, as it ran toward the woman and hugged her legs.

"There, there, Rianne. Don't run around. One must be graceful as a lady." The Duchess chuckled and put the frilly ball on her lap. 

And this young lady was our little Valerianne. With her raven hair tied into pigtails, decorated with ribbons, her face adorned with big eyes and an even bigger smile, she was a bundle of joy.

"Momma, what are you doing?" Asked little Valerianne, her eyes darting around curiously.

"I'm making a crown for my little gem," replied the Duchess.

"A crown? Like the Queen's?" questioned Valerianne, her voice laced with ecstasy.

"No, silly. Like the Faeries'," the Duchess gently replied.

"Oooh." Valerianne's eyes widened and she looked at the flower crown.

She stretched her neck to get a better view and was struck by a musky, calming smell.

"Momma, what is this flower called? I like the smell."

"It's called Valerian," explained the Duchess. 

"Like my name?" Her voice grew louder with glee.

"Yes, like your name."

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

She came back to the present, just as Thomas finished his inspection.

"Your body is still weak as you were in a coma the past few years, nothing to worry about though, my potions will bring you to your perfect health in no time!" he said, ignoring Valerianne's confused look.

"Excuse me? I was in a what?" Valerianne questioned, her eyes widened, her voice quivering with incredulity.

Thomas looked at Ella, not answering her question.

Why is he looking at Ella? Valerianne's brows furrowed.

"Thank you, doctor, I will see you out now," Ella calmly replied. As soon as Thomas was out, she shut the door and returned to Valerianne's side.

"Milady, it is a long story, I will tell you, but first please have something to eat, you must be starved," She said, conjuring a plate of muffins and tea.

Valerianne silently finished the snack, not taking her eyes off Ella, as soon as she was done, "Now tell me," she urged.