“I can ask you the same, Archduke,” I said, wrinkling my nose in annoyance. He let go of my arm. I did not intend on listening to whatever he had to say. Especially if he was still going to report my whereabouts. “Now, I am busy. I have someplace to be, and it does not require your involvement. So please, be on your way.”
“If you would just let me explain,” he pleaded. His voice was sincere, and I could not ignore the guilt I felt. But now was not the time for explanations.
“Not now,” I said dismissively and continued towards the kitchens. For a moment I thought Owen would come after me, so I began to run.
I had run so fast that I slid when I stopped. The cooks and kitchen maids looked up at me in shock, as I to them.
I was half expecting them to have a pot of some sort, brewing an evil concoction; but what I saw were servants readying tomorrow’s breakfast. By the looks of it, breakfast would be cream-filled biscuit rolls and strong coffee.
“Oh, uh…” I was at a loss for words.
The head cook looked around quickly at the piles of dishes and silverware in the sink.
“Mistress, if you are hungry–”
“No, it is all right,” I cut her off. I eyed the bowls and used kitchenware on the tables. Nothing looked wrong here and I turned back, frowning. “Good night.”
Perhaps no one had tampered with Selenah’s food. What was I thinking? I took a deep breath before heading back to my chamber. I needed to stop being so paranoid. Selenah would be fine…if she indeed was sick with something.
Maybe I am the only one who overestimated her magic.
I readied myself for bed and fell asleep quickly, unaware of the eyes that watched me from the sky.
****
The next day I expected Selenah to still remain unwell. But to my surprise, she was her usual self, taking command of everything and trying her best to make my life miserable.
She ordered me to greet and get to know the other nobles in the Palace, so they would feel welcomed by their Duchess. And for me to, in her words, make more friends. Not that I believed her good intentions. I did not need any more of her “friends,” who would answer to her beck and call about what I did or where I was.
I was bored beyond compare when one of the nobles happened to be an old woman who loved talking about her past life as a rich, beautiful, young courtier. But she was now, to her misfortune, still, a bachelorette, quite plump with wrinkled skin, and her once blonde hair was now streaked white and had thinned with age.
“So, you see, my dear, you choose your suitors very seriously. If your mother were here, I would tell her a few things she should know about the noblemen of Tenebris,” Lady Yael said, giving me a wink. Her reference to my mother only made me sit back in my seat and nothing more. “As for you,” she continued. “It seems that your sister has beaten you to the Prince. Ah, which reminds me of the time I once had a very handsome Lord woo me…”
I had a massive urge to roll my eyes at the old woman but sipped at my tea instead. The creamy milk it was made of was my only reprieve. After enduring another half hour of Lady Yael’s stories, and several failed attempts to escape her clutches, she motioned me to come close and her aging eyes began to light with excitement.
“There are a few rumors,” she said, whispering, “About how your sister will not be able to have the Prince after all.”
I raised an eyebrow. Now, this was something worth listening to.
“They say the King has other plans. He needs to show his allegiance to Porticor, a very wealthy island nation who happens to have four very pretty princesses. And since King Randin only has one son…” She let the words sink in, and my eyes widened at the realization. “But they are just rumors,” she added with a wry smile. “And I am just an old woman, talking out of sorts with a sixteen-year-old duchess.”
Lady Yael and I finally said our farewells, and I made my way back to the Grand Library. It was the only place I felt at ease in, surrounded by shelves stacked with literature and not a single pair of prying eyes. Once there, I gazed out the window that overlooked the courtyard.
What Lady Yael said could not be true. Did everyone not expect Selenah to be Queen? She and Prince Gareth did seem close. I decided to keep this information to myself and spare myself Selenah’s ridicule if I told her what I learned, and it turned out to be false.
No sooner had I made up my mind, I saw Prince Gareth and his Guards make their way out of the Palace on horseback. They rode off in a hurry once outside the gates.
I thought I noticed a bird flying above them, but perhaps it was my imagination.
I decided to figure out why Prince Gareth left; just to sate my curiosity.
I left the library and made my way to Selenah’s chamber. The two Guards outside her door straightened and glanced at each other. The older looking one spoke first.
“Her Ladyship Selenah is not here, Duchess,” he stated.
“Where did she go?”
“We are not sure,” the younger one said, looking at his companion. “She just…” At my dissatisfied look, he quickly added, “Her Ladyship is well and…um…”
“Duchess, Her Ladyship seemed excited about something. Please do not concern yourself with her absence,” the older guard said, giving his younger comrade a reproachful glare.
I nodded and walked away. Maybe the Prince’s leave is not related to Lady Yael’s rumor. I shook my head. It was absurd to think Prince Gareth would marry a Porticorian Princess when Selenah was Tenebris’ savior. She had the magic and the looks to rule as a queen.
I began to wander aimlessly through the Palace, feeling an urge to do something, but unsure of what exactly. What did duchesses do anyway? I found myself by the stables, and feeling rather bored, decided to go riding for a while.
The stableman showed me the necessary attire I would have to abide by if I were to ride. I took the offered uniform and changed out of my dress. Returning to the stable, I tried to mount Coal, an older, muddy black mare who seemed uninterested in her stay indoors.
When I failed to mount her, the stableman helped me up. He later gave me a sour look after I had accidentally kicked his hand. I apologized and scolded myself for making a fool of myself in front of him.
I had not ridden a horse in years. The last time I had, Father scolded me for tiring out his horse when he needed them to carry his wares to town. I shook my head to push the memory away. Selenah, having overheard Father’s complaints, used her magic to ease the horse’s fatigue. And, of course, she earned Father’s favor along with it.
As Coal trotted about in the grassy fields outside the stables, I noticed I was not the only one here.
The sun was too bright for me to see a face, but the horse was visible: a glowing mane of gold, a shiny coat of white, and a set of pink-colored reins. I could only imagine who the rider of this beautiful beast was: Selenah.
No sooner had I identified her, she and her horse daintily galloped over to us. She circled around as if showing her horse off. I scowled at her.
“Do you like the horse Gareth gave me?” she asked, making me realize this was why she had left.
I shrugged.
She looked at the horse I was upon and frowned. “That thing does not look so pretty, Mel. Why not go back to the stable? I am sure the Palace has better to offer.”
Coal snorted and shook her head at Selenah’s comment.
I gave her a triumphant look. If Selenah did not like this horse, and the horse her, she was mine.
“Actually, I have thought of something better for us to do. Come with me and watch the recruits for the Royal Guard down by the battlements. I am sure it will be entertaining!” She turned and rode off, dirt flying into the air. I decided to follow but at a slower pace. It was not like I would be in the arena.
My time watching the new recruits was not a wasted one. Especially since Selenah wooed Connor into letting her train with his men. I wanted to laugh aloud when I saw the looks on the recruits’ faces when they were
told they would have to challenge Her Ladyship and I could not help but shake my head when Selenah was able to outfence them. But I was shocked too; I had never known Selenah to know how to wield a sword, let alone move so fast.
Her last challenger had actually put up a fight, and perhaps because Selenah’s arm seemed to tire in the middle of their match, the full armored trainee took the upper hand and won. The result left me gaping, along with the rest of the men who had been watching the match.
“Congratulations!” Connor said to the victor, giving him a hard slap on the back. “You have bested her Ladyship when the rest of the new lot was unable to.” A chorus of objections rose from the audience as Connor turned to face his men, displeased. “Now off with you all! You have no right to serve and protect the Royal Family with such distasteful losses.”
While the new recruits grumbled and picked up their weapons to head back inside and freshen up, Connor turned around and winked in Selenah’s direction. I raised my eyebrows at his overtly friendly gesture. Selenah only gave a small wave in return before quickly veering off the arena.
Straight for me.
I took a step back from where I was previously leaning against the arena fence. Selenah stopped to stand before me, placing the sword she had used at my feet.
“I need to take a bath,” she said, with a slight frown on her face. “I do not feel well.” I grinned, thinking that she was just upset from having lost the match. “Walk with me,” she said, taking my arm.
My smile faded, and I frowned as I made my way back with her. I looked over my shoulder to see that the mystery knight was taking our horses back to the stable. I earnestly wanted to meet him as he as the only one who had defeated Selenah in sword-combat, but I decided I could always do that later. He was one of the new Guards after all and would serve in the Palace.
With a sigh, I looked up towards the sky as we walked back into the Palace, expecting to see the eagle soar overhead. It was.
I noticed it would not fly any lower than the peak of one of the Palace’s towers, which I found peculiar. There were plenty of trees in the Palace grounds that it could perch on, yet it would only rest on the trees outside the Palace.
Selenah jerked on my arm, forcing me to look away, before going on about her last challenger and why she had lost to him. I tuned her out, assuming she would just make up an excuse for her defeat; instead, I listened to the sound of the eagle’s distant wingbeats.
CHAPTER TEN
LEST HISTORY REPEAT
After a cooling bath that Selenah insisted I take, I headed up the steps to the Grand Library. It was quiet inside, except for the old librarian’s laborious breathing.
My mind wandered as I touched the spines of the alphabetized leather-bound books. But I stopped at a certain large volume that caught my eye. I pulled at the tome with some difficulty but managed to take it out while keeping the rest of the books in their position. The title of the book in my hand read, “Mhellany the Evil: Selina the First’s Sororal Enemy.”
I stared at the book, dumbfounded. The first book I ever read on Selina the First’s sister, and this is what I find? It also made my heart beat a little faster at the thought of her being an enemy to her own sister.
I made my way to one of the sofas by the dusty fireplace and I sat down. Tucking my legs under my knees, I opened the book and began to read.
****
“Is that an interesting book?”
I looked up from my reading and blinked a few times. Owen stood to my right, feet apart, arms folded across his armored chest, and his head tilted slightly. It gave me the impression that he must have been there for some time before speaking up. His armor reminded me of the one that belonged to the trainee who defeated Selenah.
For a moment, I opened my mouth and was ready to answer him honestly, but then I caught myself. I checked my page number and closed the book, letting it rest on my lap.
“If you are still acting as Selenah’s puppet, I will not answer you.”
Owen did not respond to my words, and instead, sat down on the armchair across from me; his armor clinked as he did so.
“Melanie, I am sorry.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I did not think you would take it so harshly. I was simply doing what was asked of me. You must understand I meant no harm.”
I turned my head away, opening the book back to show him I was disinterested in what he had to say. Selenah could have set him up to this to regain my trust.
Owen sighed and leaned back into his chair. “Selenah says you might want some sword training.”
“Do you always do as she says?” I snapped, looking back up at him, even though sword training was a privilege for anyone in Tenebris. Only Guards and the occasional nobleman knew how to wield a sword. “What she wants and what I want are two completely different things.”
“It is not like you speak up for yourself,” Owen countered.
I looked at him, clenching my jaw. “Oh, is that the real reason why you came here? To criticize me?”
“I…” he stopped. “I will take my leave–”
“Good,” I interrupted.
Owen clenched his wrist, then released it as he cleared his throat.
“I shall be at the battlements if you change your mind.”
I remained silent as he stood up and walked away.
I slammed my fist against the book on my lap and exhaled in disbelief. The was the last place I wanted to be. I thought to humor myself with some of Lady Yael’s stories. It would be a great way to keep my mind off of Owen and Selenah.
With that in mind, I left the book on a nearby table and exited the Grand Library.
“Well hello, Duchess,” the old lady said, greeting me. “What a wonderful surprise. Do come in.” We sat down by the window of the chamber. I was quiet at first, staring at the carpeted floors when Lady Yael asked if I was all right.
I stopped to think if I should answer her honestly. I had no real reason to talk to her about my personal issues, but I felt I could trust my emotions with her. So, I confessed to her how I really felt about Selenah. Lady Yael carefully listened as I did so, and one of the Palace maids brought in our usual tea for us. I then told her I had found and read a book about Selina the First’s sister, not realizing how upsetting the book would be.
“Tell me, Duchess,” Lady Yael said. “What did you come across in this book?”
I sighed.
“It said that Mhellany was Selina the First’s older sister, with magic as strong as Selina’s. But by the time two reached adulthood, Mhellany had attempted to kill her sister several times because she hated that Selina the First was so important to everyone in the kingdom, and she herself was not as revered. And, well…she allied herself with Selina the First’s enemy, the Reaper, because she was an outcast with magic like he was.” I paused. “So, I think I am trying to say that I do not think it is fair of the author to call her evil so many times. The Reaper was the only one who would give Mhellany room to be herself all those years. And I think that is what made her so against Selina the First. ‘Hurt and influenced by the wrong person’ would better suit her.”
“Hmm,” was Lady Yael’s reply. “Your sympathy for Mhellany is novel as far as popularity goes. Best not let history repeat itself, eh?” she added, sipping her tea.
I cocked my head. The old woman raised an eyebrow and gazed at me with blue-grey eyes.
“I… the Shadow Reaper cannot fool me,” I spluttered, putting down my cup. “I have seen him, and I will know if he is trying to win me to his side as he did Mhellany all those years ago.”
Lady Yael put down her empty cup.
“Yes,” she said, “you would know. But believe me, Duchess, when I tell you that your emotions match what Mhellany felt. Be wise, my dear. You cannot hide behind these gates forever, and neither can Lady Selenah.”
In a mix of fear and anger, I said my farewell to her then and there, walking down the halls alone. I hugged myself, hoping no one wo
uld see me trying to ease the growing fear I felt. I was nearly seventeen; it marked my entrance into adulthood. If anyone were to see me stressing openly, they would have yet another thing on the list to talk ill about.
At the thought of it, I realized Selenah, too, would be seventeen. Did that change her relationship with the Prince? He was in his early twenties and needed to secure his marriage for Tenebris, as Lady Yael had hinted at before.
I decided to meet up with some of the other noble women in one of the Palace’s sitting rooms to give myself something else to think about.
I was escorted in by one of their maids and nearly took a step back at the sight of Owen seated by two of the ladies I had come to visit. I raised my eyebrows at the sight, and it was clear that Owen was surprised to see me here.
But I could not help admitting to feeling a little hurt. Was he not supposed to be waiting for me at the battlements? I shook the feeling away. This must be his way of dealing with my unforgiving attitude towards him.
Owen rose from his seat at my entrance, as did everyone else. He mumbled out a greeting and bowed. The others smiled and welcomed me.
“Duchess Melanie,” Lady Fretta, who was my age, said. “Please join us.” She looked to Lady Alary, whose flaming red hair made her stand out amongst her sandy-haired friend.
“I would not want to interrupt your conversation with the Archduke…I will return another time,” I said, turning to leave.
“Please, Duchess. Do stay,” I heard Lady Alary say, who was a few years older than I. “We were just settling in to have some tea.” She twirled a lock of her red hair. But I knew she did not mean the words she said– rather, they meant the opposite. Her eyes were focused on Owen.
I was starting to dislike the velvet-walled and baroque sitting room more and more.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I hate to have interrupted on your conversation. Another time, of course.” I gave them a curt nod before I walked out of the chamber.
I was not much more than a few paces away from them when Owen caught up with me.
“Melanie, I was–”
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