“Now, bow down to me!”
~•~
Long, long time ago, there was a country called Lucifenia whom nobody dared to oppose.
The leader was a little princess of the age of fourteen, who has claimed the riches of the world.
She didn’t need to worry about money. She could take it from anybody she wanted to take from, after all.
~•~
“Leonhart, stop that! You’re going to kill yourself!”
“So do you suggest me to sit down and watch those people die on the streets?”
“So do you suggest me to sit down and watch those people die on the streets?”
The red haired servant couldn’t answer anything. She looked away sadly while eating her bread. Of course she was worried about her friend.
“But if Rilliane finds out, you’re in big danger…”
“That’s why you should just stay shut, Chartette!”
She looked at him for a while, then she gave a slight nod without opposing more. She actually felt sorry for those peasants on the street who died of hunger everyday, but she couldn’t do anything about it. It was way too dangerous.
“Take care of the place when I’m away.”
She watched her friend left through the door as she kept eating. Of course she was worried, especially with the fact that he had two children. He’s just put himself in a dangerous situation, and she didn’t want to get involved.
“Careful, Leonhart…”
~•~
“Josephine, are you alright?”
The white horse didn’t react and only stood in front of its master, a blonde girl, with a sick face. She turned to the blonde servant behind her and sighed.
“Have you called the doctor?”
“Yes, milady,” he said. “He’ll be here in an hour.”
“Yes, milady,” he said. “He’ll be here in an hour.”
“Ah, an hour? If we wait for him, I won’t get to go out to town…”
She walked out of the stables, being followed by the servant, who kept his head down as if the girl walking in front of him was a goddess.
“What do you suggest me to do, Allen? I don’t want to use a carriage – it’s too shaky.”
“Why don’t we walk, milady?” he asked. “If you’re tired, I can carry you back to the palace. Oh, and we can have guards, too…”
“No! I’m not walking between those peasants!”
He was surprised by her reaction, but he kept his head down with a sad face. She glanced at him, only to notice the sad expression on his face, and somehow, she felt kind of… uneasy.
“Um… I don’t mean it, Allen. But I’m still not walking between those peasants.”
“Sorry about my awful suggestion,” he quickly said as he bowed down. “My deepest apologies.”
“Sorry about my awful suggestion,” he quickly said as he bowed down. “My deepest apologies.”
“…”
She turned back to him, who was bowing down with such an innocent face, as if he was a kid who just stole candies from her. She then walked away with a sigh. She had no choice, since her horse was sick…
“W… whatever. Let’s use a carriage.”
“But you get sick on carriages, milady?”
“I… I can manage.”
“I… I can manage.”
He gave a thin smile, then he turned to a man who was taking care of the stables and exchanged a few words with him. The man nodded, and the servant quickly ran back to his lady.
“It’s all done, milady,” he said. “Youll be able to set off very soon.”
“Thank you, Allen.” You will always grant all my wishes, no?
~•~
“Hahaha, look at them, Allen!”
The servant couldn’t say anything as his mistress was looking out to the people begging on the streets, laughing.
“Do they really expect anyone to give them any money, acting like that? Hahaha!”
That was cruel, but he couldn’t do anything. A servant’s task is to serve their masters, so hey shouldn’t be oppoisng their master, right? Even if what their master did is against the servants’ morality…
“You’re not going to help them, milady?”
“Me? Help them?” The girl smiled arrogantly as she turned to her servant. “Aren’t they the ones supposed to help me and not the other way round?”
“…”
“…”
The carriage rolled on, as the young girl kept looking out of the window with a smile. She could see everyone on the street was looking at her, some was running after her carriage, trying to get some fortune from her, but she didn’t care at all.
Suddenly she saw something strange…
She saw a man, dressed in white, standing before a pot. A lot of beggars were lining up in front of the pot, holding a bowl or plate, and he shared everything h got in the pot. The servant, too, noticed the scene, and they quickly recognized the man.
“That’s Leonhart, right Allen?”
“Yes…”
“Why is he giving away food?”
“I don’t know, either…”
“I don’t know, either…”
The carriage rolled past the man and his line of beggars, and Allen quickly noticed the change in his mistress’ expression. From the arrogant expression to an even more evil expression…
Anger.
~•~
“Rilliane, your tea.”
“Rilliane, your tea.”
The red haired servant put a metal tray in front of the girl and stepped back, then she bowed down and turned away to leave. But before she coul leave…
“Chartette.”
“Yes, Rilliane?” She wuickly turned back, smiling. But what was on her mistress’ expression wasn’t a pleasant expression at all…
She was… angry.
“Tell me,” she said as she took the cup. “Has Leonhart been smuggling food from the palace?”
Eh? “What do you…”
“Just tell me, Chartette.”
“That…” What do I do? I don’t want to endanger Leonhart, but if I don’t tell Rilliane…
“Just tell me, Char.”
“…Actually, yes…” Oh, my, I’m so sorry, Allen…
“For how long had it been going on?”
“I… don’t know… when I came to know, he said he has been doing it for a while…”
“When did you know?”
“Um… last… month…”
“Um… last… month…”
“I see.”
She turned to Chartette and gave a reassuring smile. Chartette quickly felt the uneasiness in her being replaced by relief by the smile.
“Thank you, Chartette. Hey, Mr. Soldier…”
That was when she realized. A few men hidden inside armours entered the room and saluted to her.
“Yes, Lady Rilliane!”
“Execute Leonhart Avadonia,” she said as she put the cup closer to her mouth. “As soon as you can.”
“Wait, Rilliane…”
“Yes, milady!”
But Chartette couldn’t do anything more…
Oh, God, Leonhart…
~•~
“She killed father?”
“I’m so sorry, Germaine!” Chartette grabbed the hands of the girl in front of her, crying. “Rilliane forced me to tell her! I… I have no choice…”
“No, it’s… not your fault at all, Chartette…”
Germaine pulled the girl closer to her and grabbed her shoulders. Chartette was still crying, and Germaine was really trying hard to not cry…
“It’s Rilliane’s, dear. It’s not your fault.”
“But…”
“But…”
“It’s going to be alright,” Germaine said reassuringly. “I can… take revenge myself.”
Yes, evil flower, she thought silently. I’ll kill you.
~•~
“Milady, the weather is nice today.”
Allen opened the thick curtains, letting some sunshine into the huge room. His mistress was sitting on her bed, staring at a frame placed in the bedside table.
“What about a walk, mistress?”
He opened the windows to let some fresh air in, while waiting for an answer. After a while of silence, he turned to her, who was staring at something on the bedside table.
“Is something wrong, mistress?”
He walked closer to her while pushing the tray with a teapot and a teacup on it. When he has gotten closer, he could see what she was staring at – the picture of a smiling blue haired man. He quickly recognized the man at a glance.
“Oh, that is Kyle Marlon, the prince, am I not mistaken?”
“Yes…”
He looked at her for a while – he could read from her eyes that she was longing for the man. He poured some tea from the teapot into the cup, then he put it in front of the picture.
“Isn’t he handsome, Allen?”
“I’m handsome, too, right, milady? He’s more handsome, I know that, though~”
He could see some pink tinge on her face as she looked away arrogantly, as usual.
“Well, not like I’m falling for him! I have a much higher taste! I just want to… meet him! That’s all!”
She took the cup of tea and drank the tea, still blushing. He could still see the longing expression in her eyes – however, eyes are always honest.
“Well, if you want to meet him, I can arrange it wih the ministers. I’ll ask them to help.”
She turned to him with a smile on her face, as if she just got some candy from the sweets shopkeeper.
“You can?”
“Of course,” he said. “You are my princess. Even if I must be evil, I’ll follow your orders…”
~•~
“Prince, the ministers wish to talk with you.”
“Let them.”
Some old men entered the room, where a man was looking at a case of white lilies. He turned to them with a thin smile, as if he wasn’t happy.
Oh, but he really wasn’t.
“What’s up?”
“My prince,” one of the old men said. “The King wish to arrange a marriage between you and Miss Rilliane. You’ll be meeting her, three days from now. So we’re hoping that you can set off tomorrow…”
The man rose from his seat upon the news. The old men backed off – even if the prince was younger, he was more powerful. And they could see the flames of wrath in his eyes…
“What?”
“Ues, that’s how it is,” another old man answered. “We’re hoping you can…”
“Ues, that’s how it is,” another old man answered. “We’re hoping you can…”
“No, I’m not!” He hit the table in anger. “You know I love Michaela!”
“My Lord, we understand, but Lady Michaela is a peasant,” another old men answered. “It’s not a relationship the King nor the Queen will allow…”
“No! You heard me, I’m not marrying Rilliane!”
He ran out from his room, and the old men could do nothing but gage him a path to run. Or else, he might be even more angered and hit one of them. But, as soon as he was out, they turned to some men in armor standing outside the room.
“After him!”
“Don’t let the Prince escape!”
~•~
“Two more days is it…”
Rilliane touched the picture of the man lovingly, with a smile on her face. Allen was pouring some tea for his mistress, when a man with long purple hair stepped in.
“Mister Minister…”
She turned and saw the man, then she gave a thin smile.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, my princess…”
The man bowed down, then he gave a deep, long sigh. Rilliane’s hand was reaching for her cup of tea.
“The prince refused… to see you, milady.”
“What?”
Allen could see the cup shook in her hands. He turned to the minister, who was giving a bitter smile. He stood up straight and gave Allen another grim smile, then he bowed down again.
“That’s all, so… please excuse me…”
Allen turned to his mistress, whose eyes had become blank. She looked a little scary that way – she seemed to be really angry, as her hands were shaking…
“Mi… lady?”
“Allen,” she said as she brought the cup closer to her mouth. “Go kill every green-haired woman.”
“Allen,” she said as she brought the cup closer to her mouth. “Go kill every green-haired woman.”
~•~
“I heard Rilliane will kill every green-haired woman.”
“What?” The girl with twintails turned to the man running next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“Who knows, that girl,” the man answered. “But right now I’ve got to hide you somewhere…”
They stopped before a well, covered with a huge wooden block. The man moved the block so that it was big enough for someone to get into, and he turned to her.
“Come on! Hide here! When it’s all over, I’ll come to get you.”
She jumped into the dry well, then she could feel the well became darker. She looked up, and she could see a tiny hole to act as the ventilation hole.
“Be careful, Michaela!”
She nodded, although she knew the man wouldn’t be able to see it. She then hugged her legs in the darkness and waited anxiously.
Clarith…
~•~
“What a poor girl, Gumillia. She has no friends, just because her hair is white…”
“You’re feeling sorry for her?”
“You can’t, since your hair is green.”
“Like your hair’s not, Michaela.”
“…”
“…You want to help her?”
“I… wish I can... There’s nothing we can do with this body.”
“So both of you want a body?”
“…Eh?”
“Who are you? How can you hear us?”
“Of course~ How can I, a Clockworker not hear~?”
“Who are you? How can you hear us?”
“Of course~ How can I, a Clockworker not hear~?”
~•~
“Whoa!”
“The annihilation has begun!”
“Run! Run!”
The streets were suddenly dyed green as every single green-haired woman ran on the street in panic. The city was in chaos as they were being chased by some men in armours.
“Don’t leave anyone!”
“Kill every green-haired woman, remember!”
A man in cloak walked to a well covered with a wooden block and pushed the wooden block aside. Michaela, who was sitting inside, quickly looked up as light got into the dark well.
“Kyle?”
No. She could see a boy with blonde hair and a cloak standing outside the well. They quickly recognized each other.
That woman… is she the one the prince likes?
“You are…”
Allen looked at her for a while, then he bit his lower lip and pointed his dagger on her chest. She smiled to him, as if it was something she had been waiting for. Allen kept looking at her, with the dagger only a few inches from her heart…
“You…”
“Why? Just kill me.”
“I…” He looked away sadly, without removing the dagger. “I… can’t…”
Suddenly Michaela took his hand and thrusted the dagger into her chest. Allen quickly felt some liquid on his fingers, then he turned, only to see his dagger in her heart…
Thank you…
~•~
“The green country has been annihiliated…”
“The green country has been annihiliated…”
Allen folded the newspaper he was holding and put it on his table, but he couldn’t help himself staring at the cover. There was a picture of a girl with green hair tied into twintails printed on the cover.
“Just kill me.”
He sighed and covered his eyes with both hands, unable to help preventing the tears from welling up in his eyes.
Allen…
Rilliane walked away from the room as she opened her fan.
Now, that we can’t import from the Green country anymore, I have to make sure the harvest is good…
~•~
“The Green Country has been annihiliated!”
The crowd gathered around a big tree, where a red haired woman in armour was standing on one of its branches. She was pointing her sword up to the leaves above her.
“Rilliane will surpress everyone to make sure the harvest is good! And from now on she’ll surpress you people harder with higher taxes, to import food from further country! So do you think we should just stay silent about that?”
Some of the crowds, especially the farmers, nodded in agreement. The women were talking about something – perhaps about Rilliane or the lady standing on the tree. However, as it seemed to Germaine, everyone agreed.
“The tax is so high right now! A lot of people are suffering! And she’ll raise it again! Do you think we should stay silent?”
“Yes!” A middle-aged man shouted. “We have to fight back!”
“For peace!”
“For peace!”
All farmers raised their shovels up as they shouted loudly, declaring war. Germaine smiled, knowing she had gained some attention. Not only to fight for the peace of the people, but for her revenge. She then, too, melted into the euphoria she started, and started to scream like everyone else.
“Let’s fight!”
~•~
“Michaela…”
A white haired girl hopped into the dry well and shook the body of a girl with twintails. She didn’t answer at all – she was dead, after all.
“Michaela! Open your eyes!”
She started to shake her friend’s body hysterically, never getting any reaction. She then noticed something – a dagger, a shiny dagger, planted in her chest.
Michaela…
She fell into her knees as she felt her head started to throb.
Why… why…
Michaela…
“Noooooo!!!!”
~•~
“Charge!”
Allen opened the curtains a little, leaving him a small reange to see. But not like he needed to see so much, either – he could already see the crowd gathering in front of the palace, trying to break open the door. The soldiers were getting ready behind the door with their weapons, ready to stop the crowd.
“Everything is going alright, Allen?”
He turned to his mistress, who was sitting on her bed, looking at him. He gave a thin smile, knowing nothing was really ‘alright’, but he didn’t mention it, of course.
“Do you want tea, mistress? I can make them for you…”
Suddenly they could hear a loud creak. Allen quickly ran to the curtains and yanked them open, and he could see the crowd rushing into the garden. He quickly closed the curtains and ran to the wardrobe, leaving Rilliane in confusion.
“Allen?”
“Milady…” He took out a white dress and a cloak he found inside. “Please, change into these.”
“Eh?”
“Just do it, and you’ll get to escape safely,” he said. “Please.”
“But…” He could see confusion on the girl’s face. “How… about you, Allen?”
“Please, don’t worry about me,” he said. “We’re twins, so… if I wear your clothes, they’ll catch me instead.”
“Please, don’t worry about me,” he said. “We’re twins, so… if I wear your clothes, they’ll catch me instead.”
What? We… “But…”
“Quickly, Milady!” he said as he pushed her away with the clothes in her hands. “They’re closing in!”
~•~
“Here?”
“Yes, must be here!”
A man kicked open the door and the others stepped into the room, including Germaine. They could see a girl sitting on the bed, wearing a black dress. She turned to them and smiled. The crowd quickly walked over to her and grabbed her arms, then some other pointed their weapons on her.
“Get her away!”
“You’ll die, Rilliane! You’ll pay for everything!”
Germaine could only watch as the men dragged the girl out of the room. She looked at ‘Rilliane’ for a while, until she noticed something.
Wait… Allen?
But if it’s you…
Germaine walked over to the wardrobe and opened the doors. There was nobody inside – just the collection of dresses, hats, and shoes. She then walked to another door not far from her, the bathroom perhaps, and opened the door. There was nobody in there either – it was totally empty.
…Evil flower… Where have you gone?
~•~
“Have you heard? She’s going to be executed around three, when the church bell is rung.”
“Really? At the town centre?”
“Yes, yes, now, over there, can you see?
A girl, wearing a cloak, was between the crowds. She looked very familiar, actuallly, but everyone was ignoring her. They were looking at the execution stage, where another ‘girl’ with the same physical appearrances was standing with a smile.
“Kill her!”
She could only stand between the crowd, watching. She wanted to walk to the front, but when she looked up and saw a man with a huge body in front of her, she suddenly felt so small. She kept watching from her place as the girl on stage walked forward and put her head on a curve carved in the wood.
“Kill her!”
“Kill her!”
The executor got ready with his axe, preparing to cut the rope in front of her. The girl was still on her place, very calmly, with a smile even…
“Oh, it’s tea time.”
~•~
A few months later…
“Allen…”
A girl with short blonde hair was standing at the seashore, with the seawater around her feet. She was holding a small bottle with something in it in her hands.
“What are you doing, Allen?”
“Oh, they said if you put your wish in a small bottle and let it float on the sea, that wish of yours will come true…”
She carefully put down the bottle on the sea and watched the tide washed it away. The small bottle floated on the sea, along with the waves, to somewhere nobody would know, to somewhere nothing would reach…
You took away my friend…
“Clarith! Let’s go to town and find a job, shall we?”
Give me back…
Give back… that smile…
Clarith stopped walking behind the girl as she held her knife tight. She slowly and shakingly moved her hand, aiming the weapon to the back of the girl in front of her. She moved her hand, preparing to thrust it in, her hands still shaking.
Allen…
Rilliane couldn’t help the tears well up in her eyes. She covered her eyes with both hands as she knelt down.
Why… Allen…
You, the one who grants all my wish, is no longer here…
I… I wish I… could’ve died in your place…
Clarith moved her hand forward to the girl’s back, when suddenly her hand froze at its place. She froze for a while, her knife still pointing to Rilliane’s back, when she felt her cheeks started to become wet with tears.
So what? Even if I kill her…
I… would still be lonely.
She sighed silently as she hid her knife and turned away. She turned back again, to make sure the girl was still on her place.
Yes, that’s right.
Living alone is very sad…
Rilliane looked up to the sky, and before she knew it, she was crying hysterically, uncontrollably. She screamed and cried – loud enough to be heard from miles away and almost deafening for Clarith.
The cry of a lonely girl, left alone in the vast world…
If we can be reborn…
If we can be reborn, I wish we’ll once again be twins…
~•~
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