THE daunting doors slowly opened as they dragged along the crimson rug. Out of the corner of her eye, Yuki spotted the feet of two guards putting their full body’s weight into pushing the doors open.
“Enter,” commanded a powerful voice once the doors were fully open. Yuki cringed at the sound of that voice and her heart all but stopped beating. An electric shock surged through her chest. Her mind screamed at her to flee and her legs rooted her to the ground. Images of the horrible things the voice’s owner had done to her brought bile to the back of her throat.
“Lady Yuki. We must go,” Rhad whispered. Through much effort, she gave a small nod in return. Brow knitted firmly together as she endured the pulsing pain radiating through her, she couldn’t lift her head in accordance with court decorum.
“Lady Yuki,” he urged.
Yuki thought only of putting one foot in front of the other and looking at Rhad’s feet on the rug to advance forward. They walked a fair distance along the crimson rug until Rhad stopped in the middle of the large audience chamber and went down on one knee with his head lowered.
Mimicking Rhad’s posture, Yuki went down on both knees, but the intensifying surges of pain had her hands hit the floor before her knee. She kept her eyes trained on the six inch thick rug. Cold sweat beaded her temples. A drip of sweat slipped from the tip of her nose onto the rug. She couldn’t see, but knew instinctively Rhad had lifted his head.
“I am Rhadal Mende, here upon your summons. As requested, I have brought you the girl with the power to heal,” Rhad’s sonorous voice echoed.
An impassionate voice responded back, “I’ve heard the stories.”
“Yes, sire.” Rhad lowered his head.
“I’ll have my men search the medicine you’ve brought for anything hazardous. I’m sure you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
“Also, I have no doubt you’re already aware of this, but if you act in any way we take as a threat on Mother, your life is forfeit.”
“We wouldn’t think of it.”
“…We’ll see.”
The conversation flowed smoothly like a typical greeting. Rather than a discussion, it sounded more like an inquest. Keeping her head down, Yuki’s face contorted with intense pain.
“Now that I think about it, I would like to see the girl’s face. She may become the heroine who saves Mother’s life.”
“As you command.”
A cold silence bounced off the towering walls of the audience chamber. Eyes burrowed into Yuki’s back. Sweat trickled down her spine, springing up gooseflesh across her arms and legs.
“Lady Yuki,” Rhad whispered. However, Yuki lacked the composure to hear him. Agonizing pain tightened around her chest and her hands trembled relentlessly on the rug.
Stop. Stop. Was she telling the pain in her chest to stop or the shaking? Biting her lip hard enough for a metallic flavor to fill her mouth, she grimaced and battled the pain. It’s okay. I’ll be okay.
She sucked in as much air as her lungs could take in a single breath. Shutting her eyes, she felt the air fill her. Exhaling deeply, she slowly lifted her head. The shaking stopped.
Sitting on his throne, Orga didn’t look much different from the last time she saw him. Crow black hair and jet-black eyes. Crossed legs. His cheek settled against his hand propped on the armrest. He exuded an aura of refinement that matched the breathtaking grand audience chamber.
“Heh, you’re the one?” One corner of his lips curled up in a demeaning sneer as his eyes sliced through her very being. The pain quadrupled.
I knew it. I can’t do it!
Yuki dropped her gaze and lowered her head. Tears dripped to the floor the instant her head turned down. The droplets hit her hands. Rhad warned her in advance, but seething rage quickly overtook her.
I’ll say something I shouldn’t.
Instinctively her hand reached up and covered her mouth. She forcefully covered her mouth to stop from saying anything stupid. Blocking her mouth hindered her breathing, stinging her eyes with more tears.
Why are you starting wars?
How can you sit on that throne without a care in the world?
Why are you only trying to save your mother?
Murderer. You mercilessly, brutally killed that boy’s mother in the forest. Monster. Abomination. Psycho. Heartless. Unjust. Why? Why? You psychopath. Psychopath. Insane man. Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!
Those black eyes laced with hatred forcefully pulled out the loathing Yuki had kept in check. A guttural groan lodged itself in the back of her throat as the words stuck there. Resentment too great to put into words turned into red-hot tears.
Did the seal burned into her chest hurt? Or was her heart mentally recoiling? The tears overflowed as she sealed her mouth from uttering the curses she had in store for the monster on his throne.
“Forgive me!” A hand shot out from the side and pulled Yuki close, knocking her into Rhad’s chest. He pulled her face against him and wrapped his arms around her back to hide her. “You have my sincerest apology for this most inappropriate display. The truth is someone raped her last night and she has had troubled meeting the eyes of men ever since.”
“…I haven’t received word of such an incident taking place.”
“No, sire. I did not wish to burden your heart further with this matter when you are already unsettled by what has happened to the queen…. Furthermore, it is with great humiliation the rape occurred within my Mende household. Not wishing it to explode into a major issue, I forbade anyone from speaking of the incident.”
“I see. Someone unhappy with Mother must have laid their hands on her. Very well, to compensate her for the mental anguish, I will have a room prepared inside this castle. You are welcome to spend the remainder of your stay in the capital here. You needn’t fear assault like the one you had at the Mende House here.”
“…You humble us with your limitless generosity,” Rhad ingratiated, all the while holding Yuki against his chest. The conversation turned to the room they would grant Rhad as well and the time Yuki was to care for the queen before it ended.
“Please excuse us now,” Rhad said, wrapping his right arm around Yuki’s waist, helping her to stand while she still clamped her hands over her mouth. The tears had stopped, but her body trembled.
Rhad took several steps considerately matching Yuki’s pace when Orga called them to a halt. “One more thing. I have something I wish to ask of the girl.”
Unable to resist Rhad’s arm on her, she was forced to face Orga once more. Eyes lowered, she focused on the gorgeous designs inlaid in the steps leading to the throne platform.
“Can the girl…lift a Witch’s curse?”
“Curses?” Rhad asked, looking down at Yuki.
I’ve never tried.
Feebly, she shook her head like a broken doll. Crying left her head feeling dreadfully heavy and like a monkey was clapping a cymbal on top of her left temple. The gears in her brain refused to move, leaving her staring off into space.
“…I see,” Orga replied curtly.
Rhad lowered his head once more and walked away supporting Yuki at his side. The large doors of the audience chamber closing behind them boomed loudly through the long hallway.