A radiant smile graced my lips, and my heart swelled with a comforting warmth as I stood outside the walls. The air around me seemed to pulse with life, and the distant echoes of the city's vibrant existence reached my ears from beyond the borders of our palace garden. Every breath I took felt invigorating, as if I was sipping the purest essence of life itself and I couldn't resist the urge to twirl, my senses fully awakened to the intoxicating scents of blooming flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves above. Lulu and Hiwaga, my companions with their wide, infectious smiles and their happiness mirrored mine.
"How I wish I could always see you like this." Hiwaga exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine warmth and affection. I reached out, extending both of my hands to her and Lulu, and we formed a joyful circle. With a playful spin, I whirled them around, our laughter filling the air and our smiles so wide they threatened to touch our ears.
"Just make sure no one recognizes us." Lulu remarked with a hint of humor, playfully pointing in my direction while placing her hand on her waist. Our laughter bubbled forth because of a shared recognition of her spot-on imitation of the Queen.
"It's not wise to imitate the Queen." Hiwaga chimed in, her voice taking on a rich, dramatic quality as if she were mimicking someone's mannerisms. She was imitating my brother. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips formed a playful pout and once more, peals of laughter rang in our ears.
"Where are we heading, then?" I asked and I held their hands while we ventured through the lively streets of downtown.
My heart brimmed with joy as I took in the colorful scene around me while the sun touched a warm, golden glow over the heart of the town, where an array of stalls stretched as far as my eyes could discern and colorful banners adorned each stall, proudly displaying the nature of their trades. People of all walks of life, dressed in an array of fabrics in every hue imaginable as they filled the market. Their voices harmonized as they haggled and negotiated and the unmistakable sound of coins clinking in their hands punctuated the lively atmosphere. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing the thick air to wash over me mingled with the intoxicating blend of freshly baked bread, exotic spices, and succulent roasting meats.
"We should find matching nightgowns, don't you think?" Lulu suggested with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. I playfully nudged her with my elbow, but when I turned to Hiwaga, I noticed a look of disgust washing over her face. “What’s with the face?” And she noticed her as well.
"Nothing." Hiwaga replied coolly as she moved closer to a stall displaying an array of spices.
"Oh, diwas." I heard Lulu mutter under her breath, rolling her eyes. She pulled me along as we approached Hiwaga. "You really shouldn't make such promises to yourself, declaring you're not seeking a husband, you know."
"Lulu, please lower your voice." She murmured, her eyes darting between Lulu and the woman who seemed to be eavesdropping and smiling broadly but Hiwaga's attention returned to the spices on display. "I'll take these." she said with a smile, purchasing three small boxes of spices.
"Your friend speaks the truth." the woman said while extending the spices to Hiwaga. "You never know when love will find you." She added a wink, leaving us with a sense of intrigue and a knowing smile. But Hiwaga accepted the spices with a nod of thanks, and we continued exploring the bustling market and yet, the woman's words left us with a lingering sense of curiosity.
"We should make a contract." Lulu proposed as we reached a stall filled with fabrics and, most notably, a collection of nightgowns. "The first one of us to get married has to treat the others to an extravagant trip anywhere we choose." she continued, her smile widening but I exchanged glances with Hiwaga, sensing her reluctance with her eyebrows knitted, shaking her head.
"There's no way I'm marrying anyone." Hiwaga began to protest, but Lulu cut her off.
"Oh, diwas. Don't make such bold claims until it happens." Lulu admonished playfully. She then selected a delicate pink satin nightgown and held it up for me to see. I nodded in approval, but Hiwaga simply rolled her eyes at the sight of it. I couldn't help but shake my head and smile as I noticed Hiwaga's cheeks flush with embarrassment. “We’ll take these.” Lulu, then said to the merchant.
Turning my head, I was drawn to a collection of knives on display at a nearby stall. Eager to get a closer look, I made my way toward it. However, as I approached, I noticed that a crowd of people had gathered in the middle of the marketplace, obstructing my view. I lifted my feet and craned my neck, trying to catch sight of Hiwaga and Lulu, but the stall we had been browsing earlier appeared to be empty. Worry crept into my thoughts as I wondered where they might have gone in the bustling market.
"Oh, diwas." I muttered under my breath, a sense of unease creeping over me. I scanned the bustling marketplace, glancing right and left, but there was no sign of Hiwaga or Lulu. My heart began to race when all I saw were unfamiliar faces and a growing sense of worry clawed at my mind. Oh, diwas. I continued to murmur to myself as my worry threatened to consume me. The fear of incurring the wrath of the King and Queen weighed heavily on my mind, but it paled in comparison to the dread of my brother's reaction when he found out about our separation in the bustling market.
"A Darkblood!" Someone screamed from a distance, a voice of a man, sending a shiver down my spine. The cry was quickly followed by a chorus of angry voices, all raised in unison. I couldn't help but wonder, what did it mean, and why were people reacting with such fear and anger? I turned my head in the direction of the angry voices that sliced through the air like a sharp blade. I gently lifted the hem of my emerald dress and veered to the left, determined to know the source of the commotion. Darkblood, huh? Is that even true? I had always believed it to be nothing more than a myth, a story my mother used to scare me as a child. But now, with the cries and reactions I had witnessed, I couldn't help but wonder if there might be some truth to it after all.
"Throw stones at him!" a man yelled, his face contorted in anger as he clutched a large stone in his hand. "He'll turn into a monster!" His words were met with a chorus of angry screams from the crowd but when my gaze finally settled upon the supposed Darkblood, my heart sank. It wasn't a monstrous creature or a fearsome being—it was a child. Tears welled up in their eyes as they raised their trembling hands in surrender, different from the fearsome image I had expected.
It was just a child. A child, Sarnai. Taking a deep breath, I realized that if I didn't intervene, this innocent child would be in grave danger. "Could you clear the path, please?" I politely requested from the people blocking my way until the men in front of me were significantly larger than me and resistant to my efforts. "Pardon me, I need to get through." I muttered again as I exerted my full strength to push them aside. Amidst the chaotic scene, the crowd's angry accusations grew louder:
"He's a murderer!"
"We should surrender him to the kingdom!"
"A monster!"
"He will kill us all!"
"Throw him the sto–"
But before the man could finish his sentence, I couldn't contain myself any longer. "No!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, taking a decisive step forward, determined to do what I have to do. My fists clenched tightly at the hem of my dress, the tension and anger within me was strong as steel when I confronted the man with a sinister grin on his lips.
"And who are you to stop us?" The man's grin began to fade as I approached him.
"I am Sarnai Grasya, the daughter of King Deo and Queen Helda," I declared, lifting my chin defiantly as I addressed the man. However, my blood boiled when the people around us burst into laughter, and to my dismay, even he joined in with mocking laughter. "You must prove him guilty before deciding to take matters into your hands." I muttered, each word emphasized to make my point clear. But the man laughed once more, dusting off his brown shirt, and approached me closely.
"Or are you an accomplice with a Darkblood? Perhaps, an older sister?" he taunted, his mocking tone pushing my patience to the limit but there was something unsettling in the way he scrutinized me from head to toe. Forgive me,diwas. And without thinking, I landed a punch on his face and the laughter around us abruptly ceased, replaced by an eerie silence.
The man gritted his teeth, and I braced myself when he was raising his clenched fist, closing my eyes briefly all while I remained rooted in place, waiting for the impact as if time itself held its breath.
A low growl from behind me caught my attention and a pair of little hands snaked around my waist. My eyes flew open, only to find the Darkblood hugging me tightly. "Dare to punch her!" the Darkblood warned, his eyes piercing through the tension like a blade. "I will become a monster!" His words, despite the dire circumstances, almost made me laugh. His small voice held a certain innocence that lightened my heart.
"Throw them the stones!" The man commanded the crowd, and my eyes widened in terror as nearly everyone around us grabbed stones from the ground. Instinctively, I closed my eyes and clung to the Darkblood, shielding him with my body and covering his head with my hands as we braced for the onslaught of thrown stones.
"It's... It's fine." I stammered nervously as I whispered to the young Darkblood. My heart ached for his innocence amidst the chaos, and I clung to him even tighter. My heart hammered in my chest, and every passing second felt like an eternity. Please. I silently begged in my mind as the fear gnawed at me. Someone has to come. I couldn't bring myself to worry about the Queen and King's potential anger any longer and my heart was entirely devoted to ensuring the safety of this innocent child. He’s just a child, oh diwa! How could anyone accuse such an innocent child? It was painfully evident that he couldn't possibly commit the heinous acts attributed to a monster, like taking lives. Were these people completely disconnected from logic?
"Are you throwing stones at your princess?!" The heavy weight on my shoulders suddenly lifted as I heard Lulu's voice. "She is the Volgoholm's Princess! And if that doesn't make you understand–"
"Are you all right?" Hiwaga approached us, her eyes falling upon the blood on the Darkblood's lips, and her expression filled with concern. When I looked down, I noticed that his hands were trembling, and beads of sweat were trickling down his forehead.
"Really? Are you making us laugh again, streetwalker–" The man's words were abruptly cut off as Lulu slapped him across the face, a slap that echoed around us. That's what he deserves. I grinned slightly, observing her actions against the insolent man.
Meanwhile, Hiwaga carefully wiped away the blood from the corner of the Darkblood's lips with her handkerchief. And my teeth clenched with frustration as I saw the violet bruise on his lips, yearning to confront the man responsible for it, but I knew I couldn't act rashly. I longed to convey the importance of upholding justice, of providing a fair and well-reasoned judgment for the accused. However, this man seemed to be taking matters into his own hands. Just how misguided could he be? However, my focus shifted to Lulu as she stepped in front of us, forming a protective barrier against the hostile crowd.
"I can't fathom why they're obeying this man's every word." She turned her head to us, her voice lowered to a whisper as she said.
