03 - When the Walls Fell

Olis smiled at me as I watched myself in the mirror. A goddess stared back at me, dressed in a royal blue tulle gown. Since I was young, my mother would always tell me that I looked so much like my father. But however hard I look in the mirror, I can not see any resemblance. 

I signaled Olis that I was ready to go the ball. She opened the door of my room for me. I silently walked through it and tried hard not to point out fresh wounds on her arm. Lately, there have been numerous items in the palace that went missing. Father does not mind it as long as the stolen items are not his throne, crown, or the holy embers. But the royal advisors act otherwise. 

Since the palace has numerous maids and allegedly has the reasons, they are the primary suspects even though they do not have the most access considering many restricted rooms. I looked at Olis on my peripheral view; three other maids followed us in the corridor going down to the ballroom. She might find it hard to sleep tonight. 

I could already hear the orchestra as we approached the ballroom. Its gigantic door is open for the visitors for tonight. I entered the room, trying to fight back the banging beats of my heart. I can feel stares in my direction. 

"You look gorgeous, Princess Titania," Queen Zalea said as she approached me. She is a very fair woman from El Desierto. Many said that she does not belong there because her skin complexion says otherwise. But I think she is very calm and unique.  Her jet black hair falls on her shoulder, letting gravity do its job. 

I smiled back at her. "My honor to be complemented by you, your highness. Thank you for accepting our invitation," I said to her in a cheerful tone. 

"Who would miss a party organized by your mother?" she laughed a bit, but I wonder why her smile did not make it through her eyes. 

"Thank you. Your compliments will reach her. I hope I can visit your kingdom soon," I said, forgetting the fact that I had never been outside the palace. 

She looked at me for a second. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but she chose to close it and signaled her goodbye. 

Alarmed, I tried to follow her. I might have offended her. Despite her popularity in the Solania Empire, there are a lot of conspiracy theories about her. Some said that she is a product of wedlock, a witch, bad luck. And she is always a way in their kingdom because unexplained catastrophes happen. Of course, people would always blame women.

I was about to go after her when I bumped into one of the servers. Some of the wine she carried spilled on my gown. Before the commotion grew bigger, Olis found me in the crowd and helped me go out of the room. 

I feel sorry for the servant because she will indeed be reprimanded because of my clumsiness. I was changing in my room for another gown when my mother stormed in. I was shocked because she never forced herself to enter my room. 

"Titania! What have you done?!" she exclaimed, and the veins in her neck were showing. I am taken aback by how she is acting. 

"She acci-" A hard slap cut off Olis. 

My eyes widened, and I immediately rushed to Olis, who was now on the floor. 

"Mom….what's going on?" I asked almost in a whisper. 

“You! You are so worthless! All of you! You ruined my party!” she is exclaiming and grits her teeth hard. I don’t get why she is so mad. 

"Mom, look, it is my fault but it is not intentional," I said, hoping that she would calm down. She looked down on me with so much hatred in her eyes. 

“I do not care if it is accidental or not! You ruined everything and you will stay in this room until tomorrow!” she said with finality and went out of the room. 

"I am sorry, Olis. I do not know what is happening with mother. This is the first time I saw her like that," I said as I helped Olis stand. 

She shook her head, and I saw how terrified she was. She must have been shocking too. My mother was never hot-tempered nor violent. Maybe the issues of the kingdom are affecting her too. The problems of theft are said to result from the deterioration of the kingdom under my father. Of course, my mother, who works hard for the image and integrity, will be affected. But not to the point that she will hurt somebody and shout at me. 

Olis brought my gown to the storage and came back with a nightdress. I sighed; maybe there is something big my mother is handling, and stress is eating her. It may be sad that I will be sending the rest of the night in my room, but I tried to think of things that would make my mother feel better the following day. 

I was about to sleep after deciding that I would bake mother her favorite cake as a peace offering when I heard a loud bang from outside. Despite my sleepiness, I tried to get up and see what had happened. Usually, my servants will come rushing into my room whenever any disturbances occur.

I shook off a negative thought and peeked outside my door. After the loud noise, I could hear quick steps, maybe from the ballroom. My chamber is near the ballroom, so I can listen to what is happening, except when inside because the walls are thick. 

My eyes widened when I realized that smoke was nearing me in the corridor. There is a fire! Fire in the palace! Theft of palace items might be a big deal, but arson is on another level because we believe the castle is sacred.

I followed where the smoke was coming from, bringing me to the room where the holy embers are kept. I immediately entered the room; the holy embers were being stolen! 

I coughed as I inhaled the smoke. I felt the most significant relief in my whole life when I saw that the embers were still in their place. Afraid that the fire might swallow it, I immediately took it and evacuated the room. 

Still confused about what was happening, I tried to run to my father and mother's chamber. The servants and knights must be in there already. That will be the safest place in the palace. 

I gripped the three bottles of holy embers across my chest and ran in the palace corridors. I did not mind how my slippers slipped off my feet; I continued running even though I was unsure who or what I was running from. 

As I was near in the king's chamber, the smoke thickened, and I stumbled and fell. As an instinct, I protected the embers by sacrificing my left arm. I felt the friction between the floor and my palm, but I had no time to waste. 

I stood and continued running. I opened my father’s door and saw how my mother stabbed him in his chest. 

I froze to where I was standing, eyes wide open and horror in my entire being. 

"Finally, I won. I won, Thadeo. I am going to be the queen!" my mother exclaimed, and she sweetly smiled. 

“But I there is still one threat…” she said as she caressed my father’s face. “I promise you, love, I will be eating her heart on the day I will be a queen,” she said and found me on the door. 

My heart ran crazy as if the horror I had awhile ago was nothing. I quickly closed the door and ran again. I did not know I was already crying as I ran. 

I am confused and scared. 

The smoke was gone, and I could hear my mother's laugh. I carefully and quickly rushed down the grand staircase. I saw some of our visitors, and they all looked terrified. 

I remembered that I was on my nightgown and the holy embers in my tight grip. I tried to approach them to explain. I panicked to find words, but there were none. I looked behind me, and I saw mother approaching me. 

I saw the door going to the palace garden open and run-pass through it. I heard someone order to chase me and call me horrible names.

Olis caught me as I passed through a massive ornament in the garden. She only looked at me and on the holy embers on my hand. 

"I-I don't- It is not what you t-think," I shivered as I spoke. I do not know what I am feeling. 

Olis removed her coat and let me wear them. She immediately removed her shoes and also made me wear them. 

"M-mother… she k-killed…s-she….father is d-dead," I sobbed, and I am losing me breathe. 

"Stop crying. You have to escape, you know the rules," She said in a serious voice. She surveyed me, and her gaze stayed longer on the holy embers. 

She guided my trembling hands inside the coat’s pocket. The inside was warm against the coldness of the night, but I felt no comfort. 

She grabbed my arms when we heard the knights approaching. We ran like mad that I did not notice that we entered the Silent Woods. 

Two knights were able to keep up with us. "We only need the princess, Olis. She is a killer and a thief," said the knight as he pointed his sword towards me. 

Olis hid me behind her. "You still recognize her as the princess so you know that it is a sin to treat her!" Olis exclaimed. 

The two knights chuckled, “I forgot about that. Well, she will no longer be the princess once I laid my hands on her, besides...I know she is running away with a shameful knight too,” the other knight said, emphasizing the words princess and shameful. 

“And you really thought you will be able to do so?” said Olis and attacked the knight who threatened me. 

Olis managed to snatch the sword of the other knight and plunge it into his body. In a blink of an eye, it is only Olis and a knight. I surveyed the forest to find anything I could also use to fight. But I remained standing, unable to move. 

Olis was the only one who kept me moving from the garden up to here. I can not fight and am worthless. 

The knight is taller than Olis and is dominating the fight. Olis struggled due to her height, but she used it as an advantage. She is fast and manages to pierce the knight on one swift move. 

She looked at me, looking so proud. I smiled too, but it immediately faded when the first knight Olis pierced could stand and strike Olis on her chest from the back. 

With all of her strength, she faced the knight and also pierced him in the chest. Finally, I was able to run towards Olis as she fell. 

“N-no…no….Olis..no!” I started crying again. 

Olis looked at me, "I know you…..did not do those things," she said, struggling and started to cough blood.

"Y-you have to hide. At El Desierto….y-you will be…this w-world is not for us…run!" she said and coughed more blood. 

I heard more knights approaching. I held on to her and shook my head violently. She just looked at me sadly. She burst into tears and hugged her….for the last time. 

The night was cold, and the forest was dark. I run for my life not knowing what it is for; I do not even know who I am. My father, Olis, and my mother. Who am I without them? 

I am confused, scared, and my heart breaks like it is still not shredded by my mother's betrayal.