The south wing, where the walls were thickest and the grounds most protected, was where King Peter resided when all his duties for the day were fulfilled.
A piece of the castle where comfort and whatever a man might want was prepared.
Apparent from the lovely blue rug that stretched for as long as marble floors laid, the walls painted and smooth to the touch, where the heraldic banners of the five strongest kingdoms hung one after the other, and soldiers stood like statues.
Viella walked as if it was her right to be there.
It was a little trick she learned when she was young. If people saw she was confident, they'd believe it too—that she was where she was supposed to be.
But today, the same trick did not work with the first guard who stood by the entrance of the south wing.
"Hey!" he said with an authoritative tone.
Viella turned around, facing the soldier who called on her.
She stood still, displaying her willingness to comply. "Yes, sir?"
"You're the disgraced princess!" the soldier exclaimed once he took a good look at her.
She was still in rags, and if it was not for who she was, they would have thrown her out.
"What are you doing here!? State your business!" he said, lifting his spear so that its sharp end was pointing at her.
"I need to speak to my father!" Viella explained, refusing to step back.
"I didn't receive any notice that the King is expecting you," he said, lowering the end of his spear. "I don't think he'll be happy if you come uninvited."
"No, I suppose not, but I need to speak to him. Please," Viella pleaded. "I need to tell him something important, otherwise I wouldn't be here."
The soldier looked hesitant still. After hearing her words, he sighed and relented. "Alright, come. I will escort you there," he said.
It was strange how Viella had spent her whole life in this palace, and she had never set foot in her father's wing.
She followed the soldier in silence, but she couldn't help but look around curiously, taken by the luxury that was not displayed so boldly in the other areas of the palace.
All of this, and still people spoke of the frugal king who spent more on his people than himself.
"We're here. I'll go in and let His Majesty know you'll be coming," the soldier said once they reached an arching double door, painted in a vibrant blue color, one of the most expensive and difficult colors to obtain.
Its edges were engraved with beautiful little flowers filled with gold. This door alone could buy fifty slaves. How can people say he's frugal? Viella thought, eyeing the masterpiece that was before her.
The soldier stepped out. "His Majesty wasn't informed that you'd be coming to visit him, so he won't get ready to greet you. But if you insist, you can go and speak to him."
The soldier then stepped aside to let her in, already knowing what her answer would be.
Viella thanked him, then stepped inside, shocked to see a large, beautiful room divided into sections by beautiful decorative fabrics.
On each side of her were elevated floors where beds were made with large, lush pillows and a low table serving wine, fruits, meat, and cheese.
The space was illuminated by small candles here and there, just enough to see and illuminate the curves of the women inside.
Viella froze at the sight of all the women inside.
Their skin bare and glistening from a healthy layer of olive oil.
Right in front of her, on his throne of pillows and silk, was her father, half-naked.
Four women sat with him, two on each side, bare as a newborn baby.
Their breasts were bare, offering a view of their full roundness and down to the nether part where they had shaved it clean.
They fed him small pieces of cut steak and grapes, while one poured wine and another rubbed his shoulder.
Ashamed but determined, Viella walked past the looking eyes of the women there. Their gaze followed her with curiosity as their conversations hushed.
"My daughter," King Peter said, a faint smile on his face. Not the slightest bothered or ashamed she was wearing rags.
"For years I've rarely seen you, not even your back. And now, within a week, I can't rid myself of you," he said.
"My Majesty," Viella greeted him in return, "what if I told My Majesty, My Majesty never has to see me again? Then I'll never bother you again with my face," she said, her eyes looking down, fearing she might see any more of the indecency around her.
"And where will you go?" King Peter said.
"To another realm. I wish to look for my fiancé and be with him," Viella explained, keeping the part where she'd be going to ask him to properly break the spell and set her free once and for all.
She was done being a servant or a pawn to someone else's plans.
King Peter leaned back, then waved away all the women who seemed to have enjoyed themselves.
Viella could feel their eyes on her as they walked past.
She could finally look up, facing her father, who tightened his robes.
"Many things have changed ever since you've turned eighteen, and it's only been two days," he started.
"I was always under the impression that Raden would be the one to marry you. And then all of a sudden, you were engaged to a dead man. You turned into a monster, and then now… this… you'll be leaving to a realm you might never return from," King Peter said contemplatively while he looked at the cup in his hand.
"Do you want me to return?" Viella asked when she thought he was thinking too long.
"No. I don't really care whether you'll come back or not. But before you go, I need you to know, that I did my best not to care about you. Yet, in the end, I can't help but see you as my daughter," he said, finishing his cup then.
Viella felt her face fall with disappointment.
She always knew her father did not care or love her, but hearing him say that still felt like a stab to her heart.
She was an unwanted motherless child, and it left a deep hole inside her.
"Is it because you think I killed my mother?" Viella dared to ask. She knew she would never have this chance again, and if she did not ask, she might regret it.
"No. I was glad she died during childbirth. I just couldn't say that out loud," King Peter said with indifference, unaware—or perhaps uncaring—of how much it had stung her.
Viella had lived her whole life thinking he hated her because of what she did to her mother. Now, she was just breaking all over again.
"I thought you loved my mother," Viella said with a weak voice.
"I never loved her. She was a means to an end. If I did not marry her, her father would have refused to join forces to defeat the Mordaths," King Peter explained, his gaze wandering to a time only he remembered.
"After we joined forces, the kingdoms became one as well. Your grandfather died in battle, and your uncle died of a disease. And then your mother died giving birth to you. Raden asked for my firstborn, so that's you, an easy giveaway for considerable protection. Truly, your blood is a blessing, Viella."
Viella bit her tongue, realizing this man had never once held any sentimental feelings toward her or her mother.
He never hated her; he just never loved her to begin with. And it had given her a new sensation of pain.
Anger.
"I'll be leaving tonight. I think… this is goodbye, Father," Viella said, looking up at the man she always yearned for attention, love, and care. Something he never cared enough to give her, and now she knew why.
"It seems so. But I can't let you go without at least bringing something with you," King Peter said, then rang a bell for someone, who came almost immediately.
"Benjamine, bring me a piece of paper, pen, and stamp," he said.
Viella waited patiently as he wrote something down on the paper, folded it, and then gave it to her.
She took it in silence, bowing as a form of gratitude. And then, without another word, King Peter waved her away, calling back the four women he had sent away before.
She turned around, and then left her father, feeling as if an old page she refused to end was finally closing. Now, as she stepped out of the room, she followed the soldier who led her out of the wing, then walked out of the palace without looking at anyone.
This was the last time she would ever set foot in this palace, this kingdom, this realm.
With that thought, she didn't even look back.
Viella opened the piece of paper in her hand and saw in it an order to grant her whatever financial aid she needed.
All she needed was her own stamp, which she did not have.
"Not to worry," Viella told herself.
She could always ask Raden to lend her his.
By the time Viella and Raden returned from the House of Financials, the sun was close to setting, offering a colder breeze than the afternoon air.
The two of them had set out the moment Viella told him about the financial grant her father had offered her, Raden needing to go himself, considering it was his stamp.
Now, as the day was closing, both Viella and Raden walked through the tea plantation outside the skirts of the Silver Tower.
The two walked silently, accompanied by the sound of the wind combing through the trees and tall grass.
All the while, she realized it would be her last time seeing this place—a place she had never felt at home in and yet somehow still felt heavy leaving behind.
Did one get attached to sceneries and homelands, even when there was nothing there to hold them back?
"Your father, regardless of what you may think of him, has given you an opportunity to prepare yourself for this journey," Raden said all of a sudden, without looking back, his body covered by a long dark green robe.
"I know that, Raden. Thank you," she said, feeling as if those words had added extra weight to her pain.
"You look so low in spirit, girl. You have a lot to shop for inside. Aren't you excited about what you can bring with you to the other side? It's quite crucial for your journey, you know," Raden said, adding a lighter tone to his words.
He was right, Viella thought to herself. There was no use moping over her father, who had probably forgotten about her by now.
The man never cared for her—he had made that clear. He even promised her to an old man like Raden.
"You're right, I am excited about that. But I don't know exactly what to bring with me. I know you have experience; can you please tell me?" Viella asked, watching as the double gates of the tower slid open for them—something she had to do manually when she escaped.
"Don't you worry? I won't let you go unprepared. I know some of my forging students who have made wonderful items for such journeys. Come now! We have no time to lose. The gates of the heavens are aligning for the perfect path towards Itop!" Raden exclaimed as they finally reached the massive doors of the tower.
Viella followed him, ignoring the Fowles stone statues that seemed to move only to open or close doors for passersby.
In silence, she trailed behind Raden as he went from one dorm to another, calling out specific names she couldn't remember very well. Their attire suggested they were ready for a relaxing time surrounded by other students.
By the time Raden was done, there were five of them—three girls and two boys—who looked at Viella with both curiosity and indifference.
Their friendly attitude from the time she had stayed there had now changed to a cold one.
Viella ignored them, glancing at Raden as he walked to stand behind his desk. He took out a pen and paper, his lush beard slightly trembling as he wrote something down.
Once he finished, Raden began explaining why they were there: that this was a chance for them to sell the little trinkets they had made—something he knew they had already created under his tutorship.
Viella's heart faltered when two students, one boy, and one girl, declared they weren't interested in selling anything to someone who had betrayed the kingdom and insulted their profession.
They claimed Viella had already been accepted as a student and was promised by the King, yet had the audacity to abandon her place and leave after being given luxuries the rest were not afforded.
Raden looked disappointed but let his students go. He explained that although he would very much like them to be more tolerant and forgiving, he respected their thoughts and decisions.
This left only two girls and one boy behind, whom Viella later learned were Cherry, Trix, and Edward.
"I'm pleased you're all willing to sell to my dear Viella. She will be needing them," Raden said, putting both hands together, clearly pleased by the results.
It was Cherry, with her tomato-red hair, who spoke first. "It's my pleasure, Master Raden."
"I need some money for stuff," Trix confessed sheepishly.
"Are you not afraid of going to another realm? It is extremely dangerous. Even the air, or a simple cold, could kill you. Your body is simply not prepared to withstand new threats like that," Edward said, speaking directly to Viella this time.
His piercing blue eyes stared into hers. Viella hadn't even considered that the air could be dangerous.
She had assumed everything in the new realm would be the same.
"That's why, with our help, she will succeed. Now, Cherry, how much for the deep pouch?" Raden asked, getting straight to business.
Cherry thought about it and then said, "Uhm… five silvers."
"One gold coin it is," Raden said, writing it down on his paper.
They were all surprised, but Viella said nothing. She smiled, handing a gold coin to a perplexed Cherry, who nodded her head with a deep bow.
"Thank you, My Lady," Cherry said, placing the pouch on the table. After bowing to her master, Cherry left the room.
"And you, Trix, how much for the mixing bottle and the Heart of Fire?" Raden asked.
Trix didn't hesitate. "Four gold for them combined," she said.
"Very well," Raden said, writing it down on paper while Trix extended her hand to receive the four pieces of gold.
Viella handed them to her, earning a thankful smile before Trix set the two items on the table and left.
"Now, Edward, how much for the dagger… and the dice?" Raden asked.
This took Edward by surprise. His eyes widened. "M-master? M-my dice?" he stuttered, his face turning red as he glanced at Viella.
"I-I cannot part with them. Forgive me," Edward said.
"What will you do with them, boy? They've been sitting in your family's storage for generations. Have you ever thrown them?" Raden asked, his face expressionless.
This question stunned Edward, who answered lamely, "No…"
"Has anyone in your family ever thrown them?" Raden pressed.
"No," Edward replied again. "But they are very valuable, Master. Can this girl afford them?" he asked, glancing at Viella.
Viella returned his gaze, realizing he was someone from the forgery class—a gifted magical forger capable of embedding magic into the weapons he made. But she couldn't understand what a talented forger would want with dice.
"That's why I'm asking you to name your price. Then we'll know whether she can afford them," Raden said, leaning back in his chair. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for Edward to think it through.
"I know my price," Edward declared.
"Say it," Raden demanded, dipping his pen into the ink bottle.
"Three hundred and fifty gold coins," Edward said with finality.
Viella nearly choked. She had enough, but it was expensive indeed. The most valuable magical item she had ever heard of was the Ocean Tiara, which cost only fifty gold coins.
Whatever these dice were, they must have been something extraordinary.
How they were supposed to assist her, she didn't know.
"And the dagger?" Raden asked. His lack of reaction surprised Edward.
"Fifty gold coins," he answered.
Raden helped Viella count the gold coins from her bag with a simple spell.
The coins rolled out and into Edward's pouch, leaving him looking extremely pleased.
He bowed gracefully to Viella, then took her hand.
With a wave of his own, Edward conjured two dice and placed them in her palm.
"I hope they will serve you well, My Lady," Edward said, suddenly adopting the same formality as Cherry and Trix.
Edward seemed capable of pulling objects out of thin air, as he produced a dagger from within his sleeves.
The blade was wrapped in old leather, but she could see it was made of silver, translucent stone.
Once they had all left, the double doors to Raden's study swung shut, and the key turned by itself.
Viella looked at the dice in her hand. They were made of old silver, dotted with beautiful red rubies.
She could see that Edward had never taken the time to polish them.
"It was quite the spending spree, but it was well worth it. I hope you don't mind me spending a full gold coin on Cherry. The girl is too timid and shy. She deserved at least that much for the pouch," Raden said, warming Viella's heart.
"Not at all, Master Raden. Thank you for helping me," Viella replied, her words flattering Raden.
He stroked his beard thoughtfully as he walked over to a wardrobe standing against the far wall.
Viella waited, her eyes drifting to the items laid out on the table.
"It's a pity my two students refused to sell you their handiwork, but I have a few things I purchased for myself. They aren't new," Raden said, returning with several items in hand.
He held up what looked like a chainmail made of black shells that reflected the flickering light of the many candles surrounding them.
"Now..." Raden said with a broad smile, "Shall we prepare you for your journey?"
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