Many a times in the past, I had heard the fellow ladies tell me how heartbroken and lost they felt when their favorite suitor wedded someone else. Or when they couldn't acquire a dress with the colour of their likeness. I never had to worry about either of the mentioned aspects, considering that I never cared about any suitors and also that I never really lacked dresses. I had them in all colours imaginable. Only if they knew what really being heartbroken is.
Whatever I had said to confront to His Majesty was true. Every bit of it. Each day I would wake up thinking of some new ways to attain their attention but to no avail. Howeever no part of my relationship with my siblings were staged. Atleast not in the beginning. I dotted over each of them at one point, even Wilius. I still remember how there was once when he would sleep no where apart from besides me. His small hands tangled up in my long hair and saying that I was the best sister in the whole wide world. He would stress on 'wide' to make me feel it. But soon enough, governess and university changed his perspective and thinking and we were down to this. Once inseperable but now hated each other's guts. I tried multiple times to fix our relationship....but it always resulted into dirty arguements and insults. Due to this fear, I bonded less with John and Charley thinking it would go down the same road.
It would certainly....but that didn't stop me from seeking compassion from the parents. They remained absent from my life and our relationship grew hollow day by day. Ruby did make a difference; that she did not turn into something I didn't recognise....however the King and Queen's favour surely put her into envious light for me. I would have never imagined that I would have to fight with my baby sister to still be a part of this family.
The King and the Queen ruined everything that we siblings could've had in the name of nation, responsibility and duty. The royal family of Asnovitch wasn't a family to me. It was more like a lifelong contract that I never signed up for.
The milk boiled over and spilled all across the hearth, my fingers chiseled and burned upon impact, but surprisingly, no part of it hurt. Not at all.
"Ambre!" Mr. Reed alerted. "The milk's all wasted." He said and came besides me. He took a damp ragged cloth to clear up the mess.
After my brutal confrontation with the King, I couldn't stand being in the palace anymore. So I escaped and found myself in Evendon. I still had intention of going back; that place was my destiny after all. Couldn't deny it.
"Is everything alright in there, boys?" Mrs. Reed inquired.
Mrs. Reed was in the other room, working on some chore. We didn't want her to find out, so we did our best to clear it up.
"Yes, darling. You need not worry." He replied hurrily.
"I understand that your rank doesn't know how to do chores hands on," he grunted as he pulled down the vessel. "But you learnt it from me once, using the hearth."
"Yes. I suppose I did. I just have too much on my mind." I replied with a small, deterred voice.
"Share some then." Mr. Reed said softly. "Might loosen up the weight."
I breathed, "My musings would bore you at best, Mr. Reed. I have immaculate drama in life to spare."
"Don't spare me the details, Ambre."
"It is so important, Mr. Reed...to always follow the traditional? Be the rat in the race everyone has been in and experienced already?" I asked genuinely, feeling the warmth of the milk that I was given to drink.
"No, it is not. But surely, one will face challenges. One can loose more than gain during this endaevor." He replied.
"But what if," I proceeded. "The traditional is the best path to follow? What if it is the destiny?"
Mr. Reed chuckled. "Boy, it is tradition for every couple to sire a child. Without one, it is said, they can never find happiness and are called selfish. But look at me and my wife! Happy like we never can be otherwise."
"Yes, but..." I hesitated. "Apologies, Mr. Reed. Both of you bear love for each other. I don't even understand the term 'love' and my family expects me to act on with it and spend a lifetime with someone. I cannot accept that destiny, no matter how hard I try."
Mr Reed stated very wisely, "Destiny is part spontaneous and part choice, Ambre. Your spontaneous part is over, now it is for you to decide for yourself which destiny you wish to redeem. No one can decide better than you."
I nodded, trying to make sense out of his words. I never saw myself as an extremely knowledgeable person, considering I adopted wrong decisions from time to time. I wondered, if I could ever decide wisely what I wanted. And also if...I could make it a reality.
After some moments, Mrs. Reed came into the room to drag us outside to the village sqaure for a little Fěte that was being held. People would dance and sing, eat and talk. It happened every week and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing, for I actually laugh and feel at peace.
By the time the we stepped outside, many folks had arrived and had started dancing on some random but sweet melody of a song.
My sprits were uncommonly low at present, so I reserved a spot in sidelines with a few other reserved faces. We laughed at the sillyness of the ones dancing and rejoiced with a few talks here and there. It made me feel better, every bit of it. This place made me feel at home than my real one ever could.
My smile faltered a bit when I witnessed someone joining the crowd with Pete. It was evident to Alex, that I wouldn't talk unless I was given the information I needed.
"Ambre, I would like a word." Alex started but I didn't allow any more words come out, "A word between us would not be entertained unless you have something worth my time. I shall-"
"I have some information." Alex blurted immediately. "About the legion. Something that could be of use to you."
Never in my life had I ever experienced my mood changed ever so quickly. From sad and demotivated to having my nerves pulsate with energy spikes was a feeling new to my being. I seized Alex's arm and led ourselves to the shallower part of the crowd so no one could hear us.
"Tell me." I basically ordered. "Everything that you know of."
"Well. The level I am admitted in the legion...we are supposed to use only small weapons and master them first. They are basically daggers and small knives, normally...." Alex lingered. "Every single day, we are supposed to pick one of them that are assigned for that from the weaponary and also wear the protective gear."
"Yes. Yes, Alex. I know all of this already. I am not illiterate. Tell me something I don't know." I whispered, caring about the murmur of our voices.
"Very well, the weapons and the gear that we use to train are of bad quality, almost always. Most of them are rusted and in a very bad condition."
"Rusted? Are-" I stopped, words failed me. I had never heard of something like this and had no knowledge of how to register this.
Alex continued, "We all have an inside jest, that we challenge each other to get the best ones first. But honestly, it's not very beneficial having them around. Many soldiers have got hurt unintentionally because of the rust....and sends them home and due to the excessive after effects of the injuries, many have resigned."
"Are you sure?" I asked in awe. "Do the higher officials know about this?"
"They have the best of the bests, Ambre. Novices don't matter to them at all. We've raised concerned....only to be neglected." Alex finished. "This is all I have experienced. Unfortunately, I don't have anything secretive for you."
I was lost in thought. It took me some seconds to still have in mind Alex was there. "No it's fine." I gulped. "Um...just keep an eye out and tell me everything that you....see or hear."
Alex smiled innocently before wanting to proceed with a question. I knew what was coming forth. 'What do want from this information?' would be obvious.
"We should get back, before someone misses us." I abrupted.
We walked back to the huddle of people in the middle of the square, where almost everyone now was dancing and laughing around. Alex went ahead and joined Pete but beckoned me join as well. I gave out a reluctant smile and told them to proceed while I stayed fixted on the spot, my mind in spins.
The higher officials have the best of the bests, Ambre. Novcies don't matter to them at all. We've raised concerns.....only to be neglected.
The legion of Asnovitch was vast and grand with thousands of soldiers. Each of them was judged and segregated based on their best skills and was trained under a leader. These leader were experts in their fields of fighting and were named the higher officials. The higher officials in turn reported to the Army General every month during their formal meeting. Any problem, you go to your official and report. The official is then responsible to work and solve the problem. If Alex's level and almost every other one was struggling with the rusty weapons, they were definately been neglected.
Why though?
I pondered over multiple reasons why this situation had come up. And then suddenly, realisation hit me like a very hard slap across my face.
The higher officials in turn reported to the Army General every month during their formal meeting.
Army General.
Victor.
_____
Hello! I am back after two months as I said, there's a lot to uncover so do let me knkw what you think!!
Hope you enjoy, lots of love ♥️♥️