Kalie Rana

“What is it, Lux?” It was as if the tension that had grown in him snapped as we fully crossed the threshold into the courtyard of the White Rock Palace.

A stupid question. And yet, it was the only thing I could think to say.

As if reading my mind, Lux looked at me silently.

“Don’t go.” A futile request, and one I knew wouldn’t do anything.

“I’m sorry.”

“Lux, please. Just give me a moment. Could you…” I trailed off as the carriage came to a stop a few feet from the palace’s guard house. “Don’t.”

Was he serious?

The only thought that came through crystal clear, was that single request. For him to stay by my side for a moment longer. To prolong the freedom I felt at his side for a second longer. Even though I begged him on the inside, I did nothing of the sort on the outside. There were too many eyes watching. Too many people who would no doubt say something.

“Princess.”

All hesitation was quick to fade as Lux slipped gracefully from the carriage. Of course, I knew the dreaded moment was coming, however it didn’t make it any easier for me to swallow as I watched him leave without so much as a goodbye.

“Lux, wait!” But, my entreatment fell on deaf ears. The only glance back in my direction was a sorry one. For the first time since I woke up after the attack on the Thorn Tamer, Lux’s eyes betrayed the emotions that were brewing just beneath his ashen skin.

***

Three Days Later

There was a certain amount of brutal efficiency that was found in being alone. For one, the lack of distraction could be a catalyst for creation, refinement, honing of skills and ideas that company may muddy, even allowing for discovery of something important. For another, there is a wealth of things that can only be discovered about oneself when one finds themselves with little distraction.

For the three days that I spent sequestered in my apartments in the west wing of the White Rock Palace, I managed to achieve a little of both. During the first day of my self imposed exile I spent the majority of my time admiring the earth spirits that I could sense throughout the walls of the palace. Although I couldn’t speak with the spirits like Kunnak, I could use their mere presence to discern several facts about this Palace. First and foremost, the presence of so many spirits in the architecture of the palace meant that like the Petrel’s tower, it was in fact created by majin. Second of all, it was gigantic, stretching deep into the mountain that it was built into. The auras of the tightly packed earth spirits acting as a sliver in the massive mountain.

After that first day however, I found my mind drifting, and that was when the second type of thought began to drift in. I realized, quite quickly in fact, that I had some sort of feelings for Lux. Of course, there was a little trifling in at the beginning since I was properly convinced that it was the roller coaster effect, or the road trip effect, or any other number of “effects” that would otherwise explain why two similarly aged, equally alone people would fall in love with one another. It took me only another five minutes after that to realize that I was about to be completely miserable, unless I found a way out of both this palace and the situation that put me here.

By the third day, my plan fell staunchly into the “try and be as unappealing as possible” route as I could. Cerith was nothing but a windy, cold, archipelago. Why in the world would the White Raven be interested in me?

Please ignore the insanely powerful majin who rules the damn place.

There was nothing there to offer, except for maybe that insanely powerful majin’s blood granddaughter. All it would take to send the jerk running was one good conversation with him, of that I was sure.

By the end of those first three days, I was already more than sick of my own company, with vicious thoughts nipping at my heels, and the stagnant air choking all attempts at majic, I decided it was finally time for me to see the palace outside of my apartments.

“It is my pleasure to present Her Highness, Kalie Rana, third princess of the Shattered Isles of Cerith.” It was unusual for me to receive such a formal introduction when entering a room, barring some sort of major social function. And the room that I just walked into was far from a major function, and yet the announcement made by the butler at the door told me otherwise.

Although I was told that I was about to be introduced to the White Raven’s other potential consorts, when I finally took stock of the room, I was one of five people there. Two of whom were attendants doing their best to blend into the scenery. The other two were seated across from one another on a pair of matching couches, with a dessert and tea filled coffee table between them.

Glancing back at Maria did little, as she seemed to be as surprised as I was.

Maybe the rest of them are somewhere else?

Of the two ladies, only one of them glanced in my direction. To my surprise, it was the more immediately regal seeming of the two, a blonde woman about my age, with the same pale skin that the rest of the mainlanders had so far. Her skin wasn’t ashen-grey like Lux or Hark’s, instead her cheeks bore an almost otherworldly rosiness. But, just as quickly as she glanced in my direction, the blonde returned to her tea.

The other woman, who sat across from the blonde was almost her polar opposite. Much darker skinned than even I was which seemed to be somewhat of a rarity on the mainland, and yet her skin held an even deeper golden bronze that practically shone in the sunlight streaming through the windows. My attention was immediately drawn to the girl as her gloved hands were in continuous movement. From tea, to dessert, to tea, to a second glass, back to the dessert again. The girl’s attention was so fully preoccupied with the spread before her, that she hadn’t an ounce of attention to pay me.

Now, that I can understand.

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Although I was never one to indulge myself too greatly in my last life on account of my illness, I tried to rectify that issue since I woke up as Kalie. The only roadblock was the inhospitable, cold climate of Cerith had little in ways of growing anything that could easily be made into sweets. Any shipments of sugar that arrived on merchant barges were exceptionally expensive, which made them prized possessions in the palace’s kitchens, brought out for the King or the Petrel alone.

The mainland however seemed to have no such issue. It took me a fair bit of effort to not immediately rush over and join her, but I managed my best impression of regality as I crossed the wide smooth and polished floor.

Having met so few nobles since arriving in this world—or in my old one—I didn’t know what to expect. Back on Cerith, there were a few noble-esque families on the isles, meaning that I wasn’t completely without experience but after meeting the nobility of the mainland, I realized that the near groveling that I experienced on the isles wouldn’t be happening here. Seeing the cold reception I was already garnering from these two, I didn’t expect that fact to change.

“Ladies,” I said, adding a curtsy for effect. The blonde made a point turning toward me once again, but the glint of curiosity she had when I arrived was completely deadened.

“How do you do.” Her tone was affectless, like Lux’s was when we first met. However, the effect was different in several key ways. With this woman, her natural warmth shined through the thin smile lines on the edges of her mouth. The shallow crows feet that she looked far too young to have any other way other than through excessive smiles and laughter. However even though I knew better, I let her facade continue. “Cynthia Jesop. First daughter of Duke Henry Jesop, of the Jesop dukedom.”

The look of superiority told me that she anticipated something from me at the mere mention of her family name. While I did recognize it immediately, awestruck I was not. In fact, I was struggling to hide my disgust.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of our family, have you not?”

The Jesop dukedom? The opportunistic earth majin family, right?

Is what my mind immediately wanted me to say, the words only stopping at my lips.

“I have, in fact. As the attendant said, my name is Kalie Rana, I’m the third princess of the Kingdom of Cerith.”

“Well, I haven’t heard of that kingdom. Is it far?”

“A month’s boat from Scuttleview harbor.”

“Scuttleview? In the Lacan protectorate? Leona above, that’s far enough, and you’ve made the trip all the way here? Why?”

Why? Was she truely that stupid, or was she just trying to bait me

“I was brought here to be presented before the White Raven. I’ve been told that all of us have. Where are the other candidates anyway?” Brushing off my question, she continued with her own.

“Why would you come all this way for that? I couldn’t imagine that the White Raven would be interested in finding a bride outside of the Alliance, even if the candidate was from the mainland.” With this, Cynthia Jesop’s snake-like gaze fell to the girl sitting across from her. The girl had finally finished eating, and was now in the process of licking clean her fingers.

“While I’m willing to agree with you, I was requested to come. If I had my way then I wouldn’t have come at all. Believe me.” Even I was shocked at the bluntness of my response, and yet, a sly smile began to crack Cynthia’s pale lips.

“Before we continue, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you saying that you were kidnapped possibly? Or something of the type?”

“No! Of course I’m not. What I’m saying is that—” I stopped myself as a thought came blaring to mind.

How in the world can I put this without getting executed for treason?

There was a lot more leeway behind closed doors and Lux was far quicker than most to agree with me I wagered. But, if I told the truth here, how would she react?

“All that I’m trying to say is that I come with no pretense. My kingdom is small, and far removed from the politics of both the mainland and the world at large. I see no reason, for myself or my kingdom, to become bound to the White Raven and the Kingdom of Corvus.”

“Ah… I see.” Although she hid her true meaning, I could see the reaction behind her words. “Well, then I guess that makes you no different from her, does it not? Seems to me then that I wouldn’t mind making your acquaintance further.”

Was that your way of accepting me as a friend or something?

“I hope that is true m’lady.” I bowed again, since it felt like the right thing to do. But as I did so, I could clearly see Maria behind me. Her expression was one that I was more familiar with than most.

Disapproval.

Rising from my bow, I tried my best to brush off her intense gaze as it burned into the back of my head. When I saw the girl across from Cynthia finally looking up at me, it was easy for me to ignore. Now that they were focused on me, it was clear to me that this girl was far, far more interesting than the paradox that was Cynthia Jesop.

Her eyes were jewels set into her face. To call the burning red iris’ gazing at me intently anything so mundane as rubies would be an insult. Rather, they were more akin to flames turned to crystal. Fire, that while motionless was anything but lifeless.

“Festril Illiu, while I am no Duchess, nor am I a Princess, I see that there is something else that the two of us have in common, wouldn’t you say miss Kalie?” The girl’s words were odd. She sounded more forward and sure of herself than she really ought to have been.

Something in common? Was she reborn here as well?

While the questions swirled in my mind, Festril continued, “the spirits favor you as well, do they not? The way that they danced alongside your every step was quite a show.”

She knows I’m a majin? Just by looking at me? Holy shit, that can’t be good.

“Or, am I mistaken? If not, then consider my interest in you to be even greater than it was before.”

“I think that I know what you speak of.”

Playing into her hands or not, the moment Festril smiled, I only had a moment to feel the warmth of it, before Cynthia, who had done her best to seem above our conversation, seemingly came back to life.

“What in Leona’s name are you talking about?”

“The spirits you dunce woman! Haven’t you got a clue?” Festril snapped at Cynthia, “forgive her, her upbringing has left her brain soft as the rest of her.”

“I particularly resent that! I’m renown for my wit and the delicateness of my arms is something that is well sought after on this half of the continent.”

“You’re quite right. The men and boys do flock to your side don’t they? All for a chance to find a woman as ill witted and weak as you. If the stable hand came calling, would you not turn to butter in his hands?”

“I am a lady! Next in line to become Duchess! No mere stable hand would be even able to look upon me.”

“But you don’t deny that the rest of the men flock to your side only to be dismayed by your complete and utter lack of thought or skill? Well, Lady Jesop, I am humbled by your honesty with yourself and with our fair Princess Rana.”

“Oh I—” Cynthia began, but knowing where this conversation led already, I cut her short.

“Ladies!” I said, making sure to project confidence and as much commanding into my tone as possible, “I’ve been cooped up in this stuffy palace since the moment I’ve arrived in this wonderful city. I was wondering, would either of you care to join me for a stroll around town?”

“Leave this insufferable place, and this insufferable company? Of course!” Festril said, practically jumping to her feet.

“Do you really think that they’ll allow for us to leave the protection of the palace on a whim? Are you not worried at all for your safety?”

“I’ve been assured by those that I trust, that there are no slums in Cartigia. I wish to seek them out myself. Furthermore, I’m fairly certain between Lady Illiu and I, you will have nothing to fear, Lady Jesop.”