Tainted Waters — Himari

“Thou shalt talk with me in a separate room.” The Queen glowered at me, “Preferably without someone from another party.”

The joyful atmosphere turned cold. My heart pounded so fast it almost leaped out. I don’t get it. What secret? What lies?

“Now, now, Jo,” Princess Elizabeth winked at me as an act of reassurance, “Don’t act so hostile. Miss Himari's still an honoured guest of ours. I’m simply asking you why you wanted their orb.”

“I demand thee to address me as thy Queen!”

A smirk spread on Princess Elizabeth’s face, and she loomed over the Queen. “Your majesty, I understand your concern with the kingdom’s state. It all seems a little bit too fake now, does it?” The Queen grimaced, a look of anxiety worn on her face. Visible cracks spread throughout the masquerade orb she was holding.

“And to keep this ridiculous facade, you’d push your sister away and steal things from—”

Whack—

The Queen's hand landed with a sting that sang in the room. “Princess!” I rushed over to help the Princess, who held me back. It’s okay, she mouthed, then looked up at the Queen.

“I didn’t believe it at first, but I’ve got it all figured out.” Princess Elizabeth wore a smug smile on her face. If it had been me, I’d burst out in tears at the moment I got slapped. What a strong princess. “The crystal pure water, the merry people of this nation. It’s all an act of the masquerade orb, isn’t it?”

Oh!

That’s why I thought the citizens acted weirdly, just like the ones in Eikasia. 

That’s the Queen’s lie.

Snap—

The masquerade orb split and tumbled to the ground.

For a breathless second, the room held its breath. It felt like time had been frozen in place.

A scream of a servant and a yell of a man rang from outside the room. Oh dear.” Now the Princess has stopped smiling creepily and stared at the Queen, who was picking up the remains of the orb in disgust. “A lie for eternal peace and harmony, what a ridiculous fiction you’re hoping for. And for a Queen to stoop so low as to thieve our guests’ belongings. You’re no better than the infamous elf family from Mysteria.”

“You don’t understand!” The Queen screamed, throwing a piece of the shattered orb at Princess Elizabeth’s face, leaving a flaring red gash. “All I did was continue the lie that has been passed down! I did it for the good of my kingdom. The moment I knew you were too sharp and nosy for your own good, I kept you away, but that’s to make sure the truth remains hidden! I had wanted to see you. I never wanted to keep lying, which is why I need the wish orb to maintain the kingdom's peace. Yes, I’m a scoundrel, I might even be considered the villainess to the hero’s party, but without me, this country would not have survived.”

The Princess’s eyes remained cold. But isn’t she in the wrong now? I handed a handkerchief to the Princess. I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. They’re fighting, and I’m just a mere bystander.

“Oh, look, after all this, the lie cannot be concealed after all.” Princess Elizabeth wiped the blood off her cheek. “You distanced yourself from others and made yourself alone. Imagine how I felt when my mother died. It was the first time I felt rage. You didn’t do anything to stop it, and you even left me alone to cope with everything. I wondered how much you must’ve hated my mother just to let her perish. That’s when I saw the eccentricity of this nation. That’s the moment I realised.”

“I did what I had to,” The Queen whispered, voice shredded. “I could not save your mother and also save the kingdom. I chose the lie so others wouldn’t die.”

“Well, it’s your fault you didn’t hide the fact well enough!” Princess Elizabeth fumed, “You left me. And that’s the truth.”

“Is that why you hate me even with the orb’s influence?” The Queen frowned. I stood at the corner, observing the family drama in silence. They’ve really forgotten about me…

“I don’t—” The Princess sighed, “I hate your actions. And I hate this act.”

“That’s a lot of hatred coming from you.” Queen Josephine pursed her lips, “If you had stayed silent, if you didn’t try so hard to learn of the lie…” Tears streamed down her face.

“If you saved my mother, then none of this would’ve happened.”

“I told you, I couldn’t do anything! I let you live a free life, the life I had wished for! And you hate me…” Pain dug deep in the Queen’s sapphire eyes, “I gave you everything. To let you live. You didn’t have to live the role of a princess. You didn’t need to face the pressure of a noble. You could play freely, at any time you wanted. I gave you the chance your mother didn’t have. You don’t know how heavy a responsibility it is to keep this lie. Yes, I’m not good at it, I’m a bad actress, so I had to hide. From you, from Victor. But I love both of you so much, you don’t know how painful it is, knowing I’ll only bring misery to you two.”

The Princess stayed silent.

“I hated lying. You think I wanted your mother to die? She was a mother to me, too. I’m not perfect. But I’m not a monster either. I’m just human. Why can’t you understand that? There are things I can’t do, no matter how much I want to. All my life, I had been enclosed in this cage, for the sake of the kingdom, our father said. I wasn’t to say a word about the masquerade orb to anyone, not even you or my husband. Because if I did, the kingdom would fall. And then, that would be my fault.”

The mask she was wearing had slipped off completely. Right now, she wasn’t a queen, just a miserable young woman.

“They said I wasn’t suited to be crown princess. Girls like to gossip; the secret would come out sooner or later. So I kept quiet, and I worded my sentences carefully. They said a girl can’t rule the kingdom on her own, so I was forced to marry when I was still a young girl, so that they could have a King. Do you know how frustrating this is? I don’t want you to have this life of mine, without knowing the lie, you could be free. You could leave this horrendous cage.”

“I’m sorry.” The Princess looked at her feet. “But now that the lie is gone, won’t you be free?”

“The kingdom is ruined, Beth. There’s no freedom. Only doom.”

A knock came from the door.

“Come,” The Princess called out. The Queen covered Princess Elizabeth’s mouth and shook her head furiously, “No, no! Beth, shush.”

“What? It’s just Victor.”

The Queen glanced at the broken orb. “I don’t want to see him. He’ll hate me. Like how they will hate each other.”

“Wait, I’m really sorry, but I don’t exactly understand this lie.” I asked softly, “Why would your husband hate you?”

“Without the lie, the citizens of Fleuve despised one another. They fought and they fought, for no reason at all. I believe it was just the nature of us Fleuves.” The Queen murmured, “We couldn’t learn to cherish each other.” Seeing the Queen talk diffidently was strange, but it sure was reassuring to see an actress take off her mask. I wonder if I could do that. If Meilin still talked to me, if I weren’t the bubbly Himari she knew.

There came another knock on the door, an urgent one.

“Jo…”

The Queen hesitated, but still called out, “Come in.”

“Josephine,” The person has luxurious, long, dark purple hair. I'll have to ask him about his hair care routine later! His face was angular, but he possessed soft features. He also smelled of smoke. He must be the King, Queen Josephine’s spouse. However, he looked a bit mature to be married to the Queen. “Are you okay?”

The pure shock on her face said it all. “H-huh…”

He gently picked her up, “This is a mess. You’re not hurt, are you? The people are all arguing, so I came to check on you.”

Queen Josephine rushed out of her room and stared out of the castle. Out in the distance, smoke could be seen, and the sky had turned blood red. She breathed shakily. “They’re fighting. We need the wish orb. Now.”

“That wouldn’t fix anything.” I finally built up the courage to speak. “To make a wish, you would have to head to Aokaze Peak, which is still some time away. With you away from the kingdom, there would be chaos, and by the time you’re back, the kingdom might be destroyed already.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?” Princess Elizabeth’s tone seemed a bit regretful, since it was she who triggered the orb to break.

“We’ll think of a plan to restore peace.” I proposed. We’ve done this once in Eikasia, so the second time shouldn’t be too hard, even though the circumstances are a bit different.

“I have no one.” The Queen wept, “I just need one wish. Please.”

“I’m still here, Jo.” King Victor placed his hand on the Queen’s shoulder. “I’m still your King and husband. But I agree with Miss Himari. That orb isn’t yours. It doesn’t belong to the Kingdom de Fleuve. Our guest has kindly suggested a solution already.”

“Why are you all helping me? The lie doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Why did you help me?” Princess Elizabeth asked in return. “You set me free from this royal cage, but you didn’t have anything back in exchange."

“Because you’re my sister.”

“The same back to you.” The Princess smiled.

“And you’re my wife and Queen.” King Victor held the Queen’s hand. “I would stay by your side no matter what.”

This is just the perfect romance story!

A Queen who believes her King loved her only because of a lie, but turns out the King loved her even in the face of truth.

I could write a novel like this after this journey.

Thinking of it, I should write a letter to the children sometime.