Ghosts and curses

   Ah, yes, time passes differently in the future that I live in my prophetic dreams. Exactly three years I spent there, and here in the present no more than one night has passed. This is the curse of this gift. In any case, from now on this entire immense house belongs to me. Everything belongs to me, but not the name. What would I not give to remember my true name?

   There sat Briara’s father, Duke Leonard Lautrec. He was a man with white hair, a short beard around his chin, and a long, carefully groomed moustache. He watched me from a distance. From now on, he is my father. I approach to take a seat at the table, but I feel uneasy.

“Who are you, young lady?” 

  I remember this morning; I decide to repeat it as in the dream. He is senile and often forgets who the people around him are. I can use that. I am sorry, sir. I am grateful to you for everything, and precisely for that reason I must do what I do. Someone must honour your name in the palace too, for your kindness.

“Father,” I say gently, “I am Briara, your daughter.”

The maids back me up. Sir, Lady Briara has come to have breakfast with you.”

“Ah, really? Is she my daughter? How glad I am, what a beautiful young woman! Come closer, my dear!”

No one suspects anything, but the cook asks about Briara’s “sister.”

“Where is your companion, milady? She was supposed to bring you your food personally.”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you that yesterday she decided to leave the residence,” I smile as the real Briara used to.

“Forgive me, but I did not expect it. I mean, for so many years she has taken care of you!”

I approach her and whisper in her ear. She left with a man, and I decided she deserves to be happy. In any case, I will soon move to the palace, and she will no longer be of use to me. The companions there are far more efficient.”

“You are a merciful mistress. In her place, I would not have left you for a man, and yet you let her go, milady...”   

   Yes, I would like to be exactly as you see me. Today is the day when the duke’s nephew will move in with us to take over Mr Leonard’s duties. His senility has worsened lately, and soon he will have to withdraw definitively from social life. House Lautrec will survive as his nephew will inherit the title of duke and everything that comes with it. I look out the window. Snow has begun to cover the mountain peaks. So it snows in my chilled heart, too.   He arrives. He was a man of about twenty-nine, with wavy hair the colour of burnt sienna. As soon as he sees me, he rushes to me, lifts me like a sack of potatoes, and tousles my hair with a malicious smile.

“Little fairy, how long has it been since I last saw you?”

“Hey, calm down, Ivantis! I am no longer a child!”

He pinches my cheeks. “Aww, our little fairy has grown up.”

“IVANTIS!”   He puts me down abruptly, and I hit the floor.

“Fine, if you say so. But I do not remember you having that attitude. Eh, I suppose time changes us, doesn’t it, little fairy? Oh, and if I start to think about it, this house seems so devoid of life. Big and empty, only a few servants and a limited palette of colours.” 

  Ivantis looks around like a curious child. “Ooh, I do not remember this vase. A flawless Chinese porcelain! Oooh, and you have changed the colour of the salon. It used to be purple. Hey, it was prettier before! And this large painting, oh my, is it the Peloponnesian War? Hmm, but what painter is it? Where did you acquire it?” 

   That was Ivantis Lautrec. I knew everything was in good hands, even if his temperament is that colourful. In the dream, I saw he had no problems administering the Duchy of Riveria. He took care of everyone, and the king was pleased with his contributions.

“Ahh, I am already bored, little fairy. Ooh, Uncle Leonard!”

The older man appears and shakes his nephew’s hand vigorously. Ivantis, you have finally arrived!”

“With great pleasure, from now on we will work together, uncle! Tell me, when is the wedding of this beautiful young lady?” He nods his head toward me.

“Ivantis, you could have asked me directly.”

The duke laughs. “The date has not yet been set, but it will take place around the coming of autumn.”

“Mhm, so that’s how it is... and... something seems strange...” He approaches me and inspects me like a newbie detective. “Yes, that was it! Did you not have a female companion who stayed by your side all the time?”

“Ah, yes, where is your sister, Mariam? I did not see her this morning.” (When her father is himself, he calls her Mariam, not Briara like the others because that is the name his fugitive wife gave her.) “She decided to leave the residence, so I let her go. I thought I would not stand in the way of her happiness.”

   My heart skips a beat, while my expression remains unchanged. They ask no more questions. I think they understood what I meant. They continue with their own affairs.

   A few days later, I receive an invitation from Prince Alistair. He wants us to meet in the royal gardens. This is my chance. I must find the perfect balance between the clever fiancée and the submissive fiancée. Three years ago I overdid the first version, and that led to my destruction. Now I must play it differently. If I manage to change something, I will receive another dream; if not, I will dream nothing more. 

  The gardens were a lush realm of greenery and rare flowers, a paradise of colours and romance. I let my hair loose. I curled only the ends and arranged my bangs to frame the edges of my face without covering my forehead; this way, I looked more like Briara.

   My hair is longer than hers, though it's the same colour. It almost reaches my knees, and I do not cut it often. By contrast, I remember Briara’s hair, which reached almost to her backside. She always kept it that length, though she constantly pinned it up in a bun. No one knew how long her hair truly was, another advantage.

   The prince was waiting in the gazebo. He came toward me and kissed my hand. I have been looking forward to speaking with you again. Please, take a seat.”He pulls out my chair. I gesture for him to tell me what he has to say. I have the feeling that alongside you I will shine. I have always wished for someone who would amplify my rays. You spoke like a true queen at the ball. My parents praise me because of you.”

“I did only what any fiancée of a prince would do, Your Majesty.”

“I want to tell you that I am glad your mistress died. She was a burden; she made me a laughingstock with her useless tears and her crooked feet. I do not care that you lack noble blood. You are a good one; you can pass as the highest noble, and none would suspect a thing. I have to admit you saved my reputation.”

“I do not doubt your tastes and decisions, Your Highness. Your decisions are my decisions as well.”

“Good.”I take a sip of this tea. It is wonderful, floral. The biscuits are also very delicious.

“Surely you like them; after all, I chose them myself.”I nod in agreement. He continues. Tell me, to what extent are you trained in administrative matters? Organisation, letters, planning, dealing with problems?”

“Hmm, enough to manage them. The work will be carried through to completion, I can assure you, but I still have much to learn from Your Majesty. I know I'll never surpass your level.”

“That is exactly what I wanted to hear.” He stretches his legs out on the table. “I want to see you in action.” It would be amusing to see someone with your origins surpass her mistress in those kinds of matters.”

“Surpass her? You are right; we both know she was too emotional to handle them, but my mistress’s qualities lay in something entirely different.”

“Yes, yes, you know better; after all, you lived with her for so long. Honestly, I no longer care about that fool of a girl. I want to know everything you can do, my dear. To see whether your beautiful mind resembles mine.”

A girl about fourteen years old comes running hurriedly to Alistair. Prince, prince, quickly, the queen has had another crisis!” Her big blue eyes were frightened. He rises abruptly.

“Penelope, come!”

I rise in haste. I am coming too!”

“But—”

“The queen’s health concerns me as well!” 

  Yes, I remember this too. Penelope is the daughter of a baron who works at the palace. She often comes with her father so she can build a reputation at court. Now comes the moment when the queen will tell how she was cursed. But in fact, I know what truly happened. The servants open the door for us. She was lying in bed. I make an elegant bow before her.

“Your Majesty.”

Alistair hurried to her bedside. Yes, he is a tyrant, but he cares about his mother. If it weren't for her vile schemes, he wouldn't have become the crown prince. Nor should he even have had this title, nor—

“It happened again? Did you have another attack because of him?”

The king was present for this cheap theatre she plotted to make people hate him. The queen gasped, and sweat poured down her forehead. She sat up and leaned against the headboard. I approached and took one of her hands in mine to gain her trust.

“Your Majesty, I beg you to tell me what we can do for you.” She thinks I have taken the bait.

“My dear, how glad I am that you are here too...” she says to me in a honeyed voice.

The king stamps the ground and thunders. I cannot believe he has not stopped.”

“If this is his gift, or rather his curse, he cannot have a gift!” says Alistair, frowning. I knew whom they were talking about.

“Who is the one who did this to you, Your Majesty?”

“Briara, he poisons me out of hatred every day, and as the future queen, you must know to guard everyone against him. It is...”

The king cuts her off sorrowfully. It is Alistair’s older brother. Perhaps you have heard of someone nicknamed the Prince of Darkness; it is about him. He is the one who cold-bloodedly annihilated everything that stood in his way.”

The valet bursts in, shouting as if he had seen a ghost. He is here!”