An Imperial Declaration

APPARENTLY, SOMETIME DURING the fireworks show, I had fallen asleep. I’m certain it was from the excitement of the festival and the tiredness from preparing Seralind’s night out.

Returning to the square was a bit of a blur, as I had bobbed in and out of consciousness when the fireworks display was over.

But according to Miss Berraultier, Ralphim had taken it upon himself to carry me on his back to the town square and dropped me and Wilhelmina off with her, before escaping into the crowd as the night slowly turned to dawn.

All of this, of course, with his fox mask on.

I could only hope he returned home safely and thought that if I ever saw him again, I’d thank him for his kindness.

When I woke up in my bedroom, I heard Madame Whispet scolding Seralind for arriving late back to the house.

Word had reached Madame that she never went with the others to the palace. Even though she had a nice sum of silver coins for her, she must have been more upset over the fact that Seralind could have earned even more while dancing at the ball.

So, Seralind was rewarded by the Madame with a bruised shoulder.

She had assured me she was alright, as this wasn’t the first time she had gotten hurt in one of Madame Whispet’s rages. But I still felt responsible. I wanted to make it up to her, so I marched myself over to the town square after my household chores to maybe pick some flowers in an apology bouquet for my sister.

The city was now much quieter. People were going about their business as usual, and most of the festivities were being properly cleaned up and put away. Some remnants of confetti lingered about, and I could see my feet kick up a flurry.

As I examined public bouquets in front of houses and buildings to see which ones Seralind would enjoy, I thought about my next move.

In my previous life, there were whispers of how the Crown Prince was taking up mistresses from our house only a week after the ball. For about two years, he would buy them from the Madame, never to be seen again. It was only after Seralind and I had been bought that the pattern stopped.

But women like Auna or Thalina were never at the palace, so I often wondered where they had gone.

Seralind told me that they had left to live in the countryside. But a footman planted the idea that the noblewomen drank their blood for their youth, and then kept their bodies in the basement of the palace.

Which one was true, only the Prince knew.

I never found out exactly why the prince stopped buying mistresses, either, but I assumed it was because of the “favor” Seralind had been so adamant about preserving.

But it’s been two weeks, and there has been no sign that he is looking for one at all.

No footmen, or rumors, or missing women.

This is a good thing, right? I think to myself. He probably has no desire for a mistress now. It means that Seralind and I’s future deaths at the palace have been prevented.

I expected to be relieved, but there was still a heavy weight of anxiety on my shoulders. It was probably because our fate hadn’t been altered; we were still stuck with the wicked Madame Whispet who caused my sister so much pain.

I’ve gotten this far; I can’t just stop now. I say, gathering the courage in myself. I’m sure there’s still something I can do to make our lives better.

I decided that my new goal would be to find a way to get us away from Madame Whispet.

Seralind told me we used to live with our mother, but she wasn’t around often. One day, she left and never returned. So, Seralind became a dancer under Madame Whispet–like her–to provide for both of us.

Unfortunately, that also made her accumulate my mother’s debt as well.

If I wanted us to stop working for Madame Whispet, we’d need enough money saved up to clear the debt Seralind owes to her, and then another job to make money that can provide for us both.

That’s a lot of pouches of coins…!! I shiver; the idea of it makes my head spin.

I thought of ideas that someone like me could do to make money. The first one I came up with was taking up an apprenticeship. According to Marionne, her brother had an apprenticeship, and he got to do what he loved.

I wouldn’t mind helping Miss Berraultier with dresses and getting paid for it, so I made a note to ask if I could be her apprentice.

But how can I be an apprentice if I’m working for Madame Whispet? I wonder to myself.

I wasn’t sure I’d have the time to work two jobs with how much Madame Whispet is making me do daily, much less Seralind. And she’d catch me eventually, landing Seralind and I in serious trouble.

I sigh, feeling a little bit defeated. I sit on the curb of the street, placing my face in my hands with a pout.

Domestic geese have come to waddle next to me, honking loudly for food.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, digging into my satchel. They honked in response, sticking their beaks close to my hands.

It seemed like there weren’t any seeds for me to give them.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have anything.” I told them. They still lingered about, so I dragged my hand over their backs to feel the silkiness of their feathers.

I was so distracted by the geese that I hadn’t seen the soldiers come marching into the square until the clip-clip of the horses’ hooves grew so loud it rumbled the stones in the ground.

I raised my head to see stallions of dark brown and black, leading a carriage right into the middle of the city. Soldiers dressed in deep purple, white, and gold (not the silvered armor of the knights) were accompanying the carriage, which indicated they were the Imperial Guard. Some rode on muscled stallions, all with the same dark coat of glossy brown and golden reins.

Naturally, people were curious as to who could be making such a spectacle, so a crowd gathered around them.

I was too, and I stood up to draw closer to the fountain, where they had stopped and created a specific formation.

Stepping out of the carriage, I had fully expected it to be the crown prince.

But thankfully, it was but a herald with a large scroll and a snooty expression. He climbed on top of the fountain, standing tall above the crowd.

A woman who had been leading the soldiers climbed off of her beautifully speckled brown-and-cream horse. Its mane was dark, and its strong body was adorned with golden reins, tassels, and a large Saint-Portia insignia on its chestpiece.

The woman stood in front of the Herald, creating a formation with her arms tucked behind her back at attention. Her uniform was significantly more glamorous than the older soldiers', so I assumed she was the most important.

She wore the same colors of the Imperial family in a uniform that was tailored perfectly and ironed so flat there was hardly a stain or a wrinkle. A saber lay in its hilt, its silver handle gleaming in the sun and temporarily blinding me when she subtly moved.

Her hair was a light auburn brown, but one side almost covered the entirety of her left eye, while the right side’s bangs framed it, the length of it brushing her cheek and swept towards the tip of her chin.

The rest of it was tied into a pristine braided bun without a hair out of place underneath a large feathered hat, which made her brown eyes look soulless. She didn’t look too happy to be in the city, from the scowl on her red lips.

“Hear, hear!” The herald called to us all, who had now gathered at the fountain to listen to what he had to say, including me.

“The Crown Prince Cassian Saint-Portia, first son of Emperor Herod Saint-Portia, has made an announcement!”

The Crown Prince…?

I feel my throat run dry, and I clutch my stomach to quell the uneasiness, trying to squeeze to the front of the crowd. I get to the fountain where the herald is standing. I couldn’t get too close, as guards had made a protective circle around the herald.

The woman with the scowl caught my eye only to squint suspiciously at me, like she was imagining cutting off my head with that saber.

Eek!!

I avert my own eyes from her scrutinizing gaze. I decide to stay put and pay attention as the herald begins his announcement.

“His Highness has made a special inquiry of a woman who attended the birthday ball at the palace. He advises her to come forward and make her true identity known immediately.”

My heart sinks to my toes.

Murmurs erupt from within the crowd. People, especially young women, whisper amongst themselves as to who the Crown Prince could be talking about, and what this woman had done at the ball.

I was certain this event didn’t happen in my past life!!

“All women between the ages of twenty and twenty-five are asked to come to the palace for a short screening process. Anyone with information about the woman His Highness is searching for is advised to inform Imperial Captain Dame Ashton. If the information is proven to be fruitful, they will be rewarded generously.”

The woman with the pretty horse and saber by her side sighed ruefully. I assumed that was the one he was referring to.

This cannot be happening!

Prince Cassian had practically let the entire city know he was looking for my sister!

What have I done?!