Queen of clowns, p.4
Queen of Clowns, page 4
History
Anatomy
Magic
Physical Training
“These are your courses,” Headmaster continued. “You are commoners, so I don’t expect any of you to be educated to the royal standard. That’s why you will train to become educated and strong young ladies. Every day except for the last day of the week, you will be learning and training. I also ask that as you get closer to the princes, you refrain from having sex.” She sighed, taking a moment to look over us. “The primary purpose of this competition is to shape the upcoming queen. The prince's mother was a formidable, intelligent, resilient, and highly respected leader.”
I raised my hand. “What was the maze for?”
“Process of elimination. Survival of the fittest. Whatever you wish to call it. You think we’d just let commoners walk straight off the streets and into the palace? No, no, no. Ridiculous.” She turned back to the board before continuing, “Speaking of just anybody, you will eventually be reduced to four people. With that being said, there are statuses that allow you to keep your position, and statuses that can get you eliminated. But in the end, the princes will choose you themselves.”
“And if they all choose one person?” Tenia asked.
The headmaster shrugged. “Then the king himself will choose who is best.” She turned and wrote on the board. “These are the rankings from the best candidate to the worst.”
Princess
Lord
Squire
Clown
She pivoted and crossed her arms. “This will be based on your test scores, your training, and your mannerisms. The princes also look at these ranks to see who is best suitable for them. Obviously, Princess is the highest form. At the end of each month until the year ends or until there are only four of you left, the Princess with the highest rank will get an opportunity to choose her preferred prince to be with. She will get to spend an entire day with the prince of her choosing. The Clown, however, will get the opposite. The clown will not be given a right to view the princes. Keep in mind, it's possible for multiple people to have the same rank. Those who are the top ranks will be considered for the princes.” I placed my hand under my chin. In other words, I had to reach the rank of princess in order to meet Claud one on one. I didn’t want it to take a month though, I wanted to kill him now.
“What happens to the other four of us who aren’t final candidates?”
“We will send you home.” She paused, and I raised my eyebrows. There was no way they would just send the four contestants home because they didn’t get the prince. Just knowing all of this knowledge, the palace secrets, and being so close to the princes, would be reason enough to execute them.
“Until then, you will fight for your life to remain in the palace. There will be other trials just like the maze, and some of you may not live.”
“And if all of us die during these trials?” Kella asked.
“We will make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Why,” I started mumbling, “the fuck do we have to kill ourselves to be worthy of the princes?” My plan wasn’t to stay here long, or even to live long—just long enough to bash in his he—
“Because Queens are the real source of power.”
In an unexpected turn, my eyes widened as I processed her response. The headmaster smirked at my reaction. “Surprised? The king is a figurehead. However, what happens when there is no queen?” We were silent as she continued, “What happens is that men are put in charge. Luark, as you will find out in your history lessons, was founded by a woman. Was led by a queen. And will continue to be led by a queen... of the chosen crown prince that succeeds the throne. Like the crown prince said, the crown can change anytime.”
Yaui raised her hand. “When do we start training?”
“Today,” Headmaster started. With a snap of her hands, several guards appeared, holding thick books tightly in their grasp. Each of us was given our own mountain of them. “Your self-study starts today, and your lessons start tomorrow. You will remain here until dinnertime. Your new tailored dresses will be delivered to you. Every day, you will have a new outfit to wear.” The headmaster began to leave the room. With the door closed and everyone alone, the room became filled with the rustling of pages as we eagerly opened our books. There was a map, I guessed, of Luark. The lettering, however, appeared completely unfamiliar to me, as I had never been taught how to read. When I cast a brief glance in their direction, it seemed as though the other girls had a basic familiarity with the alphabet. Out of everyone present, I was the only one who was struggling. No worries though, I didn’t need this.
As we read, the room was filled with a quiet stillness, and no words were exchanged. After two hours had passed, a knock at the door announced the arrival of the dresses Headmaster had promised. It was evident from the looks in their eyes that everyone had something to say, yet a sense of nervousness lingered. In silence, we clothed ourselves in our new garments.
My attire consisted of a poofy mid-thigh length dress that provided ample coverage for both my back and chest, while everyone else wore long, elegant dresses; I felt singled out.
The headmaster entered and addressed, “Please gather around, ladies. It is time for dinner. This may be your last day meeting the princes, or it may not be your last if you get in their good graces. I have a previous engagement, so you will be by yourselves. Good luck with your presentations.”
“Presentations?” Jenny gasped. “What presentations?”
Headmaster shrugged. “You tell me? How are you going to present yourself to the princes?”
We entered the room one by one, our footsteps echoing in the silence. The room was dimly lit, darker than our lunchroom, with flickering candles casting a soft glow on the walls and ornate gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The princes were seated at an elevated table, while our table was placed directly in front of theirs. The princes appeared to have enjoyed a hearty meal and indulged in refreshing drinks, as they were animatedly conversing and laughing. The new crown prince, however, seemed absorbed in his thoughts, gazing at his alcoholic beverage.
Claud happily raised his glass. “Sit! Sit! We meet again, young maidens.”
Kale scoffed, rubbing his face. “Please ignore your eldest prince, he has had a bit too much already. As you can see, our day has been long.”
We moved in and eagerly took our seats at the table, ready to indulge in the delicious meal. Nial was the next to raise a glass. “We started before you all, so go ahead and eat.”
The other girls began to dig in as I looked around, curious. My eyes were drawn downwards, where I saw a razor-sharp knife, purposefully placed to slice through the tender meat on our plate. I swiftly seized it and slyly slid it under the table and up my sleeve.
Kale gestured towards us all. “This is your first official day. Do you all have any questions for the princes? Anything?”
We exchanged glances before Mia raised her hand proudly with a smile. “Which of us do you think is most beautiful?” Tenia gave her a glare, and Yaui huffed.
Claud laughed. “Building your competitors already? Well, let’s see...” He scanned the room, “I can’t choose yet. You all are so beautiful.” His pronunciation of the word “beautiful” caused a tingling sensation down my back, yet it elicited laughter from the rest.
Claud turned to Ray, who sat next to him. “Ray, what do you think? Who do you have in your mind already?” Ignoring Ray’s lack of reaction, Claud carried on with his intoxicated state. “It were up to me, I would have you all to myself, an entire harem like my father’s father, and his father before that.” he stared in my direction. No. At me. I grimaced seeing his face, and he leaned forward, eyes fixed intently on me.
“You.” He pointed drunkenly while taking another sip of his drink. “You remind me of someone. You’re so quiet... she was quiet, too.” Ray’s head shot up upon hearing him say that. The girls leaned in with curiosity as Claud smiled. “I’ll tell you a story.”
“Once upon a time there was a kingdom. They were filled with... uneducated farmers. Stupid. Easy going.”
Tremors coursed through my hands, and I fought back tears that threatened to spill over.
“Although they had these defects, they were prosperous. Their land was... pristine and easy. They were friends with almost all the land creatures. Then one day, a beautiful woman came to the royal man who visited the kingdom. She was silent but just as deadly. You see, she was wicked. She was seductive. Like a succubus.”
With a tight grip on my dress, I anxiously nibbled on my bottom lip. I couldn’t hold back the emotion any longer, and a tear rolled down my face, landing softly on my chin.
“She deceived the man and then she destroyed the entirety of the kingdom, never to be seen again. I’m not saying you are a monster, don’t cry. It’s just that you remind me of her.” He chuckled. “Beautiful and mysterious.”
“Is that a true story?” Kella asked.
He laughed jovially. “Not at all.” As he shrugged, there was something about his demeanor that seemed intentionally misleading.
As I wiped my face with the back of my hand, I caught Ray’s intense gaze fixed on me. His smile was gentle as he leaned back, placing a hand under his chin, and I couldn’t help but stare back at him.
I stood up, feeling a mix of nervousness and urgency, and addressed the princes, “Your majesties, may I have permission to use the restroom?”
Kale nodded. “The guards can guide you.”
I threw up. I was suffocating under the weight of the bottled-up anxiety and anger, unable to release it and find relief. I took a deep inhale and exhale and stood up from the porcelain throne. After thoroughly rinsing my mouth and scrubbing my hands clean, I emerged from the restroom and locked eyes with the two imposing guards. As they began to lead me, my attention was abruptly drawn to Prince Claud, who appeared just as suddenly in the hallway, seemingly on the verge of tripping. His guards hurriedly scrambled to keep up with him, but he began to unleash a stream of curses at them. They bowed respectfully, their eyes following him as he walked away. Before he crossed my path, he paused and gave me a thorough once-over.
“Wanna spend the night with a Prince? I’ll make you feel like royalty.” He smirked.
My scowl slowly transformed into wide-eyed astonishment as I realized the magnitude of this incredible opportunity. I straightened my scowling face and mustered a gentle smile. “If your majesty wishes to have me.”
A smile spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and he confidently approached me, his steps purposeful as he motioned for the guards to leave. They obliged.
He pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my shoulder as he whispered the words “Of course.”
I struggled to keep my balance, the stench of liquor from the man pulling me along almost unbearable. We walked for what felt like an eternity until we finally arrived inside a quaint study. Within the boxed room, a table and dresser stood as the only furnishings, adorned with a stack of books. Before I could even take in my surroundings, a forceful shove sent me crashing onto the table. I felt myself panic—my breath became shallow, my hands shook uncontrollably, and I clenched my teeth in frustration. My nostrils were instantly assaulted by the overpowering smell of alcohol as he loomed over me, clumsily pressing his lips against my neck, the sound of heavy breathing filling the air. His hands struggled with his pants, creating a sense of urgency and desire.
I felt disgusted.
Before he could get any closer to removing his pants, I summoned all my strength and swiftly flipped him over, positioning myself on top of him, eager to press my knees into his stomach. With his eyes closed, he mumbled incoherently, clearly intoxicated. I deftly retrieved the concealed knife from my sleeve and brandished it menacingly. “You bastard. You’ll finally get what’s coming to you. This knife may be small, but that just means I’ll have to stab you more!” With my eyes fixed on his chest, I raised it higher.
The creak of the door echoed through the room, causing me to stop in my tracks. In a quick motion, I spun around, only to be met with a gasp that escaped my lips, for there stood the crown prince, his eyes widened in disbelief.
CHAPTER 4
My hands shook uncontrollably.
As I turned back to my unconscious victim, the only sound in the room was his shallow breaths. In that split second, my mind raced, weighing my options. The new crown prince had already seen me trying to kill his brother—there was no turning back now. With a firm grip on my knife, I raised it high above my head, bringing it down with all my strength. Before the knife could pierce his chest, however, it flew from my hand, plunging itself into the wall. I gasped in surprise and hastily dismounted from the Prince, Ray’s hand extended towards me. In an unexpected show of some supernatural power, he effortlessly retrieved the knife, which launched solidly back into his own hand.
Now I had no weapon. His wide eyes, filled with curiosity, slowly shifted downward to reveal a calm expression before he turned away. In a rush, I grabbed onto his clothes and dropped to my knees, begging him earnestly. “P-p-please!”
He paused and turned slowly, crossing his arms. “Please what?” His voice was calm.
Mine was not. “Please, just... just... let me live... I...” I needed another chance to kill him, but there was no way I was going to get that chance. I was bound to be executed.
“That’s...” He smiled mischievously, his laughter barely contained, and I felt a knot of unease tighten in my chest. His grip tightened on my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, my eyes silently begging for mercy. His thumb grazed my bottom lip, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake, before he firmly gripped my cheeks, causing my lips to pucker. Leaning down slightly, he whispered in a voice that was both steady and daunting. “That’s not how you seek revenge.” I couldn’t help but notice the mischievous smirk on his face as he took in my shocked expression. He released my cheeks with a gentle, lingering touch and straightened himself up. With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly turned away. I crawled towards him, desperately attempting to halt his progress, but he abruptly turned, casting a disdainful glance at my pitiful form.
“Killing him in one blow? That’s not revenge. It’s lazy. To truly get your revenge, it’s best to burn slowly.” As he leaned down, his strong grip on my arm pulled me up and forcefully dragged me out of the study. When he let go, my feet stumbled, and I struggled to regain my balance. “We will talk about this another time. I’ll decide your punishment then.”
I felt nauseous once more as the butterflies in my stomach flared up. Why wasn’t he killing me now?
His smile disappeared. “Off you go,” he gestured. I almost tripped over my feet my legs were trembling so hard. Guards approached me as I moved forward, one behind me and another in front. I was sure I was headed towards my execution. However, we simply arrived at the harem room. Upon my entrance, every girl in the room abruptly shifted their attention towards me.
“Where the hell have you been?” Kella asked.
“Probably fucking one of the princes... or the guards,” Mia laughed.
Lai hit her in the back. “Don’t be like that.”
As they chatted about me, the world seemed to spin around me, making it impossible to focus on the conversation. My skull throbbed with such an intensity that it felt as if it were being split open. I clutched my head tightly, gasping for air and feeling each breath stinging my lungs. As my heart pounded furiously in my chest, I fell to my knees, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, certain I was going to die. Tenia and Jenny came towards me, but the ringing in my ears muffled their questions about my wellbeing. I screamed, wailing in despair, as if I was dying right then and there.
The sound of our door bursting open caused my eyes to flutter open, startled from my sleep. “Ladies. Report to the study room,” Headmaster spoke.
The girls groaned. “Yes, Headmaster.” As she left, I lifted up my hands and observed them closely.
Why am I still alive?
My heart continued to pound relentlessly against my chest, and the air felt like it was being sucked out of the room. Tenia walked towards me and tossed a pile of clothes in my direction. “Get a grip.” Before grabbing it, I shot her a piercing glare. It was a relief that the outfit was a form-fitting, long-sleeved black shirt and pants instead of a dress. Tenia was rude but also right. I need to stop thinking and just accept whatever would happen. I took a deep breath, attempting to push away the creeping anxiety, and released it slowly. I immediately started putting on my clothes. Lai, Mia and Kella scoffed, exchanging looks of judgement.
We arrived at the study room in no time. Headmaster Anwella stood by the board, filled with neatly written notes and diagrams. Despite my inability to read, I feigned comprehension of the text’s meaning. “Today’s history lesson will be brief because I need you all to go to the training grounds early today.” She looked around at us all. “Let’s start with your knowledge of Luark.”
On the board, she scribbled illegible words that I couldn’t make sense of while her voice filled the room, commanding our attention.
As she explained it, Luark, a generous kingdom, was renowned for its willingness to assist small villages and other kingdoms through bartering. The princes often embarked on journeys to various locations that matched their expertise, in order to resolve the problems plaguing the kingdom or village.
The rest of the information drowned in my head as I began thinking about the cold eyes that had stared at me so amusingly upon seeing me almost kill his brother. The haunting eyes seemed to linger on my body, their gaze feeling like a weightless feather caressing my bare skin. The sensation sent an eerie shiver down my spine, making me feel on edge. I abruptly shook my head, snapping myself out of my reverie, and just like that, our conversation veered into a different topic.
“I understand you are commoners. But you have knowledge of some gods. There are minor entities here and there, but you must learn your true origins...”
