Chapter 6: New life

| AURERHIA |

Zaria shivered as she sat inside the bathtub, the water was warm, full of rose petals that filled her nose with a soothing and beautiful scent. It was warm, beautiful, unlike any bath she's ever had.

Her heart clenched for a second, remembering this wasn't her life. Reminded of her hardship, her life.

Her shoulder remained tensed as Ivy kept scrubbing her back. Ivy had refused her protest to bathe herself as she wasn't comfortable with someone bathing her, but Ivy told her if she doesn't, she'd be executed for failing her master.

“ What kind of ridiculous law is that?” Zaria had fumed.

After taking her bath, Ivy helped her out of the water and dried her body.

Then she disappeared briefly into the adjoining chamber and soon returned with a gown draped carefully over her arms.

Zaria's breath caught.

The gown shimmered softly beneath the candlelight, the fabric was a delicate blend of silk and something lighter. The color shifted between pale gold and soft champagne as Ivy moved, tiny crystals sewn along the bodice catching the light, like scattered stars.

The sleeves were sheer, embroidered with fine silver threads that curled into tiny moon-shaped patterns, while the skirt flowed in endless layers, light enough to float with the smallest movement.

It was… beautiful. Too beautiful.

Her chest tightened.

She had never owned anything this fine. Never even touched anything like it.

“I… I can’t wear this,” she whispered weakly.

Ivy paused only for a second before continuing to help her into it. “You must, my lady.”

The words were gentle, but firm. Absolute.

Zaria swallowed hard as the fabric slid over her skin, cool and smooth, nothing like the rough, faded dresses she had worn all her life. This gown felt like water… like she would disappear if she moved too fast.

When Ivy finished fastening the back, she guided Zaria toward the mirror.

She froze.

The girl staring back at her looked like someone from a dream.

The gown hugged her waist perfectly before spilling into soft waves around her feet. Her skin, freshly bathed and lightly scented with roses, looked almost luminous beneath the candlelight.

She didn't look like someone who had fought her way through the market, sweat mixing with the crowd. Neither did she look like someone who had ever slept on cold floors.

Her eyes blinked as Ivy sat her down on the stool and began combing her hair slowly.

Zaria's fingers clenched against her lap.

The comb slid through her hair without resistance. No pulling. No tangles. No knots.

Her throat tightened painfully.

Her own hair… had never been like this. It had always been rough. Tangled. Difficult. Something she had to hacked through impatiently with her fingers because there was never time… or care… or anyone gentle enough to do it for her.

Her vision blurred.

She quickly blinked back the tears forming in her eyes, but when the servants brought her meal, Zaria stood transfixed on the spot.

The tray was filled with dishes she couldn't even name. Roasted meat glazed in honey and herbs, soft white bread still warm, butter melting into its surface, bright fruits arranged like art, and a bowl of creamy soup that smelled rich and comforting.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, she picked up the spoon.

The first taste made her eyes widen. It was warm, rich, and soft. Flavour bursting across her tongue in way she had never experienced.

A broken sound escaped her throat.

She swallowed quickly, but tears spilled again, dropping silently onto the table.

She sniffled, wiping her face quickly, embarrassed by her own reaction.

No one had ever prepared food like this for her.

No one had ever cared whether she ate well.

She took another bite.

And another.

Each one making her chest ache more than the last.

****

After eating, Zaria's body felt really weak like it demanded her to collapse onto the bed and drift into slumber, but the fear hammering in her chest wouldn't.

Three days. That's what she was given to live.

‘ This body is weak. Really weak.’ she thought to herself. She was such an agile lady which this body was contradictory to.

She looked at Ivy. “ To live longer, one needs strength, right?”

Ivy nodded even though she didn’t understand what she meant.

“ But food doesn't seem like strength to this body,” Zaria said and sighed. Then it tugged at her. “ How about a walk.”

“ A walk?” Ivy furrowed her brow.

Zaria nodded. “ Hm. Body activity could help with the frequent weakness.”

Ivy shrugged. “ Anything you want my lady.”

She smiled and stood up. “ Then let's go for a walk. From a walk, we'll go for a run.”

“ A run? To where?”

Zaria cleared her throat, “ first of all, let's take a stroll.”

‘ With that I can also familiarize myself with the palace environment.’ Zaria said in her mind and allowed Ivy to led her out.

The moment they stepped out of the chamber, fresh breeze blows across their faces, blowing her hair to the back.

Zaria's chest skipped. The palace was the true definition of what it's called. Palace. More beautiful than the one back in Averyn.

Each wings were adorned in gold and sculptures that has the eyes staring longer in admiration. But each time they come across guards, Zaria's heart would skip so hard, the familiar reaction and fear that comes each time she sees the palace soldiers.

Her face dropped, hating herself for still having the reaction. Her mind drifted to Theodore and her chest squeezed even tighter.

“ My lady? Are you okay?” Ivy asked worriedly, noticing her sad expression the moment the guard walked pass them.

“ Hm? Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay.” She quickly nodded and continued walking.

Just as she turned into the third wing, her head bumped hard into a solid surface.

“ Ha.” She yelped, touched her forehead and winced in pain.

“ Ha.. your.. your majesty.” Ivy quickly bowed, shaking in fear.

Zaria raised her brow and looked up to see what she bumped into.

Before her was the man she woke up to see, the one that had told her to make sure she's dead by the time he set his eyes on her again.

The one who's said to be her husband-to-be.

His majesty.

The king.

Standing in his glorious self before her.

“ You..you..”She murmured but her words caught in her throat.

Her body shivered as she gaze back into his eyes that held nothing but intense hatred and disgust. They were as sharp as steel, cutting right into her chest to her bones.

She opened her mouth to speak but before the words could come out, his hand were on her neck, closed tightly around her neck enough to steal her breath at once.

He drove her backward, crashing her back against the wall with a jarring thud that echoed.

Air left her lungs in a sharp gasp, shock flashed across her widened eyes. Her body shook when he pulled out of knife that went right for her neck.