Performance Art

"Looks like you aren't as dumb as before," Raya said.

"What do you mean," I asked her.

"And you weren't that talkative before, either."

I chuckled, "I'm a firm believer in change after all."

She hissed at me, "no, not you. Human trash like you would never change."

Woah, what a mood kill.

I took a quick glance through the window. What was only the evening had turned into the dark night a long time ago. Even though the summerdays were always unbearably long, what must come to an end, will always eventually end. Such is the case as I missed the nightfall descend, while lamenting the company I had, a rabid dog.

"You know, I remember you saying that the people of the house D'anele should show proper conduct and etiquette, but I don't see that coming from you either," I told her.

"Such things are obviously only reserved for those who deserve it," she rebutted, "You wouldn't treat a beggar like a king either, do you?"

"I'm not disagreeing, but I refuse to agree."

"I don't really care, we both know were the truth lies."

I shrugged my shoulders, yet she didn't notice since she was walking in front of me, unnecessarily leading the way that was ornamented with flickering candles, set up by the servants, who knows when.

"This place really is big," I mindlessly said.

"It's always been like that," she stopped and turned towards me, "you're weird. You've been weird since you've come back. At first I thought that you were just joking around, but then I remembered the original Agnes doesn't even know how to laugh."

"Oh, what was the original Agnes like."

"This is exactly what I mean. Would it kill you to take this situation more seriously?"

I'm really trying to, but what did you expect from me, when I was surrounded by my family that I have never met before.

"Also, I've been wondering for a while now," her eyes locked with the only thing I brought back, Estella's skull wrapped in a ragged cloth," what's that you're carrying?"

I smiled, "nothing you need to concern yourself with."

However, before I even ended my sentence, she already reached towards the bag I was carrying.

The smile I so courteously gave vanished at once and I grabbed her wrist stopping her midway.

With an icy voice I said, "If you dare to touch it, I will kill you."

"Oh, that just makes me want to do it more," she laughed, "the look you have right now suits you a lot more."

I strengthened my grip, but she showed no intention to back off.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not joking. Since you wanted me to be serious, I will fulfill your wish, I like to spoil those accompanying me after all."

"How scary. I don't mind, though. I'll let you act tough one last time. Just like fine wine, seeing you humiliated is more exhilarating the longer it takes to happen."

She relented and finally backed off, but her expression at the moment was vicious.

"you're such an uncute creature," I said with a sigh.

Raya rubbed her wrist and replied, "I don't care what you think," she paused, "and we have already arrived at our destination, so this talk will have to be postponed."

The place we stood in front of was a humble wooden door at the end of the hallway. Adjacent to it were lit candle sticks, illuminating not only the entrance, but also the stone walls.

Raya swung her arms and demanded, "servants, kill the lights, there's no need for them anymore."

"Wait, leave them lit, there may still be someone who's coming," I rebutted.

"Who would be coming at this kind of hour."

"Hmm, you might be in for a surprise."

"I hate surprises," she said with a deadpan face. What kind of person hates surprises?

"Whatever, just let them burn for now."

"Alright, only if you enter without complaining."

"It's a deal then."

One of the servants knocked at the door.

"The young mistresses have arrived," he whispered with care.

"Escort them in," a deep voice from inside replied.

A solemn atmosphere weighted me down, as soon as I entered. The room was, contrary to my expectations, relatively small. However what really surprised me was not the room, but the people it was filled with.

Ages, ranging from preteens to old adults, there was a crowd that was in no way small.

Most of them had the same black hair that I possessed, but there were some minorities, that had either blonde or auburn hair. The blue-ish eye color that Raya and me had wasn't as common, though. Even less was the group that had my kind of upturned eyes.

I heard voices hushing and saw people pointing, but I couldn't really tell what they were talking about.

In the middle sat a middle-aged man with his legs crossed and head resting on his balled fist. His full rounded face was unlike his stout and sturdy build, creating a dissonance, which one has to get used to. His black hair was cut short and surrounding his chin was a slight stubble, carrying the same color. The shape of his eyes were similar to Rayas downturns ones, but that was about the only similarity they had.

With those eyes full of distain, he stared down on me, inciting the crowd do do the same.

Raya bowed down, "we have arrived, father."

The man replied, "you have done well, come to my side."

Thus she merrily skipped towards her entourage, a group of kids, leaving me alone in the middle of the limelight. She cheekily smiled at me, anticipating my downfall.

For now, I imitated that girl by completing a small bow and said, "good evening, uncle."

Without any words, he started scrutinizing me from head to toe. "I do not have a niece such as yourself," is the sentence he decided on in the end. From the sides, I was able to hear Rayas snickering.

I chose to ignore it for the time being and asked, "what may be the reason that I was called at this time of the day?"

"Upon hearing of your return, I was wondering when you would be coming over to send your regards. However, the sun kept falling, and there was no sight of you. The thought that perhaps you wouldn't appear had left me restless," his tone turned harsher, "but such improper conduct, that would have never happened, right?"

What, you wouldn't let me in, but expected me to greet you?

"It is as you said, I was simply caught up in unforeseen circumstances, which made it hard for me to leave."

"What was so important, that you had to postpone a simple courtesy such as a greeting towards the head of the household?"

"I had business with grandfather, uncle."

I mean, I wasn't exactly lying.

He paused. I saw his face twitch a little, but he soon regained his composure and said, "And what would that be?"

I glanced at the people surrounding us and afterwards shook my head. Dejected, I told him, "you will have to ask him that yourself."

The man sighed, "Alright, I will leave that matter aside for now, but do not think such behavior will go unpunished."

Heh, sure whatever.

He continued, "seeing as you are already here, how about we talk about the underlying issue with you returning to the territory. As a member of this household, you have smeared mud at our untarnished family name."

The crowd grew restless, as soon as he mentioned that.

"Do you, Agnes, know what differentiates you from your ancestors," he laughed, "of course, putting aside that mixed blood of a seamstress."

"No I do not, please enlighten me."

"That is that every female that had left for marriage would never return. Your second and fifth cousin, both accomplished their task admirably, but what about you?"

He began a theatrical performance by exaggeratedly swinging his arms out and said, "rejoice, you are the first generation that has failed the only reason they were born for,"

his face warped in grotesque joy, "your body is a vessel to hold offspring, it exists sorely to raise a child born to expand our powers. As a woman your hope lies only in creating a strong boy, such is the case when you were betrothed to the third prince. For you to not achieve that means going against the whole D'Anele family, do you understand that?"

Like a spark that ignited tinder, his words resonated with the people that came to spectate and they soon began their condemnations. At the beginning, it was only one person shouting at me to repent, but the yelling got louder, and more people joined, and the words got worse. One after another, they began to let their frustrations out on me, an easy target, and the scene seemed eerily similar to a mob about to lynch a criminal.

Suddenly Rayas father snapped his fingers, and everyone turned quiet. Like their unbecoming state of throwing spit and pointing their vulgar fingers was just a hallucination.

"Kneel," he ordered.

I simply looked at him, unmoving.

He waited and then tilted his head to the side. The man said, "the current thought in my head is simply preposterous, but you are not thinking of disobeying, right?"

"Of course not," I replied and went on my knees. Strains of my long, silky hair covered parts of my emotionless face and the unwashed dress I was wearing. In the distance, I heard Rayas high-pitched laughter.

"Tonight, for the crimes, I shall pass judgment on you," he then urged someone from the crowd to join. The person was a male of similar age to him. Similarly, he had black hair and blue eye's, but his body was significantly thinner, "brother, may I ask for you to lead the case?"

"It would be an honor," the guy said.

"Alright let us begin then."

The thin man thus began reciting, "is it true that your engagement with the third prince was annulled?"

"That is right."

"Moreover, is it also true, that it was the prince, that had made this decision, and not you. Meaning that the fault and responsibility lies on you, and only on you?"

"I mean, if you say it like that-"

he interjected, "I ask that you answer with a yes or no"

I clicked my tongue, and answered, "yes."

The crowd turned lively again.

"It is just as I heard then. Not only did you fail to bind the royal blood to our own, but you even worsened the amicable relationship that we had for many years. Due to your selfishness and mismanagement, you have put the whole D'Anele family at risk, is that how you reciprocate our goodwill for raising and feeding you all these years?" He breathed in, "you have brought shame and danger with your single action. What you have done is equal to treason against our family. I recommend the highest form of punishment."

"Serves you right," a girl shouted.

"Quiet, Raya."

"I apologize, father."

But the group of kids around Raya, already followed her lead and began jeering at me with slurs and the mob once again began mindlessly voicing their opinions. I wasn't really bothered by the scripted spectacle surrounding me, and only waited for them to return to silence.

"Is that all you had to say," I asked.

The thin man raised his eyebrows and humphed, "yes, why."

"Then it's my turn to ask the questions."

He was baffled by my statement and questioned, "what reason would there be to let you do that?"

"Isn't it only fair?"

He stared at Rayas father to look for confirmation, who then said, "whatever, let her struggle, my judgement won't change."

I clapped my hands to gather everyone's attention, "great, then I call Raya D'Anele to the stand," I then said.

The girl in question was stumped by the sudden mention of her name and uttered, "huh, me?"

"Yes, of course, would you please come forward."

From her expressions, I could tell that she thought about declining, but being met by the expectant gazes of the crowd, she ultimately decided to agree.

She valiantly marched towards me, with her head held high, like a conqueror returning to his homeland. But only I saw, behind her facade, the confusion she felt from standing at this stage.

The girl stopped right in front of me, fixedly staring into my eyes, playing a game with herself that if she were to look away it would be her eternal shame. She was a head taller than me so it was only natural that she looked down on me.

Still, for her it was like a metaphor for our standings, as I saw her happily indulging in the fleeting sense of superiority.

Such a self-vain girl shouldn't be left alone, I thought. So before this whole orchestrated trial ended, I planned to have some fun with her.