Verse One
"Only one of us can remain."
He's gotten used to that bluntness in his voice. But when he said those words, he thought he heard a trace of dismay behind his stoic tone. Despite what he put him through, he still…wanted to stay with him?
Ironically, he was happy to hear he was sad. But that didn't change the situation. He knew what it meant.
"I see," he smiled brightly despite it all, "I should get ready to leave, then."
It pained him more to see that harmless, meaningful smile on his face. But the position he now held prevented him from expressing anymore of his sympathy. He heard footsteps and the door swinging. He gritted his teeth and made a last attempt to make his true thoughts known.
"It doesn't have to be you."
The one who was abandoned paused as he was about to leave through the door. "You're more important than I am. Even if I stayed, nothing good would come out of it," he looked back and smiled again, "I'm sorry. I'll take good care of her for you while you're in my place."
He didn't wait for a response and walked through the door. Left by himself, he could taste something ironic bittersweet in his mouth. Once, he thought the decorated halls of the manor should have belonged to him. But now that the person he used to blame for his misfortune was gone, there was momentary triumph.
Then, there was silence. The halls were nothing but empty decorations. He looked up to the ceilings and shut his eyes.
The life of aristocracy… He was getting sick just at the thought of it.
Act I: The Mandela Effect
Two days. CK watched the dark Expansion outside the windows of the train, and it never changed regardless of the time displayed on the clock beside her bed. They'd occasionally pass by planets, but it would be seconds and then it'd be gone from sight.
The astral route was like a tunnel of constantly changing lights. Just as CK thought she would be used to it, the momentum would occasionally get to her and cause the souffle pancakes in her stomach to exit her mouth. She could taste the syrup at the back of her throat, but there was already an acidic touch to it.
Travels were never friendly when they were fast, but at least it doesn't take months to cross a light year. It was two days' worth of travel. Then, the tunnel of speedy lights would disappear, expelling the train under skies that CK could remember faintly.
The train eventually came to a halt in the skies, a camouflage draping over the train that allowed a flock of birds to pass by undisturbed. From his perch, Malphas flapped his wings in an attempt to stretch it. He turned to CK.
It resembled the scenario she said goodbye to before, but CK knew it wasn't the same. "It's Kelter skies, that's for sure," CK said and got up.
She prepared as the train system warned its only passenger that it would depart soon. This was to avoid unwanted attention pointing at the alien technology of the train and because it had a schedule to follow. CK pulled her luggage and stood on the magic circle outside her cabin, and a momentary beacon of light shot towards the earth.
It was lightning in midday. CK blinked, unharmed by the beacon's energy, and found herself standing in the middle of a forest. She gazed up, seeing the faint outlines of the train when she squinted her eyes.
Behind the clouds, the engines kickstarted again and the train would shoot off in the blink of an eye, sadly leaving no room for CK to say goodbye to it. CK shrugged to this and stretched her arms and hips, letting Malphas perch on the handle of her suitcase.
"Oof… My muscles are sore from all that sitting around…" CK grunted as she continued to stretch, "And for two counted days, too!"
"Alright, that hit the spot… Let's go," CK said and tugged her suitcase again. Malphas flew above her, occasionally shielding CK's face from the sun with his crow body,
"Nah. I still remember the way. Walk a little more, and we'll arrive at King's Wall," CK replied and wore a sunhat.
"I'm not sure if there's anything interesting in this place," CK looked around skeptically. King's Wall, despite its fancy name, is just a region of villages in the outskirts of Montgomery. There was nothing except idle peace.
Kelter was a medium-sized planet, but it was also the name of the continent. In that continent were two main countries: Pentamerone and Montgomery. In the travelogues, Montgomery was known for being a 'leisure country', where countless summer villas and winter cottages were owned by the nobles. During the winter and summer seasons, they'd leave the capital and get cozy in Montgomery. Likewise, it becomes silent but peaceful during the spring and fall seasons.
King's Wall served as the outskirts and the boundaries dividing Montgomery from the uninhabited woods and landscapes beyond. This was also a place where several adventuring guilds and markets were located, allowing villagers to trade the materials they harvest from outside with the goods and services the markets and merchants could offer.
CK eventually reached the entrance of King's Wall. A pair of griffin statues were on either side of the oval-shaped arch of the entrance, and several guards were on the lookout. They immediately saw CK as soon as she emerged from the forest, and they remained alert as she approached.
"Greetings. Do you have any proof of identity with you?" one of the guards asked politely when CK had drawn close. "Hello, officers. And yes, I do," CK smiled as she extended a brooch, "Will this be enough?"
The guard accepted the brooch and observed the brooch: It was an emerald crest with gold embedding it like a wreath. The guard blinked in surprise. Emerald…?
"Ehem."
The guard snapped out of his stupor and turned to the young woman. "Is it enough?" CK asked, her emerald eyes twinkling. "Oh… Yes, it is. Welcome, my lady," the guard stepped to the side, allowing passage into King's Wall.
"Thank you. Have a good day," CK said as she received her brooch from the guard. She adjusted her sunhat as she walked further in, feeling the questioning stares of the guards from the back.
Once she disappeared from sight, the guard turned to his companion pensively. "House Vincenzo had a daughter?" he asked in a hushed whisper. The other guard frowned, "They did? I thought Lady Isabella and Lord Flavio were childless…"
"The visitor had an authentic Vincenzo crest. Did you not notice her eyes? They're exactly like Lord Flavio's," the guard said frantically. "Listen, all I know about the Vincenzo family is that they did have a child, but she died very young," the other guard said.
"Unless Lord Flavio had another child…? He has a few mistresses, so it's not that far off."
"Impossible. All his mistresses were always seen in public, and they are never pregnant."
"Then…" the other guard paled in horror, "W-Was that…the ghost of the dead child just now?"
It was silent. The other guard's face crumpled as he complained, "What is wrong with you? You know I have a night shift later and you decide to scare me like this! Why are you like that?!"
"You think that's scary?! I have to patrol the woods by myself!"
The guards at the entrance began bickering, the cause of it being deep inside King's Wall and leisurely admiring the sceneries as if she were a first-time visitor.
Malphas silently darted through the air and perched on a tree branch for shade, his eyes falling on CK in the midst of the crowd. Cobblestone paths were adorned with intricate street lights and banners. Several houses and two-story buildings stretched out around the perimeters, a few taller buildings for commerce and work standing out a little more in the distance.
Malphas tilted his head at this. Usually, there'd be those children in rags running about public places like this or beggars in the shadows of buildings. But on the way, he never saw anything like that.
The 'village' was more like a city, and the villagers were all dressed for public appearances. Taking this as a new insight into newer cultures, Malphas took off on another flight, a lone crow in the midday skies of King's Wall.
'Yep. Nothing much has changed,' CK thought. Except for the receptionists of the nearby guild stalls and shops, they were all the same from memory. Her eyes fell on the horizon, where the lagoon was a clear view.
'Papa's villa should be near,' CK thought. Since she arrived at Montgomery first, she should go meet her father first. Growing sensitive to the secretive and curious glances around her, CK adjusted her sunhat and tugged her suitcase towards her new destination.
Northeast of King's Wall was Hot Cross, where many resorts and noble villas were built. Because the Mermaid's Lagoon was a clear view from Hot Cross, many nobles in the past fought to build their summer villas first in Hot Cross just for the sake of getting a clear view. The Vincenzo Villa was one of them, but they chose a location isolated from the clustered villas and closer to the forest.
CK was thankful for that. The last thing she needed was having to ninja her way past the neighborhood of nosy nobles and risk being seen so soon. Unlike CK choosing to cause trouble when she is bored, these nobles would gossip or find somebody's business to bother just to pass time.
The nobles should be at Pentamerone at this time, but the servants left behind at the villas would sniff out anything just to please their bosses. CK avoided passing by the neighborhood and chose to take the path through the forest.
Malphas flew over her, taking notice of the small snake statues lining a dirt path. He followed the path and eventually arrived at a forest clearing where a three-story manor made of white stone and glass walls stood facing out the lagoon. Several balconies were connected to several rooms on the second and third floor, where potted plants and trees grew in variety.
The stairs leading up bordered a rock pool where aquatic lights were lit, and a few exotic fishes swam. Malphas perched on another tree branch as CK emerged from the forest path.
"Huh. I didn't know they added a pool," she said and approached the manor.
She stopped before the door and knocked politely. CK heard faint steps approaching from inside, and the door clicked open. A woman likely in her late twenties was the one to greet CK at the door, her hair was halfway curled and light make-up on her face.
"Oh! Um… Sorry, can I help you?" the woman asked, looking at CK from head to toe. CK blinked a few times with an awkward smile. Who was this woman?
"…Hi. Is Lord Flavio Vincenzo home?" she asked. "No, he's not… Sorry, honey, might I ask what you need from him?" the woman asked, "He entrusted the house to us, but never mentioned a new hire."
"Hah…" CK forced a smile, but her hand was itching to grab her glass pen. She removed her sunhat and looked back at the woman, "Listen here, miss—"
"Dios mio, Ophelia! Do you have no idea who you're talking to, or have you curled your brains out?!"
Both women turned to the sound of a frantic, accent-thick voice. A woman in her mid-forties and a suit rapidly approached with a stern look pointed at the woman who opened the door, "Move, move, move!"
"Ay! Mayordoma, no need to be so harsh," the woman squealed as the older woman sped past her. To her surprise, the older woman bowed before CK respectfully.
"My sincerest apologies, young miss. Ophelia is new, you see—She still has plenty to learn about the family. Please pardon her. I will discipline her accordingly later," the older woman said earnestly.
Ophelia paled in horror. Did she just say 'young miss'?!
CK placed a hand on her hip, her lips twisting in dissatisfaction.
"Lucila, I've been gone for four years, and this is what you first do?" she asked, upset, "Why would you greet me with an apology? Come, stand up and give me my huggies!"
"Pardon?" the older woman asked in confusion before CK gently made her stand back up and hugged her tightly. Surprised, Lucila eventually smiled softly and hugged CK back. She gently rubbed her back.
"Ah, mi Esmeralda… You've grown so much! Had I not kept your picture with me every day for the past few years, I might not have recognized you now," Lucila said happily and bowed, "Welcome back, young Lady CK."
Lucila, the Mayordoma responsible for the Vincenzo Villa in Montgomery. She initially served at the family manor but was promoted to the other vacant spot for the mayordomo. She then left with the Lord of the Vincenzo Family, CK's father, to assist him with work from Montgomery and to housekeep when he was away.
"It's good to be back," CK grinned. Ophelia was now staring in horror, "T-This is… This is the daughter of Lord Flavio?!"
"Yes, so learn to pay respects! To think you would mistake her to be some maid when they look so similar… Shame on you! Haven't you seen the family portrait displayed in the living room? Ahh, idiota," Lucila scolded Ophelia, who was now red in embarrassment.
"I-I'm terribly sorry, young miss…! I've offended you," Ophelia bowed. "You're lucky you're in a merciful household. You wouldn't be leaving with your tongue in your mouth if you weren't," CK said icily and turned to Lucila, "She needs training, else she might embarrass papa outside."
"Yes, my lady. Please come inside. It's too hot out there," Lucila said earnestly. CK gave her the sunhat and let the nearby servants take her suitcase inside the house. Meanwhile, the current noble of the house looked around observantly.
"I'm glad the house is well-maintained. Where is papa?" CK asked Lucila, who propped the sunhat against a nearby shelf for headwear. "He has left for Pentamerone a few days ago, my lady," Lucila answered.
"Pentamerone? But it's not that time of the year yet…" CK held her chin thoughtfully. Knowing what she meant, Lucila clarified herself, "I was told it was business-related since it is social season already."
"Ah, so it was work. I thought papa's clinginess got the best of him," CK said and nodded, "Alright. Lucila, please arrange a ride for me. I'm going to Pentamerone."
"Already?" Lucila was surprised. "I stopped by here first because I thought papa would be here. Since he's at Pentamerone with mama, I should hurry to meet them. Rumors about their child's 'ghost' might start buzzing about."
"Have the villagers noticed you?" Lucila asked in surprise. "Hmm, probably," CK replied amusingly, causing the mayordoma to sigh.
"You must be tired from your earlier travels. At least try to eat a light meal while I set up your things in your bedroom," Lucila said as she gestured the servants to carry the suitcase up the stairs. "I'll help myself to the kitchen then," CK called out, only to hear a protest.
"Nuh-uh! Let the cooks make your food, my lady! Don't trouble yourself!"
"Too late," CK snickered as she snuck some breadsticks and cheese dip. She brought a whole bowl of breadsticks to the table and ate a few bites. She then noticed Ophelia standing by awkwardly. CK raised an eyebrow.
"Hm… Where are the others before you?" she asked. Ophelia blinked in surprise to see CK looking at her, "Sorry?"
"…The other house maids before you. Where are they?" CK asked. "O-Oh! Well, Francine left on a vacation trip and Marionetta is having her siesta upstairs in her bedroom… I was practicing make-up when the respectable young miss arrived," Ophelia replied with her head lowered.
CK could still remember Marionetta and Francine as the staff under Lucila's care. But this Ophelia must have been a recent addition, which would explain her clumsy behavior and manner of speech. CK didn't ponder on it too much. It was one of Lucila's jobs to train the staff, not hers.
CK had already finished the bowl of breadsticks when Lucila returned downstairs. "Alright. Let's go," CK brushed the breadcrumbs off her fingers with a tablecloth and walked towards the door.
"Ah, my lady! There's still crumbs on your face!" Lucila called as she hastily grabbed a parasol and left the house. "Hm? Oh," CK said and cleaned her face with a handkerchief tucked in her pockets.
She and Lucila rode a carriage pulled by a pair of amphipteres, which resembled dragons but without legs. They shrieked before taking off into the skies, pulling the lightweight carriage. CK wore the sunhat again and paired it with sunglasses so she could enjoy the scenery below.
Then, CK suddenly giggled. "Hehe," she turned to Lucila amusingly, "How much do you want to bet on papa crying when he sees me?"
"Oh, my entire fortune, my lady. He would lament in front of your portrait as if you've been gone for decades. I understand him well. It's been years and my lady has never sent a letter or a word of how she was doing," Lucila smiled wryly.
"Ahaha, my bad… The school never allowed students to make contact with the outside world," CK smiled guiltily. "In any case, the lord and lady will be more than delighted to see you well and stay for good," Lucila said happily.
'But I don't intend to stay for too long,' CK thought awkwardly, but chose not to interrupt Lucila's happy ramblings.
"And just in time for social season, too! I'm sure my lady will be most dazzling woman there will be if she chooses to join the events. All the attention would be sure to be yours. It'd be the perfect opportunity to find you a worthy partner," Lucila clapped lightly.
"Right. The social season… I turned eighteen last year and it shouldn't hurt to be introduced," CK said thoughtfully. She nodded and looked out the window, "I don't think it's necessary in my situation, but I'll consider it."
"Wonderful. Lady Isabella will be pleased!"
Deep down inside, however, CK thought it was useless. Those events were held to introduce women and bachelors, but she has no intention of settling down so soon. But CK was still considering it since it was a good opportunity to see the faces of the next generation of nobility in Kelter.
Thanks to the speed of the amphipteres, the carriage arrived in Pentamerone within the hour. The family manor was situated in Rouge City, one of the Royal Capitals (just a fancy name for a major city) of Pentamerone. The cries of the amphipteres echoed in the courtyard as the carriage landed smoothly.
Compared to the summer villa, the Vincenzo Residence was four stories high and had annex buildings on all sides of the wide courtyard. To the right side of the courtyard was the garden and greenhouses, where the lady of the house held her tea parties.
Lady Isabella de Vincenzo was holding another tea party for a few noblewomen when the shrieks of the carriage amphipteres disrupted the idle talks. She turned to the source of the sound, finding that a carriage landed in the courtyard and was immediately tended to by the nearby servants.
Lady Isabella was mildly confused. Was it a family guest? Flavio never said anything about sending someone with the family carriage. She saw Lucila emerge first, then her eyes widened when she saw who came out next.
"Joaquin, will you please check it out?" she patted the arm of the man next to her. "Understood, my lady," a man of exquisite beauty and long hair kissed Isabella's fingers before standing up.
Another man of equal charms stood from the nearby couch to approach the carriage. CK sniffed the air as soon as she stepped down on the ground, a nostalgic aroma drifting her way.
Honey and tea… It's been so long since she could smell that homemade brew. Mama must be hosting a tea party.
"Good afternoon, my fair lady. I'm afraid Lady Isabella does not accept beautiful but tardy ladies into her tea parties," one of them smirked as they approached CK, "Or are you perhaps here to work in the stables?"
"Seriously? Do I look that terrible?" CK deadpanned. The man named Joaquin chuckled and made a chivalric bow, "I jest, my lady. You are every bit of masterpiece carved out from Lady Isabella's image. How could we possibly mistake you for someone else?"
"Hmph! That's what I thought. I might send you to clean the stables instead."
"My dear Isabella…is she a family member of yours?" a woman whispered to Isabella behind her fan, "How curious. I didn't know you had nieces or some sort. I've never seen her before."
"Not a niece, no. Though I'd come to the same conclusion as well, haha!" Isabella laughed lightly, much to her companions' confusion.
Looking at the young lady in the distance, Isabella's lips curled the same way CK's would when intrigued. My… She's grown well.
"That, my ladies, is none other than my own daughter," she looked back at the stunned women, "When my child grows to be as beautiful as that, it's hard not to hide her from the bachelors of society."