What Did I Do?

Mirelah;

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The gentle knocks on the door crash through my sleep, and I stretch like a cat as I open my eyes. My gaze lands on the window adjacent to the bed. Sunlight is being blocked by the thick, red curtain over it. 

It's morning. I slept off last night… And apparently, I had a good sleep. 

"Do you think she's awake? "I hear a lady question outside, and I push myself into a sitting position. 

I yawn as I sit up, my arms reaching above my head, the duvet sliding off my body. I stare down at my naked body, and my mind instantly drifts to Kealith. I remember how his gaze locked on my body last night… How he stared at me like some mystical thing he had never seen before… I know it's silly but I can't help but wonder what he thinks of what he saw.

I can't help the thought. He is the first man to ever see me naked, and after staring at me like that, I can't help but wonder what he thinks...

I sigh as I go over the things that happened last night, and that's when I spot my hands. My jaw drops as I look at them. The bruises and cuts are no longer there. I reach for the cut that was on my back last night, but my fingers run over my smooth skin. Everything is gone. Every wound I acquired yesterday… They're just… Gone! 

I knew hemocrafters could heal themselves, but healing others? I heard that drains them… Is he alright?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound comes again, and I turn to the door. Holding the duvet up to cover my chest, I speak.

"Come in. "I call, and the massive door gently creaks open. Three ladies file in, carrying towels, and something I assume is a dress. They all seem to be in their twenties, have black hair that has been wrapped into buns and are in white maid dresses. I tilt my head as I think about the colour choice. 

Blood crescent customs heavily use the colours black and red. In their tapestry, buildings, designs, and even royal regalia… Why then are the maids wearing white? Is it to set them apart from the royals?

"We've been assigned to bathe you and get you ready for breakfast. "One of the ladies finally breaks the silence, and I blink.

"Bathe… me? "I question, and they all nod. 

I stare at all three of them in bewilderment as my mind rushes home. Back home, Meadow is the only one who's seen me naked. She alone helps with my bath and hair. I don't know how my other sisters get bathed and ready, but three is a crowd for me. I won't be comfortable… How much of me is there to require three maids for a bath!?

Do they intend to wash my sins away?

"My lady? "Another questions as I've been quiet for quite a while, and I blink as I return to the room.

"Err… I'm fine with just one person helping me. "I state, and I watch them share a look amongst themselves like I've just said the most absurd thing in the world. 

"We're sorry, My lady. But that's not allowed. If only one of us gets you ready, the remaining two will be tagged as lazy and punished for slacking off. "The lady at the left replies, and I blink.

"We each have our purpose. I will handle your hair, she will attend to your skin, and she will tend to your hands and feet. "The lady in the middle explains, and I swallow. 

Everything inside me recoils at the thought of three people bathing me. They'll see everything. Every single inch of me. That's too many eyes! They don't seem to understand that. They either don't understand or they do not care. 

Honestly, I think it's the second. I sigh in defeat as I drop my head in painful surrender. If there's one thing I've learnt from my classes back home, only a foolish royal makes enemies out of their servers. I'll endure it… It's just one bath. If it's too bad… maybe I'll talk to Queen Velnara about it. But if it's manageable, I'll endure… Till Meadow is finally with me.

I inhale deeply before crawling out of the bed and facing them. One of the ladies marches up to me with a towel she drapes around me, and I fight with every single nerve in me not to roll my eyes. This is a bit too ceremonial and awkward for one bath, isn't it?

They ask me to sit down, and I watch them march through a door I had previously noticed in the room but didn't pay much mind to. In silence, I listen to them move around and whisper to each other in the room, and after about five minutes, one of them comes for me. 

I follow her as she leads me to the room, and when she pushes the door open, I am faced with the most dramatic bathroom I have ever seen in my entire life. 

A massive, circular tub… no, a pool big enough to fit five people sits proudly in the centre of the stone room. I watch as steam curls up from its surface, carrying a faint, spicy scent. I stare in awe at the intimidatingly beautiful space, and the ladies turn to me.

"Shall we? "They chorus, pointing at the mini pool, and I stare in awe. They seem pretty eager to do this! This makes me wonder… is this bath meant to cleanse me... or baptize me into something new?

******

I overreacted. The bath wasn't all bad. They weren't gawking at me or anything. They were just going about their jobs. Plus, My hair has never felt so clean before… I am walking down the hallway with the maids behind me as they lead me to the dining hall. 

I'm not sure if I'll be able to eat anything as tension already has my stomach in a symphony of knots. My hair has been done up, which is quite different from how I usually wear my hair. I like my hair down. This hairdo makes me look… formal.

What I do like though, is the lavender dress Queen Velnara sent to me as a welcome gift. It's a simple ball dress that makes my hair and eyes pop. Making them look like masterpieces that should be celebrated, and not hidden. 

I think I like Queen Velnara.

She's nicer than I thought she'd be, and she's caring too… In a way. The care she's shown me isn't much different from the care Seraphina shows to me. I may have judged her wrongly… All of them even. I judged them based on rumours. They could be nice people… I should give them the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't judge before I know for sure…

The massive oak doors before me are pulled open, and another astounding sight unravels before me. The room is adorned with multiple ceiling-to-floor windows with stained glass. A grand chandelier dangles in the middle of the room. The candle lights on the chandelier as well as the ones on the table crackle with the flames of the fireplaces on the left side of the room.

Three of the crimson and black Blood Crescent flags hang proudly on both sides of the room. Just ahead of me is a narrow, massive table sitting upon a long, red and gold carpet. King Damrion is at the other end of the room. Sitting on a mighty black throne on the North side of the table. Queen Velnara is at his right side, and the other Varkein brothers are at the table. All of them… Except Kealith.

A strange mix of emotions stirs in my chest. I don't know if it's relief or disappointment. Part of me expected to see him. I didn't know what to expect, but a part of me was hoping he'd be here… I hold my hand tightly together as a part of me that I refuse to acknowledge, wonders if he stayed away because of last night.

Because of what he saw… Or the fact that I couldn't remember our past. Is he avoiding me? 

…If he is, is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with courage before taking my first step into the room. I curtsy, and the Varkein brothers softly bow their heads at me. But I notice that Vaelor doesn't. He doesn't even look in my direction or acknowledge my presence. I don't have enough time to think about it before Queen Velnara's voice reaches my ears.

"Come here, dear. "Her silky voice breaks the silence, and I walk over to her. She taps the vacant seat beside her, and I smile as I sit.

"I do have impeccable taste! You look so pretty in this dress. It brings out your eyes… "She says as she gently lifts my chin with her finger tips, and I blush as my eyes meet her blue ones.

"Ugh. You're a sight to behold. Kealith must have gotten his taste from me. He knows a good thing when he sees it. "She adds, and for some reason, my blush grows.

I still don't understand why Kealith insisted on marrying me. I can't remember the past I'm now sure I had with him. I also can not understand his curse or the severity of it… But there's one thing that's slowly getting clear. I may have written off this place… This people… This family… I may have judged them too soon.

I know it's pathetic to think this after spending less than a day with them, but it's just a feeling… The thought barely settles when a voice shatters the illusion.

"Seriously!? "Vaelor suddenly yells, and my body jerks in fright as I quickly turn to him.

"We'll all stay quiet!? No one will say anything to her? We'll just sit like hypocrites and act like everything is fine!? "He demands further, and I blink at the young man with tussled, short black hair who's glaring at me.

Why is he looking at me like that? What did I do?