ROYAL BLOOD

Moving on

CANNA EMPERIAL PALACE

The cold winter breeze swayed, making the oil lamp in Yumi's hand dance to its rhythm.

Snowflakes were falling endlessly, like droplets of rain. It was always snowing in Canna, as it was located in the farthest north.

Yumi was wearing a thick blue fur robe, which had white fur on the necklines and the edges of the robe. The blue fur robe was long, reaching down to her feet. Her lean fingers were wrapped with a white glove; the thick blue furry robe had a long sleeve stopping at her wrist.

There was a white furry cap on her hair; her black hair was let down, falling on both sides of her face. The furry blue robe enveloped the inner black gown she was wearing, making the robe spread around her like it was a flared gown.

The oil lamp in Yumi's hand reflected in her blue crystal eyes. They were drained of life but still shone brightly in the dark sky.

"My queen." A guard steps forward, handing over a burning fire stick to Yumi.

Suddenly someone stands beside Yumi; it was Gothem. Yumi didn't have to look sideways to know it was her husband standing next to her.

"She used to love winter. She would dance in the snow and build snow castles. She had told me once…'Mother, I want to marry for true love, not for power.' Yumi paused, her eyes gazing at the corpse of her daughter. Katie's corpse was laid on some trenches of sticks piled up together, making it seem she was on a bed made of sticks.

Yumi didn't turn to gaze at Gothem; she kept her gaze fixed ahead of her.

"On the night she left for Decreash, on her wedding night. She told me… 'Mother, Father said that duty comes first. I am doing my duty by giving myself away for the safety of my people. But know this: I will never be happy.' Yumi's face looked pained.

"Yumi, Katie was a…" Gothem wanted to talk but was interrupted.

"I didn't do anything about it; I watched my daughter leave the only place I knew she was safe. Now here I stand, about to set a stick pile on fire, which has her corpse on it." Yumi's voice quivered, but she didn't cry; she wouldn't.

"We did what we thought was right…" Gothem was saying something but got interrupted.

"No! You did what you thought was right! Yumi shrilled, shifting her gaze to him.

"You never liked to be told what to do. I tried. I tried to warn you, didn't I? But you wouldn't listen." Yumi shifts her gaze back to Katie's corpse.

"You gave her away, like she was nothing. All for what? For power! Yumi gritted her teeth.

"I will never forgive you for what you did to our daughter. I can only ask one thing from you: avenge her. Avenge Katie's death." Yumi said before taking a step forward.

Slowly she made her way to where Katie's corpse was. Every step she took left her footprint imprinted on the snow.

There were guards standing at both sides of the pathway, holding up oil lamps. Yumi trotted along, her eyes distant, her cherry lips chapped. As she walked past the guards standing on both sides of the pathway, they bowed to show their respect.

Yumi suddenly stood in front of the pile of sticks where Katie's corpse was laid to rest.

"Today I have to set up your pile on fire, a mother sending her daughter away to the other side—how ironic! Yumi said when gazing at Katie's pale face.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can… I want you to know I have always loved you, and I will never forget you. You will always be a part of me; you will live in my memory."

Yumi said before suddenly lighting up the pile of sticks, she lit up the four corners of the stick pile and watched as the pile of sticks suddenly erupted in flames. Flames that reflected in Yumi's eyes as she watched her daughter's corpse burn.

...….

"Where is she? Yumi asked as she made her way inside the castle. She slowly takes off the white hand gloves; inside the castle was lit up with fire torches, making it warm.

"She is at the horse stable." Mira, who was walking beside Yumi, trying to keep up with her pace, answered.

Suddenly Yumi paused in her steps; lurking in the shadows of the castle was Kaal. He stepped out of the dark shadows, his long grey hair glowing under the fire's touch. He wore a black cloak, his old frail hands were crossed behind his back, and his ancestral necklace sat still on his neck.

He made his way to where Yumi was, then gave Mira a sign to leave.

Mira bowed in courtesy and then took her leave.

"You don't always have to pretend to be strong all the time. You just performed your daughter's final funeral rites; you should get some rest." Kaal's calm voice said in a whisper.

Yumi shot him a deadly glare…

"I have had enough days to mourn her death and cry my eyes out; there is still more time for that…after I have avenged her death." Yumi said before walking past him, her flared gown swaying as she walked and her curly black hair bouncing.

Yumi slowly wore her gloves as she stepped out of the castle through a back door; Kaal was behind her.

"Where is she going to go? Yumi asked as she watched Mira, her personal maid, help Joya put her belongings in the waiting carriage in front of the stable.

A winter breeze blew past, and Yumi's hair swayed, revealing her beautiful face.

"A place very far away from here, a place where she would start her life afresh." Kaal said as he watched Mira make her way to where they stood.

The royal carriage was fully loaded with provisions that could last for months. Mira stood beside her mistress, her eyes teary as she watched the carriage rider mount the horse.

All her life, Mira has taken care of Joya. Sometimes she would fear that one day she would come to check up on her and find her dead. But that never happened.

Yumi didn't shift her gaze; she could hear the small sniffs coming from Mira.

Yumi shut her eyes and then fluttered them open again….

"Go with her." Yumi, an icy voice suddenly whispered.

Mira, who was wiping her tears away with her own dress, paused abruptly and then turned to look at her mistress.

"How could I possibly leave your side when you need me the most…," Mira was interceded.

"Go with her, Mira; you have served me for 20 years. I couldn't ask for anything more. Watch over her for me." Yumi's face was pale.

"Thank you for this privilege, my lady. Thank you for bringing me into your home and placing your trust in me." Mira said after falling on her knees.

Yumi signaled her to rise, and she did so slowly, then turned to leave after casting a fleeting glance at Kaal, who was standing beside Yumi.

Suddenly Yumi grips Mira by the wrist; the latter turned around….

"Promise me you will take care of her with everything you have." Yumi said, and Mira smiled faintly.

"I swear to you by the gods, I will take care of Joya with everything I have and more." Mira said and then hugged Yumi.

Yumi didn't see that coming; she wasn't prepared for it. She tapped Mira on the back lightly, then watched as the latter disengaged from the hug and quickly made her way to the carriage.

The carriage was already moving, but when the rider saw Mira coming, he stopped the carriage and waited for her to hop in. Mira took her seat beside Joya, whose face was devoid of emotions.

"Mother, you said you would be staying back." Came Joya's voice.

"I changed my mind, dear." Mira said before smiling, then she placed her hand on Joya's hand and squeezed it gently.

The carriage began to move out of the palace. Joya popped her head out of the carriage, her blue eyes glaring at the woman dressed in fancy clothes. Joya wasn't aware that Yumi is her daughter.

Joya slowly shifted her gaze to the old man standing beside Yumi.

He was the last thing she saw before she retracted her head into the carriage. Yumi waited until the carriage was out of sight before slowly turning and making her way into the palace.

"I will see to it that a royal carriage is prepared for you. You have a long journey ahead of you." Yumi said as she took off the white hand gloves.

"You should have thought of that before making me stay in Canna for more than 20 years against my will." Came the old man's voice in a curt manner.

Yumi paused in her tracks…

"Would you rather reside in that ruin you call a temple instead? She asked, making her way up the spiral staircase in the room.

"You have taken care of me for so many years, and that too without your husband's knowledge; for that reason alone I will plead with the gods to spare your life for calling their sacred place ruins." The old man said, turning away to leave.

"Also plead with the gods to help us win the coming war against Decreash; it would really be appreciated." Yumi said before finally disappearing out of sight.

The old man looked stunned for a while before shaking his head slowly from side to side, then he rubbed the ancestral necklace on his neck in between his fingers, his other hand placed behind his back as he walked out of the room lit with fire torches.

...…

Yumi walked into a dimly lit chamber; suddenly a hand from behind gripped her.

Helping her to take off her thick furry coat, Gothem whispered into Yumi's ear.

"It has been a long time since we made love; I forgot how good you are in bed." He said, throwing the coat on the floor.

"When will our soldiers be marching to Decreash for war? Yumi asked, looking uninterested, and yanked his hands away.

Gothem looked frustrated as his veins popped out….

"I have already told you, Yumi, we won't be able to win if we forge a war against Decreash." Gothem said, and Yumi paused in her act of untying her dress.

"We could at least try! She said, clenching her fist. Gothem walked up to her and caressed her face with his fingers.

"Matching all my men to a war I know we won't make it alive from—it's not worth it, even if it's to avenge Katie." He said, his finger brushing against Yumi's lips.

Yumi shut her eyes close and then slowly fluttered them open…

"You are right, it's not worth it." She said, suddenly pulling the last string of rope keeping the dress on her body, she captured Gothem's lips and entwined her hand around his neck.

Soon they were on the bed; Gothem was banging Yumi from behind, and she moaned, clenching the sheets. Her eyes filled with desires.

After a while they lay beside each other breathlessly.

"Your core is still tight; I forgot how good you could taste." He said, placing his hand on her left breast.

"Wasn't that the reason you killed the man I loved? To have me for yourself? She said.

"Not really. I did it because I wanted to form a powerful alliance with your father's kingdom." Gothem said, helping himself to a glass of wine.

"And he gave me away like a piece of furniture, just like you did…to Katie! Yumi screamed, bringing out the dagger she had been hiding, and she stabbed Gothem in the neck.

His eyes bulged, the glass of wine faltering from his hands.

"Why? He asked as he quivered, and Yumi stabbed him again in the chest.

"Men, you all are the same." Yumi's voice was filled with hatred. She threw the dagger on the floor… and watched Gotham die slowly.

"Tell Katie I miss her, if you meet her."