ROYAL BLOOD

TWO-FACED

There was a knock on Ragaleon's chamber…

"Your Majesty, Lady Berth would like to see you.' A guard said after Ragaleon had told him to come in.

"Let her in." Ragaleon, he said after a while of silence. The guard nodded in submission and took his leave.

Berth made her way in elegantly, both her hands entwined together in front of her.

"Your majesty." She said then, coursed, and slowly straightened up.

"Why have you come to see me at this late hour? Ragaleon questioned from where he lay on his bed, his brown eyes etched on Berth.

Berth blushed like a blossoming flower…

"Forgive me, your majesty, I was oblivious of the time; I will take my leave immediately." She said, turning to leave.

"Don't leave; you are already here. State what you intend to say." Ragaleon said, and Berth couldn't help but smirk victoriously. She wasn't planning on leaving in the first place.

She quickly changed the countenance of her face to that of an innocent and blameless girl.

"I just wanted to know what you have installed for me and my sister in the palace. I know my sister; even with all this comfort, she would rather return to our hometown." Berth said with apparent boldness.

"I do not intend to keep both of you here, just one of you. Your father made me promise him to take care of both of you and to get married to the eldest of his daughters." Ragaleon was still talking when Berth's face darkened.

"The…the eldest? She asked, inching forward.

"Yes, the eldest." Ragaleon answered quite in oblivion of Berth's change of countenance.

"And…do you agree to his terms? Berth asked, her eyes searching for something, for a resistance.

"I have no choice; your father saved my life, and for that reason I am indebted to him. The only way to pay off my debts is by doing what he asked of me; I must fulfill his death wish."

Berth inched and pinched her left thumb as he talked; she did this whenever she was stressed out or not feeling well.

"Are you alright? Ragaleon asked when he noticed she was pressing and itching her thumb.

"Of course, your majesty, thank you for your benevolence; my father will be glad he met a man like you before his death." Berth feigned a smile.

"I must take my leave now, your majesty." She said, still pinching her thumb with her fingernails.

She glided out of the room gracefully, and the door was closed behind her by the guards in front of Ragaleon's chamber.

"My lady, Lady Berth wants to see you." A maid informed Micah. Micah was combing her hair with a brush; she was getting ready to sleep.

"Berth? Let her in." Micah said, finally pinning up her hair.

Berth made her way in casually, two hands placed in front of her, one on top of the other elegantly. The green gown she wore exposed her cleavage but highlighted her blue eyes.

"Why won't you let any of the handmaids help you out?

Berth questioned calmly, her voice seemingly breaking.

"I can take care of myself; I don't need anyone brushing my hair or oiling my skin. What am I? A child?

Berth smacked her rosy lips mockingly and shook her head from side to side.

"You have stayed here for only a few days, and you are already behaving like royalty. Styling your hair like them, talking and dressing like them." Micah said, gazing at Berth's reflection through the mirror.

The wind blew, and the curtains danced to the rhythm of the wind. Some candles blew out; only a few remained.

"It's late, the hour of the owl. Why did you come to see me? Micah asked, rising to her feet. The plain white gown she was wearing stopped just above her knees; her fair legs were exposed.

"Once upon a time there were two sisters…" Berth began with an ominous voice. She lurked around the shadows of the room, the candles casting her shadows on the walls.

"With the same lives, but a different world. The first one just wanted a simple life and a small happy family; the second sister wanted wealth, extravagance, and a prince." Berth paused and crossed her hand behind her back.

By this time, Micah was seated in the bed; she watched as her sister patrolled around the room, like a sneaky cat.

"Are you now going to tell me a story about us? Micah asked, but Berth sidestepped her question and continued.

"As faith would have it, the second sister got what she wanted… But as for the first sister, she lost what mattered to her. Her small family, her father." Berth's voice became even more sinister as it echoed in the room.

She walked up to a burning candle, and the flames reflected in her blue eyes; it was like a portrait of the blue sea and hell!

"That's enough! Micah blinked her lashes steadily. "You are not good at telling stories. Berth, go to sleep; it's been a long day. Micah said, drawing the bedsheet on her body.

"Micah…do you love me? Berth asked, still gazing at the burning candle.

Micah had turned on her bed away from Berth to avoid her gaze because her eyes were teary.

Berth stretched her hand above the burning handle and allowed it to burn, but she felt nothing.

"More than anything. I love you very much, Berth. You are all I have left in this world. Mother and Father, they have both passed on to the other side." Micah said, still not facing Berth's direction.

Berth gazed at her palm, which was turning red.

"To love is to care, Micah, to give all you have…to sacrifice." Berth whispered, but it echoed in the room.

Micah suddenly became uncomfortable.

"I failed, Father. I wasn't a good daughter. I failed you also. I wasn't a good sister. Father told us that Mother did not return the day after she gave birth to me; I must have failed her also." Berth said in a whisper.

"Berth, why would you say such a…" Micah suddenly turned and saw Berth hurting herself.

"Berth!

She screamed, then quickly climbed down from the bed and walked up to her.

"What are you doing?! Micah's eyes became teary as she snatched Berth's hand away from the burning flames.

"Allow me to pay for my sins, Micah." Berth said her eyes were void of emotions as she was led to the bed by her sister and was made to sit down.

"Look at what you have done to yourself! Micah scolded, running her fingers on Berth's palm.

She quickly made her way to the dressing table in search of anything medicinal.

"Ugh! They have food to waste and a big castle, but not even a bottle of ointment?! Micah looked frustrated, and then she turned to look at her sister.

"Don't you ever do that again, Berth; hurting yourself won't change a thing." Micah said slowly, making her way to where Berth was seated on the bed.

She took Berth's hand in hers…

"The king told me something quite shocking today, Micah…" Berth began, her eyes full of dread.

"The king owes Father a debt that can never be repaid; Father saved him. Father saved the king from the clutches of a bear." Berth began, and Micah was so shocked that she almost forgot to breathe.

She slowly lets go of Berth's hand; Micah's eyes flash with anger.

"So… Father didn't die naturally; he was killed! Murdered in cold blood?!

"By a bear, Micah! Stop making such a fuss." Berth gets annoyed and rises to her feet.

Father wanted to find you…

"How..." Micah gulped, her voice shaking.

"How was Father able to stand? She asked, almost trembling.

Berth turned to look at her with a knowing smile…

"Your herbs, they worked. Father was able to walk again, but not for long on this earth." She finished off, and a tear trickled down Micah's cheek.

"He wanted to come and find you… He even threatened to talk to the king if he had to. I tried to stop him; I really did try, Micah. But he was a stubborn man." Berth said and then turned to face her sister.

"Before Father died, he made Ragaleon promise to take care of us, and as for paying off the debt, the king would have to get married to the eldest of his daughters." Berth now had her eyes etched on Micah's face as if searching for something.

She saw what she was looking for; Micah didn't fancy the news of wedding the king. Her face was void of emotion, just filled with a bit of amusement.

"I despise that man Berth. He is the reason why this is happening. If only he had let me go, I would have returned home, and Father would have still been with us. He did not just keep me away from Father; he caused his death! Micah couldn't contain her tears.

"Father died a horrible death; I thought his body was quick to decay. I never knew his flesh was eaten off by…by a bear! Micah sniffed.

"Father had always wanted the best for us, Micah. Now that he is dead, do you think he would want us to suffer? Father made a smart move by asking the king to protect us; this is a dream come true, Micah. Can't you see it?!

"It's your dream coming true, Berth, not mine! Micah's voice was firm.

"I didn't ask for any of this. I don't want to live in a fancy castle or feast all day. All I wanted was a simple life, a happy family, and a will to live! The king took that away from us; he took away the farm and my father. I will never get married to such a man!

"But I will." Berth said coldly. Micah raised her gaze and glared at her sister, her red eyes filled with astonishment.

"What did you say? Micah asked, blinking her eyes in amusement.

"You heard me the first time, Micah. I will die and come back a hundred times just to see myself sit beside Ragaleon as his queen. If this is the reward Father had to pay for with his life, then maybe it wasn't such a bad thing….

Slam!!

Micah slapped her sister so hard, her palm vibrated.

"Have you lost your mind, Berth?! She was trying hard not to scream.

"This is what you have always wanted, right? You told me the other day that there will be a time when I will bow down to your feet, and you are so bent on making that happen."

"I don't care what you think, Micah; this was Father's last wish. I didn't pray for him to get killed by a bear, but I will see to it that his death wish is fulfilled."

"And also your selfish interest? Micah scowled sarcastically.

"You don't have to get married to the king if you don't want to, Micah." Berth suddenly fixed up her countenance and wore a fake smile. She took Micah's hands in hers.

"I am here; I can be Ragaleon's bride. All you have to do is tell the king I am the eldest daughter, and he will get married to me. You will be free to live the petty life you have always wanted." Berth's voice seemed to be hypnotizing Micah, who gazed at her sister as if having a second thought.

"And what if he finds out? The king will have both our heads hanged on a spike." Micah said in a whisper.

"The king swore to Father to protect us; killing us would be the last thing he would do, Micah." Berth looked confident.

"What do you stand to gain from all this? Micah asked, and Berth smiled and turned to face the candle, its flames reflecting in her blue eyes.

"Everything I have wanted."