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C H A P T E R   S I X T E E N

"I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know."
- Mitch Albom

The southern castles had rooms for every meal of the day, a breakfast hall for breakfast, a lunch hall for lunch and a dining hall for dinner. The grand hall was where the banquets and feasts were held, the patios outside were for evening meals or brunch and the sitting room was where tea was usually held.

Every room in this castle served their own unique purpose. Like how every person serves their own unique cause.

Currently, I was seated in the Breakfast hall. My 'surprise' as Henri put it was waiting for me after breakfast. After the owl catastrophe in my room, all the maids were doing checks around the castle for stray animals or birds, and my maids were gathering the feathers of the owl and refurnishing the chamber completely.

"Breakfast, Your Majesty." Robin put down a tray filled with buttered buns, toast and jam, a fruit bowl and a lovely glass of fresh apple juice. "We have gotten rid of the owl, though we don't know if it will be back. I hope you understand that we are very short on spare guest-chambers as all your guests have occupied them all."

"It's no problem at all." I replied, munching on my jam toast. "I won't leave the window open too wide."

"Oh I doubt that." her lips curled upwards. "You can't live without an open window, one of the many effects of being a Spira."

I shook my head, chuckling softly. It was true.

"I shall leave you for your breakfast, but a letter has arrived from a sender by the name of Brianne Lee?" Robin placed the letter on my table. "She said it was urgent."

I snattched the letter from the table. "Thank you." I looked at Robin.

She nodded and quietly left me to my breakfast. I have yet to meet the Visiting Royals, as far as I know, they are enjoying their breakfasts in their chambers.

I tore open the letter at once, after Pierre had requested me to, I sent a letter to Bree at once with everything we've discovered so far, I didn't want to risk it being opened by anybody else so I sent it through my personal Mail rather than the public Ivory one. This was her reply back. Oh how I hope she hasn't put anything direct in here that we could be in trouble for.

Dear Willy,

Don't worry too much, I promise you the Council was handling this exact problem of the rebels as I write. They've come up with a lot of great procedures which I'm sure will keep the attacks at bay. I talked with Ryke in the infirmary too, he's gotten some bad news for you, which I can only explain to you in person apparently. He told me that this way of communicating is too risk-bearing. Just hold on and keep away from stress,we'll meet soon!

Love,

Bree Lee.

I crumpled the paper and sighed. Bree almost never wrote this formally unless something was bothering her. The bad news Ryke told her must have really shaken her up this much to not even want to explain it to me in letter, even if Ryke asked her not to. Knowing Bree she follows her own rules, but now, it looked like she needed to follow the rules set by her too.

I didn't want to think about this anymore, I threw the crumpled paper into the fireplace and enjoyed the ashes rising as I sat to eat my breakfast.

●・○・●・○・●

After hearing the protests of the villagers from EastFox, my mind isn't allowing me to process anything else. My duties were towards them, yet I could provide nothing. I took the crown to save my people, yet I have betrayed them and gone to the other side.

All I've done so far is become selfish and an Ivory.

"Your Majesty!" Oh how I really wish my staff could just call me by my name, instead of a constant reminder of who I've become. "We've done a thorough check, no stary feathers or owls in sight."

"Henri." I groaned, my mouth filled with the bun. "I just wanted to enjoy my breakfast and think for a while, until the day's duties weigh on me."

"You don't need to worry about that. Till the coronation ball, tomorrow, you're all free except for your ball dancing class today evening. I've cleared up some space for your surprise but you have a short interview scheduled with the southern press soon after."

"It's still too much." I mumbled, my eyes drooping.

"You're free all afternoon for a nap, if that's of any consolation." Henri offered. "Well I'll leave you to your thoughts, Colonel will be riding with you to your surprise, the young royals are due a trip as well, maybe after the interview you could explore more of the scenic beauty here."

I nodded and Henri left just as he said he would, leaving me with the problems I ran away from yesterday, and the problems soon to come.

●・○・●・○・●

I wandered around aimlessly, the hallways now looked the exact same as the one before; old, neverending and full of secrets.

Though my maids did give me a tour, there were places they hadn't fully shown as well. Like the library for example, which was where I hoped to wander off too. I wanted to feel the solace of my face between the pages of a good book, my fingertips running through each word and the ponderings of after the book finally ends.

Reading was my medicine, my distraction from all the problems that have arrived and is yet to come, from all the pain I suffer from and yet to cause.

"Excuse me?" I called a guard, there were many around every corner now, not like how it was up north. "Can you take me to the library?"

His grey badge shone proudly under the falling rays, glorifying its design and praising its magnificence. "My Honour, Your Majesty." He waved a hand for another guard to join as the three of us made our way to the castle's library.

My respect for the guards have certainly increased the past few days, though they were ruthless and merciless, they were giving their lives for the kingdom should an unexpected attack threaten them. My opinions have definitely changed along with my future. I chose to forget their pitilessness, because, after all, I am one of them now, but I will never forget the images imprinted in my memory.

"The books from the northern castles have been transferred safely yesterday." A guard spoke, the Spira. "A few have been transferred especially for you. It will remain on your shelf."

"My shelf? My new chamber doesn't have a bookshelf as of yet." I replied. "Neither do I have any books in my custody."

"It was selected from the council." He grunted lowly. "According to your recent... preferences. You can find your shelf in the library shelving plan."

The second guard stood ahead of us, in front of a bolted door. Wrapped with chains, locks and spikes. As he bent over, the rays from the windowsill pranced around the green rims of his Terra Badge. He took out some keys dangling in his uniform pocket, unlocking the locks one by one.

"You have the keys to the library?" I asked, wondering how much they knew and controlled of the castle.

"We have the keys to every important and forbidden place here." The Terra replied proudly, breaking his streak of silence during our walk here. "How else are we to protect and guard if we don't even possess the requirements to our duties?"

I nodded my head, humming to keep up my act. If they had the keys to every forbidden and locked room then the rebels would be able to access any room they'd like if they were in disguise as a guard. Which makes the situation much worse.

"Here." The Terra guard opened the door, then the Spira spoke. "The lamps may be in need of oil, I'll get some from the back cellars and return here, the shelving plans are pinned on the notice board."

He gave a slight bow, then made his way to the storeroom for some spare oil. The Terra guard remained positioned outside the door, and I could see the figures of several other guards around the corner.

I looked up, above the door frame, there hung a small plaque: Caecilius Rael O. Wenson Nox Library.

I hesitantly opened the door, Ryke mentioned how there were books in here that could potentially destroy an Ivory's reputation or could be used against them, against us. Maybe that's why the Rebels kidnapped Ryke and broke into the library, maybe they wanted the books and not the box.

But the library has been in that castle for centuries, why would they attack now?

Maybe it was because of the box, for all we know, the box could lead us to where we stand and where the Rebels do. Whatever it is, the box is important. It's a risk to us all. It's a risk to our Kingdom.

●・○・●・○・●

The library in the southern castles looked a lot like the one up north, except for the fact that it was much well kept. No books caught any dust, the shelves looked like they were cleaned every few weeks or so, and the number of books outnumbered the shelves. The ones not given any place on a shelf were simply stacked on the floor and ground, some were even stacked on top of the shelves itself.

My fingers ran through the brims of the books as I walked past each shelf. Everything was neatly organised, alphabetically, numerically and periodically. Little labels were stuck on the edges and numbers were dedicated to each shelf.

Though there were a lot of books, the library was big enough to fit two of my chambers, plus my bathroom. It was like the garden maze outside, but a book maze instead. Pages instead of petals, shelves instead of shrubs and congested instead of clear.

So many stories, so many tales being retold. Tales being typed down with precaution and care, for us to read. For us to know.

I looked around again, I wasn't feeling suffocated, in fact I was feeling free.

Slowly the strands of my hair began to dance around. The winds from the hallways blew inside the library, whistling past the bookshelves and running through their pages. Books began to rattle and the whoosh of the breeze was the most prominent sound to my ears.

On instinct rather than reason, I lifted up my hands. Playing with my fingers, hoping the winds would follow. I lifted my index finger first and the winds blew upwards, taking with them a few small books and scattered pages. Using my finger, I dragged it along in different directions and the winds danced behind after my gestures.

I was thoroughly enjoying my newfound capabilities. I lifted my other hand, mimicking the movement from before. The winds began to grow stronger, gathering books off the bookshelves like fishermen pulling in nets of fish, until they were all swirling around like a tornado.

I felt powerful. I felt complete.

Slowly I dropped my hand, and the winds dropped too. The books were flown back into their shelves and the room was quiet, back to its former silence.

I let out a breath, and a couple more. I was feeling tired, dizzy almost. My head was throbbing, my vision was blurring. I took a step back and took a breath in.

What was happening to me?

The pain in my head surged, it kept biting. Again and again. My entire body was on fire, burning. My skin felt like it was being pinched a thousand times. My body was aching from head to toe.

Then, suddenly, the pain left as it came.

I needed to rest, to get my proper breathing back. Quickly I picked up a reference book from the Folklore section. The fiction was three shelves away. Folklore and Mythology was something I grew up with, tales made up for what we yet can't perceive. Tales like how the Ivories got their powers, tales of why the Ambers didn't, tales of how Mithalore ever began and tales of why the Ambers were always the minority.

I grinned as I flipped to the first chapter. Tales of a Terra's Sacred animal: The Gryphon. The pain from before almost felt nonexistent. I quickly dragged a chair and began to read, my crown tipping slightly and my neck bent. A good use of time for a whole two hours at the most.

●・○・●・○・●

"What are you doing?" I was woken up from my long trance. "Henri and the entire staff are looking for you. They all think you were kidnapped or taken."

"Pierre." I whined. "I was just getting to the last chapter!"

He tutted, smacking his lips in a very disappointed manner, his eyes speckled with humour. "Now, now Willow. This isn't what one expects from a Queen. Hiding behind books when you should be performing your responsibilities."

"It's what you do." I retorted cheekily, shutting the book and going over to the Folklore section to return the book back to its place.

"Hoping for a good distraction, weren't you?" He asked, sitting down on the chair I was previously sitting on. "Did it work?"

"Temporarily." I replied, sighing then dragging another chair beside where Pierre was sitting, my crown slipped again and myu aquamarine dangled mid-air. "I'm still here aren't I?"

He hummed. "I love libraries too, Maman would always tell me off about how I needed to fall asleep in my chamber and not in our library."

I giggled. "Was that why you came here searching for me? You knew I'd be in the library?" It reminded me of the second Prince, the maid had mentioned how he always spent his day in this very library named after him.

"Oh no." He gave me a lopsided grin. "I came here for a good distraction myself... and maybe catch up on a few reads before I leave the Kingdom."

"Of course, always thinking about yourself." I nudged his side. "But I do agree, the stories inside books are fascinating to spend your time on."

Pierre nodded. "Books are like wine, addicting, intensifying and perfect for a midnight or midday escapade. It's nice to finally find someone who appreciates this art. Libraries in Coslitus are usually unoccupied for years, and even decades sometimes. The only thing stored are press reports and articles."

"I always used to read when I was an Amber." I shared. "It was the only thing I thought I was good at, except it didn't bring much for our family. It didn't bring anything."

"Knowledge is more valuable than glory. Isn't that why the rebels are attacking?" He sympathised. "Reading and books aren't useless as people make them out to be, their fortune is undecided. You don't know when or where you might need what you've learnt."

"You're so wise." I teased lightly, my tone growing more sincere. "You'd make a beautiful King."

"And you are a beautiful Queen."

My body reactors did not seem to be working. Was there a double meaning behind his words? I didn't know how to reply to that statement, so instead I said, "Let's go and relieve Henri of his stress, shall we?"

●・○・●・○・●

"Your Majesty!" Henri rushed towards me, the Terra guard outside the library informed Henri of my disappearance almost immediately after he found out I was being looked for. "Never go wandering around like that again!"

"Doesn't this castle belong to me?" I retorted. "I presume I can wander wherever I want in a place I own."

Henri let out an audible sigh. "Your surprise is waiting, well, now it is delayed. Unless you want to spend your time wandering around some more? Then I can cancel it-"

"No, no!" I cut him off. "I really want to see what this surprise is!"

"Well then Officer Richett is waiting in your carriage. The Coslitus twins are travelling in the next. Everyone else have already arrived."

I barely heard the rest while I was rushing to the castle gates.

"Your Majesty." Officer Richett greeted as he opened the carriage door. The humiliation he caused me seemed to be ages ago, our friendship has improved since then, and I've slightly grown accustomed to how similar he is to me.

We both were forced into this against our will.

"Good Morning Richett." I hummed, lifting my skirt and climbing into the carriage.

"That's Officer Richett to you." He mumbled before hopping in as well and closing the door after. "I'm here to escort you to the surprise Henri planned for you today, he says to consider it a coronation gift."

"Why isn't he here then?" I looked around, Henri hadn't followed me out.

The carriage began moving, reminding me of everything I saw yesterday, leading me to remember all the things I've witnessed as an Ivory. The arena where the Pyro was killed, the first Rebel attack, the second rebel attack on my coronation and the protests of my own people.

"He has to prepare for the ball tomorrow of course, and to think Mrs. Quinn could be of any help at all."

"She was taking care of Astrope while her father was kidnapped." I defended, even though I forgave him, I couldn't put up with how judgemental he was from time to time. "How is Ryke anyway?"

"Back on his feet, somehow." Officer Richett replied, sharpening his dagger. "The medics say he's healed and has not sustained major injuries, which is surprising considering that the Rebels could have killed him off when they had him."

I shuddered. They could have done anything. Anything for the knowledge he possessed.

"Do you know what this surprise is?" I asked, changing the topic.

"If I did, I would have told you." He replied sharply. But Officer Richett was expressive, no matter how hard he tried to hide his emotions under his mask. You could hear the lies in the tone of his voice, and the turning of his lips.

But I didn't question it, after all, I was going to see my surprise in just a few minutes. I grew up learning never to question, life has its own unique ways of providing. One way or another.

●・○・●・○・●

"Wait a minute... We're taking the same route to EastFox Village as yesterday." I exclaimed, looking out the window, watching yesterday's new trees and hills pass by as familiar ones. "Why are we going to EastFox Village?"

"Calm down, child." Officer Richett growled. "This is the route to your surprise, now for once would it hurt if you could just shut that little mouth of your's and be patient?"

I folded my hands and said grumpily, "I already came here yesterday, so whatever surprise this is won't be one anymore."

"Blame Henri." Came his gruff reply as he turned his head towards the window, soaking in the views.

I didn't like this route, the memories from yesterday, the chants of cries from those Ambers. I couldn't even bear to look outside and get reminded of it. They were the people who I came here to save, and now, I'm neglecting them. I was running away, just like the Ivories.

Instinctively my eyes roamed off to the passing hills, one by one, gone with so much of a glimpse. The sky was cloudy, pearly white cotton floating in the sky, amidst the birds, amidst the winds and the rains. They were always floating up there. Too stubborn to move, just like me.

Soon my mind roamed away too; the incident in the library where my Spira powers truly shone. It was the first time I ever felt so powerful. Growing up, I've always noticed Spira's, they were quite hard to not notice, but at that time I never realised how hard it was, especially since it was something new to me. At least the other Ivories my age were taught by their parents and school. I had to rely on what I've seen from my childhood.

"EastFox Village ahead!" One of the coachmen yelled. We were getting closer to the gates of the Village.

I looked outside again in a hurry, my ponderings were not a distraction enough, but when I looked up at the magnificent sky once again, I had found my exact distraction. A very unhelpful one.

It was the white feathery beast, again. The exact one who drove me out of my room.

I shrieked. As loudly as my little mouth could.

"Damn it child!" The carriage at once halted and I dashed out at once, with Officer Richett behind me, sword drawn and battle mode switched on.

I jumped up and down, hoping to get the sensations of today morning out of my head. The fact that that owl had cuddled with me in my own bed and had the audacity to follow me all the way out here!

The coachmen too jumped out with their swords drawn, they must have been part-time guards as well as coachmen. "Attack, sir?" The question was directed to Officer Richett, but I spoke anyway.

"It's the Owl!" I pointed at its white body flying above us, camouflaging with the clouds. "It followed me here!"

I was ready to shield myself from Officer Richett's scoldings for making us all stop our journey for a silly Owl, but it didn't happen. "Do you think it was sent by the rebels as a way of inside information?" was what he asked.

"I- I mean it's just an owl?" I reasoned, I only wanted the beats gone. I hated flying feathered creatures of any sort.

"Could be trained." He murmured, taking a few steps back into the carriage. "Take the carriage to the Village, if it still follows us, shoot it down."

Hesitantly I re-entered the carriage, holding on to my crown and the handle. As much as the beast irritated me, I wouldn't want it dead. I just hope it found its chance of survival and flew away.. His life depended on it.

It was funny how this owl was a living metaphor of the Ambers.

●・○・●・○・●

The carraige passed the marketplaces, this time the women and children did not look the same as they did yesterday. Under the women's smiles were stretch marks, and under the children's lively eyes were bags from sleepless nights. EastFox village did not look as how I viewed it before.

Before I knew it the carriage halted again, it was a short way here after our little stop in between. "Her Majesty Queen Willow." A coachman yelled, he was perplexed in his tone. After yesterday, anyone would be. I waited for an introduction, but I knew they already remembered me from yesterday.

Another Ivory Queen come to ruin us, another queen come to bring us more sorrow.

Officer Richett boldly hopped out, his giant physique daring anyone dauntless to stay back. Gently, I walked out next. Hiding behind Officer Richett because it was the only thing I could do, hide from my problems.

There were already three guards waiting for my arrival, at once the three of them were at my side with Officer Richett while the coachmen stayed behind. We passed through some shops and marketplaces, the street was eerily quiet and the children made no noise.

"Willow!" It was Ginger's voice that perked me up, and back to the surprise that was waiting for me. "How long does it take to reach here? We were waiting for hours!"

There, standing next to her, was also Walter and Lanying.

"But-" I looked around, we were on the shore of EastFox village, there was nothing here. "Where's the surprise?"

"Could you be any more humble?" Walter muttered rather loudly, earning a pinch from Ginger and Lanying, both who were enjoying tormenting Walter very much.

"Oh it is coming, and so are our twins, because they appear to be running into complications themselves." She pointed towards an arriving carriage, the people made way for them, like how they did for me, wondering why they had to be amongst the presence of so many of their executioners.

Pierre and Lucas both looked grumpy, placing both of them in a carriage seemed to not have solved their ongoing problems with each other. Lucas' dark frown contrasted with his usually joyful face and Pierre's scowl suited him, but was much better as a smirk.

"Great, we're all here." Lanying clapped happily when the twins arrived. "Now we can show her her present!"

"Surprise." Ginger corrected. "It's a rather big one! And after all the depressing news you had to carry by yourself this long, Henri's idea was splendid!"

I followed Ginger and the sulky twins while Walter and Lanying trailed behind.

"When did Henri tell you about the surprise, exactly?" I asked as I shook the sand from my dress and shoes.

"This morning." Lanying replied, shaking the sand off her dress as well. "When you went missing."

I turned scarlet at that comment. "I was actually at the library, Pierre found me."

At the mention of his name his eyes widened. "What?" He asked confusedly, as if he had just woken up.

I didn't reply as we continued walking across the shore. The people of EastFox village seemed to have gone back to their daily routines, the children ran around and the men carried on with their work. A couple officers were positioned here and there upon our arrival.

"We're here!" Ginger squealed, pointing at a cottage. It was the same cottage I saw being built just yesterday.

"Wow." I said unsurely. "You got me a cottage?"

"Why would we buy you a cottage?" Walter sneered. "You already have two castles, what good will a tiny cottage do?"

I pressed my lips and frowned. Lucas took this opportunity to march up to Walter and whack his arm. "She's a queen." He reminded. "You're just a prince." Lucas winked at me as he began to scold Walter in french.

"Your surprise is inside the cottage." Ginger too ignored Walters' comment, having been used to his remarks by now. "Hurry!"

Lanying ran ahead as I tried catching up with her. The cottage was tiny, but bigger than the one I used to live in. Now that I'm accustomed to large and luxury, it was hard finding myself once living in a battered old flat.

The wooden tiled creake slightly as I pushed the door open. Rugs and tablecloths were what I was greeted with, along with simple furniture and empty picture frames.

"Over here!" Lanying called, walking towards what seemed like the living room. I took a peek from the window, watching Lucas still scolding Walter, but further behind the both of them was Pierre; sitting on the shore as the waters rode up his legs. His unkempt hair flew back and forth in the wind, and the untucked parts of his shirt were soaking.

Then I looked further up to the cloudy sky, the sun was at its peak. It seemed dull and lifeless, not a bird flying in the sky, until I saw a flash of white whoosh by.

"Willow?" It wasn't Lanying or Ginger who called me, it was a strangely familiar voice. A voice that used to greet me every morning and wish me before I went to bed. A voice I'd come home to after selling in the market place and rattle about all the day's affairs.

"Mother?" I asked, turning around, her slim, old figure shadowed in the hallway. "Mother!" I ran and embraced her with a huge hug.

"Darling." she stroked my hair, her voice choking with emotion and her eyes watering with pride. "Oh, how I missed you!"

I buried my head further into the crook of her neck, tears of my own spilling everywhere. "But- but what are you doing here? Weren't you up north with father? He was released just a few days ago-"

"Willow." She chuckled her fingers tracing the side of my face. "Your father is fine, in fact we're all fine now." her eyes gleamed, all tears gone. "The council built us a cottage here, me and your father, even provided us with jobs in the village."

"Bree mentioned." I recalled back to the first letter she sent me after I reached the castles. I went in for another embrace.

Mother continued to brush my hair with her fingers. "You have a lot of explaining to do young lady. Running off in the middle of the night, not returning for two weeks and then finding out you're a queen? An old woman like me can't bear the headache." she scolded, humour in her voice.

I laughed softly. "I know, mother. I'll explain everything."

●・○・●・○・●

We sat down on a sofa and talked for what seemed like hours. The other royals had left as soon as we began talking, giving us the privacy we needed. Of course, Officer Richett and a few guards were still waiting outside.

"You're a Spira?" Mother still couldn't get her head over the fact that I was an Ivory, that I was always an Ivory.

"Yes." I sighed, seeing her opinions of me change. I couldn't blame her, all her life she had grown up hating ivories only to find out that her adoptive daughter was one. "I know it's not how you envisioned things to be-"

"Oh don't be silly!" She brushed it off. "Spira or not, you'll always be my daughter."

Her crinkled smile mirrored my own.

"Speaking of which." she abruptly got up clapping her hands. "I want to see them."

"See what?" I asked, getting up as well, my crown almost sliding off.

"Your powers!" she beamed. "I've seen a lot of the guards use them in the castle during break hours, illegally of course, but now that your Queen, it shouldn't be illegal for you anymore."

I didn't let that comment hurt. Mother doesn't know how much I've had to sacrifice for this title; my Amber life, my privacy, my peace. To her this is all a game to the Ivories, just as I had assumed, she's just waiting for them to kick me off like how they had done to mother and it would all come back to normal.

Occurrences like these were not uncommon, many Ivories used Ambers for their fun and gain, disposing them off later on. Mother knew how it was like first hand, she didn't say anything yet. She was still unsure. Crowning and Amber-raised Queen was a bit over the usual, even for them.

"I don't think I can." I sighed, falling back onto the couch. "I tried it today, or rather, it popped up. I was just going to my library for a read and the next second I spiralling books across the room. It drained me out, I could hardly breath or stand straight."

"Well what did you expect?" The couch sank as she took a seat closer to me. "To have power is to have their downsides too. The more you use it, the more energy it drains. Haven't they taught you this in your tutoring classes?"

I was a bit surprised at how mother naturally accepted all this new news. "I didn't have the time. In fact, I still haven't submitted this history essay rewrite from one week ago." I mused, thinking back to sir Jeoffrey's nasally voice and demanding personality.

"Well it was all we learnt back in the days, everything about Ivory society even though it was an Amber school. The council controls it that way."

I nodded my head, not replying. It made me realise how much I was an enumerator to the Council, following the demands they asked of me. I was simply a puppet, they the puppeteers.

"Your Majesty." Officer Richett bowed as he entered the sitting room. "Sir Henri has scheduled your Interviews."

I looked at mother with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry." I murmured, embracing her one last time. "I have to go."

I didn't mean for it to sound like it was the last time, though, I never did really get a proper goodbye when I was whisked away to the castle. I knew it was going to be a while before I saw her or father again, and deep down, I suppose she knew it too. I was growing up, and changing just as fast, there was nothing she could do but accept it.

"Oh, darling." her hand slipped around my shoulders. "You'll always be my daughter, don't you ever forget that."

What is your biggest flaw?

Mine would be daydreaming and my impatience.