Blood Diamond

Labeled

As I stood in my room with my tightly done up corset pinching my skin, my fingers traced the delicate golden pin in my hands. The pin was a diamond-outlined hoop that framed an image of a tall castle and lily flowers scattered across the bottom. It was my Kingdoms emblem, required to be worn on practically everything and by everyone from Kalimore. For royalty, a red diamond is pressed into the left side of the pin.

 For people not of royalty but of upper class, a blue tanzanite gem is assigned. For average citizens, though very pretty but not at all expensive, amethyst, and for lower classed citizens, a piece of blurry white plastic. People of lower class weren't given actual gems, because it was believed that they would pick the gems off their pins and sell them in hopes of getting some money. Though this was very illegal it was still done, mostly sold in the underground markets.  The kingdom of Kalimore divided people into groups and was marginalized based of money and possessions. Though it isn't a good thing, it was how things have always been run. The pins are meant to showcase what your life is like, and thus defines how you are to be treated by others. If one is to come across someone with a red diamond pin, they instantly have to curtsy and refer to them using only the politest names such as your majesty, my lady, your highness etc. People baring diamond and tanzanite gems were well respected, unlike those possessing amethyst or plastic. The typical response of maltreatment to these people was not only a normal thing, it was a required thing. Why treat people who have absolutely nothing with respect? They mean nothing to you, or to your life. 

Of course myself being royalty, my pin had a large red diamond, secured by a golden band. As my thumb traced its gently sanded corners I had an urge to dig my nails under the precious red gem and push it out of it's perfectly fitted slot. I'd never officially met anyone below a tanzanite class except for the occasional amethyst who come with requests for the king. Just for a second, I wanted to see what it was like to not have the blossoming red jewel there, just for a second-

Once again right as the thought fluttered my mind, mother came in. She ran up to me with joy, praising how amazing I looked. As she approached me she took the pin out of my hands and pinned it on the top right side of my bodice. She praised me for how grown up i'd become, though it wasn't really something i'd done, just a natural occurrence thanks to the construct of time. This is when my mother started telling me how excited she was for my speech, to listen to what I had to say. I felt the blood drain from my face and i'm truly surprised that I didn't pass out right then and there. My eyes blurred up and my head started spinning as though the entire world was falling off its axis. The speech! My frazzled self once again had forgotten about the speech. All that perfume and makeup clogged my senses, I didn't even bother to start making something up throughout the day. 

The loud ceremonial music started playing in the grand ballroom. I peered over my balcony railing to see thousands of people floating into the palace, all in extravagant dresses, wearing dazzling jewelry and lilies of all sorts. Some wore them in their headbands, some on bracelets, some on necklaces or pendants, and some had illustrations of the lilies sown onto their skirts. All had tanzanite pins or red diamond pins, since there was lots of royalty arriving. The spring ball was a huge event, and royalty from all around the world came to visit. All, but one.