Insurgent

Chapter 1

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Insurgent
“Where It All Began”
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The clicking of the heels on the tiles can be heard everywhere. Everyone seems busy while preparing for the upcoming ball that will be held tonight. I glanced at the door and as I anticipated, the bell repeatedly rang. It became real bothersome within a second.

"You can come in," I stated and closed the book I'm reading. I placed it in the space beside the window.

The lock of the door clicked open and countless maids barged inside even if it's against my will. I just let myself be carried by them.

The rosy petals at the tub while dozens of eyes are staring at me, the suffocating corset that I need to suppress the size of my waist, and the heavy jewelry my ears, neck, and fingers need to carry.

All of this preparation for a single ball that I know would ruin my life.

"This way, my lady," he bowed and offered me his hand out of courtesy.

I took his hand and was escorted inside the carriage. I heard the sound of whipping and the horses neighed, galloping away from the palace, where I grew up.

There, I was able to relax my back and take a breath. If there are no people around, I do not need to be on guard and keep up the facade my mother built for me. I do not need to be one with perfection.

It's been quite a few minutes and I looked outside of the window and saw a big statue. A woman that is blindfolded, both arms are half stretched out, and has gigantic wings on her back. It looked like she's crouching because of the weight of her wings while looking apathetically in her hands.

Well, that's a weird way to symbolize the capital.

The carriage stopped and the door was opened by the heir of the sixth family, Maximillian. He offered his hand out to me without greeting or even smiling at me. He's wearing a black tuxedo. A bastard who keeps on looking at the watch on his wrist, giving me the context that he's getting impatient and wants to leave immediately.

That's bad etiquette to greet a woman. I kind of understand because that's a given within the eight families.

We loathe each other to death.

"Why are you staring at me? Grab it already the game is going to start in a few minutes," he said while his brows are furrowed, starting to get irritated.

I smiled with a gritted teeth inside and held his hands while keeping my emotions in check. "I also greet you a good evening, mister."

He smirked and acted as he spits at the other side. "Yea, yea, little miss perfect."

We have entered the mansion from the capital. Blinding golden lights from the chandelier, royals gossiping all around, and the oozing smoke of greed of every people included at the ball.

He let go of my hand and his smirk turned into a thin line. "I'll assume that you can handle yourself already." He paused and looked back at me again. "I hope that you'll not trip yourself and be put at the hands of the statue tonight, Miss Fontainne," and then, he left while chuckling.

I narrowed my eyes at him while he walked away from me, trying to maintain my composure. The noise around us lessened for a bit but also went to its max after the next few minutes. The head of the family, including my mom and dad, might see me. I need to act with elegancy or I'll get wounds on my thighs and legs again.

I took the glass of wine the attendant was offering and went near the window, contemplating life. No one is dumb enough to forget how the bloody tournament every decade starts. It starts with a sacrifice, within the heir of the eight known families, and yes. This tournament includes me.

The ball that I am attending right now celebrates the 100th tournament that just happens every decade. This tournament has been a thing hundreds of years ago and looks like a part of our culture now.

"Long live, the King!" father shouted and saluted making the crowd also scream, congratulating the King.

I swirled my drink a bit within my fingers and stared at the statue outside of the mansion. I just figured out that it's been raining outside since we entered. I didn't notice because of the noisy people in here.

Because of the lightning outside, I saw my hideous white iris on the reflection of the mirror.

"Don't look straight into your eyes, or you'll fall at the depth of the abyss."

My head hurt suddenly and in that mere split second, I also saw an arrow soaring underneath the ceiling splitting the thread-like support of the chandelier. The screaming of the crowd made my ears go deaf but my life flashed before my eyes and ducked right away, covering my head.

It feels like my body ran a thousand miles as I am catching my breath, and looked back at the reason for the commotion. My heart won't stop beating fast, I am still shaking because I escaped the clutches of death right now. I am lucky that I am kind of far away from the scene.

"Close the doors right away! Do not let the culprit escape! This is an attempt of assassination of the king!" father screamed and the knights gathered straightaway to block and secure the king.

I momentarily laughed while both of my hands are shaking while on the floor right now. His priority is the king, and not his daughter that might be injured, or even dead.

"Hold up, listen to me! My son! My son, he's missing!" a mother hysterically screamed while the knights are holding her to prevent her from going out.

Turns out, she's Art's mother. The one who accompanied me, my escort, to enter the mansion. She's the head of the sixth family. While she's panicking, I heard heavy steps from outside of the room. Just then, we heard loud consecutive knocks on the door.

"Open the door! There's a body outside!"

Most of them rushed on going outside even if it's still raining. There are also people in here who stayed because some of them are shaking and also injured. Father most likely followed the knight and I just turned around to witness what's going on through the window.

At this point, the angle made the statue hold the moon, making it look like an angel if just not for its apathetic look.

"Ah, the moon does look pretty today," I mindlessly muttered.

"Art! No! My son, Art!" Mrs. Cecie screamed again while she's on her knees.

Lightning struck a tree across the road, and my skin turned pale at what I have just witnessed. It seems like, the truth struck me too.

It's not just the moon that is in the hands of the statue.

Art's body too.

Something irked inside me, I didn't know that it was there where it all started.

*·˚ ༘ ➳〔 Autumn_Sceo 〕 ࿐ ࿔*

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Art Maximillian

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*·˚ ༘ ➳〔 To Be Continued 〕 ࿐ ࿔*

Created: July 30, 2021
Published: August 12, 2021