The Silken Crown

Chapter 1

In a small town in Mayari, a town where beauty is most valued, lived a girl named Ligaya.

Summertime heat prevailed. Her body, which appeared to be asleep, was suddenly awakened by the warmth of the sun, which was shining directly into her face through a window next to her. She climbed out of the rough but cozy bed that was built of layers of compressed rags that served as the mattress. She shook her head, eager to begin her day.

"Ligaya, I bought something for you" her mother's sweet voice echoed in the room as she heard a knock on the door.

She hadn't heard those words from her mother in a long. Her mother was a loving woman, yet she never once spoke about giving gifts. Even though that was quite odd, Ligaya just shrugged as she placed her hand on the door causing it to creek.

She casually wandered her gaze to the view of the other side as she peered on the door. Her mother spoke softly, but with a hint of malice, "Ligaya, come here."

Her toes tapped loudly on the noisy wooden floor as she walked.

"Yes mother?"

"Ligaya, these are makeup"

"They are truly appealing, are they not?" her mother added.

" Oh, I- I see them mother,"

Her mother sighed deeply after pausing for a moment. "You have to figure out how to use them"

"But mother, we are already fourth are we not? And- I thought I was the most beautiful one in your eye" a hint of disappointment is evident in Ligaya's voice.

"Ligaya, I'm old. Do you want to stay fourth forever? Soon, you'll be the one taking care of this little store of ours."

"As long as we are together, I suppose" Ligaya thought.

"A pretty lady must be the face of our store"

"My beauty? -"

Her mother continued to ponder for a while before saying, "Your beauty Ligaya." She sighed again, a little longer than the previous one "You will be the one who must maintain our boutique."

Ligaya's mother was quite disappointed when she was born since she fell from third to fourth. Ligaya's hair had the most exquisite beauty. Her face, though, was never as attractive as her hair. Her mother and her were placed in the fourth class because her hair was of the ones—the celebrities, but on the other hand, her face was of sevenths - the slaves

Ligaya laughed a little and said, "I'm sure the beauty of my hair would do mother, after all they were the ones who made our yarns of high quality, aren't they mother?"

"Use them, Ligaya, your hair is not enough," her mother shoved the boxes of cosmetics toward Ligaya.

She looked at her hands closely. to the boxes from her fingertips. Wooden boxes that contained one of her least favorite things, makeup.

She carefully read the note that was placed next to them, with instructions on how to use them, while she cautiously unlidded the box

With one glance in the mirror, she was satisfied with how gracefully she had carried out each directive. Her delicate purple lips turned to scarlet. And the small flaws and dark patches that bothered her heart the most were less noticeable. This gave her heart great hope, but what troubled her the most were the obstinate creases on her forehead and the crumply, sagging skin.

She was aware that she couldn't get rid of them. When she realized she couldn't grant her mother's requests, it was as if a knife had been thrust into her heart. The innocent, young heart of Ligaya was saddened by this.