Otherworldly Victoria

"Birthday"

"Happy Birthday darling." Avelline softly brushed my hair, my pale pink, fine and now straight hair fell to my waist, "Thank you." I said to her. She smiled at me and let the maids prepare me for the death anniversary of the Elite School's massacre.

It's not as grim as you think. I just have to make a speech to reassure my people that we won't forget about it. I sure can't. In fact this is my idea to hold this event. Anyone is welcome to join, or not. It's only to pay tribute to our friends and family who died and who survived. Avelline thinks it's unnecessary and trauma inducing, I say let it be that way. We move on but we should never forget.

They say it's my birthday, but I've not celebrated anything related to me for a long while. It's always the people I celebrate it too.

I'm now twenty. Victor's hair has grown out, but I keep him groomed as I know he'd hate it. It pains me that if he ever wakes up, he'll still be a child. He still breathes but he doesn't wake up. It's like an eternal slumber for him.

I tidy my trousers, my attire is similar to a knight, I've grown a liking to masculine clothes.

The maids straightened my blue cape as I walk up to the stage our castle had newly built.

"Citizens of our motherland, it has been 4 years since our kingdom grieved the loss of our families. Rest assured we make sure that it never happens again. Today we hold a memorial and celebrate the vast advancements since then. We live a new era of prosperity."

People obliged to clap. I know it's redundant at this point. My speech is recycled. The people were more interested in the free things we give back to them, like a month supply of food and scholarships. We lose a bit each year because of this, but the people's moral is more important. If not for them, the kingdom is not functional.

I greet the people and make sure to help them out after I took off my robes. The event lasts a week, I'm hoping it covers most of our kingdom that way.

"You're doing great." Mom tapped my shoulder. I smiled at her.

After a year of imprisonment she's holding up quite well. The clairvoyant dreams of hers never appeared for so long until she came back. She told me to keep the people happy because that's what she saw. I'm hoping I can trust that.

I went to my study room, wine bottle on my hand. I start to read my books and it's starting to get repetitive. I downed the entire bottle in a matter of seconds and called for another bottle of wine.

It's a shame. Am I really running this kingdom fine? I can't even 'run' myself. Everyday I want to kill myself and just let death consume me, but no, everyone needs me, someone always needs me. Not to mention the political responsibilities, they need my presence, need my opinion. My opinion is leave me the fuck alone. I'm so done.

I didn't notice I drank six bottles. It's probably not the strongest wine. I hear a knock and it's Avelline.

"That's too much drinking. I'll not allow you to drink for the week."

"No you won't. I need it."

She scoffed and cleared the bottles on my table, "I'll have you know my word is still above yours. I'm your Queen."

I grit my teeth, I threw all of my books to the side, "Then be the fucking queen! Why the hell do I have to be in here studying about politics and trade! I don't want to fucking do any of this. Leave me alone!"

I stormed out of the room and looked for the casks of the wine I was drinking. I poured one and just wasted my time there drinking and thinking.

I miss Victor. Maybe he's better at this, he'll enjoy it actually. He was much smarter than me, more capable than me.

"Victoria?"

"I said to leave me alone."

Someone pulled the glass out of my hand.

I felt an embrace, I sobbed quietly on their arms.

"I don't, I can't. I don't want to do this anymore. I just can't."

"Shh, let's get you to bed."

I didn't want to let my voice out but it was impossible. This event always makes me emotional. It reminds me of how powerless I am and how I'm supposed to be able to handle these.

As I was being brought towards my room, I fought the figure, refusing to enter my room, "I really don't want to be in my room right now."

It wasn't clean and it hasn't changed for so long. I decline every offer to clean my room. It was the very last place Victor and I hung out. I hold on to the hope that he wakes up and it'll all be over, I'll finally have peace once again.

"Your majesties!"

I come to my senses and look towards the direction of the voice, fear encapsulated in their eyes.

"The garden! It's-"

I grit my teeth, "What about the garden?" I ran to the place where Victor's body is preserved. Maybe it's today? Today he shall be awoken and I should finally have him back, my other half, my brother, my..

The garden appeared to be overgrown, instead of tiny delicate stems, there are monstrous vines continuing to grow outwards from Victor's encased glass, despite this he was still peacefully sleeping undisturbed despite the veins of wretched leaves surrounding him.

"What do we do?" The maid shakily tried to wave off the plants trying to reach us, almost grabbing our bodies as an anchor to propel itself as it did on the objects surrounding it.

I used my magic to cut the plants but it just keeps regrowing, at such a fast rate too.

"Victoria, call upon the others!" Mother used her dagger to slice off the protruding leaves about to consume her.

"I'm not leaving Victor!" I steady my stance and turned my hands into fists. I feel the magic as I turn to blast off the vines.

The maid had ran away, I try my best to hold off the chaos in front of me but it seems like I've had too many drinks. My vision started to blur again and I couldn't hold myself together.

"It's a shame. Shame that you enjoyed this world."

My head still spinning, I couldn't recognize the figure unaffected by the plants. Are they the cause of this?

"Whatever you're doing don't you fucking dare hurt Victor!" I raised my hand, ready to hurt whoever was in front of us.

"If you do that you might hit him!" The irritating voice said it in a singsong manner. It made me want to choke them but I just can't be reckless around Victor.

"Victoria! Don't you recognize me?" That's when I made the connection, the bright red hair.

I raised my fist and yelled, "Amber!"