THE KING OF SWORDS
upright: intellectual power, authority, truth
reversed: manipulative, tyrannical, abusive
Aselia stood in front of the mirror, shivering in her undergarments. Her emerald eyes glared at her reflection as her chambermaids tended to her. Eloise was fixing her hair and Riana was helping her get into her dress. The memorial—and her public appearance—won't be for another few hours, but it didn't hurt to be prepared.
Her dress was specially made for the occasion: a dark green satin dress with silver lacing, gold buttons and long sleeves that draped loosely from her arms. The bodice was tight enough to elaborate her curves and chest, her skirts full and loose that it billowed around her legs. On top of the dress was a slick, stylish cloak lined on the inside with fur.
She looked like a queen ready to take over the world.
The bodice of her dress tightened as Riana fumbled to ravel the ribbons crisscrossing her back.
"Be careful with what you're doing," Aselia hissed. "That dress costs more than your life and I would not hesitate to replace any rips with your blood."
"O-Of course, milady."
Once she was ready, she instructed Riana to fetch her shoes, Eloise to bring her some tea. While she waited, she went to her desk and took out small bottles containing a transparent liquid, habitually hiding in her dress: two inside her bodice, one in each sleeve. She never went anywhere without it.
Eloise arrived with the tea set and started pouring a cup. Aselia took a sip and glanced at the door leading to a separate room where her wardrobe was. "Riana is taking a while," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Go check on her."
"Yes, milady," Eloise said timidly and walked over to the door. Then she screamed.
Aselia quickly took out the bottle from her sleeve and slipped in a few drops. Then, with the cup in hand, she walked over to the door, her bare feet numb against the cold tiles of the floor.
Poor Riana was lying on the floor of the room, her skin a mossy green, blood flowing down her nose and eyes. Beside her was the box that contained Aselia's tiara, which wasn't due to be opened until her eighteenth birthday. The box had been cursed with poison in order to prevent anyone from touching it except for her.
"How terrible." Aselia grimaced, setting the cup of tea on a table and bending down to pick the box up. "She could've broken the tiara."
"Tiara?" Eloise was shocked. "Riana is dead."
"Oh, I know that. I also know that she likes pretty, expensive jewels. Why do you think I asked her to get my shoes?"
"You did this . . . on purpose?"
"Does it matter? One of my rules included not touching that box. It's her fault for breaking it." Aselia calmly placed the box back on the shelf. She went across the room and saw her shoes, petite and the same color as her dress, then cringed. She was not walking in the snow with that. So she tried to find a pair of boots that won't be too noticeable or mismatch with her dress.
Once she did, she slipped them on and turned around. Eloise was still standing there, staring in shock.
"Tell me," Aselia said. "Do you know what happened to the pair of maids before you both, and the pair before them?"
