X No Sekai

o10; The Secret Queen

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She looked up in the black sky of Xland. The land that should had been hers. Soft but raspy breaths came out of her mouth as she breathed in and out every now and then. She had been hiding there for many years now, and she had grown tired.

“When will I come back to my throne?” her voice quivered in the middle of the forest. As she reached a white rose, something shined. On top of her head was a gold crown and she was wearing a black and yellow dress. She was the real lost and secret queen of Xland.

The white queen

~

Oz stretched from his back. He doesn’t know how long they were walking within the forest now. But Oz was relieved that there were no more chains and Adlet chasing them. He still hadn’t figured out why they were even chasing them.

Even though Oz was feeling that he’s numb, he thought that the silver cross and the chains wrapped around him was starting to become heavy. And he grew tired of it. “Can we take a rest?” Oz asked them, his voice tiny and quivering.

But the ALICEs ignored him. So he urged forward, telling himself that he can do it. As farther and faster the ALICEs walk, the more Oz grew tired. Finally, he dropped down on his knees and sat on the ground. He groaned, “I can’t walk anymore. Let me rest.” He looked up ahead and saw the shadows of the ALICEs have disappeared. He was all alone.

Fine then, I can go on by myself, Oz thought to himself sarcastically. It’s the same way back, I’m gonna be fine. Meanwhile, he looked around him and couldn’t believe that he thought the place was becoming strange and unusual to him. Suddenly, he heard a loud crack. Oz spun his head around and saw nothing.

A sweat trickled down from his forehead. Then he heard another crack. He spun his head around quickly. His tiredness grew away as he stood up. Then, a low but soft voice said, “Don’t be scared, traveler. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Oz relaxed a little. At least he had someone who can finally talk and understand. As he stared in front, out came a girl. But what’s more, she looked mature and taller than Oz for 3 inches. She wore black and yellow gown, and dusted yellow crown and on her hand was a very pure and white rose.

She looked pretty, like a royalty. But Oz had many thoughts and questions in his mind. Why is she staying here? Is she a princess or something? She looks pretty but her face is a bit worried. I wonder what’s wrong. He thought.

“What…are you doing here in the woods?” Oz finally managed to ask. He wasn’t sure if he’s going to bow down to her. Usually, old times, people should bow first before talking to royalties.

The girl intended to smile. “It’s a long story.” She looked at Oz warily. “Are you interested?”

Oz nodded quickly.

“Please don’t tell anyone, but I’m the real queen of Xland,” she began, saying words softly. “The one ruling now…she isn’t the queen of Xland. As you can see, we were siblings. When we were kids, everyone favored me to be the queen because I’m 1 month older and more mature, when Xland was still a happy and normal kingdom. But my sister doesn’t want this and she insists that she wanted to be the queen. She was a quiet one and doesn’t mingle with other visitors at all.”

“Wait, so you mean…you should’ve been the queen of this land now?” Oz asked.

She nodded. “Yes, and I should be ruling this kingdom. My twin ruled this kingdom and it became twisted and dark. At the age of 14, our parents died, as well as our fellow elders. It was a sudden death all of them died during the night. I was the one left to rule the kingdom. After that, my sister hadn’t talked with me for awhile and she’s trying to ignore me.”

“After 1 month ruling this kingdom, I heard news. One by one, all of the villagers and residents have died,” she continued. “No one knew about this illness. The next day, I haven’t got any news from other kingdoms. And from what I’ve learned we are very far away and had parted from the other kingdoms now. It was only this kingdom left. Then she made me drink something, which I refused. The next thing I knew, she was looking at me and laughing. The guards captured me and threw me in the forest of our kingdom.”

“As time passes by, I have seen so many changes in this kingdom now,” she continued, closing her eyes, her facial expression is troubled. “My sister grew greedy and she made her own rules. She even abused her powers by making this world into this. She called this kingdom ‘Xland’ for her selfish reasons.” She sighed.

“Wait…How about the ALICEs of this kingdom?” Oz asked.

“Ah, yes, them. Well, the 1st ALICE is a traveler, as you can see. Just like Alice in the famous novel Alice in Wonderland. Because the 1st ALICE knew about this kingdom, she had traveled deeper – much to my sister’s dismay. When the 1st ALICE was ready to leave, she casted a spell onto hers. She cannot leave the Xland, nor to speak or to react. She became speechless and emotionless, wandering on her own on the forest,” she explained. “Feeling successful and proud, my twin continued to cast this to other visitors, in case if they’re going to visit.”

“What happened to the people?” Oz asked. “The townspeople? The guard? The servants?”

“Some townspeople have died from the cruelty of my sister. And others have been locked up in the deep dungeon. I have been heard that you took a trip there,” she explained further. “The guards – all of them have died, as well as the servants. The only servants are those twins. I believed you had met them, as well.”

Oz nodded. “Is there any other way for me to get out of this place? Mr. Rabbit told me that I should gather all ALICEs and they will help me, but now I can see it seems impossible – as they cannot talk nor react. Plus, is there any other way to help the ALICEs come back to their normal lives?”

“I believe that you have little chance on getting out of this land, young man,” she said. “My sister is very strict and she knows every movement of the creatures here in her world. And she won’t let you get out that easily. And, I am sorry but I do not know any solutions on curing the ALICEs at all.”

Oz looked down on his feet. He felt very sorry and worried.

“Ah, I forgot to tell you,” she added.

“What is it?” Oz asked.

“I believe my sister will not let you out.”

Oz was threatened by the statement. “Why?”

“Because you are a visitor, and she doesn’t want any other visitor to leave. She might make you the 7th ALICE.” At the sound of this, Oz stood up on his feet. He backed away, feeling frightened to what she said.

“I-I don’t believe you…I-I…I’m sorry!” Oz said and turned away. He started running, leaving her behind. The white queen just looked after Oz’s shadow as it vanished.

“I do hope you can get out,” she sighed to herself.

Oz had been running for hours, his eyes tightly closed and frightened to what the white queen had said: “Because you are a visitor, and she doesn’t want any other visitor to leave. She might make you the 7th ALICE.” He shook his head and looked ahead…and bumped onto the 3rd ALICE.

The ALICEs were startled but at the same time they felt relieved. They were a bit scattered, probably looking for him. Oz felt a bit happy too. But then it vanished as his fear started to attack him again. He grabbed the 1st ALICE’s wrist. “Let’s go now.”

The 1st ALICE tilted her head side wards, as if she was puzzled. Oz pulled her forward. “Let’s hurry up and find the way out of this world! I don’t want to stay here furthermore. I definitely don’t want to become the 7th ALICE!”

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