The Princess of Wrath

Chapter 2 - Part I: A Letter and a Friend

"I look ridiculous..."

Trapped in her own room and surrounded by five maids, including Frida, Asura stood in front of the large mirror in a decaying mood. Four of the women were making the last adjustments on her platinum flower-patterned formal dress while Frida was in charge of combing her hair. 

The tournament was going to start in six hours, and only for two reasons Asura was going to do just as her mother told her: the violently exciting fights in the arena and the opportunity to see, after a long time, that special somebody that made her heart race.

"Nonsense, my lady!" the maid exclaimed with excitement. Clearly, she was enjoying carrying out the task of converting Asura's appearance under the strict command of the Empress, just like her coworkers. "You look so beautiful! If only you let us dress you like this every day..."

"It would be an absolute waste of time," Asura grunted. "How can I do my job throughout Entrana dressed as a porcelain doll?"

"You could enlist the help of any servant in the Keep instead of doing it just with the company of a single bodyguard. For example, your journey today to the Astronomical Tower!" she exclaimed, making Asura sigh. Seven hours had passed since her return from the Tower, and it did not seem that Frida was going to stop expressing her indignation. "How could anyone let a lady of your caste put her life at risk in that climb? It's absolutely insane! Also, Roland Casimir! That man is so little chivalrous that he didn't even offer you an escort to go down the mountain... I'm telling you, my lady, I would accompany you in your activities if you would let me."

"Don't worry, when I'm Empress, I'll leave the job of ruling to you," Asura was aware that the maid sometimes did not understand jokes or sarcasm, but she indulged herself and laughed at her priceless, terrified expression. "I'm sorry, Frida. I really appreciate how thoughtful you are."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door and one of the maids stopped her work to answer.

"My lady, there's a letter for you!"

"Bring it to me, please."

Asura turned her head a little to see in that direction although Frida was making it difficult for her with the combing, and took the beautiful ivory envelope from the maid.

"Mmm, this is quite a surprise," the Princess mumbled as she recognized the seal in the envelope: it was the seal of the High Lord of Malakai's Black Garden, Aurelion Malak Riemann, also known as the spouse of the Empress. He was the father of the last three offspring of the Ithryl family. "My father sent me a letter. It's from fifteen days ago."

"Oh, it came pretty fast!" Frida happily said. "I hope Lord Aurelion has good news for you, my lady."

"Let's see what he has to say," she said and took paper inside:

To my dear daughter Asura,

I hope that you and your brother are well and in full health. As I write this letter, three days of uninterrupted rains have passed, therefore making official the beginning of the season here in the Black Garden. Naturally, I suppose that people in Entrana must already be enduring them.

I do not know if you are going to read this in time because of the climatological interference and the conflict with Golden River and Nemasis, and thus, I wish you a very happy birthday. It hurts my soul not to be by your side to celebrate such an important day, but there is nothing I could do. I would love to see you, your brother and our dear Empress, but my responsibilities here in the Black Garden make it impossible for me to visit Entrana for at least two years. I thought that I was going to be able to attend the Tournament of Champions and use it as an excuse to see you, but we, the lords of the annexed nations, have too many complications to afford such luxury.