Blood Peonies (Who Made Me a Princess)

Once Upon A Time

Beta-ed by Sylvetterianne

Pain. That's has been their earliest memory. It has always been with them for as long as they can remember. Whether it is from a slap, or from a knife, they can't differentiate it. Pain is pain and they haven't cared for what caused it anymore for they have been numbed by it. It was unusual but common for people like them. They say that you inflict something onto yourself for so long; you start to be insensate to it. But it was different for them. They're insensate but they can also feel the pain. They are numb but also feel the pain as fresh as the first time it was inflicted upon them.

A freak among freaks.

Empty eyes gazed upon the bright moon as they lied on the soft carpeted floor. It was ironic, for behind these opulent walls and tapestries, violence is common just like how a noble drinks their tea and wine. Hah. A noble, they think. Disgusting people, the privileged ones. They prance around as if they own everything along with the lives of those who reside within. Presumptuous. Or maybe not. They say that nobles do actually have a role to play. But through the passage of time, it has been washed down and what was once duty and honour now turned into pervasive abuse. Disgusting, they mused.

They should really start tending to their wounds, they mused. They know that too much blood loss will kill them. But sometimes, the thoughts of just letting things be entered their mind. What would happen if they just let it be? Let the blood stain everything around them. Let them bloom like blood peonies. It would have been quite a sight, wouldn't it?

What would happen if they give up? They refuse to believe in reincarnation. There couldn't be any more suffering after death. They refuse to think they are doomed to suffer again and again in each lifetime. Death must be the end. It has to be. It would be a very cruel joke if that is not the case. But they wonder though for they had dreams of far away lands; of things that will happen; things of the past; things that nobody is supposed to know. I mustn't think of this, they think. It would only lead to answers to their questions that they refused to acknowledge.

They got up and let the torn fabric to fell off from their shoulders. They were pretty rough today. They like this dress but it cannot be helped. The wounds need to be tend to but first, a bath. They know that they should treat it first but with all the rolling they did on the floor, no matter how much the maids cleaned, it's still floor. Who knows what kind of dirt those pe—

Ah. Yes, a bath first. Surely Eriole prepared it. They always do after one of these trainings. Now that I think of it, I don't really know what is Eriole's gender. Even their name is too gender neutral. Eriole has been their attendant since they were four years old. They wear a maid's outfit just like the other attendants but Eriole's mannerisms are too masculine to be a lady. Eriole looks androgynous with their messy short brown hair that reaches down to their nape and an effeminate but strong face. They could pass as an effeminate boy. Eriole's golden eyes look big too.It is an unusual combination and nobody is really sure on what's Eriole's gender. They gingerly made their way towards their adjacent bathroom, careful about not aggravating their injuries even more.

They've mused for so long about Eriole's gender that the bath that Eriole prepared has gone cold. They sighed and just decided to wash as fast as they can. They just want to remove the grime and other fluids on their body. They will tend to their wounds after. Or maybe Eriole can do it, they mused.