Selene

14| Helen [UNEDITED]

Helen's age: Fifteen

"Good afternoon, my lady."

I ignored Selene's words. "Luna, I'm having a tea party. How about you join me?"

Only if I knew back then—those words would be the last time I would be mocking Selene.

She spoke the words I wanted to hear. "...A humble guard, such as I, cannot be seated in the same level as her master. Please go on without me, my lady. I shall provide security."

"Very well, Luna. As you wish."

And thus, my tea party had begun.

Oh, and the attendees?

The Princess of Kirai along with Aria Uta and a few other Princesses from small territories who would dare not mess with me!

"Well..." Jasmine Kirai said uncomfortably. "It's such an honor to be invited by you, Lady Helen. I am truly grateful."

"I-I was overjoyed... when I received the invitation!" Aria added on. The others nodded in agreement, so much that even I feared their heads might fall off.

Aria Uta was picking her words carefully. Now, with Hikari as an official ally of Uta, Aria couldn't, by any means, refuse to come. Certainly, she didn't expect Selene here, especially after she lied about being sold off to Kirai—and with the Princess of Kirai herself here, she couldn't reiterate the same.

My eyes didn't see this, my ears didn't hear this.

Yes, I knew of no friendship between my assassin and fellow Princess.

"Luna, would you like a cup of tea?" I generously asked, holding out an unfilled cup.

Taking it would mean she would be at the same level as me, her Master, which would be a great disgrace to her as a guard; but not taking it would mean turning me down, even worse, disobeying my orders.

Sister dear, what would you chose?

"I would have to pass, my lady. While I appreciate your offer, I, as a guard, have several principles of my own that I wish to maintain. Also, I do not drink tea, my lady, for I cannot stand its flavor."

That was not something I was expecting, but Selene dodged me nicely. Then, what if I... "Would you prefer coffee then, Luna?"

While she could always say she wasn't educated enough, provoking sympathy from the fellow Princesses, an uneducated person who was not from a Noble family could never serve the Imperial Princess directly. Besides, Selene was granted a Noble pass from Father, so there was that.

Also, Aria knew that Selene was educated, a secret heir even, but given that she was lying herself, I doubted she'd ever bring this up. Oh, not to mention, I knew of no friendship between my assassin and fellow Princess.

"If you'd grant me that blessing my lady, I would not mind," Selene bluntly answered.

Ah... that phrase caused the trouble. Grant me that blessing. She was comparing me to a Goddess, someone who loved the worst and smallest as well.

I waved my hand, and coffee was served to Selene. She preferred that bitter beverage, like Father.

As sharp-tonged as my mother, Selene, once again, didn't fall into my trap.

But where would Selene sit—?

"My lady," Selene said, cup in hand. "I appreciate your concern for me, but in the process, I'm afraid that you are ignoring your guests."

Selene! That was one thing I didn't want to hear!

But I couldn't avoid it.

"I apologize." I lowered my head. "I didn't realize."

"N-N-Not at all," Jasmine exclaimed, as if she wanted to say, Please continue ignoring me. "T-Truly, I-I am so touched by your concern for even lowly servants such as your guard—huh?"

I stared at her in rage. I didn't know why; it was an ambiguous feeling, a moment of recklessness, but...

Lowly?

How dare she insult my sister?

"Please mind your words," I hissed. "My guard keeps me alive. She protects me. She protects Father, even. She looks after me, she even helps me dress up. She is one person I haven't dismissed even after eight years. And the word lowly is the last thing I want to hear from anyone. How dare you address my guard as such?"

"I-I-I didn't realize, Princess!" Jasmine got up and bowed to me. "I-I'm sorr—"

"Not me," I coldly replied. "Luna. Apologize to Luna."

And the tea party passed without any other events.

As I was walking in the garden with other servants the next day, I thought about the Tea Party I previously had. I didn't know why I reacted as such.

Yes, maybe it was a feeling of possession. Only I could insult Selene.

"YOU WORTHLESS GIRL!"

I stopped, hearing Mother scream. I rushed over, but I couldn't find the source of noise.

Then I realized it came from above.

Worse still, from the East Tower.

"My lady!" Anne was yelling at her. "Please lie down!"

Selene... they were hurting her? And she healed herself every single day, and I never noticed...?

Aria... Aria Uta, that spy... I would see her later. But, Selene...

Selene was mine! Only mine!

I wanted to kill Mother so badly. And Anne wasn't even stopping her from torturing Selene.

Curse the power, curse the throne, curse everything!

Selene was my guard, and not a single soul could touch her.

Even if I had to kill Mother and Anne, I would. But I wouldn't let my precious Selene be tortured.

***

"If I die in War, my heir, Selene Yami, shall take over."

People of the Yami Empire opened their mouths, closed it again, like fishes. Then a small voice begun coming out—

A look from Selene and suddenly everyone became mute.

She curtsied respectfully. "Father, I wish you all the best for the upcoming War. I shall sew a Black Cape to celebrate your arrival."

I bowed along. Without my Mother and Grandmother, without the Hikari Kingdom itself, what was I?

Then started Selene's regime.

Then started my Revolution.

And that was the beginning of my tragedy.

Selene wasn't the Sister I knew anymore. But who was I speak? And I finally realized that Eric Yami had planned so much from the beginning. However, such was our Fate. Me and Selene were bound to go against each other. And just what had ruined my Mother was also coming to strike me... Karma.