Hourglass || By Esverian

-Part 1-

Tyranny. A word commonly used by the people to describe their present emperor. At least that was something Jia could agree with. She laid on her mattress, thinking about her situation. She looks old enough to get married, but she knows it was definitely out of the question. Many reasons why, she tells herself. Frustrated, she lets out a groan. Her finances were low, she only had a week left of stay at the Huang Hotel. If she doesn't soon find a source of money, her chances of leaving the city would be close to none. Thanks to the emperor, the economy in the nation was booming and many merchants grew their business as to insert themselves into newfound aristocracy. Sadly, that wasn't the case for other commoners. They easily became prey to slavery or poverty.

"Damn that tyrant," Jia muttered to herself. It's been months since she planned her escape to the rural area, but she discovered it was harder than it seemed. Many guards were on duty at the exits of the capital, probably after her. She had seen wanted posters of her face after a trip to buy some food yesterday and she thought it would be a clever idea to ditch the capital for her own safety. Now that the whole empire is aware of her existence, she has no choice but to leave early before the guards find her in her hotel room.

"Think, Jia, think! How are you gonna get out of this mess?" She lets out a sigh. She takes out her only bag and starts packing her belongings.

Out of all the objects, she picks up a piece of jewellery that once belonged to someone dear to her. It was a jade necklace, the center carved into the image of a dragon. Feeling her neck bare, she decides to wear it as it went with her dark outfit.

Then an idea came to mind. Not the one she would hope for, but maybe the only one she has available. It's been a long time since she visited that house. And she still preferred not to, even wishing she forgot about it.

"It wouldn't hurt them, it would only hurt me," she whispered under her breath as she grabbed her fully packed bag. "Better than nothing."

The floor creaked with every step Jia made, signaling her movements around the hotel. She had already closed the door and was walking down the stairs to reach the entrance where the receptionist would receive her key. Instead, a maid stops her before she was able to reach the last step of the staircase.

"Excuse me miss, are you the guest in room 223?" she asks, fidgeting and unable to meet Jia's eye.

"Yes, that would be me."

"Um, there is a letter for you," the nervous maid hands it to Jia and quickly scurried away.

The letter looked formal with her name and address written on the back, but as Jia turned it around to open the envelope, her heart dropped. The letter was sealed with the royal stamp. A stamp only used by the emperor.

"Shit, shit, shit! He already found me?" she trembles as she opens the envelope. No wonder the maid looked so anxious.

She read the contents, frowning:

Dear Jia,

If you are reading this letter, it must mean you are on your way to leave the hotel, and the capital. You are then probably aware that I will do everything in my power to stop you from doing so. Do you know I lost all meaning to life after that day? Ever since you had gone, my reason for being had been gone too. Please, come back to me. You know what to do: call out my name.

Yours,

Hyson

Filled with mixed emotions, Jia crumples the letter and throws it to the ground. That bastard has no sense of regret. All her life's misfortunes were because of him, and now he wants to keep her by his hip. Nothing but a flower to admire, a prize to be won. And to top it off, he expects her to mutter his name. They both know what happens if she ever does, and it was the reason she hasn't ever mentioned him. To pity a man like that is unforgivable, not after what he has done to her. Her heart is now a growing nest of demons.

She holds her head high, determined of the choice she will make. Finally taking the last step of the staircase, she also takes the final step that will seal her fate. She hands the room key to the receptionist, leaves the hotel by the main entrance and takes a carriage to the one place she never thought of coming back.

"Out of curiosity, is the miss perhaps friends with the lady of the house? I've heard news of the lady's wedding to be held next month," the driver converses with Jia while he helps her out of the carriage. "It is really splendid news, especially after what happened to her family all those years ago."

"Yes, I've heard. Thank you for the ride." Jia pays the driver and directs her attention to the mansion in front of her. It looks the same as always, it doesn't look any different. The maintenance must be effective.

She walks up to the door and knocks loud enough for the owners to hear, not wanting to disturb much with the doorbell. A small cute woman opens it and asks for her name and purpose of visiting. A female butler. Genders don't matter anymore in the workforce.

"Ah, yes, I'm here to see Lady Tran. I'm an... old acquaintance of hers," Jia gives her a sad smile. The butler asks her to wait in the salon with her bag while she goes to warn Lady Tran of her arrival.

The mansion looks quite different on the inside. The furniture looks to be modern and of up-to-date, unlike the outside image. Jia notices a frame among others on the foot table. It's a picture of five teenagers, the quality being from a long time ago. She grabs it and examines the bottom where there seems to be written something: summer at the lodge. Her memory is still fuzzy, yet she is able to recognize someone among one of the youngsters.

"My Lady, she says to be an acquaintance." The butler is already back with her master.

"Acquaintance? Might it be related to my wedding invitations?" the Lady of the house asks herself. She steps into the room, curious who might be visiting, but as soon as they make eye contact there is no flash of familiarity. "Who are you?" the Lady asks confused.