*Peeps at the readers* Hi...!
Oh well, you mayn't recognize me, so let me introduce myself...I'm Droplets of blue rain, you can also call me "Misty". Are you having flashbacks? Okay...then let it be...
*Coughs* After completing the college life successfully, the biggest challenge for a Bangladeshi student is to get selected in the entrance tests of public universities. In every year, more than a million students complete their college life. On the other hand, in total, there are less than 50000 seats in the public universities of Bangladesh. So, just think how competitive the entrance tests are! *sniffs*
Therefore, I'm really very lucky because I've already been got selected for a public medical college, three units of two public universities and an international university. The predominant tests are over, so I'm free now XD
Okay...I've blabbered a lot...now just enjoy the fic as usual :D
"Adorn the whole China like a newly wedded bride!" The Tsar commanded, "After all, today is the day when my dearest child, the apple of my eyes, the gem of our kingdom, Princess Salima was born. Her eighth birthday must be celebrated with colors and fervor. My order has to be followed. If anyone dares disobey my order, it will be his or her last day on the earth. I don't want anyone to mourn for his or her near and dear ones on this day. Got it?"
"As your wish, Your Majesty," The soldiers respectfully nodded.
"Better for you," Zagart chuckled, "Leuen, have you received the scales?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," The person named Leuen affirmed, "I've got them."
"Great!" The shades of satisfaction appeared all over the face of the emperor, "Before the afternoon, all the people of China should pay their taxes. If anyone refuses to pay them, he will have to pay a hefty price for it. Make sure whether all have paid the special levy on the occasion of the birthday of their princess or not. You may go now."
"Sure, my lord," Bowing his head, the official left the place. Almost at the same time, a small group of people appeared before the corridor of the room, carrying royal cloths made of georgette, chiffon, silk and satin, embroidered with laces and the granules of gemstones. They were also carrying bangles, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, chokers, tiaras, anklets, armlets and forehead-pieces made of gold, silver, pearls and diamond, ornamented with sapphire, emerald, amethyst, rubies, corundum and moonstones. They all were on large golden and silver trays. Some were holding baskets full of flower petals and garlands.
"Come in," Zagart allowed.
Permitted, they all entered the room. Placing the trays on the floor, they bowed.
"Herald, distribute these stuffs among the ladies and girls of my fort." He instructed one of his most obedient managers, "But at first, let me choose a set of Qui Pao and ornaments."
"Sure, your Majesty," Herald bent his head down.
Approaching the valuable objects, the king chose a Qui Pao in claret and silver, embroidered with golden silk threads. He also selected a set of jewelries containing a necklace, four pairs of bracelets, a pair of earrings, a forehead-piece and a pair of ankles made of pure silver, garnet and pearls. Inclosing them in a golden box and placing it on a silver tray along with the traditional Chinese dress, he held it and started for the dungeons.
The lonely, stranded, yet hopeful mother was still at the same position, wrapping her arms around her knees and tucking her head amidst them. Wearing the same ripped and gray-colored cloths, she was waiting for the arrival of her son. The world knew that his son was no more. However, she knew that her son was still breathing somewhere in the material ecosphere. Her feet were still chained with the pillar.
Then again, how can you imprison one whose spirit is perfumed with the aroma of liberty?
"Riza…"
Hearing the familiar voice, she raised her head, filling her eyes with hatred and wrath for the owner of the voice. But his tone was seeming different at that moment. He was quite soft although the softness of his pitch was surely cunning, she guessed.
"What do you want from me this time, Zagart?" Riza stood up on her chained feet.
"Nothing, my dear lady," Zagart was holding the silver tray in his hands, "Just accept this tiny gift on behalf of me, sweetheart. Today, my princess is going to be eight years old. On this day, she was born. On this auspicious occasion, I'm distributing gifts among all the people of my kingdom. Please, don't reject my gifts, Riza."
"Huh," The ex-queen of China chuckled, "Distributing gifts among the people of China? Or impoverishing them by snatching everything from them in the form of the birthday gifts of your darling daughter?"
"What?" Zagart's eyebrows almost touched his forehead.
"Yes, your ears aren't cheating you at all, Zagart," She walked for a single step, "What did you think? Don't I know everything? No Zagart, you were wrong. I know every single deed, every single word and every single thought of you. For celebrating your daughter's birthday grandly, you have been gradually ruining my subjects for a couple of months."
"Your subjects?" The devil burst out laughing, "Hahaha…don't kid with me, my lady. They were your subjects once upon a time. But at this moment, neither they are your dependents, nor are you their empress. They are under my rules now. I can do with them whatever I want to do with them. Once I order them, they all are bound to obey and follow my orders!"
"You order them not for their well-being, Zagart," Riza retorted, "Rather, you command them for your own benefits. You really don't care whether your people are dying, leading their lives with miseries or not. But I care, Zagart. I do care of them. When I was their empress, I looked after them like their mother. They were like my own children. Still, they are my children, they are my people. Hurting my people, snatching their bread and butter, you are offering me these things?"
Taking the silver tray from Zagart's hands, the tangerine-eyed lady threw them mercilessly. The tray collapsed on the ground, forgetting its glory of being made of pure argentum, ending up the qui pao and ornaments scattering here and there.
"I don't anything from you, Zagart!" Riza fumed, "Let alone your wealth and gifts, I don't want to see your face ever! Get lost from here!"
Twisting his moustaches, the shameless ruler grinned. Licking his lips lustfully, he mocked, "I haven't been astonished at all at your deeds, Riza. Besides, what else can you expect from a slave?"
"Being a slave is far better than being a robber, Zagart," she retorted, "A slave works hard and gets his or her wages in return. He or she doesn't cause any harm to any person. Whereas, robbers don't know how to earn money in a legal way or by working hard. They only know to snatch others' wealth by killing, hurting, harming or depriving them."
"Riza!" The devil lost his temper.
"Don't scream like a ferocious wolf in front of me, Zagart!" Her tone is still cold, "You may scare your people in this way but don't forget that I'm the ex-empress of this kingdom. I know your past very well. You were a mugger at that period, you are a mugger at present and in future, you'll spend the rest of your life as a mugger!"
Having heard her, the eyes of the so-called emperor of China became bloodshot. His cheeks turned crimson as he felt angry and ashamed at the same time. Exhaling the poisonous substance remaining inside his lungs once, he left the place, smiting the ground with his feet as fast as he could.
'Jackle', The helpless mother whispered. Then, taking her position once again, she bent her knees and tucked her head amidst them, waiting for her only child.
'Son,' She murmured, 'Your mother is badly missing you. When will you come? When will you make me free from this hell? When will you end the sorrows and sufferings of the people of China forever?"
"Yahoo!" The female bluenette rejoiced, seeing the number of the dots on the surface of the gold-plated dice, "This game is mine!"
"Wow, Mari," Happily, the princess clapped, "You're such a skilled dice-player!"
"Thank you so much, Hil!" She nodded, winking with a bright smile all over her face, "Whereas, someone is losing rounds after rounds! I'm not gonna mention her name."
"Shut up, witch!" The Spaniard growled, "You've won this game by cheating."
"Yeah yeah, a bad workman always quarrels with his tools, doesn't he?" Mariam showed her tongue.
"Hilary," Julia stood up on the bed, "Please tell your beloved friend not to get involved in a fight with me. What does she thinks of herself? Because of the kindness of uncle Hayashi, she has got all the rights that a princess enjoys. But it doesn't mean that she's been a princess like us!"
Hearing the bitter truth, the royal-blue haired girl couldn't say anything. She just bowed her head down. Her luminous face lost its radiance of happiness, being filled with cluttering murk of being humiliated instead.
"Julie," Hilary tightened her jaw, "Why are you hurting Mariam saying these things? She's our friend. Friends don't need to come of the clans of the same status!"
"But at least they should be careful while interacting with their friends who belong to noble castes!" Julia surged, "Whereas, Mariam always forgets her limits!"
Hilary was about to protest but she stopped as someone knocked at the door of their room. Getting down from the bed, she approached the gigantic silver-plated door and opened it. There was a maid standing in front of her. Seeing the princess, she bowed.
"Good afternoon, princess," She uttered, "Is Miss Mariam with you?"
"Yes, she is," Hilary affirmed, "Do you need her?"
"No actually," The servant negated, "But His Majesty is calling her in the courtroom."
"Alright, go and tell father that Mariam is coming to him." The princess said. As the maid left the place, she backed to her bed.
"What happened, Hilary?" Julia asked, "Why did she come to us?"
"For Mariam," The coco-haired girl replied, "Father is calling you in the courtroom, Mari."
"W-what?" Hearing the princess, the leafy eyes of the bluenette became widened. She gulped and bit her lower lip in tension.
"What happened, witch?" It was Julia's turn at that moment, "Feeling scared? I just wonder how you will be treated by uncle Hayashi."
"Don't scare him, Julie," Keeping a hand on Mariam's shoulder, Hilary assured her, "Don't worry, Mari. Father must have called you for some important reasons. He will not punish you. Don't be afraid, go there."
"Sure, Hil," Nodding, the bluenette left the room with slow but steady steps.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Haruko," The emperor expressed his gratitude towards the head executioner of his empire, "Who knew that you would contribute that much to a battle?"
"My contributions were too mere to win a battle, Your Majesty," Haruko bent his head down, "Don't embarrass me in this way, please. You were the one for whom the battle could be won."
"Don't feel so embarrassed, Mr. Haruko," Like a comrade, the king placed his hand on the shoulder of the royal slayer, "You did your best in the last combat. You're praiseworthy enough. For your outstanding performance, I want to get you rewarded."
"Reward?" Slowly, the bent head of Haruko rose up.
"Yes, reward," Hayashi continued, "Recently, a new land in Japan has been discovered. It's quite fertile. Every kind of crops can be grown there. The water of the land is very beneficial to fishes and aquatic plants. It's also an ideal grazing land for the cattle. I'm going to affiliate the land to my kingdom as a province of Japan. I also want to make you the ruler of the province. Will you accept this reward?"
Hearing the mighty king, the slayer became so astonished that he couldn't utter a single word for a few moments. His jaw dropped and eyes got widened. He couldn't believe his ears. He felt as if he had been dreaming.
"What happened, Mr. Haruko?" Hayashi queried, "Don't you want to accept it?"
"Actually…" Haruko sheepishly pronounced, "I never thought that I would be lucky enough to get this reward. But….am I worthy enough to accept this reward?"
"Of course!" The ruler of Japan assured the baffled executioner, "Why not? You are worthy enough to be a ruler of a province. Though you are an executioner, your heart is filled with love, kindness and admiration for everyone. I know that you've let a lot of innocent prisoners go."
"Your Majesty…" He murmured.
"Don't be sorry for your deeds, Haruko," The emperor clarified, "I'm the one who sent them to you for testing your humanity and other qualities. You've successfully passed in all of the tests. I must congratulate you on your success. Please, don't reject my tiny gift."
"No no, Your Majesty," Haruko shook his head, "Don't plead to me in this way. It doesn't suit you at all. If you think that I'm worthy enough to rule over the new province, I'll accept the crown of it."
Meanwhile, the royal-blue haired girl appeared before the gargantuan doors of the courtroom. Bowing her head, she softly greeted, "Good afternoon, Your Majesty. May I enter?"
"Oh Mariam, you're here," Seeing her, the king permitted, "Come in, my child."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Thanking him, the fish-lover entered the large hall.
"Mariam," Hayashi approached her and patted her head, "I've called you here for a special reason."
"Your Majesty," She whispered, "Have I committed a crime?"
"What? Crime?" The king burst out laughing, "No, my girl. A sweet girl like you can never commit a crime. Actually, we have discovered a new land. I'm making your father the king of the land. As a result, you're going to be a princess. Are you happy with this fact?"
As the words entered the ears of the bluenette, her dim face became radiant within a few picoseconds. Raising her bent head, she looked at her father. Her father smiled, making her believe the reality.
Sometimes reality isn't bitter.
"Sure, Your Majesty," At the next moment, she lowered her gazes, "Thank you so much."
"Not at all, my dear," The emperor caressed her head, "Rather I should thank you and your father. Your father has contributed a lot to the last battle. Being one of the best friends of my daughter, you've always kept her happy and satisfied."
"It's my pleasure," She answered.
"And it's my pleasure to give you your rights and rightful social status, my girl," Hayashi spoke, "So, princess Mariam, are you ready to start your new life in your own kingdom?"
Hearing the question, all the sparkles from the face of Mariam disappeared. The void and darkness of three worlds filled that place. Bit by bit, she looked down.
"What happened, Mariam?" The king seemed worried a bit, "Aren't you happy hearing the news of getting your own kingdom and own castle?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," She mumbled, "Surely it's a good news for me. But I cannot leave Princess Hilary in this palace. She is one of my closest friends. If I leave her, she'll be very sad."
"Shut up, Mari!" Haruko scolded his daughter, "Leaving the princess doesn't mean that your friendship will end here. You both will be friends forever. I know Princess Hilary very well. She'll be very happy if she hears this good news. She'll happily let you go."
"I know that, father," Mariam almost inaudibly voiced, "She won't feel sad if she gets to know it. But leaving her in Japan, I cannot live in my new castle. I'm really very sorry, father. It cannot be done by me."
"So, princess Mariam prefers her friendship to her luxurious royal life, doesn't she?" Hayashi opened his mouth, "My dear, I've really been very pleased with you. You're such a selfless girl who can sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her friendship."
"Your Majesty, my real happiness lies in the company of Princess Hilary," The bluenette still kept her gazes lowered, "Leaving her alone, I cannot live the life a princess. For living with her, I can sacrifice even that royal life."
"You don't need to do that, my child," The emperor caressed the head of the friend-loving girl, "You may stay here with my daughter if you want. Your father will be the king of the new domain. Within a few moments, he'll be leaving Japan. Bid your father."
Elevating her leafy-green orbs, she looked at her father. Her eyes were glittering with tears. Yet, managing to wearing a sweet smile, she waved her hand, "Goodbye, father. Best of luck!"
Preferring her joy to her gloom, the royal blue-haired girl left the royal room, almost running. Tears were streaming down from her leafy-green orbs like the droplets of water from scintillated leaves drenched in a sudden rain. Her soft feet were tenderly smiting the marble-covered floor, nearly keeping it untouched. Almost riding an invisible stallion made of the gull, she reached the room. In the room, the coco-haired princess was re-arranging her toys but the Spaniard was not present there.
"What happened, Mari?" Seeing her jolly and happy friend, the brunette stood up, wearing a confused smile, "Why're you so happy? Has father gifted you something special?"
"Of course he has!" Like a butterfly, Mariam leaped, "He has gifted my father a kingdom. I'm a princess now!"
"Wow!" Hilary exclaimed, "Congratulations! Surely you'd been craving for this identity since a long time, hadn't you?"
"No, not like that," In the speed of whirlwind, she shook her head, "Actually, I'm happy for another reason. His Majesty has allowed me to stay with you!"
"What?" The ruby eyes of the princess were widened, "Really? Has he really permitted you to stay here?"
"Yes," Mariam nodded, "I'm not gonna leave you so easily, Hilary! I'll stick to you till our marriage."
"Oh my goodness!" The coco-haired girl leaped in joy and hugged her blue-haired friend, "I cannot believe! You're a princess of another kingdom but you're staying with me!"
"Yes, I'm." She giggled.
Flying, a pair of parrots sat on the balcony. A couple of butterflies also arrived at the scene, roaming from one flower to another harmonically.
What are friends for by the way?
Really, what are friends for by the way?
Ahem...do read and review. I know that my writing skill committed suicide long ago :P That stupid competition just snatched all my beauty and glory T_T T_T. So, kindly pardon all the grammatical and spelling errors. Take care! :D
-Misty ^_^