A New Life
Micah woke up when the curtains in her chamber were slowly opened by some handmaids.
"Good morning, my lady." Tamar greeted when she turned around and saw Micah yawning and rubbing her eyes with her lean fingers.
"How was your wedding night? The maid asked, and Micah fell into a depth of despair. She gazed at the maid, who thought she must have said something wrong.
"I am sorry, my lady, please forgive me….
"He didn't come." Micah simply said, her eyes swollen from crying too much the previous night.
Tamar didn't know what to say; she used to be Berth's personal handmaid, and now she was assigned to Micah.
"My lady, breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. We have to get you dressed and ready." Tamar said, pulling the blanket off Micah. She folded it up and kept it.
Micah was led to a steamy bathing tub; she was scrubbed with a soft sponge, her feet and supple skin. After the bath she was dressed up in a silver-colored gown. The gown had long sleeves; the sleeves of the hand had a long slit from the ankle to the wrist.
On the waistline of the gown were three waist chains hanging on Micah's waistline. The bottom of the gown had black embroidery of flowers. A pearl necklace was on her neck, with pearl earrings to match the necklace.
Her thick black hair has a small parting; the beginning of the hair is straight, with the tip of the hair having curls.
Soon she was called out for breakfast. Tamar showed Micah how to hold up her dress as she walked. And the latter did just that as she made her way to the dining arena escorted by Tamar herself and a royal guard.
Her gaze swept across the room as she gazed at different faces immediately as she stepped into the room. All the queens were seated elegantly, and so was the rest of the royal family.
Her gaze was now fixed on an empty chair beside Jazell; she walked up to it and took her seat there. Almost immediately Ragaleon stepped into the dining room.
Everyone present rose to their feet and acknowledged Ragaleon. He took his seat, followed by everyone present.
He was the first to be served; everyone also started eating when he started. Micah couldn't even lift a muscle.
Her eyes roamed around the several dishes on the table. There was a fat white candle lit up in the middle of the table, with food surrounding it. Clashing of utensils was made, with the sound of munching of food or drinking of water.
Not a soul talked; everyone had their gaze fixed on their food. Micah's gaze inadvertently met that of William, the same man who almost raped her the night before the wedding.
She gazed at him for a while; his gaze was concentrated on his food. But he could feel her gaze on him; he didn't dare to return the gaze.
Micah finally picked up a small knife and a fork, her gaze now fixed on the beef, with a side dish of veggies, in front of her.
She gazed at Racheal seated beside her and saw the way she used the knife to cut a piece of the beef, then used the fork to pick it up, then shoved it into her mouth. She also used the fork to eat the veggies.
Micah followed the same procedure and was able to eat her meal. Jazell noticed this, then scoffed, shaking her head from side to side mockingly.
Micah swallowed the embarrassment that was eating her up before slowly dropping the cutlery beside the dish; she stood up and then took her leave. She first of all walked slowly as she glided out of the dining room.
Fleeting glances were cast on her; Jazell had a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. But Micah kept a straight face as she made her way out of the room. Once she was out of the room, she immediately began to walk faster. Her chest was thumping, and tears were rolling down her cheeks.
She walked into the chamber, opening the door abruptly, and caught a maid and a guard making out.
"Oh my…. I am so sorry." Confused, she closed the door, then shut her eyes; the tears she was trying to hold trickled down her face.
"Queen Micah." Someone called from behind her. Micah quickly wiped her tears, then slowly turned around.
"Is there anything I can help you with? A knight asked her. Micah was about to say something, but she paused and gave a thought to something.
"Are you following me? She asked, peering at the man in front of her.
"I am your personal knight, my lady. It is my job to escort you wherever you go, to keep you safe." The knight said.
"What's your name? She asked, taking a step closer.
"Ser Griffin." The knight said, bowing.
"Ser Griffin, will you take me to my chamber? I seem to have lost my way." Micah said with a straight face.
"Of course, follow me, my lady." He said before turning around.
Immediately Micah got to her chamber. She shut the door behind her and reclined on the door for a while.
She slowly crouched down on her knees, as the tears she had been trying so hard to hold trickled down her face.
She slowly rises to her feet and starts taking off her jewelry. She slid the bangles off her wrist and took the earrings off her ear. She unpinned her hair and loosened it up; it cascaded on her face.
"Stupid castle! I don't need all this jewelry; I am not a tree that can be decorated." She said, taking a napkin, she wiped her lips, the pink lipstick smearing the white napkin.
As she continued to undress, someone walked into the room without knocking.
Micah froze in her actions; she quickly turned around to see who it was. Immediately her eyes fell on Ragaleon, and she quickly looked away.
"Courtesy demands that you knock before entering…" Micah was saying something.
"This is my castle; I can go anywhere I please." Ragaleon nonchalantly said, taking a look around her chamber.
"Your chamber lacks taste."
"It is my chamber, and I think it is perfect." Micah commended as she started brushing her hair violently. She hated this man; she didn't want to see his face.
"You left the dining room without finishing your breakfast." Not that Ragaleon cared; he just wanted to point out something.
"I was starved! Starved for three days in a dungeon, I think I will survive skipping a meal for a few hours." Micah dropped the comb she was using to brush her hair.
Ragaleon shoved his thoughts aside and got straight to the point.
"You can hate me all you want, but it would not change a thing." He said, taking some steps into the room.
"Tell me something I don't know." Micah rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. She slowly crouched down and took off her shoes.
'Look at me when I am talking to you! Ragaleon shrilled.
Micah froze; slowly her hazel brown eyes shifted to where Ragaleon stood, his fist clenched.
She straightened up and fixed her eyes on him.
"If you want to survive in this palace, you are going to have to be smarter than this. You will be hunted, and people will seek your favor. I am only trying to help you.
"I don't need your help! Micah screamed.
"Not when you are out there! But when you are in here, the castle, you will."
"I didn't ask to be here in the first place; you caused this. Everything is all your fault! Tears stung Micah's eyes.
"If only you had just been benevolent enough to hear me out, to listen to what I had to say when I was given the opportunity, I wouldn't be here. This wouldn't be happening! Micah's voice broke as she sniffed hard, her eyes red.
Ragaleon shut his eyes; this woman in front of him was a handful. He calmed himself and then slowly opened his eyes.
"Fine! I will stop the construction of the road and your father's farm…
"Don't need it! Micah said, turning away from him. Ragaleon smacked his lips and ran his hands through his hair.
"I don't care what you want." His voice was calm and nonchalant.
"Then why are you here? she asked, peering through the window in her chamber, her voice shaking uncontrollably.
"He was a good man, your father…
"Don't talk about my father." Micah snapped.
"Will you just listen?! Ragaleon was feeling frustrated.
"How is it that you look so reticent, but you have a sharp tongue? He added.
The room became silent for a while; only the chirping of birds could be heard.
"I am not to blame; your father made me promise to take care of both his daughters and get married to the eldest…
"My father is dead!
"Don't you want to fulfill his death wish?
"I want to leave! Micah turned around and walked up to him, looking desperate.
"Just let me go; I promise you will never see my face again. Berth is willing to be your bride; get married to her, but leave me out of this, I beg you."
Micah was talking fast, her hand clasped together tightly in a pleading manner, her eyes shut as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"You are going nowhere." Ragaleon's dreadful voice made her eyes flutter open; she gazed at him with hatred and scorn, and taking some steps backwards, she slowly turned around.
"I assure you, within this wall you will always be protected. No harm will befall you, unless you will it. I am a man of my word, and I always keep my promise." Ragaleon said, but Micah didn't say anything.
She was backing him, her eyes distant, as if she were in a trance.
Slowly, footsteps echoed as Ragaleon retrieved and made his way out of the room.
Micah dropped to the floor, as if her legs could no longer support her body, her gown spreading around her. She cupped her face with both her hands as the reality of everything began to dawn on her.
"Why? She asked herself as she buried her head in her lap; she was mourning her fate.
"Why me!!