JUDY
(19years ago)
“Claris, please tell us a story,” Sophy pleaded.
But Claris glanced at me before silently tucking them in with a smile.
“How about I do the story-telling tonight, hmm?” I asked from the doorway, surprising them a bit.
“Mama, you’re home!” Sophy said surprised and excited.
They must be very surprised that I made it home before bedtime tonight.
“Really? Yes… come mama!” Livy exclaimed equally excited to see me.
“Hmm, so I have a riddle to tell and at the end you’ll have to answer a question, how about it?” I asked eagerly.
I never should have told them that story. I never should have made them think they had to fight for anything at such a young age.
My poor choices and fear that my daughters would fall like I initially fell after their father’s death, made me compel them do some unforgivable things all in the name of making them into strong women.
I needed them to be strong, but there was no excuse that they were just kids, and such tough life lessons shouldn’t have been a burden they needed to bear at that young age.
Sabrina, Markian’s mom had asked me the same question when I was at my lowest and was about to give up.
“Two princesses living in a castle painted white. Sisters they were but rivals they were born to be.
Soon the castle will be painted red with blood, for there’s One crown awaiting the ambitious enough and one grave lies in wait for the ignorant. Who among you still wishes to wear the crown?”
I didn’t realize just how learned my daughters had become. They understood everything, at least Livy did and that was a mistake.
As the days went by, the company kept taking more and more hours of my days, until there was none for my children.
I knew I had to teach them to be strong and independent, able to weather the storms of this greedy world of men on their own.
I thought they were too young to understand. I wished I had never got an answer to that question that night.
“I’ll wear it, mama.” Livy replied with pure eyes.
Imagine my horror at her proclamation, but I didn’t let out my surprise. For all I know, she could have only heard the fancy word ‘crown’ from all I said.
“Of course you will my darling. Your crown will be beautiful and someday, you’ll have to lead our empire.” I replied with a smile while tickling her.
“But I want to wear the crown too.” Sophy bickered and on the verge of throwing a tantrum.
“And you will baby, but your sister’s crown would be weightier than yours because she is the heiress.” I replied with a smile, stating the fact that Livy is Luthel Inc’s heiress.
“But… but I want mine to be wealthierrrr” Sophy dragged sadly.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how she misheard the word ‘weightier’ with ‘wealthier’.
“You can’t because one day I’ll rule our empire and you’ll be my subject. My crown will paint this castle red, but your crown will be buried in a grave… na-na-na-nana,” Livy teased her sister, unaware of how dark what she just said was.
“But mama, I don’t want… mine in the graaave” Sophy cried out surprisingly, so I tried to pacify
“Of course yours won’t be in any grave. You will have your crown just like your sister’s, ok?” I stated trying to calm her.
“Mine won’t be either, so who’s crown will be in the grave mama?” Livy asked curiously, starring up a knot in my stomach.
“Olivia, that’s enough. Neither one of your crowns would be in any grave, ok? It’s just a stupid riddle, forget it.” I said.
Even though it was just a story, that story brought down hell on my household.
(Present day)
Just as Livy stated she was going to be the one to wear the crown, she also fought for it.
Even though she seems all calm and quiet now, for years I’ve felt like everyday is just the calm before a storm and all it takes is a little push for her to snap.
Darkness resides insides my daughter, and I dread to imagine what hell she’ll rain down on a mother that forced her into an arranged marriage, when she finally regains her memories.
Livy will pay back my bad for evil, but at least I won’t be leaving my legacy to a weak, softhearted, goody two-shoes of a successor, who stutters and trembles in public.
All I’ve been working for has always been hers, but i know if she shows any sign of weakness whatsoever, she will be eliminated by wolves waiting patiently in the shadow.
I’ve witnessed first hand how suffice but blood thirstyly these businessmen trade. They are ruthless and ply on the weak, until they’ve suck them completely dry.
So, I admit to been a terrible mother. I’ve had to put my kids through some terrible things, but i’d rather have a heartless survivor as my successor than a weak dead one.
The gamble I played with my daughters’ lives have a punishment waiting for me in hell, but there’s no better way could have done things.
So, yes. I’d do it over and over again if it means the Luthel Legacy would move on with Olivia.
I’ve been anxious ever since Daniel showed up here and I know I should have told Markian about it, but the last thing I wanted is to ruin his mood on their honeymoon.
My daughter is already getting the shorter end of the stick and that bothers me.
LIVY
One of Anwela’s stories about this village that caught my interest was the story of Princess Rowena.
Rowena was the 6th daughter of the Village Chief, but the ancestors choose her to become the next Chief after her father’s death amongst her 5 older sisters.
But she had to prove herself worthy of the throne and a crown that has bathed in the blood of its enemies for centuries.
Rowena’s older sisters feared her ambitiousness and crudeness. They knew if she sits on the throne, she would eliminate any and everyone that she perceives as a threat, as well as anything that makes her seem weak.
That was the Sedavers way- a rite of passage. A leader can’t be weak or put anyone or anything before his people. It’s seen as a threat on its own.
A leader would have to sacrifice that which he or she cherishes the most, in other to make the people and the village their only priority. And if he or she refuses to kill whatever or whoever it is, they’ll be beheaded.
So, when Rowena was 8, her sisters made her take a blood oath that no matter what, when the time comes for her to take the throne, she won’t recognize them as threats.
Their plan was to trick her into making an unbreakable oath that could end her life if she does otherwise.
But being bestowed with the grace of the ancestors to lead a tribe, Rowena was a little too wise beyond her age.
She knew what they planned but went ahead and took the oath anyways, promising her sisters what they wanted, putting their hearts to rest.
On her 15th birthday, she was made Chief of Sedaver. And on that day she was given the task to prove herself and show how much she can sacrifice for her people and land.
Rowena then asked for 6 deep holes to be dug and everyone wondered what she was going to do with the holes.
While the laborers dug the holes, she had a grand celebration in honor of her coronation with her family and the entire village.
The next day the entire village arrived at the site with the hole, but never expected what happened next when Queen Rowena ordered that her sisters be thrown into each hole and be buried alive.
“But you promised- you made an unbreakable vow not to hurt us when you become Chief. If you kill us you’ll die too.” Her eldest sister reminded.
“I never promised not to hurt any of you. I only swore that I would not perceive any one of you as a threat.” Rowena stated.
“Then why are you doing this to us? We are family.” Her 3rd sister asked dreadfully.
“And that is exactly why I’m doing this. You all are my family and my family is what I cherish most. I’m ending your lives because my love for you all has to be annihilated in other to put my people first.” she stated before she personally closed up all 5 holes, leaving only the 6th hole empty.
She then made a declaration that the day she’ll ever love anything so much that she can’t kill it, that’ll be the day she’ll personally end her own life and join her sisters in the 6th hole.
Her reign of 10years was tyranous and terrible because she ruled the people of Sedaver with so much anger and bitterness. No one dared to challenge nor stop her because she was ruthless and they feared her.
But her glory came to an end when she took in and bore a son, whom she loved with all her heart even though she knew what it meant.
So, when her son turned 1, she told her trusted commander who was also her husband that it was time for her to join her sisters.