Page 41

Amias

“Oh yes, the flowers will look wonderful in those,” Mother's voice echoes as she steps on her tiptoes, almost stepping on the train of her white and blue gown. A group of men hold white vases for our approval.

“Put them on there!”she points to the table behind them..

I stand beside her proudly, nodding to the workers. The workers return the gesture and set the vases on the table that the assortment of little desserts will be.

I take in the progress made so far. The ballroom was already a decoration in itself.

Ancient paintings of Grandmother and her worshippers are displayed on the ceiling, with accents of gold and amare flowers.

Her followers kneel before her, as she stands tall with her bright blue eyes and flowing hair.

The golden floor shimmers like it was freshly laid.

It pairs nicely with the grand staircase that leads to the balcony overlooking the room.

Guards in white stand by each doorway, ensuring our safety.

The only thing the room needed was food, entertainment and people. Of course, that’s tomorrow's problem. We already have the tables draped on rose gold, a bar set up for food, and the stage prepared for musicians.

I exhale. “There can't be much else to do, right?”

Grandmother taps on her crossed arms beside me a few feet away, her pink flowing dress swaying as she leans on her right leg. “Not quite. We need to find where to set more amare flowers.”

I scrunch my brows together. “Why so many flowers? Can't we have something else?” I don't need flowers for my birthday. Besides, I'll see many couples making the flowers glow. It doesn't help that Clara's not going to be there.

My face flushes at the thought of her. Suppressing feelings has been impossible. Everyday, I find a new thing to love about her. It certainly doesn't help that she's messing with by flirting all the time.

Not that I don't enjoy it. But it definitely hurts more that she's toying with ideas of romance when it will never become anything. She probably thinks nothing of it, but I wish it was real.

I refuse to tell her though. I should think nothing of her flirtations anyways. Just as I should with the flowers.

Grandmother beams. “The guests will be expecting the flowers. People are coming from all over the world to be here. The couples will want to see them glow. It's what we’re known for.”

My shoulders slump. I was hoping to escape it for a night but I guess it's a childish wish. “I understand.”

“Aw, dove.” Mother murmurs beside me.

Grandmother pouts. “Oh little Valley Lily, it's upsetting, I know, but…” She sighs. “It's just part of being in our lineage. You make sacrifices to keep the people happy, even if it's against your favor.”

“I know.”

“I've had to do the same as you,” Grandmother reaches a hand to my cheek. “At least you don't have to create the flowers. I had to keep making them, even after the divorce.” She chuckles, as I return a weak one.

It doesn't make me feel any different.

“Come on, Valley Lily. This might cheer you up.” She takes me by the hand, guiding me up the grand stairs. We get to the balcony that overlooks the ballroom.

She lets me go and looks up to the painted ceiling.

“Tomorrow night, Cosmo's wish will float as a glowing orb.

I sense it will come at evening eight, so you will stand here when the ceiling will open for it.

You will say your wish aloud with all of your heart.

That's when your wish will be granted.” She looks down at me.

“Then you could save the kingdom. You could save the world from what Cosmo had warned. Everyone will be so proud of you, as will I.”

I follow her gaze to the ceiling as if it were to open now. Only a night away and I'll have made my wish. I'll have done my duty towards my people.

But… would they take it as such when I wish to see the truth about dreamscreechers?

It was an idea I thought of a few days ago. It should work. It will.

Right?

I clench my teeth. Are all wishes guaranteed to be granted? Could Cosmo reject me?

I look at Grandmother. “Is there a chance that the wish won't work?”

Her bright smile slowly transforms into a frown. Her eyes shine over as if the very question was mournful. “The only time the wish hadn't worked was when someone wasn't pure of heart.”

I squint. “Pure of heart?”

“The point of the wish is that you help the people like Cosmo did when he made all the Gifts. We are a gift to human society, and the wish is made to signify that you understand this and carry on this legacy. If one makes a wish that is meant to harm the people… the wish will become corrupt.”

I glance down at the floor. My wish wouldn’t harm the people. It's meant to help our kingdom.

It will work.

“But that wouldn't happen to you, Valley Lily. Now would it?” She wraps an arm around my shoulder. “It'll go as well as your brother's that time ago. And your mother's. I have all of my faith in you.”

I nod despite knowing she’ll be upset when she hears my wish. Erasmus' and Mother's wishes aligned with her beliefs, as they all worked against Somnia. Mine, on the other hand, will come in their favor.

“And you know what's also exciting,” Mother says, skipping up the stairs with a giant grin. “This can be a great opportunity to see if that girl is the one!”

My eyes widen. Shit. I forgot that I told her that! “Oh well…” I titter at Grandmother. “It’s… it's a complicated situation…”

Grandmother raises a brow. “What girl?”

“Uh… that was an old incident…”

“It was only two weeks ago,” Mother chuckles, putting hands on her hips. “And let me tell you mother, he was smitten!”

My heart races, dreading the scolding that's to come. I scowl at Mother. “It's not that big of a deal!”

“Who is this girl?”

I stand up straight in front of Grandmother. “Clara.”

“Clara…” Grandmother echoes.

I gulp. “Yeah.”

She crosses her arms, tapping a finger on one arm. “And how long has this been going on?”

“We've known each other for a little over two months. We're only friends.”

Grandmother nods her head slowly. “Where is she from?”

“She's from Lluvia's kingdom.”

She gets silent again, still nodding. The lighter blue in her eyes seems darker as she squints. “Your eyes look especially vibrant today.”

Confusion scrunches my nose. “Yeah. Probably just the lighting, right?” I've assumed I haven't been paying attention to the shade of my eyes, which is why it felt off seeing them in Clara's bathroom, but the lighting also makes a difference.

She steps away, nibbling on a nail. I look at Mother. What's up with her?

Mother shrugs as Grandmother speaks again. “Perhaps it will be a good opportunity to see her then.”

My body stiffens. She's not gonna lecture me?

“Amara?” One of the workers comes up to her with two piles of plates. “Which ones should we use?”

Grandmother chuckles before turning to me. “We can talk later and celebrate.”

I nod quickly, my heart thumping against my chest. Does that mean she approves? Does she think I found the one?

I turn back to Mother, who is on her tiptoes again, shaking her fists excitedly. I can't help but grin so much that it aches my cheeks.

If this is the one girl Grandmother isn't against, then maybe this is it! Maybe I was right to feel the way I do about Clara! Maybe…

Maybe Clara and I wouldn't be doomed after all…

◆◆◆

A few hours later, Mother tended to Grandmother's garden. Erasmus and I offered to help and Grandmother happily came to bond with us. The garden is one of her favorite places. She would come just to bask in the smell of flowers.

The garden is in the back of the castle, flourishing with colors of all sorts. Bright yellow daffodils and bold scarlet roses stood out the most. They paired well with deep violet irises and the other splashes of blue and orange spread around the garden.

I'm watering the flowers Grandmother calls me. Lilies of the valley - small bell shaped flowers that slouch under the beating sun. The sweet smelling flowers are shielded by a white picket fence, beside the other flowers that are deemed too dangerous to be eaten.

I keep taking glances at the black flowers that grow beside the Lilies of the Valley.

Tenebris - the evil twins of the amare flower.

Those star shaped flowers that grow into thorny bushes.

One could die from eating it as is, and it's much worse if you drink the juice by itself. Even the strongest soldier would succumb to its effects from just a few drops, with the liquid burning the person’s flesh.

A part of me can't look away but another would like to bury myself underground, and pretend I never thought of using it on innocent people. How could I be so cruel?

“How are the little lilies growing?” Grandmother's murmurs from behind me.

I smile softly. “Fine. They're flourishing.”

“Beautiful,” she says, standing tall as she stares at the valley lilies.

I nod as I finish up watering them, humming again until there’s enough to keep the flowers hydrated.

“Nicely done.” Grandmother says as I draw back the water can. “You'd make a nice gardener.”

“It's nice to tend to them, but I'm better at making bread.”

“I've heard…” She murmurs. She sighs and suddenly the joy is drained from her face, her eyes glossing over.

I tilt my head back. “What?”

She becomes silent, crossing her arms as her eyes shift. “Lily flower, we need to talk.”

My heart plummets. What do we possibly have to talk about? Is this about Clara?

“It's nothing to be afraid of,” Grandmother smiles a second before dropping it. “I'm not mad at you.”

I force my tapping foot down and straighten my posture to look more confident. “What is it?”

“So…” She puts a finger to her cheek. “I've heard about what happened at that lecture you went to a few weeks ago.”

I narrow my eyes. Not this. “Yeah…”

“Everything I heard you had said during the lecture was quite concerning.”

“Yeah…”

She lowers her head. “It's not because of this girl, is it?”