Blinding Light (BLS Book 1)

Mila

Pastime…

I think I’m awake now.

I open my eyes to the regular ceiling of my room at the palace. Even though I knew it wasn’t real, and it was just a dream, my breaths come in shallow gasps. Groaning and sitting up, I could feel the pain building up in my legs, binding them to it.

I wince and glance down, finding fresh bruising appearing on my lower leg. My feet cramp up, and a deep cut appears on the skin at my heel, fingernail-shaped, the skin chipped off, but no blood comes out of it.

Strange how it’s an open wound with no blood, only the pain builds up dramatically. I can almost see the whiteness of my bone. My stomach grumbles, and I rush to the bathroom—puking in the trash can.

After emptying out my stomach, I splash my face with cold water and wipe it with the towel. My hands are shaking violently, and I bite my tongue on accident as my hand continues to spasm. I tasted no blood but my attention span is focused on the ache that is spreading through my arms, pinching at my nerves.

On the verge of collapsing, I rush back into my room, the hallways spinning. I somehow make it back into my room only to fall onto my bed.

A scream suddenly fills my mind.

“RUN!”

I cover my head with the pillows, trying to drown the sound out. It only grows louder and almost seems to echo around my room. I press my palms into my temples, putting vast amounts of pressure into my skull. I bite down, pressing my teeth together—more force. The sound finally fades behind the pressure—leaving little aching against my skull.

Exhausted, I collapse in bed. Even looking up at the ceiling makes me dizzy.

After an everlasting silence, I could feel myself easing back away from whatever crazy dream that I had. I look down at my foot again, and the cut is no longer there.

So it was just my blood imagination.

However, I can still feel the tingling of the cut as if there were needles that were constantly poking me. My throbbing head has cleared up, and I get myself out of bed. I wince at the contact of the floor to my heel, but I manage to put on something suitable.

***

I make my way out of my room, holding the wall for support from time to time. The ache has not left entirely.

Maybe I’m just exhausted.

...

In the hallways, I spot Karen. She seems flushed. The discomfort abruptly evaporates like water to steam. I stand up straighter and strut over.

“Where were you last night, Karen?” Her blush deepens at the question. I cock a curious eyebrow and smirk.

“Is that the reason I did not see you on the day of the peach festival? The carriage ride was quite miserable with my escort. He kept appearing as if he was everywhere; it was quite disturbing.” I grimace at the thought. Karen says nothing and avoids my gaze.

“Come on, Karen. Let me in on the gossip, who was it?”

“I…” her cheeks flush, even the tips of her ears had gotten red. I fight back a laugh but can’t hide my smug smile.

“Karen…”

She throws her hands up in the air.

“You win, Mademoiselle. You win! But I’ll tell you all about it tonight after the party at sea.”

“A party?”

She nods, “Yes, precisely. That’s the reason I was looking for you after…after…never mind that.”

Poked up, she looks away, avoiding my gaze. She clears her throat and straightens up, “Yes Mademoiselle, a party.”

A smug smile appears on my face before I could stop it.

“Wipe that look off your face!”

She bows quickly, “My apologies, let us go!” I laugh as she drags me back into my room.

***

In a different ballroom, each table between two is positioned upwards—and each individual has a bouquet of flowers in the middle. King Leopold makes his way up to the mini-stage at the front of the room. He taps on his glass wine cup, the clinks quiet everyone down.

“Hello everyone, bonsoir (good evening). I hope you all had fun at the peach festival and your time with my son.” A group of girls next to our table giggles. I scoff, so unladylike to be fantasizing over the prince, plus the fact that they aren’t even nobles.

“It’s evening?” I whisper to Raven.

“Mila, are you feeling well? Or have you been sleeping all day?” She whispers back, giggling.

“I would like to invite Nolan to speak a few words for the next event you’ll all be attending.”

Nolan steps up in his father’s place, and he smiles at everyone. I see his gaze lingered on me for just a second longer, but I’m positive that I imagined it.

“Bonsoir (good evening). I’m Prince Nolan of Iwera. I’m sure you’re all aware by now.” He clears his throat, his voice ringing in the silence. “To ensure my protection due to the sad death of my brother,

“My father and mother have decided to try our old tradition that hasn’t been used in an eon—the Suitor’s Campaign,” he continues.

“The Suitor’s Campaign, I assume you all heard of in history, it’s where each noble family who has contributed to the royalty somehow presents a child, based on the royalty gender, to compete in events for the prince’s hand with the help of their sponsors. An extended ball is what most people call it.” I glance at Raven, and she gives me a thumb’s up. I shake my head, smiling.

“At the end of the campaign, each attending suitor will receive awards of ten thousand euros.”

That’s what I’m here for.

“The Suitor’s Campaign is a secured event held inside the castle,” he continues, “This year, we will be sailing out onto the Honfleur Harbor to celebrate our suitors and Sargon guests.”

Nolan takes a bow as he finishes and everyone applauses.

“Merci Nolan,” the king returns with a smile on his face. “Take your time to explore, do what you please. An excellent rest upon the day of the sail is recommended.”

Everyone laughs at that.

“Be well,” he leaves with the queen as applause sounds once more.

***

I find Raven chatting with a blonde girl later after the announcement. Raven waves at me when she sees me. The girl looked rather offended by the action.

“Thank you for letting me know, goodnight, Mademoiselle,” Raven says as the girl leaves.

“Who was that?”

“No one of importance.”

We stroll out into the North Garden.

“So…A party at sea. I’m not as mad as hops (excitable)…” she says unexpectedly, kicking a rock. I frown.

“Pourquoi pas (why not)? You always dreamed of going to Honfleur when we were little.” I wince at the thought, “Maybe except that one time where you almost drowned in the whirlpool at Calanques.”

She grimaces and sighs, swinging her arms back and forth. I take a seat on the bench as she makes herself comfortable on it.

“It’s just ever since I got my engagement letter and had to travel by sea, I haven’t been a big fan of it. Ever since that incident, similar to what you said. It ruins my mood; it feels like fate is punishing me for doing something wrong.” I open my mouth but closes it, not sure of what to say. She rolls her head back, letting her long, brown hair fly in the air.

“You know that’s not true, Rave. You’ve done so much good in your life. This beauty deserves someone special.”

“Special…”

I ignore the voice.

“You never explained to you how you’d met Captain James.” My eyes sparkle. She laughs at my expression.

“Well, I don’t see my sister in a biennial, and she is somehow a sponsor of the Suitor’s Campaign, with a handsome gentleman too,” I wink. She laughs.

“So…where to begin. Let’s see, when I returned from that mumbling cove gal-sneaker, I guess somehow, this brain finds a way to get a job as a cleaner in the castle.

“The place completely transformed, a leisure place for children, how ridiculous,” she furrows her brows and crosses her arms. “I was cleaning a science room once and I’m just absolutely fascinated with all the objects. Well, things you could have seen in a normal school, which I’ve only stolen glances from books, were all there.” I grin sheepishly and fake a yawn. She scowls, “Only a fussock (lazy, fat woman) would react like you.”

“And you are not, might I say,” I chuckle, sneering at her. Raven scoffs, then continues.

“Well, besides that. I was able to figure out a problem on the blackboard. That’s when Captain James appeared. He was amazed by what I did but still called me bricky and reckless because I am a woman, a maid at the time. But my smarts and abilities at convincing did otherwise.” She flips her hair back and I howl with laughter.

“He needed a sponsor for Mademoiselle Aldine at the time. Since he is high ranked, I was able to become her sponsor through this. My job is merely to protect the girl and make sure she doesn’t get into mischief. Honestly, I don’t know why they couldn’t have just called sponsors, guards,” Raven chuckles.

“It only happened because of his urgent need of a sponsor and me, needing currency. What is the word? Ah! Oui, coincidence.”

I laugh, bring my head up to embrace the night breeze. I inhale deeply, “It was a hard two years without you, Raven. I had such a hard time putting everything together where I was fifteen, clueless at such a young age.”

“So even now you’re clueless, at age seventeen?” Raven laughs and I scowl.

I roll my eyes but let out a long sigh, “I can’t believe you’re twenty already. It’s like the years just flew by. Once more year, and I can set up our own estate, use the money to get us a start. It’ll be like those two years weren’t even there.”

She shrugs, “That’s just wishful thinking.”

I frown at her depressing comment. She sighs, “You are still young, Mila. You’re going to have to get engaged. Life as a woman without a husband. It’s just not something that happens around here.”

“But Mother didn’t.”

“That’s a good point. But you saw how much Mother suffered through the divorce. It was hard for us all.” She nudges me, a playful smile on her face,

“But hey, I’m back now and I get to tease you all about the handsome prince.” I blush, she snorts and gives me a look.

“I’m glad you are back, Rave.”

“Me too.”

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Thanks, with lots of smiles

☆•Yiona•☆