ANASTASIA

VI

I talk to God, but the sky is empty.

― Sylvia Plath

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It was cold.

The freezing sensation of the water overwhelming her entire body is numbing her senses, but even so, every fiber of her self-awareness is contented within the depths of unexplainable void. Then, the more she felt succumbing into the pull of mysterious gravity, the more the area around her eyes burned, causing her to gasp for air and gain consciousness once again.

“Is your body meant to fail any time of the day?”

Sitting up the bed, she held the side of her head upon the feeling of dizziness clouding her vision and distorting her balance, making her close her eyes once again. “I greet the-”

“A king is not low enough to demand respect in a bedridden person, woman.” Cutting her off, Vesper spoke as he sat on a chair he placed beside her—his legs spread and his elbows atop of his thighs. His hands are clasped together as if he’s a judge keenly observing the defendant in bed. “Is Queen Mother’s Elysia’s that strong? Or were you just weak?”

Not giving her a moment to rest, she slowly opened her eyes and kept her head hung low. “H-her majesty is that strong, your highness.” In a soft voice, she tried to speak as slow and clear as she can, fearing that a single stutter might anger the king.

With a brow raising in suspicion, he watched her slowly move and drape her legs at the side of the bed, making him see the way her socks don’t fit her well—in fact, it is a little too tight. “Why are you wearing a child's socks?”

Looking down at her feet, Anastasia glanced at Vesper whose eyes are focused on her socked feet, making her extremely conscious. If I’ll be honest, they might get scolded. “I chose to wear these-“ again, her words were rendered useless when he cut off before she could even web her response.

“Do you think I will believe that you’re no pushover?” annoyed, his red orbs looked back at her yellow ones. “I don’t tolerate liars, 001. Someone as prideless as you will never decide for yourself.” Coldly dismissing her attempt to shoulder the blame, he stared and waited in silence to wait for her next words.

Shattering her remaining sense of justice, she feebly replied. “…they said I should use whatever they can find, your highness.” Just as she replied, the memory of how the maids that Gavin ordered to bring her laboratory clothes and provide the materials and briefing she needs as a new test subject, ignored her necessities and mocked her every chance they got, she felt belittled yet again.

But even so, she’s used to it—it’s the feeling of being asked of her wellbeing is the thing she’s not used to. And in this moment, the king who pointed out a seemingly trivial matter, blew a small breeze of appreciation in her hammering heart.

Without a word, Vesper reached out to the bell placed by the drawers. Fearing that he will repeat what he did earlier, she acted without thinking—she reached out to him, held his wrist, and looked at him with pleading evident in her fatigued eyes.

The silence was loud when Vesper, who was visibly taken aback, stayed still and looked back at her expressive orbs. Despite no one saying a word, the realizations brought by their own actions, caused Anastasia to quickly withdraw and fix herself by sitting properly on the bed—legs folded and she sat atop of them, hands clasped on her thighs, and eyes on the floor.

“I apologize, y-your majesty.” I stuttered! “But, please do not summon them. I believe they mean no harm, they simply want me to know my place as a test subject.” She said, hurriedly trying to cover up her mistakes.

Vesper remained still, his eyes went from looking at her and down onto his wrist, feeling the sensation of being held even just for a short time—for the first time, someone’s skin touched his. “You.” when his baritone voice called her, she felt her heart beating as if it’s about to explode.

“Y-yes, sire?” still wanting to prolong her life, she tried to sound as obedient as she can. Such a fool! If commoners don’t like me, someone as high as him will loathe—no, definitely abhor me, the most! Regretting every second of her unthought action, she waited for his next words with her eyes closed and hands clenched in worried fists.

“You really are-” instead of continuing what he’s about to say, he simply heaved a deep breath and disappeared without a trace. Once left alone, Anastasia slowly lifted her gaze, then roamed her eyes around the room.

“He’s gone.” Muttering in relief, she began breathing in a more stable manner. Now that I’m seeing the room clearly, “This place is beautiful…and big.” Seeing how every decorations are complementary in the shades of white and blue, she felt at ease. This isn’t my room but, I love this. With a smile, she looked up the ceiling.

There, drawings symbolizing the galaxy, and a huge image of the moon is present. The chandelier above appears as the moon’s light, and the sparkles of the tiny bulbs placed in calculated spaces makes it seem like the stars are peeking through her. “How wonderful.” Lost in her own thoughts, she slowly let down her guard.

But before she could completely dissolve all her worries, three consecutive knocks were heard from the door, causing her to quickly scurry off the bed, stand properly, and wait for the door to open so she can apologize.

As the sound of the door opening was heard, she felt her anxiety rising in once again. Please, don’t give me an angry King Ves- As id her prayers were heard before she could even finish one, she heard a voice familiar, yet different from what she fears. “I’m glad to see that you’re already awake and in better shape, miss A-ehem, 001.”

Sir Helios! Relieved, she slightly loosened up and looked at him a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you for allowing me to stay here, sir.” She said, then lowered down her gaze again to not overstep her boundaries.

“Oh dear, you should not be thanking me.” He chuckled, then walked in to lead four servants in line behind him. Once the last servant entered and closed the door, he walked towards Anastasia and stopped a few steps in front of her.

“His highness, King Vesper, ordered these servants to nurse you to health before sending you back to your room in the west wing, and he’s also the one who provided the Moon’s guest room for you to recuperate.”

Moon’s guest room? feeling indebted that the king gave several considerations for her, she felt her chest suddenly flattering in appreciation. “His highness deduced that you will need two days before being good enough to start cooperating with the research. In the mean time, these servants, Kayla, Unica, and the twins, Raven and Doven, will be helping you monitor your health, bathe, and find appropriate clothing.”

Four??? “I-I appreciate the sentiments, sir.” Licking her lips, she kept her head low. “But I believe, I shouldn’t be indulging in luxuries like this, sir Helios. Is there, by any chance, a way to retract the order of being served? I can monitor my health, bathe, and cloth myself just fine.” I hope I didn’t sound too rude.

Sighing, Helios pinched the bridge of his nose. “The king said this is a way to monitor you at all times.” Though I don’t really understand why she has to be. “These servants possess wands that are directly linked to the king. They can alert him of irregularities anytime to ensure that you will be strictly following the rules and regulations of Mariana.”

“According to his words, and I quote,” he paused. “001 is a top-notch test subject. She must not be bruised, unless the research requires her too. Until I give no order of disregarding her, she should be maintained at all times.”

I should be maintained? That sounds…as if I really am a thing. Just like that, the feeble thought of being pampered shattered upon the realization that what the king cherishes is not her—but the existence of a valuable research subject.

“Crown Prince Gavin also requested for the servants to have the wands. Although the king disapproved of them being linked to Prince Gavin as well, he still approved of having the security measure implemented. The alert system will automatically transport you to where the king is, so the judgement will occur on the spot.” The more he explains, the more he felt sorry for her.

“That is the price of resting here in the room beside the king’s quarters, and having two days of luxury, 001.”

Beside the what? With her selective hearing, she looked up with shocked eyes. “The Moon’s guest room is beside his highness’ sleeping chambers?” asking that, she felt er body being draped with cold bucket of iced water.

“The king rests in the Sun’s Cradle, also known as the room for all the kings reigning over Mariana.” I also don’t understand why the set-up have to be this way. “I advise you to be good at all times, 001. Because even if the servants won’t use the wand, the distance alone is enough to have the king observe you.”

When he saw how her face paled as she looked down, he faked a cough. “Is there anything you’d like to ask?” instead of receiving words as response, he only saw her shake her head no.

Sighing for the nth time, he looked at the servants, making them instinctively nod and quickly exit the room. Once the door closed, her pursed his lips and took a few steps closer towards Anastasia. “Are you okay, miss?”

Despite how workaholic and strict Helios Fritz is, he still upholds the value of treating everyone equally—as long as no one is around to judge.

“I am, thank you for asking, sir.” Anastasia replied in a slightly shaky voice. I am being guarded. Even here…freedom doesn’t exist, huh? She already expected it, but hearing it personally still hurts her ever pained system.

Poor girl. Taking a deep breath, he took a step closer to her.

“King Vesper stayed here during the three hours you remained unconscious.” He spoke, dropping the formality and relaying the information with gentleness. “I do not know what runs in the king’s mind, but having him order to allow you stay in here even when he strictly forbids anyone from staying in his wing, the North wing, for too long, is enough to tell that he means generally no harm.”

As she listened, she gulped. With how things go, I can’t begin to predict whether I am being cared for, or used of.

“I am informed that you are staying her for two months as subject 001, miss Anastasia. Although his highness words himself quite, cruelly, the way his highness provide for you should suffice in easing your worries in Mariana.”

“Crown Prince Gavin as well is a man of principles. He will not indulge in research that will harm you, because for him, life is the highest to ever exist. That’s why, I wish for you to hold on.”

For the first time ever since she stepped in the grounds of Mariana, she looked at the eyes of someone who stared back at her with comfort and softness.