Weeks passed in the Kingdom of Versailles.
The captives of Hawkshead village who were brought to Blackthorn Palace were quick to learn that it was better to obey rather than go against the authorized people in here and be handed down punishments or, worse, lose their lives.
In three of the tallest towers of the Blackthorn Palace, one was allocated for the King's use, the second was used as a keep, and the third one was left for the use of the courtesans that many in the royal court liked to indulge themselves in.
Madame Minerva, who was in charge of all the courtesans, rushed into the room where the beautiful young girls and women were sitting. She clapped her hands for their attention,
"All the Courtesan women, it is time to go to the bathhouse! Hurry now, don't make me tell you twice! The royal court expects you to present yourselves this evening."
Marianne, who sat with the other young girls captured and brought from other places, watched the older courtesans walk towards the plump woman. It took her a week to realise bathing was a privilege here, and not everyone got to bathe themselves every day or hour.
"And you girls," Madame Minerva pointed at the newly added girls in the room, including Marianne, and said, "Your classes will begin soon. Remember to put your effort, the better are the awards. You see Irina here? Yesterday, she was gifted a golden bracelet."
"A gold bracelet?!"
"Will we really get one?" One of the young girls asked enthusiastically, wishing to have one themselves.
The courtesan named Irina smiled at them with arrogance, and she replied, "It is indeed gold. Delicate and beautiful. You will receive gifts only if you have amazing skills."
Suddenly the young girls shared excited looks.
"You are all lucky because not everyone has the privilege of receiving education. Once you learn all the etiquette on being a courtesan, you will join your elder sisters. If you ask them, they will tell you how magnificent the life here is," Madame Minerva gently coaxed the girls without using the harsh tone she had used on Marianne on their first encounter. "Get ready for your classes now, and more importantly behave well. I don't want to hear any complaints when I come back," with those words, Madame Minerva left the tower with the older courtesans.
"Marianne, it's time for class," one of the young girls called her.
Outwardly one would assume that the older daughter of the Flores family had turned for the better. Gone were her once-worn dull dress that her mother had patched some of the holes, which had been replaced by fine clothing. Her feet were covered in good shoes, and she was kept well-groomed.
Marianne had begun to learn how to read and write. Her behaviour had started to refine by being in the company of the other courtesans and learning from them. But she worried for her sister. She wondered how Anastasia was doing and if she had stopped crying.
The classes for the young girls to make them future courtesans were held in a different part of the palace. Soon the girls were led by a eunuch in the front.
When they headed towards the end of the corridor, the eunuch suddenly paused his feet and told the young girls quickly, "Bow your heads! Lady Sophia and Lady Lucretia are here! Do not raise your head or look at them!"
From the left corridor, Lady Sophia walked with her two maids behind her. She wore a dark green dress and wore a thin golden crown on top of her head, which contained emerald stones in them.
On the right side of the corridor, Lady Lucretia walked with one maid behind her. She was a beautiful woman in her late thirties, sharing the same age as Lady Sophia, her black hair combed from the middle before being twisted and the sides tied. Her yellowish-orange dress wasn't a match to Lady Sophia, nonetheless grand. The two women coming in front of each other offered a slight bow, but not with pleasure and only out of civility.
It was because, while Lady Sophia was the King's lawful wedded wife, Lady Lucretia was his mistress. Lady Lucretia was a former courtesan, who had given birth to the eldest Blackthorn son, and had gained almost the same status as Lady Sophia in Versailles, which didn't sit well with the King's wife.
Lady Sophia had initially failed to provide an heir. Only seven years after Lady Lucretia gave the first heir to the King, Lady Sophia gave birth to a daughter and then three years later finally to a son.
"Good afternoon, Lady Lucretia," Lady Sophia politely greeted the woman before her, "I didn't know you still visited the study rooms in here. You must terribly miss it," there was a subtle taunt in her words as she smiled.
Lady Lucretia returned the smile and replied, "Not as much as you enjoy speaking about it, Lady Sophia."
"It is hard not to mention, when that is where you started. I was going to suggest that you impart your wisdom on the future courtesans," Lady Sophia and Lady Lucretia turned to look at the train of young girls and the eunuch, where they continued to look at the ground. She turned back and said, "After all, you were an excellent one during your time."
"Thank you for your high praise, Lady Sophia," Lady Lucretia bowed at the compliment of taunts. She said, "But it has been a long time since I left it. Since I turned into the prince's mother, and," she paused for a moment before continuing, "the King's woman."
Lady Sophia hummed and replied, "I think mistress would be right. After all, it would be rude to confuse the others on who is the King's wife and mistress."
Lady Lucretia only smiled and replied, "Excuse me, Lady Sophia. I have been summoned by the King," with that, she walked past Lady Sophia with her maid.
The smile on the wife of the king' lips faltered, and she turned her sharp gaze to look at the young girls and the eunuch. She asked, "What are you doing standing there instead of attending class?"
The eunuch quickly bowed and signalled the young girls to follow him. Lady Sophia watched the young girls walk past her one by one with their heads bowed. She finally left the corridor with her maids.
During the session of the class, Marianne excused herself to use the bathroom. She stepped outside and on her way into the quiet corridor. Suddenly someone hugged her from behind.
"Mary!"
Anastasia was with the maid named Theresa, crossing the corridor, when she saw her sister walking alone. She had given the slip to the maid by coming here. There was pure joy on her face now.
"Anna?!" Marianne turned around, and on seeing Anastasia before her, she quickly hugged her. The hug was returned with the same warmth by the younger girl. "How are you doing, Anna? Have you been alright??" She asked hurriedly, while pulling away from the embrace.
Anastasia held a mixture of happiness and sadness in her eyes as her eyes moistened. She sniffled and said with a deep frown, "I missed you so much, Anna! I called you… but you didn't hear me," her small voice broke Marianne's heart.
In truth, because of the distance, Marianne hadn't heard her sister call her, and somewhere she was glad that she didn't. Because she, as well as the other new girls, were ordered not to interact with the others. The last thing she needed was for her sister to be punished. She apologised,
"I am sorry, Anna. Forgive me for not hearing you. But you cannot be seen with me."
"Why?" Anastasia asked, not understanding why she was being separated from her sister. "… I want to be with you."
On hearing footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor, Marianne quickly pulled her sister behind a thick white pillar. She said,
"I—I wish for that too, Anna. Believe me, that is what I want, but if the people in here found out, they will harm you and I don't want that," Marianne said this because she knew Madame Minerva wouldn't punish her physically as she was to be a courtesan, but by her sister's attire, she was reduced to a lowly servant… a slave.
Naively, Anastasia replied to her sister, "I will move to be a higher maid, and then we can go out. Then we return to mama and papa!"
But Marianne had her own plans and shook her head, "You don't have to work hard, Anna. Once I will be a courtesan, I will take permission for us to leave with help."
And while the two sisters wished to help in their way, neither knew what the future held. Nothing ever went according to plan and such was life.
"Anastasia!" Theresa held the front of her dress as she made her way to the two girls, and she scolded the younger girl, "I told you to follow me, not to wander around by yourself, especially ones that you aren't allowed to be alone in!"
Anastasia innocently looked at the maid and said, "But Mary is here…."
The maid turned to look at the pretty-looking young girl, who was dressed well, and she understood. She said, "No matter what, you cannot be caught walking here. It will lead you to punishment, aren't you tired of it?"
On hearing those words, Marianne's face turned pale with worry.
"Who said?" Anastasia asked with furrowed eyebrows.
Theresa replied quickly, "The King is the one who decided it. Now let us—"
"The King shouldn't do it!" Anastasia didn't like this person with the King name for separating her and her sister.
Marianne and the maid's eyes widened at Anastasia's outburst, which was loud. Soon they heard footsteps approaching their way, and the maid whispered,
"Oh dear, God! I am going to be executed today!"
When Theresa saw who it was, she quickly bowed her head and told the young girls, "Quick, eyes on the ground!" While she continued to pray for her life because the person who appeared in the corridor was none other than the Mother Queen of the Blackthorn palace.
Her golden dress swept on the carpet as she walked with steady and firm footsteps. A jewelled crown sat on her ginger hair. The corner of her eyes held crow's feet, and her lips set in a thin line. Behind her was her trusted loyal minister, who looked displeased like the Queen.
"Who was the one to speak about the King? Who dares what the King should and shouldn't do?" The Queen demanded authority. Her voice was enough to have the girls look back at the ground.
Theresa looked utterly terrified and frozen. The minister behind the Queen questioned the maid, "Who was badmouthing the King? Reply quickly if you don't want to be executed. It must be this small girl," he said, staring at Anastasia.
It wasn't because the minister knew, but it was because Marianne wore refined clothes, compared to Anastasia, a child of servant value, who could have spoken against the King. He threateningly took a step towards Anastasia, who quickly moved backwards.
Marianne quickly came to her sister's aid and said, "My Queen! It was me, whose voice you heard!"
"You?" The Queen questioned, raising her eyebrow. "If you were the one to speak, why is she the one shivering?" She sharply asked.
"That…" Marianne tried to find a proper reason and said, "That is because she cannot speak. I think she's only scared in your presence. I was just saying that the King shouldn't hunt in this heat as the sun is strong."
"Why would the King go hunting now?" The minister narrowed his eyes. The Queen raised her hand for the minister to stop talking.
"To have such young ones care about the King, isn't that wonderful. Also… a girl who cannot speak?" The Queen sized up Anastasia, who looked at her with half fear and guarded expression. She said, "A pity." She then turned to the maid named Theresa and said, "Make sure she doesn't fail in her work and see to it that she's taken care of. It would be a hindrance if something happened."
"Yes, my Queen!" The maid was ready to press her forehead to the ground.
Once the Queen and her minister walked away, the maid finally released the breath she had been holding. But then, at the same time, she realised something and said to Marianne,
"You lied to the Queen…" Theresa looked slightly pale and continued, "Lying to the royal family equals execution. Let us hope she never finds it." She then turned to Anastasia and said, "It would be wise for you to stay silent from now on. Else you and your sister will get into grave trouble. A small mistake in the Blackthorn palace is enough to cost your life."