Chapter Sixteen

The challenge is over, but Queen Usio has big plans for her contestants.

The Game

by omegax45

Chapter Sixteen

After the short argument, Rowen led Rose out of the room and away from the noble girls and down the hallway.  He can sense the agitation and anger from his charge and didn’t want her to cause a scene.  However, the moment he stopped briefly to check on something with a servant, she had disappeared from his sight.  For a moment, fear gripped him and he hoped she went back to her room.  He made a quick run and found the door to her room closed, Preston nearby with a smile and a nod.  The head butler sighed in relief.

Rose had never felt so much anger before, and it somewhat frightened her.  She had been angry with many of the noble girls from their taunts towards her, but to question her feelings and make her feel like she didn’t care?  It was like… something deep down was trying to claw its way out of her and make her wish things she would never wish for, even on those she detested the most.  It almost made her feel like she was a noble girl herself that was denied something from someone she considered her lesser.  She never wanted to feel that way.  Ever.  That made her no different from the noble girls.

The poor girl entered her room and took deep breath to calm herself, her anger persistent until it dwindled to a small ember and went out.  With a sigh, she dropped herself into the chair by the books, exhaustion trying to claim her.  She could still hear the loud voices of the noble girls scolding their chosen men for getting injured, but none dared to come see her.  She realized with fear she had also left Rowen without a word, and that made her worry that she would have offended him by doing so.  She would also be punished for leaving her chosen’s side and went to her room without escort, but that was the least of her worries.  Would he think less of her now?  Or would he forgive her?  Sometimes, she couldn’t tell what the head butler was thinking.  It also felt like those nights they spent in the forest were like a dream, where he wanted to marry her because he adored her.  It only happened a week ago.  Why did it felt so long?

Shaking her head to get rid of such confusing thoughts, Rose turned to the books and opened up the one she was working on, hoping that the story would keep her mind occupied.

Rose took out her notes and opened the book.  She read for awhile before her eyes widen upon noticing something that confirmed her suspicions earlier.  The min character found another clue, to which the master of the mansion announced that they must declare who was the culprit by sundown tomorrow or else.  The others looked at what clues they found, but the main character seemed hesitant in giving up the last clue.  He claimed that he needed to verify something before taking off and the others lost him.

‘The more I read into this story,’ Rose thought, ‘ the more I keep thinking it is almost like… like this game.  Right down to the time limit.  But… why did  the main character leave his friends like that?  Could it… could he culprit be one of his friends?’

Before she could delve any further into the story, there was a knock on the door.  She refrained from sighing, thinking that someone or something kept interrupting her on purpose whenever she made any progress into the story.  She put everything away and opened the door.

“Good evening my dear,” Rowen bowed before her, “Her Majesty awaits us in the dining hall for the banquet she had the cooks prepare.”

“So soon,” Rose asked in confusion.

“My dear, it is near sunset.”

“Huh,” the poor girl looked to the window to see it was true, “Oh dear.  I must’ve lost track of time while reading.”

“It must be a very good book for you to do so,” the head butler teased with a twinkle in his clouded eye, “Let us be off before we are late.”

“Of course.  And Rowen…I’m-”

“You were angry, that is all.  Preston made certain you were safe.  That is all that matters.”

“But still…”

“Hush now,” the head butler placed a finger on his lips, “Just remember not to do it again.”

“…Okay.”

They headed down the hallways towards the dining hall, joined by the other nobles.  Many were gossiping about what kind of banquet Queen Usio had ordered, some dressed in their finest outfits for the occasion.

“What do you think Her Majesty will be having tonight,” Golde asked, eyes full of curiosity.

“That will be for me and only me to know,” Catherine stated, “Since I was the one to win the honor of dining with Her Majesty tonight.”

“You mean Richard was the one that won you the honor of dining with Her Majesty tonight,” Bridget corrected.

“You also had the honor of dining with Her Majesty before,” Claire turned to Rose, “What was it like?”

“It was an honor to dine with Her Majesty,” Rose replied, “but it didn’t feel so different from when I was dining with anyone else.”

“Really,” Mary asked, “I always thought it to be different.  Like… almost out of a fairy tale.”

“What would trash know about dining with royalty,” Dorothy stated almost nastily, “Just because she dined with Her Majesty once does not mean she could tell the difference.  Wait until after dinner for Catherine to tell you truthfully.”

“Thank you my dear,” Catherine smiled darkly, “I did earned the honor, after all.  Why not ask me?”

“I… suppose so,” Claire reluctantly agreed and both she and Mary walked ahead of Rose.

They soon reached the dining hall, a third table set up in the back and covered in an elegant table cloth with golden dinnerware and glasses etched with gold trim.  Queen Usio sat in a fancy throne in the center of the table, a bright smile on her face.

“Welcome my honored guests,” Queen Usio greets happily,  “I hope you all are nice and hungry.

“Would my guests of honor tonight please come forth and sit at my table?  I have been told that dinner will be ready soon.”

“That would be us my dear Richard,” Catherine smiled proudly and both she and said noble man walked up to the queen’s table and sat by her side.

“The rest of you may sit wherever you please,” the queen said in the form of a command. 

The nobles sat at the other tables, Rose and Rowen sitting at the far end of one.  For some reason, Rose felt on edge.  She believed it had to be the queen’s smile that was leaving her uneasy.  Something about it seemed… off, almost sinister.  What could it be?  What was the queen planning?

“As you know,” Queen Usio announced, “The game is nearly over.  There will be one final challenge for you to partake in before you must gather all of your evidence to prove that your chosen is in fact Dios.  Once done, Dois will then reveal himself and the one that is proven correct will take his hand in marriage along with all the fame and glory that is his.  As for the losers, do not fret.  You will marry your chosen man and be well off for the rest of your days.”

“Except one of us,” Dorothy mumbled under her breath, making Emma and Bridget giggle and look at Rose.

“Now, let us feast.”

With that, servants came into the dining hall carrying trays of steaming hot food.  There was legs and breasts of ducks with steamed vegetables, gravy, rolls of bread, baked potatoes, and even fish fillet.  The plates were set upon Queen Usio’s table and a servant made her plate before making Catherine’s and Richard’s.

“I do hope that the duck is to your liking,” Queen Usio said to Catherine, “My hunters had to go pretty far for them.”

“I a most certain it will be wonderful,” Catherine replied happily, “and I am certain that everyone else would agree to.”

“Indeed, when it is their turn.”

Many looked up at that comment, and that uneasy feeling became a heavy stone in Rose’s stomach.

“They had lost,” the queen continued, “and, as such, they must wait for their turn to eat.  They have proven themselves unworthy and have chosen poorly in weaponry.  If the men were truly fighting to the death, they would all be dead right now.  Some may have chosen the right weapons that Dios would’ve used in order to fight, but the challenge was to win with such weapon.  Only Richard was successful.  They will eat in time, do not worry, but they first must be punished… by watching us eat first.”

“What,” Emma exclaimed before she could stop herself, shrinking when Queen Usio’s eyes fell on her.  The other noble girls held back their tongues, too afraid of voicing their protests in fear of the queen’s wrath.  Rose, on the other hand, felt that there was more to the queen’s words than she was letting on, and began thinking hard what was going to happen next.

However, she couldn’t help the small bit of smugness filling her when she saw the shocked looks on the noble girls’ faces.  They were so used to getting their way, so used to screaming and assaulting those they deemed lower than dirt that to see someone of higher authority talk them down and make them afraid of her… the poor girl couldn’t help but feel that they deserved it.

Catherine began making moaning noises as she ate, praising the cooks on how well they made the food.  Richard kept quiet and ate his meal, appearing to not have a care at all.  And, Rose noticed, all of the men except for Rowen appear to be calm and collected.  No, Rowen appeared to be slightly nervous under his mask of indifference.  Rose wondered if he knew what was going to happen. 

They continued to eat for an hour, some of the noble girls looking like they were starving.  Especially Golde, who was trying her hardest not to drool over the idea of eating the fish fillet or the duck or even both.  Joan appeared to not even care, but her eyes kept wandering to the food on the table.  Amelia had that look in her eye, like she was planning something.  Rose herself could feel her stomach ache a little, but it was something she was used to before coming to Redreu Castle.  That was why she never ate so much during meal time.  She didn’t want to get used to having a full stomach like the noble girls were used to in case she was sent back onto the streets.  She knew that wouldn’t happen once she was married to Rowen, but she couldn’t seem to shake that fear.

She remembered days of watching people eat without a care in the world, ordering so much food and eating only a portion before throwing it out to spoil and waste away.  Of how she would beg on the streets for a single crumb of food when she couldn’t make any coin that day and people would scowl at her like she was the plague.  Of how, in desperation, she would risk getting hurt or put in the gallows by digging through garbage and being so hungry that she would eat spoiled food and be sick for days after.  Of how most nights her stomach would ache for food so much that she could not sleep at all.  It took years for her stomach to become so small that she could survive on a small handful of food for days if have to.

The poor girl could see that very same pleading look in the noble girls’ eyes while staring at Queen Usio as she and her honored winners ate their fill.  The same look that was once in her own eyes.  A part of her wanted to feel sorry for them.  Another part of her felt a bit smug that they were feeling just as she had felt not that long ago.

What felt like forever to the noble girls, but not that long to Rose, Queen Usio finished her meal, her plate nearly spotless.  Richard had finished shortly after her, but Catherine kept eating and complimenting the cooks for another few minutes before tabbing at her mouth with a napkin.

“Truly delicious,” Queen Usio commented, then looked to the spectators,  “Oh my.  It seems that everyone has grown very hungry from watching us.  Would you all like to eat now?”

Several of the noble girls made noises of confirmation while others nodded.  Rose kept quiet, knowing that she couldn’t be seen and was on edge, glancing quickly at the door.  Rowen could sense her anxiety and quickly took her hand in his for reassurance. 

“Very well then,” Queen Usio waved a servant over, “Bring our guests their dinner.”

“Yes Your Majesty,” the servant replied and waved over a few servants.

Everyone watched in shock as, instead of the servants bringing out fresh food from the kitchens, they brought the remains of food from Queen Usio’s table to theirs.  The noble girls looked horrified that they would be forced to eat the cold food that was already picked at and not in much supply.  The noble men, however, began making their plates without complaint and Rowen grabbed some food for himself and Rose.  Rose barely had time to snatch a few bread rolls before Golde screamed out and began grabbing as much food as she could.  

Her scream seemed to trigger the other noble girls as they began fighting over the leftover food, some grasping handfuls and shoving the food into their mouths before grabbing more.  Rose began to tremble and hid her plate with her hands before Rowen pulled her over and blocked the horrific view from her with his body.  The noble men looked horrified at the display, David being caught up as he was ordered to get some food for Amelia, who sat back with a smirk on her face.  Octavia and Fayette held their plates of food away from the ravenous hands, both looking deathly afraid of what they were seeing.  Joan had pulled back with a leg of duck and was ripping into it after pushing her chair away.  Dorothy was sitting in John’s lap with a cup of wine and looking very disgusted at the scene, taking small bites from his plate.  Mary and Claire cried out as they tried to keep what food they could managed to grab away from the clawing hands, Tulip giving up after grabbing a bread roll and eating it quickly.  Raven and Ivy looked horrified and sick, each having grabbed the same fish fillet at the same time before it was taken, and decided to split it between each other rather than fight for it.  Elanor and Helen were screaming as they were covered in the remains of food thrown at them, grabbing napkins to clean themselves off before reaching for some food again.

“They’re acting like they haven’t eaten in days,” Rose muttered quietly to Rowen after getting a small peek before hiding behind him again, “Why are they acting like that?”

“It’s painful for one given everything at their call to be denied something they want,” Rowen explained, “To hold it over their heads until they go insane with greed for it, then have it tossed to them with others wanting the same.  Madness at its finest.”

“How so amusing,” Queen Usio crowed with a sinister smile on her face, “Look at them all.  If you give them a crumb from the royal cook, they fight over it like it was a crown.  Don’t you find it amusing, Catherine?”

“Quite hilarious,” Catherine agreed with a giggle, “And to think, they are here in representation of their families at Her Majesty’s invite.”

“Indeed.”

After several minutes of fighting and eating, there wasn’t much left of the meal but stains of gravy and small pieces of meat and bones.  The noble men put down their plates, Amelia feeding a disheaveled and exhausted David from her plate while feeding herself as well.  Octavia and Fayette didn’t feel safe enough to put their plates down until they were finished, Joan coming back to the table and depositing a leg bone onto her plate.  Mary and Claire ate what little food they had left and Rose came out from behind Rowen, still shakened by what happened.  Dorothy slid off of John’s lap, but refused to return to the table.  Raven and Ivy put their one plate down carefully, but kept their distance afterwards.  Elanor and Helen were trying very hard to look decent, even with stains on their dresses.   The worst of them were Golde, Pearl, Emma, and Bridget.  Their clothes and faces were terribly stained with grease, gravy, and pieces of food, their hair in a tangled mess and some with pieces of food stuck in them.  Only Golde didn’t seemed to be embarrassed or ashamed in the least, patting her stomach and looking pleasantly pleased. 

“I feel like I had dined with pigs,” Ivy stated in disgust.

“Pigs have better table manners than this,” Ocatvia commented.

“You’re just jealous that you didn’t get your fill,” Golde stated in triumph, chin held high.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Tulip’s face looked very pale.

“I would be too if I wasn’t so mature,” Dorothy added.

“We… we acted like street trash,” Bridget cried out in realization, eyes horrified at what she done.

“Mind your manners,” Amelia giggled, “There is a street trash amongst us.”

“Um…” Rose looked sheepish, a bit of fear in her eyes, “Anyone would’ve done that if they went hungry for days.  But I must admit, I never seen them act as so.”

“And we last ate several hours ago,” Fayette pointed out.

“My father will have my head for this,” Emma cried out in fear, looking desperately for a clean napkin to wipe herself clean with.

“I… I have no excuse for my actions,” Pearl looked down, ashamed, and unable to look Henry in the eye when he came over to her.

“I will definitely need a bath after this,” Joan stated, holding her head with one hand, “and my bed.  I must not have eaten enough.”

“You ate a leg of duck by yourself,” Golde snapped, “You complain so much about my eating habits.  If you ate more, you wouldn’t be feeling so sick.”

“How dare you!”

“Enough ladies,” everyone turned to Queen Usio, who was standing while Catherine was grinning at them, “While your action tonight were…surprising, and deplorable, you still have a game to win.  

“Now, the last challenge will be set at an unknown date.  This is to surprise you, and test all of your knowledge so far about Dios.  One the challenge is complete, I will announce the winner of the game.  Be prepared ladies, for the end is near.

“Now, if you ae finished with dinner, you are excused for the evening.  Also, when the last challenge begins, do dress nicely for it… and be on your best behavior.”

Rose could feel the salt being rubbed into the noble girls’ wounded pride from that statement and nearly winced from it.  Many of them were practically bowing before running out of the dining hall, unable to stand the queen’s criticism any longer, and their chosen men were giving chase.  The others bowed and walked out almost slowly, as if unsure of themselves.  Rose and Rowen followed shortly after with the last of them, not once glancing back at Queen Usio.

“Oh ho ho ho ho,” Catherine laughed once the doors to the dining hall were closed and they were a good distance away, “Did you see yourselves?!  You were like starving dogs fighting over a carcass!  And in front of Her Majesty no less!”

“This is not the time to boast,” Octavia warned, but she was ignored.

“And our poor little rat,” the noble girl continued, “I was quite surprised to see that she did not join in on the feast.  Just hid behind her butler and used him like a shield!  What’s the matter, little rat?  Are you so used to being protected now that you lost your bucked teeth?”

“You were the one that made a pig out of yourself,” Golde pointed out, “Honestly, finishing after Her Majesty and acting like you were bedding your food.”

“Was I acting too much like you then,” Catherine shot back with a sneer, “You seem to be more content with a fat belly than your table manners before Her Majesty.”

“”Don’t start making enemies now,” Fayette warned, “The game is nearly over and any further slip up could cost you in the end.”

“So you say, but I do know who Dios really is.”

“Really,” Tulip blinked, “Who?”

“You’ll find out at the end of the game.”

“Sadist,” Raven mumbled.

By the time they return to their rooms, the servants were in a frenzy preparing baths and taking stained dresses to be washed.  Many of the nobles had to move to avoid having water being dumped on or be bumped into by a servant.  By the time Rose and Rowen reached her room, there was a bath tub already set up for her.

“Thank you Rowen,” Rose sad shyly, a blush staining her cheeks, “For earlier.”

“You’re welcome,” Rowen smiled gently at her, “I could sense your fear and hid you so you would not panic and run.  If you done so, Her Majesty would have a reason to behead you.”

“…I had forgotten about that,” Rose lowered her eyes, “Do you know what is going to happen in the final challenge?  Any ideas at all?”

“My only guess would be that it will be something to put everyone on edge,” Rowen guessed, “Something so big that it will make all the other challenges small in comparison.

“But I wouldn’t think about it right now,” he laid his hand upon her head, “Just go get some rest.  Tomorrow is another day.”

“….Okay.”

With a nod and a smile, Rowen placed a small kiss to her forehead before pulling away and heading down the hallway.  Rose watched him go with a dark blush staining her cheeks before going into her room and closing the door.  She undressed and sat in the bath tub, her mind still full of thoughts no matter how much she tried to relax.

‘The game will be over soon,’ she thought, ‘I will be married to Rowen and live here with him.  I wish I could say he is Dios… but I’m not s sure if he is or not.  Not that it will matter in the end, I guess.

‘I wonder if I’ll ever see Joseph again.  I hope he is doing well.  Maybe, if I can get a chance to go back to town, I can sneak him some food or coins.  Maybe even some new clothes or rags for shoe shining.  I know one of his rags is so torn and dirty that even I couldn’t fix it for him.  It may be time for him to leave it in the garbage.

‘Still,’ she reached out for the soap and began cleaning herself, ‘I can’t help but have a bad feeling bout this place, this game, and even the noble men.  They seemed horrified at the dinner, but did nothing to stop the girls.  I can’t help but wonder why.’

She turned to look at the table with the book and her notes on it, and a thought crossed her mind.  Maybe she should finish reading the book.  Granted, it had it differences to what was going on around her, but the similarities kept drawing her back to it.

Maybe that had the answers she was looking for.