Chapter Text
Ember walked what had once been the lively and warm halls of the Hollyberry kingdom. Now the halls were cold and cruel, with only the guise of what had once been for the loyal queen's family. It reminded her too much of home, where they praised a god and made those who didn't want to die.
She stared at the window, watching as Princess and Knight ran away from this cruel kingdom. The same thing she had done years ago, running to the old Hollyberry kingdom. What happened? She didn't understand why everything turned out the way it did.
She had met Hollyberry in the market after a long trip from home, tired and wounded from the miles she had traveled without shoes. Her feet were scarred and most likely broken, she couldn't tell from all the pain. Hollyberry had found her picking up coins people dropped to get enough for a dragonfruit.
"What are you doing?" The kind queen had asked
Ember told her she was trying to get enough coins for one dragonfruit. The queen helped her off the ground and took her to the stall selling dragonfruit. Then she bought one for Ember. Ember was rather surprised by such kindness, no one at home had treated her like that. Yet here was this stranger, clearly a queen judging by the stall owner's reaction, buying food for her. She thanked the queen, explaining her situation. Well besides what her home had been like, she would rather never return. The queen looked at her with pity and offered her a place in her palace. Ember tried to say no but the queen had insisted.
Soon after she became the queen's loyal advisor, serving for years. She watched Royalberry grow up and then have his own family. While she stayed in the shadows with her own secrets and wine, working and working to keep the kingdom in order. Order was what she was great at. Just like survival.
She sighed, straightening the papers in her hands and walking toward what had once been the kind queen who took her in. The queen looked at her with a cold expression, no kindness left in those eyes. Yet, Ember couldn't help but see the kind smile of who had once been. She handed the queen the papers, making sure to keep everything in order the way the queen liked it.
"Any updates? I know your an observant cookie Ember." The queen coldly replied.
Ember sighed, hand sliding toward the bracelet from her homeland. The blue jam that held many secrets of her home. A fallen kingdom of dragons. She knew if Dragonberry got news of her origins, she'd end up in chains just like Pitaya. She still remembered the way he had attempted to attack her when captured. The way he screamed and shouted at her, remembering her. Knowing she could do something, but she wouldn't dare. She made enough mistakes.
"Yes." Ember answered, "Princess has ran away with Knight."
The queen's expression became one of anger as she crushed the wine glass in her hand. The wine splattered onto the paperwork as the glass shattered onto the floor.
"Tell Wildberry to get those two rascals back." The queen ordered.
Ember nodded, "Yes your majesty."
Ember walked away, hiding the bracelet as she did with all traces of her home. Her hair, she dyed a berry green. All scars were hidden with makeup. She gave Wildberry the queen's orders, walking away back to the room full of paperwork. The room where she was in control. The room were everything was in order by her hands.
There, she sobbed. What was she to do? How would she escape? What would happen if she tried? It was hard enough the first time, even with the Queen's help. Would she die? Her bracelet only kept her alive so long as the gem wasn't broken.
Ember knew she needed to escape. She wanted to. She didn't want to be trapped in a place that reminded her all too much of home. Cold, controlled, oppressed.
For now, she wiped her tears and poured her wine. So long as she didn't get tipsy the queen didn't notice. The paperwork was as perfect as always. It was always in a perfect order. She made sure of it.