Diana Et Erika

When Diana was born, it was as if the gates of heaven had opened. Her snow white skin, golden hairs, and azure eyes were nothing short but God’s grace to her parents.
But when the Queen heard of the birth, she was distressed by what seemed to be the favor of Grace for a commoner’s child. The favor of Grace that was no longer hers and her daughter’s -- Erika.
So, conniving with the Wizard of the Dark Ends, the Queen had a curse placed on the newborn. From thereon in, Diana would never lay eyes on her own visage on any mirror or reflective plate. Her vision had also been changed to see herself as an ugly, crooked crone. The Queen ordered her subjects to keep the girl’s beauty a secret as well, lest they be punished with death by Scarlet Rot.
But the curse came with a price. The Wizard had predicted should the princess and Diana meet, it would only bring tragedy to them both. He did not deign to tell the queen this, for old and wise as he was, he felt an eternal hurt brought onto him by the King Edward so long ago. His descendants or, what the wizard would call his wife’s spawn, would suffer the same pain he did. Even if just a fraction of it.
So the Rule of Rose, as it became known, was upheld for a good 18 years. That is until one day, Erika chanced upon a girl picking mushrooms in the King’s Forest.
For the longest time, Princess Erika had been sickly, a result pointed to either a hex cast by the Duke of Abagnale to curse the King’s family, or her premature birth of three months before due. But over the years, Erika’s condition improved. Slow, at first. Droughts were enough to make her hack and cough .Yet over time, she managed to walk by herself in the first hour following the prime bells of dawn.
It was only the first time, however, that she had come across anyone on the path of the King’s Forest. Erika knew anyone caught trespassing in the Royal Properties were thrown in the gaol. Or worse.
The princess first resolved to call the girl’s attention. Maybe she could be asked to leave before the guards made their first patrol of th woods. But when she approached, golden locks peeked out from behind the girl’s good, before she turned around and showed her face.
It was Diana, the cursed by the Queen Mother all those years ago. Though Erika knew nothing of her mother’s actions in the past, the princess couldn’t help but be transfixed at the girl’s face. Between those golden hairs and deep blue eyes, a vage glint sparked memories in some dark corner of the princess’ mind. Nothing that could help Erika recall all those years ago, but enough to make her feel like she was somehow being woven into the fabric of fate with this meeting.
Diana, shocked to have been found picking mushrooms in the King’s Forest, no less by the princess herself, immediately cast her face into the ground, prostrating herself in hopes of mercy. She knew of how cruel and petty the nobility could be, especially toward the ugly. That’s what everyone had called her, after all. So ugly that Grace itself decided to deprive Diana of the gift of seeing her own reflection to spare her the grief.
“My deepest apologies, milady,” she muttered in between the dirt. “I was just so hungry and I -- I didn’t know I had wandered off into the King’s Wood.” This was true; Diana thought the Royal Property would be a dozen more furlongs to the south. Now that mistake was going to cost her dearly, maybe even her life.
“Princess, prithee forgive my trespass into the King’s Forest. I did mean to offend thee with my...” Diana stopped there, thinking her ugliness was already evident for the princess to see. No need to dictate her on what to look at.
But instead of a slap across the face, the commoner girl felt a warm hand pull her up by the arms.
“Please stand; there is no offence nor is there anything to fear other than the guards. Thou art safe with me. But you must come quickly; the patrols will make their rounds, by which time we should make it into the castle,” she said.
“Milady, I do not understand. I’m a subject of yours,” Diana said. “A wretch such as me should not have any place near it.”
Why was the girl calling herself a wretch? “I do not understand either,” the princess said. “But it is important for you to come with me.”
Under the shadow of the king’s pines, Princess Erika and the girl made their way to a lake. There, under the roots of a tree was a cave with steps leading down to a door.
“This is the jester’s exit,” Erika said. It was built in the time of her great grandfather, who used it to escape the Baron Rothausen during Five Century War. Now it was used the princess to escape her humdrum, tedious life of royal imprisonment, even if only for a little while.
Diana meanwhile considered herself lucky that the princess herself had taken pity. To save a wretch like her abandoned by grace was a mark of her highness’ infinite kindness.
But what then? How could she ever repay this kindness? There must be a way, somehow, for even her to do something that would please the princess. Should she enter her service as a maid? But her foul looks may displease the rest of the court. Worry wrapped itself tight around Diana’s chest. Oh, what could she do?
But the opportunity would present itself soon enough. She and the princess went into the entrace, which ran along a canal of running water to what appeared to be prisoner’s cells. There, a soldier was standing guard with a torch. Diana’s heart skipped a beat upon seeing him, but this guard tipped his helmet to the princess.
“Don’t worry,” she told Diana. “He’s friendly. Has the first patrol been sent out?”
Thomas put a hand to his chest and bowed his head. “Yes, milady. But nothing of note was found. Thou art still safe,” he said with a knowing smile, before turning to Diana. “May I ask who is accompanying milady? Prithee, take off thine hood.”
Diana would rather not, lest the guard see the scraggly black hair her parents said would make anyone mistake her for a disgusting witch. But she was accompanying royalty, and this guard wanted to make sure the princess was safe, so she felt she had no choice. If they were to throw her into these very dungeons for suspicion of witchcraft, so be it. The princess’ kindness was enough.
With a sign and sense of resignation, the girl took off her hood. But far from witch’s locks, what flowed out were golden strings and skin as fair as the Lady of Grace herself. For all the years Thomas had been stuck guarding the castle’s darkest halls, it was only then he had been touched enough by grace to see what true light looked like.
The guard fell to his knees and bowed his head.
“Prithee, I apologize for my mistake. I took thee as a commoner, far from Grace. Oh, had I only known its source was right in front of me...”
Diana failed to understand why this man had prostrated himself before her, much like how she did before the princess just earlier. How could she, ugly and disfigured as her, be a source of Grace?
After a few moments, the guard got up. “Ye may proceed with the princess. May grace shine upon thee.”
From the dungeons, the two emerged into the castle. The halls were empty, but the metal footsteps of guards could be heard outside. Erika beckoned Diana to stick close to the wall, so she may somewhat hide herself if a guard or some wayward baron chanced upon them. Luckily, they avoided any unwanted attention as they made their way upstairs.
Up there, the two secreted themselves into a room. It was one of the widest Erika had seen, definitely wider than the old hut she had to deal with. To the left was a bed with a canopy and silken sheets, and to the right was a great mirror with a table where the Princess probably made herself look beautiful.
But Erika’s eyes were soon drawn to the center where an easel an a chair stood in front of a great window that looked out on the King’s Forest, and the mist-covered mountains beyond.
“Apologies if mine room is humbler than that of the other nobles,” Erika said, in the same manner she had told the occasional suitor or, on very rare occasions other friends. “It was mine choice to perch myself up hither. A view this lovely is worth any sacrifice. Wouldn’t thou agree?”
“No! Thy apology is unnecessary, princess,” Diana cried. “Prithee, no need to humble thyself.”
The princess smiled as she approached Diana and held her right cheek with a caress one would normally reserve for lovers. But the warmth the princess gave off prevented the girl from making such subtle observations. Princess Erika was lovely, that much was certain.
“Gramercy, Diana. Thou may call me Erika,” she said. “In this room, we are equals.”
Diana couldn’t believe she was hearing. She was happy, but bafflement overtook her.
“But I am not worthy of such respect. I am just a girl, and I don't deserve such treatment,” she said.
Erika chuckled at the girl's words. She was so kind and innocent that it was impossible not to laugh. And yet...
The princess wondered how it was that the girl had come to think of herself as ugly. She had never met her face to face, but it was plain to her that the girl possessed beauty so bright that it would shine even through the thickest forest of the Erdewald.
For some reason, Erika thought of her mother. Someone as beautiful as Diana surely would have not fallen beneath the Queen's notice. Could she have had something to do with this? But why would she do so? What did Diana ever do to her?
The princess didn't know the answer to her questions. But she knew one thing. She would make this girl see her own beauty.
And so Erika reached out with a hand and placed it against Diana's cheek. The girl stiffened. Diana was still unsure about the princess' intentions. But Erika leaned forward and pressed her lips against Diana's forehead, and Diana froze. Erika's kiss was warm and tender. It was a simple gesture, but it made her feel alive in a way she had never felt before.
Erika pulled back and stared at Diana, who was now blushing and looking down, trying desperately to keep herself composed. The princess was beautiful. She wasn't. Not in the least. But the fact that Erika had kissed her forehead made her feel more alive than anything else before.
"Thou art as fair as the dawn," Erika whispered as she brushed the girl's hair away from her face to see the rest of its beauty. "I shall make a portrait of thee."
***
The sun rose. The princess sat in the room alone. The silence of the morning was broken by the sound of someone coming up the stairs. Erika entered the room and shut the door behind her. In her left hand was a basket of a myriad of paints, and in her right hand were paintbrushes of different sizes.
Meanwhile, Diana was still lost within her thoughts as to why Erika would have kissed her forehead like that. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and shame. All this time, she had been convinced of her ugliness. Now, here was the princess of Erderwald, who was so much fairer than herself, telling her that she was as beautiful as the dawn. Was it true?
But she was still confused about Erika's motives. She was royalty and was supposed to be a good example of a noble woman. She shouldn't be doing things like that to commoners.
But the princess realized that she was being too harsh on her. After all, the princess of Erderwald was a friend of hers. She was a young girl, just as Diana was. She was a princess who wanted to help people, just as Diana wished to do the same. She was someone who cared for others, just as Diana did.
She should be able to trust her.
As such, the princess decided to take the risk. She stepped forward sat on a stood Erika prepared for her. But as the girl started to reach for the brush, Diana stopped her hand with hers.
"Princess Erika," Diana said, bowing her head slightly. "If you're going to make me into your canvas, please allow me to face thee."
The princess looked puzzled by Diana's request. But she agreed nevertheless, and so the two moved their chairs so they faced each other.
Erika began to prepare her brushes and paints and set up the easel in front of Diana. Then, she took out a piece of parchment and began to sketch out the outline of her subject.
Once that was done, she took out a palette and mixed the colors for the painting. Finally, she took out a small jar of oil and poured it over the paper to make the colors of the paints adhere to it better.
Diana watched as Erika worked and admired her craftsmanship. But she could hardly contain her excitement as the Princess began painting the portrait.
Princess Erika was an excellent artist, though she never would have known that if not for her own father. She was skilled enough to capture the details of her subjects and to express what her heart desired to convey. The girl had learned from an early age how to use the colors around her to bring out the beauty of her subjects. She could see the light reflected on Diana's skin from her window and used that as an inspiration for the painting. She had also observed how Diana's blue eyes seemed to glow when she looked into the distance and was sure to include that in the picture.
Diana looked on as Erika painted, fascinated by the skillful strokes of her brush. She tried hard to stay still, as moving would have made the Princess' task infinitely harder.
What was perhaps half an hour had passed when Princess Erika looked over the edge of her easel at Diana.
"How are you feeling so far?" Erika asked.
Diana looked up at her with a smile. "Quite well, I must say. Though milady it feels very strange, having my image captured forever by a painting, but it is a pleasant sensation. It makes me feel... important, somehow. Like I've become something of a legend or an icon."
"Ah, thou hast it quite wrong, Diana. The purpose of this is not for fame and glory, but rather to remind thee of thy own self-worth."
And also, so Princess Erika could forever capture the girl's beauty. But that was a secret.
Diana nodded in understanding and continued watching Erika work on her masterpiece.
"Tell me, Diana," the princess said. "How was your life before I met you in the forest?"
The girl's expression changed. She was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke in a tone so low one would mistake it for the wind.
"I lived... in fear..."
Erika raised her eyebrows.
"... of being seen by anyone."
Erika nodded as she understood.
"... For fear that I would be mocked. And for fear that no one would love me."
The princess looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes as if praying for strength. The pain that she felt showed clearly upon her face.
"Thou art surely loved by more people than I, Diana," the princess said.
Erika's eyes widened. The Princess of the Erdewald was loved by all. What was Erika talking about? "I beg your pardon, princess. I do not understand..."
The Princess stood from behind the easel and looked at Diana with a somber expression.
"It is just... that... in my own home, there are few people who care for me. My parents and servants all seem to think of me as nothing but a burden, and the only person who ever showed any kindness toward me was my nursemaid," Princess Erika said.
Her voice was soft and gentle. It made Diana feel even more uncomfortable. She couldn't imagine why Erika was speaking to her like this. They were complete strangers!
But the princess continued anyway. Her words fell upon the ears of her listener like a hammer, driving her straight into her heart.
"My father was a kind man who would often visit me in his carriage. He would ask me how I was, and tell me stories while we rode. He always treated me kindly and would play games with me whenever he came. He would sing songs to cheer me up.
But after he died, my mother and the rest of the household became distant towards me. The Queen had become too busy with affairs of state, and no one else would come near me anymore. Though the servants would come up here to clean my room, they would always look away from me whenever I saw them. I can't help but feel that they're... angry at me somehow."
The girl's voice trembled with emotion, making Diana want to comfort her. But she knew that would be impossible. The princess' problems went beyond anything that she could possibly fix.
"The Queen has tried to be kind to me, though she doesn't show it much. She is the only one who ever tries to speak to me at all these days. She would try her best to make conversation with me, even though it would be painful for her sometimes. I think she is... she is trying to make amends for what happened to my father. She said she would take good care of me until I grew older and was able to take care of myself."
Erika turned her back to Diana. A deep sigh came from her small figure.
"But she has been gone for three months now, and no one has come to visit me since she left." Erika looked down at the ground and clenched the paintbrush tightly.
"I'm afraid that the Queen and everyone else in our house will forget about me soon enough, and that I'll have no one left in the world but myself."
A moment passed. Then two moments. Then three. That was when Princess Erika turned toward Diana. Her eyes welled with tears, yet Diana could see that she was struggling to keep her composure as a noble.
"I am deeply sorry," Erika said. "I intended to ask thee about your state, but ended up talking about myself instead..."
Diana shook her head. "No, please continue." She smiled. "I don't mind, really. In fact, this is the first time someone has talked to me so openly about themselves."
"No, I must continue; this painting is taking long enough..."
"Please do not force yourself, princess. I am your subject, and I will be forever willing to help lighten your burdens as much as I can," the girl said.
She then put a hand on Erika's shoulder and looked down at her canvas. The princess had paused for a moment while she was working on the portrait. But even if it was half done, Diana could already see the outline of a woman with white skin and golden blonde hair. Is this really how the princess sees her, or was it mere flattery?
"Tell me, Diana," the princess began after a while. "Have you heard of the Wizard of the Dark Ends?"
The girl nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on her work. "I have. I hear stories about him from the tavern maids."
"What kind of stories?" The princess asked with a spark of interest.
"That he would... use the blood of children to commune with dark forces." Diana then turned her head. "It may be just an exaggeration, though."
"You are right," the princess agreed. "There is no proof that he has ever used the blood of a child. In fact, there is no proof that he has ever had anything to do with dark powers at all."
"But," Erika continued. "I suspect he may have placed a hex on me."
"A hex?"
"Yes," Erika explained. "I am the only one in the whole world who knows about this Curse."
"What does this curse do, milady?" Diana asked.
"It will... lead to my death." the princess said, before explaining that her nursemaid told her about how the curse was placed shortly after her birth. "The moment the Blessing of Grace leaves me for another recipient, I will lose my life."
Diana shook her head. "That can't be. You're the princess of the Erdewald; surely the Queen would not allow you to die."
"Do you really think she wouldn't?" Erika asked. "She could simply take the Blessing of Grace for herself. She could just be making me live long enough so that she could use my youth and rule for more generations."
Diana furrowed her brows. "If that is what she intends, then..."
"It's probably true. She probably wanted the Blessing of Grace for herself when I was first born. So she approached the Wizard and asked him to place the hex on me. Convenient, don't you think?" Erika chuckled bitterly.
"I am sorry for your misfortunes, Your Highness," Diana said with a bow of her head. "But what do... what do you plan to do?"
Erika looked beyond her easel into the King's Forest. After the forest was the capital, and beyond the capital was another kingdom.
"Perhaps, if I were to run away," Erika said. "Then the Queen would never be able to take the Blessing away from me."
The girl shook her head. "Running away? Are you serious, Your Highness? You must be mad. The Queen is the ruler of the Kingdom. If you tried to run away, she would kill you. Even if you manage to get through the border, you will still have to pass the guards."
The look on Princess Erika's face deepened. "Yes, but that is only a matter of presenting the right guard with the right amount of riches."
"But... you would become an outlaw," Diana warned. "No one would protect you."
Erika bit her lip. "I know." She paused for a moment before continuing. "But my life has been empty since I was born."
Then, a thought came to the princess.
"Perhaps, would I be so forward... in asking you to run away with me?" Erika asked Diana.
"I-I..."
The princess nodded. "Yes. It may be hard for you to understand."
Diana glanced at her canvas once more. The painting had already begun taking shape. Her face was pale and delicate, but her hair was golden blonde and long enough to reach her knees. She was smiling broadly, her lips curled up as she held a bright red rose.
Would it be fine for Diana to run away with a girl she had only met recently, even though that girl was the princess of the Erdewald?
It was true that Erika did not know Diana very well. They had only just met yesterday, and had barely spoken to each other.
Yet...
But Diana knew that her own life would become meaningless if she did not stay with her.
"I will run away with you, princess," Diana said after a few moments. "Even if all your subjects abandon you, I will not. I will walk with you to the ends of the Earth."
Tears formed at the edge of Erika's eyes.
"Thank you... Diana," she whispered.
The Princess then sat behind her easel. Before they ran away, it was time to finish the portrait.
***
There's no doubt, I'm sure
Even though the world is cruel
The reason why I chose to live
Is because of you alone
Let me follow you, until the end of time
Let our souls be together, even as we die
That's how much I love you
Will you go with me?
Forget about what others might say
Leave the palace in the past,
And find a new place to live in
Once we've escaped from here
Don't hesitate anymore
My life will be over soon,
No matter where I go,
There will always be someone who hates me
But now there's only you,
I'm sure it's alright
If we could just take flight together
I would no longer need to face these regrets
Please say yes, my dear friend
Come away with me, as the sun sets.
***
After Erika finished the painting of Diana, she was at a loss for words. The princess simply stared at Diana's portrait, at Diana herself, and then at the brush that she had been holding for hours.
"Diana, the painting is done," she said. "You may look at it."
The girl, who had believed herself to be so ugly, could not believe the beauty she saw in her portrait.
"Oh my God..." Diana gasped. "This is... this is me?"
Erika nodded with a smile. "Yes. It is you."
The girl took a step back, and then stared at the portrait as if it were a mirror. Her golden blonde hair reached down to her waist, and her pale skin was as white as the Erderwald's virgin snow. Her blue eyes shined brightly, and her lips curled up in a smile that seemed to light up the whole world.
"This is how I see you, Diana," the princess said. "This is how you really are."
The girl smiled, and then she looked at the princess again. "Thank you, Erika. Thank you so much."
"It was my pleasure, Diana."
"Now," the princess continued. "What should we do? I think I am ready to leave now."
"Where are we going, Diana?"
"To the border," the girl answered. "Then, we will run away to the Kingdom of the Red Rose."
Erika blinked. "Red Rose?"
"Yes," Diana said. "You must have heard about it. It is a small kingdom, but it is rich. And it is also not far from here. It is the perfect sanctuary."
The princess had explained that the borders of the Kingdom of the Red Rose were close to the border of the Kingdom of the Green Woods. If they could make it there, then they would be able to reach safety without trouble.
But as she made the explanation, Princess Erika's eyes started to water. This was soon followed by a violent coughing fit.
"Your Highness!" Diana exclaimed.
"I am sorry," Erika said between coughs. "I will be alright."
Diana rushed over to the princess and held her hand. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Erika shook her head. "Just my chest. It feels like something is stuck inside me."
"Hold on," Diana replied. Then, she stood up and walked toward the window near their table. Outside, the sky had turned dark, and rain began pouring down.
Diana opened the shutters and let some fresh air into the room. As the cold wind blew against her cheeks, she noticed the flowers around them wither and dry out. Soon, there were none left except for two roses pinned onto the wall above Erika's easel. One of the roses was red; the other was black.
"Can you move your hands or feet?" Diana asked.
Erika shook her head. "Nothing. Just my fingers and toes."
The girl frowned deeply. "How can this happen?" she muttered under her breath.
Diana knelt beside Erika and placed a hand on her forehead. "Is anything broken?"
Erika shook her head.
"I think... I think the curse is finally here. My mother had found out about our plans, and..." The princess had to stop as she was hit by another wave of violent coughing.
The princess closed her eyes tightly, trying to suppress the pain that was wracking her body. She felt warm tears trickle down her cheek as she coughed violently.
"Princess," Diana called out, worried.
She wiped away the tear with her thumb. There were three more drops on her palm.
"We're almost at the border," Erika whispered. "I don't want to die yet."
Her voice trembled. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she spoke.
"Why does this have to happen?"
A single drop fell from Erika's eye and splattered onto her dress. A second later, another drop landed next to it. Another splash.
One by one, the droplets began falling. Each one joined its companions below.
Soon enough, all of Erika's tears were gone. No trace remained of the sorrow that had filled her heart for so many years.
When all traces of sadness had vanished, there was only emptiness.
***
The rain poured down mercilessly outside. In the dim candlelight of the castle hallways, an old woman huddled in front of a fireplace.
Queen Elizabeth sat on a chair in front of the fire, staring blankly into space while letting the flames burn her flesh. Her face was lined with wrinkles, and her thinning grey hair hung limp around her shoulders. She wore a simple robe with no adornment whatsoever, save for a crown atop her head. Beneath her robes, she was wearing a pair of loose pants that showed off her withered legs.
After several minutes passed, she raised her gaze to look at the portrait hanging on the opposite side of the fireplace. The painting depicted the same young girl whom she saw in her mind every time she thought about Erika.
The queen sighed heavily, feeling sad once more. She knew that the end had already come, but that didn't mean she had to accept it easily.
She pulled the sleeve of her gown aside, revealing a tattoo on her wrist—a symbol of the blessing of Grace. It was shaped like a rose, surrounded by seven petals, each bearing a different color.
Seven colors, one meaning. Seven blessings, one person.
This meant that Erika was blessed with all the blessing of Grace, and had received them in full. Such a thing was impossible for any normal human being, but because of this, Erika could never die. Even if she died, her spirit would return to the world of spirits, where she would spend eternity enjoying eternal bliss.
It was such a cruel fate that caused the Queen to regret having made the deal with the Wizard of the Dark Ends. But the Wizard told her that Erika would always remain alive. And now that the curse has manifested itself fully, Erika's soul is trapped in darkness forever.
Had she only known of the Wizard's caveat in the curse, none of this would have happened.
The old woman wailed up into the castle's ceiling. The sound of suffering echoed throughout its ruined halls. Soon enough, the walls themselves crumbled, collapsing inward upon one another. The entire building collapsed in a heap of rubble, burying the Queen deep beneath the debris.
There was only silence. Nothing else existed anymore; not even memories.