-HER-

Something felt different the next day after coming back from my test. Nuncia hadn't asked me a single question. She had saved some dinner for me since it was already late. I was tired, so I quietly had my supper in my room and went to bed.

I woke up this morning to some commotion in the dorms. It was still early, and the priestesses were getting ready. The commotion bewildered me because everyone at the shrine usually began their day calmly. It wasn't until Nuncia entered my room with my new clothes that I realised today we would be conferred our titles by the High Priestess. Instantly, I felt the tension in the air.

Vittoria was going to declare the results today. I could envision the nervousness in the other priestess' about the results, but I didn't find myself sharing the feeling.

I already knew the outcome.

Nuncia didn't miss my unnatural composure. I sensed her eyes lingering on me while perplexity hung on her face. Her reaction wasn't unexpected because it was my nature to be anxious and antsy in a situation like this, mainly due to my dynamics with Vittoria. However, today was a different story.

But she couldn't know.

I overlooked her stare and instead examined the attire she had created for me. She must have been working on it discreetly because I hadn't seen it earlier. The initial fabric was the standard white, but it felt different to the touch. It was slightly heavier than the fabric we usually sported. Upon unfolding the rest of the clothing pieces, a glorious purple emerged out of the folds of the rich white cloth. The intricate gold embroidery on the purple instantly captured my eyes. It looked magnificent. I couldn't help but run my fingertips over the stunning artwork.

"I hope you like it," Nuncia remarked.

"It's for me?" I asked, still perplexed. It wasn't anything a priestess was allowed to wear in the shrine. Then who was it for?

"Can't you tell?" She beamed proudly.

"I— this is— why would you—" I couldn't form a proper thought as I glanced at the majestic purple colour again. It reminded me of the life I had left behind.

But what was it doing here?

She shrugged but said nothing. I shook my head. "I don't get this. This is... I can't wear this! This is against the rules,"

"You don't like it," Nuncia assumed.

"No, this is one of the finest pieces you've created, Nuncia, but do you expect me to wear this to the ceremony?" I asked. I didn't know what had gotten into Nuncia lately. Was she trying to get me kicked out of the shrine as well?

"Yes," She responded, "What's wrong with it?"

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Someone told you to make this, isn't it?" I suspected. Her eyes widened in shock, but she composed her features soon enough. "Otherwise, I don't see how you could get your hands on fabric of this kind. Someone must have imported this," From the expression on her face, I could guess who might have made Nuncia make this.

"You are getting late," Nuncia told me. "I'll be waiting outside. It would be best if you changed quickly," She exited my room quickly. I couldn't get over it yet. I examined the purple fabric, getting lost in the intricate golden embroidery.

When I stepped out of my room in ceremonial attire, the dorms were almost empty. Even Nuncia had left. I was feeling out of place with the purple cloth. I contemplated going back to my room and leaving behind the purple part of my attire but doing that didn't feel right.

I decided to go along with it, and given that I was late, it took my mind off of my borderline inappropriate attire and made me focus on getting to the ceremony on time.

The ceremony had almost begun when I arrived at the central courtyard. Everyone was already seated, waiting for Vittoria. Coincidentally, we entered the ceremony simultaneously, just from different courtyard ends. Our eyes instantly locked with each other. I expected her to frown at my inappropriate attire or look surprised at my audacity to wear something so inflaming, but Vittoria had none of those reactions.

She was the one who surprised me as her eyes wept from my head to toe with a sly smile gently tugging a corner of her lips up. She had her distinctive knowing look on her face that annoyed and terrified me simultaneously.

It reminded me of our exchange last night. It was unsettling. I could help but feel like I had stepped into another one of her traps. Maybe I was nothing but a mere pawn in her game at the end of the day.

She addressed the assembled priestesses while I did my best to stand at the very back, attracting no attention to myself yet. No one other than Vittoria had seen me since I was the last to enter and wait at the back of the courtyard, almost hiding in the shadows of the massive stone pillars. Everyone was paying attention to what Vittoria was saying while I wondered what Vittoria had in store for me.

After addressing the priestesses, the ceremony eventually began. The Matriarch called the names of the girls who had passed the test. They walked up to Vittoria before being blessed by her. I waited for my name, but I had a feeling that I was going to be the last one to be called.

Almost all the other girls who were in training with me passed. As the list of names went on, some doubts started to creep in until my name was called. I was still in the shadows, watching the ceremony without having anyone see me until then.

I stepped out of the shadow and headed towards the front of the courtyard in my blazing majestic purple cape, feeling all the eyes in the shrine burning on my skin. I might have heard several gasps. I didn't look at anyone as I walked down the aisle. My eyes were only on Vittoria, but I could still imagine many shocked looks on everyone's faces, even the Matriarch.

At this point, most of them were more shocked by my dress than the fact that I had managed to pass the tests and get the title despite my consistent poor performance. Vittoria and I were the only ones to not look suspired at my outrageous outfit or the fact that I had managed to qualify.

"Theresa, my dear," Vittoria purred when I got to the front. The senior priestesses looked at me with disapproval, but Vittoria didn't care. "The purple suits you," She commented.

"Thanks, I'm flattered," I replied coldly, making her smile wider.

"I'm glad you like it," she chuckled, reaching for the scroll from the Matriarch, who was still shocked to see me in that dress. "You should wear it more,"

"I'm starting to think you like to see me break the rules," I commented as she blessed me with her scythe. I couldn't help but shiver, thinking of how she was trying to kill me with the same scythe last evening. She must have noticed my uneasiness because something devilish flickered in her eyes.

"It's the only thing you're good at," she smiled. I snatched the scroll from her and walked back to where I had been waiting. Meanwhile, Vittoria's laughter echoed in the quiet courtyard while everyone was stunned.

~

"You looked amazing in that dress!" Nuncia told me after she found me in my room after the ceremony. I didn't waste a minute and returned to my room after receiving my title. I felt more stupid the longer I kept the cape on.

Vittoria had me again!

"The way you walked, it almost reminded me of—" Nuncia stopped when I threw her a glare. "Erm, I'm sorry. You looked good in that," she muttered.

"Vittoria told you to make it, didn't she?" I confronted her. She fell quiet immediately. Since she had nowhere to escape, I continued grilling, "Answer me, Nuncia. I want to hear how you plotted this with the woman I hate the most!"

I was on the edge of snapping. I could have never imagined Nuncia betraying me this way.

"I—I don't understand why it's making you so mad? It's just a dress," She asked, looking pleasantly surprised. It made me stop for a moment and scrutinise the bewildered look on her face.

I shouldn't be mad at her.

After all, she has been only following the orders without being aware of the malicious intent behind them. She was another of the pawns in Vittoria's game... just like me. I sighed deeply, leaving her question unanswered. Nuncia studied me carefully with a concerned look on her face.

"Are you alright?" She asked cautiously.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," I muttered. "The dress was beautiful but don't do it again," I warned. She nodded before changing the subject to defuse the tension between us. I didn't have any classes today, so I spent the rest of the day with Nuncia in her small workroom at the back of the shrine. I was supposed to help her arrange the place, but for the most part, I remained distracted by Vittoria's plans and my brother's idiocy. I wondered if I was stepping into Vittoria's trap at each step. Each day, I wondered how far those company of troops had been.

In the evening, I snuck out of the dorm. Since Nuncia was still busy arranging her workroom, it was easier for me to sneak out tonight. I went straight to Vittoria's office, ensuring no one followed me.

When I reached the High Priestess' Office, I cracked the heavy door open as quietly as I could, forgetting my manners for a while. I held my breath as I peeked inside the office, searching for the woman who was the subject of my nightmare, but she didn't seem to be there.

I dared to open the office door wider and took a few steps inside to make sure that Vittoria was not in her office. The thought of having to find her in this situation made me restless until I remembered about the lagoon.

I had my doubts about that incident. It often felt like a distant dream I had somehow managed to remember well and sometimes, it felt like a part of my reality.

I left the shrine through the exist facing the woods at the back. Since I didn't have any candles with me and the moon was behind the clouds, it was harder for me to find my way down to the side of the island. After struggling through the woods for a while, I was finally on that narrow beach from where I started walking North.

The closer I got to the lagoon, the more hesitant I felt about this decision. My heart started racing when the lagoon came into view. I could see the boat's silhouette and some light flickering on it from a distance.

Though tonight, I spotted only one person on the boat. I halted abruptly and studied the shadow on the boat before continuing to head that way.

It was only Vittoria tonight.

Her back was to me when I arrived by the lagoon, but I knew that she was well aware of me; otherwise, she wouldn't have asked, "What has brought you here tonight?"

"I wanted to talk to you," I declared.

"About what?" She inquired with her back to me. In response, I got into the water and climbed onto the boat before sitting in front of her. I faced her grimly while she studied me, looking more relaxed than ever.

"I want you to tell me the truth, Vittoria. I know it wasn't your initial plan to give me the priestess title,"

"What makes you think so?" She challenged before taking a long drag.

"Why? You hate me,"

"Hate would be too strong to describe what I feel for you," she clarified, "I merely have a bias against you,"

"Because I'm a Royal?"

"Maybe,"

"So it is true. You didn't want to give me the title?"

"Yes," Vittoria responded, looking bored.

"Why?"

"Reasons,"

"What reasons? If you didn't want to give me the priestess title, then why did you bring me here in the first place?"

"You'd rather be rotting where they had locked you away and forgotten about you?"

"So you brought me here out of pity?"

"Maybe," Vittoria shrugged.

"I know I was never supposed to be a priestess," I declared.

"Are you suggesting I should revoke your title?" Vittoria teased.

"No," I breathed, "I want to know why you gave me the priestess title even though you didn't want to. I know that nothing can change your mind, Vittoria. Then what made you change your mind this time? What made you give me the title? I know it wasn't just because I had that stupid knife against your neck,"I spat in frustration.

"I did it out of convenience,"

"What kind of convenience?"

"Your questions make me want to turn you mute,"

"But you cannot,"

"You have no idea," Vittoria laughed. It shut me up for a few moments.

"Tell me this one thing, Vittoria. Why didn't you want to give me the title?"

Vittoria took her time to answer, but the only answer I got from her tonight night was, "It'd be useless. There'll be a time when it'll be revoked. I solely wanted to keep my records clean by not giving you one in the first place,"

"I don't get it," I shook my head. None of her words made sense.

"You wouldn't," she dismissed before tossing the leftovers of whatever she had been smoking into the lagoon water and getting up.

"Are you leaving already?" I asked.

"Yes, I have stuff to do, unlike you," she responded while stretching in the boat. I was about to protest when she started to leave, but she disappeared in thin near. Though not before telling me, "Be ready on the beach before sunrise tomorrow,"