Old golem, old golem,

 

aren’t you solemn?

 

Can your columns be divine,

 

when we have felled your kind?

 

 

DESTINY

 

 

The large painting depicting the Golden Golems served as a centrepiece to the Royal Arts Chamber. One large stone being, looming over a mountain, as much as the painting itself loomed over Princess May. She stared up at the golem, which seemed to stare back. Her eyes traced down the painting, observing the little humans, offering their crown to their deity.

 

 

 

Princess May turned around, staring at the painting at the other end of the hall. Another giant centrepiece. She took a few steps towards the distant magnum opus, her boots rustling against the long red carpet. This time, the golems were slaughtered – a triumphant warrior stumbled on top of the golem, whose ribs were crumbling with a bright blaze.

 

 

 

“Did they worship the golems, or did they hate them?” she couldn’t help but mutter. Not a single person in the Chamber looked up to answer, too engrossed in their works and their crafts.

 

 

May’s leg bounced up and down with a mind of its own under the grand table, her nerves trying to jump out of her skin. Advisors sat or stood around, a map and multiple documents scattered, half-organized, like their ideas being thrown left and right. Queen Viviris stood away from the table, pacing in circles around the room, her hand occasionally brushing along the oak bookshelves.

 

 

 

‘I do not fit here,’ May thought, trying not to let her hands tremble. ‘I am the youngest here. I don’t fit here at all, I want to be with Rei-‘

 

 

 

“Shall we send another military unit,” one noble began, his voice raspy and tired, “and perhaps intimidate them into backing down?”

 

Another noble retaliated, tense, snappy. “No. Have we forgotten what happened at Norran’s Tunnel? Fifty soldiers, trapped, threatened by two hundred rioters.”

 

 

 

One general looked towards Princess May. ‘Oh no. I’ve caught attention somehow.’ She straightened under his gaze, like he caught her by the nape. “You’ve a fine regiment there, Your Highness. They survived with only five men felled.”

 

 

 

The Princess stared back, her mouth gaping, wondering if it should smile. “Ha… Thanks? I guess?”

 

 

 

‘Did I just receive a compliment? Or is that an insult disguised as one? I didn’t do anything, they took the regiment from me and reassigned them to Norran Village. I should tell him.’

 

 

 

“I wasn’t there, though,” she corrected.

 

 

 

Queen Viviris snapped her fingers, the persistent clack of her heel coming to a sharp halt. “Precisely.”

 

 

 

The advisors tilted their heads. May turned around, her mother stepping right behind May’s chair. “What do you mean, Omé?”

 

 

 

The Queen paced, stalking, before leaning down to her eye level. “The issue is, you weren’t there. People think we are simply trying to put them down. But is that true?”

 

 

 

A murmur rose as the nobles and advisors turned towards each other, before shaking their heads in unison. Queen Viviris continued. “We must show them we care for them. Letters containing empty promises aren’t enough. One of our officials must be present, listening, to show that the Court has lowered itself to the ground and to the voices of the people.”

 

 

 

The general twitched his mustache and sighed. “Your Majesty, which official would be most relevant to this issue? I am thinking of the Minister of Economy, seeing as import tariffs grief the villagers. Or perhaps the Minister of Civil Defense-“

 

 

 

“Princess May,” Queen Viviris interrupted. “Time for you to learn, child, ha?”

 

 

 

‘Did I just dig myself into more work?’ May blinked, looking her up and down. “Learn what, Omé? Should I go there, to uh, where it is you want me to, and-“

 

 

 

The Queen nodded. “Yes, child. Present yourself before the people of Giant’s Rest. listen to their troubles, and bring back what you hear to the Royal Court. Amádin mu. Icetán mu.” Know them. Tie them up.

 

 

 

She leaned backwards.

 

“It’s about time I have a helping hand in this matter.”

 

 

 

May gulped. ‘Me? I’m supposed to listen to these people? I don’t even know what’s causing the three pimples on my forehead and I have to go and listen to all these people? What if I fail? What if everyone gets upset with me and I’m not allowed to be the Princess anymore?’

 

 

 

“And,” the Queen asked as she packed her documents to leave, “who was that boy who led your Red Regiment out of that tunnel?”

 

 

 

“Field Lieutenant Yjennka?” she snapped, as if the answer hopped right out of her mouth. ‘Oh, how did I . . .?’

 

 

 

“Bring him and his men with you. For safety.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Omé.”

 

 

Two princess sat in a horse-drawn carriage, the wooden wheels rattling against the dusty road, dirtying with mud and pieces of grass. A caravan followed behind, packed with Red Regiment soldiers, hidden under the wagon covers, biding their time, anticipating danger.

 

 

 

“You brought… the entire Red Regiment with you?” Rei asked, sitting in front of May.

 

 

 

“Well, yes? It’s my regiment. And Omé said we need protection, you know, these protestors might become violent.”

 

 

 

“They’re only gonna get violent if you let them,” Rei said. “You need to like, handle them with care and stuff.”

 

 

 

May shrugged as she flipped open the carriage window, passing a damaged sign that read Giant’s Rest.

 

 

 

A vast landscape stretched out, hills rolling into valleys, fields of wildwheat and geoflowers blooming from a tiny but long stream, leading down to the main monument – a golem. The village seemed to extend to the golem itself, some structures established along the prime points of the corpse. Rei peered over May’s shoulder.

 

 

 

“Wah… Look at it, May, it’s so big.”

 

 

 

“Not as big as . . .”

 

 

 

They stared at each other for a moment, before the lady steering their carriage snorted. It turned into a giggle, and before they knew it, May and Rei fell onto each other, bursting in laughter, tangled up in the luxury carriage.

 

 

 

“No, but seriously now, that’s dead, right?” Rei asked.

 

 

 

“What do you think?” glared May, tilting her head. An awkward moment passed before May recited what she knew about it. “I heard that the golem here rises tiny little embers at night. Just specks of blue, glowing dots, like firebugs. And it lights up the village at night.”

 

 

 

“Mmm. We may have to stay here till night, or longer, you know. Maybe we can see it happen.”

 

 

And so the wagon caravan rattled along, two princesses seated. Like the smiles covering their growing worry, the peaceful atmosphere of the village was like a blanket over a sea of unrest. Soaked, ineffective, and floating away.

 

 

 

The first signs were apparent. There was the atmosphere of fear in the air.

 

 

 

“Odd,” said Princess Rei, watching the villagers glare on with suspicion, “maybe they’ve never seen a royal before? They’ll warm up to us after we talk to them, you’ll see!”

 

 

 

Princess May stared, frowning, making eye contact with a farmer whose brow twitched with contempt. “But… They look terrifying. Like they’re going to eat us alive.”

 

 

 

“Eat us alive– May, they’re still our people,” Rei said. “We are still a united Empire. Don’t forget.”

 

 

 

“Ouh… Fine, if you say so…”

 

 

 

They slowed as they entered the main street. The horse lady’s bun bobbed as she scanned the street. Her white gloves tightened on the reins as she tried to search for an inn.

 

 

 

“Your Highnesses,” the lady warned, her breath sharp, “dismount with caution. I shall tie the horse and be with you shortly.”

 

 

 

The sisters looked at each other as the carriage stopped. Rei gestured towards the door. You first.

 

 

 

May gulped, adjusting her tiara one last time before nudging open the door with a finger, as if it could bite her. She stepped down, and the wind whistled in her ears.

 

 

 

There was this deathly silence, when she was expecting the hustle and hubbub of daily life – the people stopped to look, their chitter chatter and hushed tones falling flat. The only thing May could hear was the rustle of the leaves. Even the birds seemed to stop singing, confused by the quiet.

 

 

 

‘What’s wrong…?’

 

 

 

Two Red Regiment soldiers hopped down from one of the caravan carts, their crimson blouses catching attention like a flash of thunder. The people immediately recognized the color – the color of terror. Men closed their tabs, mothers hushed away their children, and the smell of dog dung on the street took over everything else.

 

 

 

Rei stepped behind, clutching her dress. “Nevermind. I don’t like it here, May.”

 

 

 

May’s stomach sunk to her waist.

 

 

 

She walked into the inn and approached the reception desk. People parted ways for her, some citizens even flinching at the clack of her heels. Knuckles turned white, people’s hands stressed against their utensils and drinks. Her heart seemed to gulp.

 

 

 

“Good afternoon,” May said, looking at the receptionist, overthinking over which eye to look at. “I would like to book a room for… two. The best one you have?”

 

 

 

The lady at the reception desk stared with her mouth more than her eyes. Her gaze flicked between the two princesses and lingered especially long on the Red soldiers standing guard at the door.

 

 

 

“C-courtesy of the inn, madame, I mean, Your Highness? You shan’t pay today. Or tomorrow if you wish to stay longer… Or so on . . .”

 

 

 

People seated in the lobby cafeteria turned both their heads and bodies, their voices in low murmurs. One man took a nice long shot of his drink.

 

 

 

A mug banged against a table, the noise dull yet loud. “You aren’t welcome here, you murderer,” the man said. A Red sergeant stepped forward, eyes glaring.

 

 

 

‘Did he really just say that?’ May stared at him, but quickly found herself staring at his shoes instead. Her stomach was now at the bottom of an ocean of dread.

 

 

 

“Oh, so we’re starting off like that,” May retorted, her face growing stone cold. “Must be different how you treat guests around here, ha ha . . .”

 

 

 

The man stood, his finger pointed. “Don’t get sarcastic, we all know how your Red Regiment slaughtered the citizens at Norran!”

 

 

 

Rei sunk behind her sister, who looked around frantically. May’s hands pressed together, fidgeting. Her chest seemed to burn and her face felt hot. “B-but I didn’t…”

 

 

 

“Right!” another man joined. “A shitty diplomat who only knows violence. Are you here to slaughter us, too?”

 

 

 

“This is a misunderstanding. You’re all wrong. You’ve got it all-“

 

 

 

The murmurs turned into rousing voices that turned into a rabble – the two bodyguards fell into step by the sides of their princesses, hands pressed against the hilts of their sheathed blades, their eyes dark and grim under their helmets.

 

 

 

May’s head whirled, eyes wide and searching for nothing at all, thoughts incomplete and without substance, as if her mind was trying to grasp dust. Rei slipped her hand into May’s, squeezing it tight.

 

 

 

‘What’s going on? They’re all mad at me? But Rei said they’d warm up. And I didn’t do anything. The Red Regiment wasn’t under my control when they fought at Norran. I don’t even know who they killed.’

 

 

 

Rei hugged her as if she would blow away in the wind of harsh criticism. But May couldn’t even understand what the crowd was saying. Her heartbeat knocked on her eardrums louder than the insults.

 

 

 

‘Rei’s scared because of me. It’s because I’m not responsible enough, that’s why Omé didn’t let me be in charge of my own regiment at that time. I’m a horrible princess. They’re right. People died because I wasn’t responsible enough to lead. To lead my own men. Everything they’re saying is right,’

 

 

 

“maybe I really am a murderer,” she muttered out loud.

 

 

 

The soldiers looked at each other.

 

 

 

“Sergeant Hadel, escort the princesses up to their rooms. I’ll call for backup and deal with the crowd.”

 

 

 

“Aye. Take care,” Hadel replied to the soldier, before rushing to receive keys and room number from the receptionist. The other soldier drew his blade and stomped his boot, ordering the crowd to piss off.

 

 

 

Rei held May’s arm, trying to steady her as she walked up the stairs. Hadel walked ahead, leading the way.

 

 

 

“They- they don’t know you May,” Rei said. “They’re just angry and scared. Don’t let all that get to your head, May.”

 

 

 

The noise faded as May stepped up, but her ears still rang. Her knees got wobbly and shaky, her knuckles going white from gripping onto her sister and onto her soldier.

 

 

 

“I can’t believe them… Why are they so harsh like that, I . . .”

 

 

 

Rei’s tongue clicked with frustration, one corner of her lips curling with disdain. It’s just so unfair, how all this responsibility is being thrown to her sister. May’s words had to be choked out like phlegm. Everything she tried to say turned into a sob, a gasp for air. Her toe got caught onto a stair and she tripped, her sob getting uncontrollably worse.

 

 

 

‘God damn it, I’m so useless I can’t even walk straight. I can’t even speak. I really have no spine or worth.’

 

 

 

Her emotions swung wildly, a dry chuckle escaping her lips in between fits of sobbing and desperate gasps for air. Her hands trembled as Rei grabbed them, her mind racing with bad thoughts that only made worse thoughts.

 

 

 

Rei’s breath felt heavy as she pulled May into her arms.

 

 

 

“May, get a hold of yourself. Please. At least make it to the room. Hold out a little bit longer, come on, May.”

 

 

 

“I need to become someone better, Rei. Like right now. Like that Yjennka guy. I need to be strong on my first time,” May coughed out, shivering though it was warm.

 

 

 

Rei stared at her sister.

 

 

 

Yjennka.