Chapter 9 Past Life 2

• Dear Journal,
• The Year of the Sun
• Journal, I am here again as you are the only one I can talk to as I have no friends but I need you to know that I have made a new friend. Her name is Alexa and she is the daughter of our leader. She is the only one who ever stood up for me anytime I need help. Other kids see me as a curse but she sees me as her friend. Journal, I love Alexa like my own sister and I am really glad that I get to meet her.
• Trinia closed Vanessa's diary as she finished reading the third page, feeling a mix of emotions. She sighed and stood up from her bed, deep in thought. "So, Vanessa and Alexa used to be friends and had feelings for each other. What could have gone wrong?" She questioned herself, pacing around the room, trying to comprehend the sudden rift between Vanessa and Alexa. "What could have caused their separation?" She ruffled her hair in frustration and let out a scream.
• "Your Highness!" Aneeka rushed into the room, alarmed by Trinia's pacing and hair-pulling. She hurried towards Trinia. "What's happening, Your Highness?" Aneeka asked, concerned.
• "I don't know," Trinia groaned in frustration, walking back to the bed. She sat down and rubbed her forehead. "I'm just tired of everything."
• Aneeka thought Trinia was referring to her difficult life in the mansion and embraced her. "You've endured so much, Your Highness," Aneeka cried.
• "That's not what..." Trinia tried to explain that her frustration stemmed from reading Vanessa's diary, not her suffering. However, she realized it would be futile to explain it to Aneeka. So, Trinia remained silent and rubbed Aneeka's back. "Everything will be fine," she reassured her.
• "Your Highness," Aneeka released Trinia from the embrace and walked towards the closet. "I've been informed that you and the king will have dinner tonight." She went through the rows of beautiful dresses, which Trinia had never imagined she could possess. Aneeka selected a white sequin mermaid strapless dress with a center slit and handed it to Trinia, nudging her toward the mirror. "You're meeting the king for dinner, and you should look your best," she smiled at Trinia, giving her a thumbs-up.
• "A dinner?" Trinia exclaimed, turning to face Aneeka. "Why should I have dinner with a man who doesn't even like me?" Trinia questioned, folding the dress in her arms and dropping it to the ground.
• "Because you are the queen," Aneeka turned Trinia's head towards the mirror. "You should be happy that the king has finally invited you to dinner. In the past, you used to eat alone in your tiny room. All you were given were the remnants of the king's and the noble consort's meals."
• "I am the Luna Queen, or whatever they call it. I shouldn't be treated like this!" Trinia squeezed the dress in her hand and let it fall to the ground.
• "Your Highness, the king specifically ordered you to wear that dress," Aneeka attempted to pick up the dress from the ground, but Trinia grabbed her hand.
• "If I am going to that dinner, then I will wear whatever I want!" Trinia searched through the rows of dresses, frowning when she couldn't find what she desired. All the clothes had the same extravagant look. Trinia wanted something simple and rebellious.
• Something that would drive Ansel crazy.
• "Why do they have so many dresses?" Trinia facepalmed and smiled when she spotted a plain black dress. It was a strapless black dress, short and without any embellishments. "This is what I want!" Trinia picked up the dress and held it against her body. "It suits me," she turned to face Aneeka, who wore a surprised expression. "How do I look?" she asked.
• "Your Highness!" Aneeka tried to take the dress from Trinia, but her attempt was unsuccessful. "You can't wear this!"
• "Why not?" Trinia eyed Aneeka suspiciously. When Aneeka had tried to grab the clothes, Trinia sensed that something was amiss, but she didn't know what. The only person she could think of was Vanessa.
• The dress must have belonged to Vanessa.
• "The King detested that dress," Aneeka finally revealed the truth after a moment of silence.
• "What do you mean?" Trinia asked. "How..." Trinia stopped speaking when she heard a voice in her head.
• "But... I thought you would like it," the voice said.
• "Did you say something just now?" Trinia asked Aneeka.
• "I didn't hear anything," Aneeka replied, looking around her.
• "Perhaps it's just my imagination," Trinia said, but it wasn't. She heard the voice in her head, and it didn't belong to Aneeka. She glanced around the room and sighed. When she tried to speak to Aneeka again, she heard the voice once more, accompanied by a vision. Trinia went blank for a few seconds, closing her eyes to focus on the images appearing in her mind.
• "I wore this dress just for you, Your Highness," Trinia heard Vanessa's voice. In her vision, Vanessa was in her tiny room, speaking to someone near the entrance. Trinia stared in awe at the person's face.
• It was Ansel.
• "Are you alright, Your Highness?" Aneeka asked her.
• "Give me a few minutes," Trinia replied, focusing once again on the voices and their conversation.
• "The least you could do is appreciate that I wore this dress just for you. I wanted to look good for you," Trinia saw Vanessa trembling in fear as she spoke to Ansel. "I thought that if you saw me, you would realize that I love you."
• "Love me?" In Trinia's vision, Ansel laughed at Vanessa and pointed at the dress. "I despise you, and I despise you even more for wearing such a repulsive dress!" He walked towards her and shoved her in the chest. "You smell so awful that your presence disgusts me. If you had just stayed away, maybe you wouldn't have to face this humiliation. But you deserve every bit of it."
• "I..." Vanessa burst into tears. "Can't you see that I'm trying to improve for you? I know you judge me based on what you hear from others, but you mean so much to me, and I..."
• "Enough!" Ansel slapped Vanessa across the face. "Don't ever talk to me like this again!" Ansel yelled at her, gripping her throat. "I don't want you showing up at any important events because you don't deserve to be there. You're nothing but the daughter of the woman who almost destroyed the world."
• "Your Highness..." Vanessa fell to her knees, bowing her head. "I apologize for my behavior. Please punish your humble servant."
• "This is why you're pathetic!" Ansel kicked her in the stomach. "You're utterly useless, and someone like you might not even be fit to carry my offspring! Once I've gotten what I want from you," Ansel crouched down to her level on the ground and whispered in her ear, "I'll kill you!" He laughed and pushed her head backward. "Worthless and pathetic!"
• Vanessa lowered her head, too afraid to meet Ansel's gaze. She burst into tears and repeatedly banged her head on the ground as she continued apologizing to Ansel. "I'm sorry, Your Highness," she cried, hitting her head until it bled.
• "Your Highness!" Aneeka screamed at Trinia, vigorously shaking her.
• Trinia gasped and fluttered her eyes open, staring into Aneeka's eyes. She tried to speak but could only stutter, her mind consumed by what she had witnessed.
• "Are you alright, Your Highness?" Aneeka grabbed Trinia's hand, concerned.
• Instead of replying, Trinia asked a question. "On what occasion did Vanessa... I mean, myself," Trinia bit her lip, nearly slipping Vanessa's name. "When did I wear this dress?"
• "It was the king's birthday. It turned into a disaster because of that dress," Aneeka explained. "Because you wore it, the king was furious and locked you up for days."
• Trinia held the dress up, her mind still filled with the vision she had seen. It was clear to her that Vanessa had been treated unfairly, all because of a dress. "How could you fall for a man who doesn't want you?" Trinia draped the dress over her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips. "This is what I'm wearing tonight!" She announced.
• Aneeka's jaw dropped, if it were possible, as she never expected Trinia to make such a declaration. "Your Highness!" Aneeka fell to her knees, bowing her head. "I don't know where you're finding this courage, but please understand that wearing that dress will only bring trouble."
• "But why did you include it among my dresses?"
• Aneeka raised her head to meet Trinia's gaze. "You asked me to keep it because it reminded you of your difficult days, remember?" Aneeka said, observing Trinia's response. "Right, you don't remember," Aneeka sighed, lowering her head to the ground. "Please, Your Highness, don't wear that dress to the dinner," she pleaded.
• "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Aneeka, but I'm wearing it," Trinia helped Aneeka to her feet and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm wearing this dress because it's the only one I truly love among all the others."
• "But, Your Highness," Aneeka tried to argue, but the intensity of Trinia's gaze silenced her.
• "I'm wearing this dress, and no one will stop me!" Trinia smiled at Aneeka, walking towards the mirror and adorning herself in the dress. "I'm going to show the king that I'm stronger than he thought," Trinia laughed. "Just wait, Vanessa, I will uncover the truth about those responsible for your demise," Trinia muttered, her words escaping Aneeka's comprehension.
• "Are you talking to me, Your Highness?" Aneeka asked.
• "No," Trinia simply replied, a smile still on her face.