The Birth of the War Goddess

The market is really crowded today

I don't recall seeing so many peoples and stall normally, except during festivals

I stop looking at a fabric really particular... It looks warm but not heavy, how curious that I've never noticed it before

-Excuse me Sir, What is this?-

-Oh Morning Young Miss, this is a fabric from the North, I'm pretty sure you have never saw it... The Northern warriors loves it during winter!-

-Could I have some?-

-Sure, this much?- he show me quite a lot of length

-A bit less please?-

-But Miss, less would never cover a soldier whole body-

-It's actually for me... I really want to try it once winter comes... Since I run most of my family's errands, of course, Iwouldn't want to be cold being so delicate-

-Oh! Youngsters here really are extravagant as they say! Haha here- he hands me the fabric folded and I pay

-Just one question Sir, You're not from the area right? I don't think I recognize your face-

-Well I really am from the Northern regions, this fabric is not exported it arrived with me!-

-How come a merchant traveled so much? Is this fabric that much of a success for business?-

-Ah not at all young Miss... But it's what gets me going...

I heard things on the border of the kingdom weren't doing so well... Infact business has been dropping and was difficult to feed my kids... Ah... Who knows what will happen to our country!

But I don't think we should be concerned here hahaha! Afterall those were just riots from Mongolians or something...

The more near the Royal Capital the more we are safe, right little Miss?-

He's smiling and all but i can't stop being concerned still

-Yeah, our soldiers will protect us as they always did-

-Haha look at you Miss, talking about such boring things because of me... Just go have fun and play with some flowers as it should be... US old mens will grunge for you beauties too hahaha so you won't get ugly wrinkles like us-

I keep going on with my day, I buy some fragrant dumplings to eat during my little market walk

There are many fascinating things to buy today, exotic hairpins and weird delicacies...

On my way home I approach a bench and sit by the river to eat the food I got

-Young Miss, your dress is gonna get dirty seating on this old stone bench... Let me lend you something to seat on-

-Uhm?- I look up to find a young man, he's quite anonymous even if he's still quite beautiful

His hair are tied up in a long ponytail and his clothes are of someone who is nor rich nor poor, he lends me a handkerchief of mediocre silk and I notice a bracelet on his wrist

White pearls and a silver starfish as a pendant with small blue stones in it

-Oh I'm sorry Miss, you are right in refusing...

Such a terrible silk won't fit a noble Miss like you... Excuse my arrogance-

-Oh not at all, sorry if you saw me hesitate... I was just curious of your bracelet- I smile taking the piece of fabric

-Oh yeah... It's a gift from my grandma... She couldn't afford to travel with us due to her delicate health so she gave me this as a promise for the future-

-Are you from the North too?- I ask putting down the basket full of merch I bought beside me

-Mmh... Yeah...-

-Could I possibly ask you to tell me what's happening? Honestly, I beg you-

-Riots! Or so they say, but doesn't looks like it to me...

It seems like there's something behind, the ones stealing and killing looks like trained men... I'm afraid the riots are just a pretext for something else, that's how a war begins-

-Could that really be it?-

-I do not know for sure obviously... But the peoples from there were loosing hope, our soldiers are not the best and we lost already a lot...

The Royal Palace doesn't seems to mind either...

Nor the Gods are helping us-

-So the situation did escalate... Not just riots as the merchant said-

-Don't take them as liars Miss

Maybe they didn't saw such things with their own eyes... Or maybe they don't want to scare a Young Miss like you-

-It's just knowledge, everyone should be Informed of what's happening in their Nation. Well anyway, sorry for reminding you of bad things, take this... You must be hungry-

I hand the man a warm Bao out of the oven and he takes it bowing again and again.

I starts eating slowly looking at my reflection in the water... My long black hair, darker than normal they say, cornering my white face... Some sailors once told me I really am gifted in my appearance.

And of course I agree...

But looking at myself I can only see that hole growing deeper by every second...

I surely have a beautiful face but doesn't anyone see even a tiny bit further than that?

Don't they see this black hole too? Since I'm a girl and a noble too, I doubt so... My life is supposed to be perfect

Even less being already in late age for marriage peoples would see anything apart from a children's oven...

...

-Beautiful! Splendid!

With this dress you will leave every man at the banquet wanting to ask you as wife!- claims the old woman taking the measurements for my new dress

-And that's exactly what we want, right Lai'Er?- ask my mother coming from behind with a found smile

-Mmh yeah...- I stare in the mirror, tired

-Madam Ping you really have a blessed womb! To have generated an handsome man like your first son and a beautiful girl like Lai'Er...

She has such a body that you rarely see in our regions, perfect to please her future husband and carry many children...

And that face of hers!

Ah could drawn every man to madness! She's an innocent soul but also fierce in her features, with full lips and high cheekbones-

I don't even blush anymore... I knew what expected me since the moment I was born; i

It's not a matter if I like such a future or not, it's a fact of finding the best option in terms of wealth, for us girls...

I even thought about running away in the past but I know that no matter where I go, I will still be a beautiful girl and nothing more... That's our society

...

-This colour is really beautiful... You did a splendid work Gao, thank you-

-Oh Lai'Er don't flutter me this much! I just want you to get the best... If they could see you even the Royal Princes would ask for you!

Ah if only I could see you being a Royal consort... I'll probably die of joy.

To think you were a little girl just yesterday- the sailor tear up

-I'm already deciding on the best shades of red... Ah...-

I take her hands -Don't you worry, everything will go perfectly Gao-

-This is my little daughter all mature and womanly...- smiles my mother all proud because of my act