Chapter 56
It was a strange yet familiar dream. If it was actually a dream.
Pranee was back at the nagi queen's palace but it was different. It wasn't as grand and was smaller than when she had visited.
She noticed her clothes were different as well. She wore the robes differently. One robe was wrapped in a way to make it look like she was wearing pants. Her top was wrapped in a way so that two ends of the cloth hung over her shoulders freely. The necklace was hanging over her chest and her mouth formed a tight line. She put her hands on her head and felt a straw hat as well as a full head of hair.
"Junta."
Pranee's eyes focused on the nagi queen. She looked the same but she noticed that she no longer looked up at the queen but they were the same height. She was in her human form but she wore more modest clothing. The green fabric still looked to be high quality but it wasn't as flashy and extravagant as her white and gold attire.
"Lamai, I told you I could see myself out." The words came out of Pranee's mouth unprompted. Her voice was deeper and raspier than her usual voice.
"I understand but I couldn't help myself. I wish you didn't have to go." The queen had a soft expression on her face as she looked at Pranee fondly.
It wasn't Pranee she was seeing, Pranee thought. It was Junta.
"I have to get back that sword. I know it's important to you and your people to have it."
"We're nagas, we're strong."
Junta took Lamai's hand and placed it on her chest. "I don't want to see any harm to come to you."
"I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me. If I had it my way, I would've ordered you to stay."
"And you know I have dominion over myself. I'm the queen of nothing for a reason."
The two women began to lean closer to each other before a small lizard crawled onto Junta's face. It was black and had yellow-gold eyes.
"Looks like this one is jealous," Lamai chuckled.
Junta chuckled and lifted the lizard off her face before putting it on her shoulder. "We've been through a lot together. Maybe in our next life, they'll be able to stand next to me. Maybe I'll be the lizard next time."
Only the wind brushing over the river and trees could be heard as Junta stroked the lizard's head. That was when she took off the necklace and placed it around Lamai's.
"You know, this necklace might've been shared between humans and nagas before." Junta's voice was low and quiet. "From my research, it might've been used to even create the barrier around your palace."
"Junta, I can't take this."
"You won't. You're just keeping it safe for me while I'm gone. I promise to return to you again."
"What if..." Lamai's voice trailed off as she looked down at the necklace. Her fingers tracing over the gems of the necklace and tears rolled down her face.
"Then... I'll come back in my next life. Just to say hello at least. Little lizard will come with me too."
Before Pranee could process the scene properly, it faded away and she found herself in the corridor of her home. Her face was wet and she felt like she had been crying. Was it from the dream or did she have a nightmare?
She looked down at her hands and saw it was her own body again but she was smaller. Her favourite blanket was tucked under her arm and she left herself touch the blanket's softness while she pondered why she was there. She needed something but it wasn't coming to her immediately. That was when she remembered.
She wanted to see her mother.
Her small feet carried her to the end of the corridor where her mother's room was.
She peered through the doorway but couldn't see her. She could hear her mother's voice and another woman's but the room seemed to be empty.
"Mae?"
The air above her mother's bed seemed to move and her mother peered through the curtain of invisibility. Pranee blinked as she attempted to process the scene in front of her.
Her mother stared back at Pranee with a surprised expression and her hand still gripped the invisible fabric tightly.
"Mae?" Pranee echoed again. This time her voice was meeker.
"Yes? Is something wrong?"
"Why are you with the queen?" Pranee peered behind her mother to see Ritthirong's mother hiding underneath a layer of blankets.
"Pranee." Her mother let go of the curtain and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "As royals, there are things we must do for duty and other things that people enjoy to do for pleasure."
"Mm?"
"Royals are not allowed to partake in pleasure and must perform their duties. If we partake in pleasure, then we mustn't let anyone else know."
"Is... mae doing that?" There was an uneasy feeling in the girl's stomach and she shifted her weight from one foot to another.
"Yes, that's why we shouldn't tell anyone. Especially not your father. What happens in the palace, stays in the palace."
"Why is it bad though? Why isn't it duty?"
Her mother gave her a weak smile and averted her gaze. "I'll explain more when you're older."
Her mother's words echoed in her ears as she felt more tears run down her face. It was that memory again.
No matter how many times she tried to forget it, it always came back.