What should I do? Estella opened the lid, which was heavy.
Suddenly a monster the size of a monkey jumped out of the chest. She wanted to scream as it nestled onto her shoulder, but it was suave.
The Fair Lady has been expecting me! It cried out in a human voice. You are as pretty as a rose. You should never wait long.
It was clearly a compliment, but it wasnt the compliment that startled the princess. It wasnt even that the creatures claws were caressing her cheek, repeating the caress of a lover.
Can you speak? Estella opened her mouth in amazement. Oh, yes!
I can do many things! He boasted as he wrapped his black tail around her neck like a noose.
Get down! I cant breathe! Estella complained.
You cant really live without me! I must always be near you.
Who are you? And why were you sitting in the box?
The better question is not why, but who locked me in?
Thats right! Thats what you should have said. Im not thinking straight. Thanks for the tip.
From now on, you will think like a great sage! The monster promised.
I dont think so! I cant think at all. Thats what they all say.
Well, youd better take my advice, he advised her kindly, running his black claws tenderly across her forehead. I am your lost mind. You have just rescued me. The trunk was stuffy and cramped. I am much more comfortable with you, my lady.
Am I your lady? Thats what servants usually call their masters, but the beast acted as if it owned her. Is that how a mind is supposed to behave?
Ill call you Reason.
It wriggled.
But my name is Gloom.
It doesnt suit you.
It sure does. If youve noticed, Im as black as the darkness of night.
You are like a firebrand from a furnace!
I can see why they call you a fool.
It is a simpleton, not a fool. Its a little different.
And youre smart, too. And youre not stupid. Arent you ashamed not to trust your intelligence?
You mean you? She glanced at the monster on her shoulder.
Who else could it be?
They say the mind is in the head, not on the clavicle.
Its harder to get into your head, though its empty, but its not much room. He scratched her shoulder as if he were putting a stamp on it.
Oh, I wish youd gone into my head and got lost there.
Do you know how hard it is for those who dont listen to their wits, but do things their own way? Reason quipped.
Thats what all the duennas told me! I didnt think youd be so tedious.
Go ahead! Reason commanded. Take some of the gold from the chest and hide it in the hatch beneath the throne.
Theres a hatch under the throne.
You have to push the dragon-shaped carving on the back of the throne, and the hatch will open.
Her mind raced her like a servant girl until she had dragged almost all the contents of the chest into a deep recess beneath the throne steps.
Look, is living with your mind, I mean being smart, always so hard? Estella sighed, exhausted from her work as a loader.
Shut up! The mind on her shoulder weighed itself like a chest of jewelry. Her shoulder stiffened.
Why should I be silent?
The more silent you are, the smarter you look.
It sounds smart.
Trust me, and theyll stop calling you a simpleton.
Theyll call me Wise?
Theyll call you a star. Your name means North Star, doesnt it?
I didnt know that! I thought I was just a star.
You are a fool, said Reason, spitting ash on the floor. Why is there ash in his mouth instead of spit? His black spit sealed the treasure-filled hiding place.
What did you say? Estella was offended when she heard the word fool. Who was he talking about?
Its all right, my dear, go ahead. We must get out of the throne room.
But my coronation is coming up!
It is no coronation for sure yet, Reason glanced around. You need to take me to the north tower. Come on!
Estella felt like a coachman. It was as if the Reason were pulling her by the reins. And so they went. It guided her, showed her the way to her home castle. He was getting into her head. Its cheeky of him, but convenient for someone who doesnt want to think about anything herself. He thinks for her.
Reasons claws were almost lusting over her curls.
How beautiful you are, Princess.
What good would that do?
What do you mean? Dont you value your beauty? Careful, it can be stolen by evil spirits.
Everyone laughs at me because Im stupid.
What does a beautiful woman need a mind for? He laughed suddenly. It turns out that she does!
Estella suspected something wrong when she looked at him in the wall mirror. Her mind pressed against her cheek like a gentle pussycat, but it looked like a demon.
If you are my mind, why are you so ugly?
It is because beauty and intelligence are incompatible! Smart people are never beautiful.
But then youre not my mind, youre someone elses. You were wrong about me.
You are fool, he swung at her with his claws, but held himself back. I am yours, you know!
And how do you know?
I can feel it.
You feel it? What do you mean?
Like you can feel your leg or arm, I can feel you.
But I cant feel you unless youre sitting on my shoulder.
Estella grimaced. The small-sized Mind proved to be heavy. Her shoulder ached from the burden. She hesitated to ask it to step down. She hesitated to ask it to get off, or else it would be gone. Being left without a mind again was terrifying to her. And so she was teased for being a simpleton. Things must change when she had her mind.
Thank you for showing up, she thanked him. It was too bad without you.
And youre already beginning to get smart! Mind clapped his hands cheerfully, and his claws squeaked. Usually beauties are empty-headed, but youre lucky, because you have me. With me youll be the greatest queen in the universe, just take my advice.
Estella nodded obediently. Of course, it was unpleasant to know that your mind was as ugly as a demon. But there was nothing to be done. You have to put up with it. As he himself says, the mind is not meant to be beautiful.
Arent you trying to get back inside my head? Estella didnt like the way he drove his sharp claws across the back of her head.
No, just checking something, his claws hooked the pendants of the crown. If you only knew how hard it was for me to let go of my magical chains, to free myself and come back to you, you would have snuggled me now.
Was it hard for you, too, without me? Estella rejoiced. Its always nice to know youre not the most deprived.
Of course it is! As youve noticed, Im very ugly, but a wise man. Together wed make a great tandem. Just dont tell anyone about me. Let them think Im still enchanted. Its a pity they took the magic out of your pretty little head, or Id look so pretty. No one would ever have locked the doors of the ballroom or the feast room in front of me.
But you will be seen with me if you dont get off your shoulder.
They wont! As long as I sit on your shoulder I am invisible to others. And you can enjoy my wise counsel.
I already have one mentor.
Is it a stupid chaperone?
Shes smart. Dont insult her!
You will be even smarter now.
He whispered in her ear. His whisper was as hot as a dragons breath. Estella winced.
Come, princess! With me you will be irresistible to court and invincible in war. Only listen to my advice!
Its a good thing Reason doesnt have to be introduced as a tame monkey. No one really sees him.
There is some commotion among the courtiers. Reason has his black ears pricked up and listens.
There will be no coronation! He proclaimed. This is no longer conjecture but fact.
Why should it be so?
War has been declared from Ravelin. The local king is convinced the girl must be removed from the throne.
Oh, hes a scoundrel! Estella clenched her fists.
Dont be so boisterous, mistress! Reason cautioned. You must behave yourself. Summon the army.
But Ravelin is the largest state north of us, famous for its torture chambers and dungeons.
And they are but men! Mind clenched his black clawed fists. And I