《The Iron Queen》


 Chapter 1: Coronation Day

    ¡°I look ridiculous¡­¡± The mirror mocks me, reflecting my awkward demeanor in a ballgown. The dress was too much on the hanger, and it is even more horrifying on. No amount of fine silk can mask who I really am; a knight soon to be Queen.


    ¡°You look beautiful, your highness. Like a queen!¡± I could tell my advisor was genuine, but the longer I looked at myself in the layers of red fabric, the longer I felt like I was going to be sick. Alva came highly recommended among the local nobility, so she would know about these things better than I do. She assured me that this style was the height of fashion, and I have no reason to not believe her. However, I question why society would accept such uncomfortable clothing as ¡®fashion-forward.¡¯


    ¡°What if I am attacked? How am I to defend myself when I can¡¯t even see my feet!¡± Alva and surrounded servants chuckled at the urgency in my tone. Clearly, it is not something they have had to think about in their day-to-day lives. ¡°What is so funny?¡± I say agitated, a small vein pulsing in my temple.


    Clearing her throat, Alva collected herself. ¡°Nothing your Majesty, just that old habits die hard it seems... You were raised on the battlefield, but today you are to become a queen. You need to think differently, act differently.¡± Taking her portable quill, Alva brushes the soft feathery tip along my shoulders. ¡°You must be graceful, poised, and most importantly be socially conscious of your political engagements¡­¡± She looks at the dress, admiring her fashion choice. ¡°This dress will be what you greet the people of Xosta in as their Queen. It is important to make a good first- wait what are you doing?¡±


    As Alva rambled I imagine a thousand different ways to destroy this forsaken garment. During my daydream, I contemplated fire, scissors, and even slashes of a sword. As I came to a plan in my mind I found my hands gripped to the front area of the skirt. Then like a knife through butter, I ripped the skirt down to the hem.


    ¡°No! What have you done?!¡± Alva was flushed with panic. ¡°There is no time to make a new gown! I feel faint!¡± My advisor started to breathe in and out with haste, as she leaned against the wall for balance. While she found amusement in me, I now find amusement in her as I bite my lip trying not to release laughter. I do enjoy giving her a hard time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic¡­¡± I say dismissively. ¡°I want this area open so I can walk comfortably. The seamstress should be able to fix the torn edges.¡±


    Alva was beside herself. ¡°But your highness, your entire¡­ er-delicate area is exposed¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t resist the laughter any longer as Alva struggled with that last sentence.


    ¡°Ha! I¡¯ll just have to wear pants then won¡¯t I.¡± We have been arguing for months on my ¡®pants¡¯ stance. I never cared for dresses, and just seeing myself in this current state reaffirms this. Now that my dress is ripped, I will have no other option than to go with my plans.


    ¡°You schemed this from the very beginning didn¡¯t you¡­¡± Alva was displeased, but she was stuck with me whether she liked it or not.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± I shrug my shoulders. ¡°You should call the seamstress now rather than later, I don¡¯t want to be late for my Coronation.¡±


    With a snap of her fingers, my advisor sent one of the servants to retrieve someone to fix my gown. With her fingers, she took the fabric assessing the damage. ¡°You are lucky the tear was so smooth.¡± Her brow jolted as she grazed the fread edges. I am sure she planned for things to go wrong, but I am sure a new dress was not scheduled in her alternative planner. ¡°You just had to go off-book, didn''t you?¡± Her mumble was in vain as I could hear her clear as day.


    ¡°I am different from any ruler in Xosta¡¯s history¡­ Get used to going ¡®off book¡¯¡¯'' Alva scoffed walking away from the dress to her list of tasks to complete for the ceremony.


    My sudden coming into power has been not only an adjustment for me, but the entire kingdom. For years my father ruled with an iron fist, over-taxing his people, growing his armies to conquer other lands, and desperately pursuing a male heir.


    He would force my mother to drink a potion that would kill the fetus if they were female to ensure his wife would bear only sons. I was never supposed to be born... but thanks to my mother¡¯s protection, and my twin brother Galleren, my life was spared. The potion was neutralized by my brother''s presence in utero, allowing me protection from it¡¯s poison.


    It was with my brother¡¯s help, that I was able to join forces with the sansperpant people to take back Xosta for my own. However, we did not come out of the battle unscathed. Just before I had the pleasure of slicing my father¡¯s throat, he forced my brother¡¯s pregnant wife to drink the toxic potion he used on my mother. The bastard¡­ As a master in potions I swore to Ariella that I would find a cure, before it was too late. The effect of the poison doesn¡¯t take hold till labor, which gives me about seven months to create an antidote. If not their first child could be lost.


    ¡°Have you thought about your speech, your grace?¡± Alva¡¯s nagging tone pulled me back to the present.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I nod. Looking at her elevated brow and eye roll, she was probably looking for something more detailed. ¡°Do you have something written? I think it would be best to have something to read from, just in case your nerves get the best of you.¡±


    As Alva begins to write on her parchment, I can see a vague outline of a speech forming. ¡°I have faced ever foe imaginable... I don''t get nervous.¡± She didn¡¯t seem to care about what I had to say, continuing to write down her thoughts.


    ¡°Well it doesn¡¯t hurt to have it. Better be safe than sorry I always say.¡± When the sound of the door opening came through the room, Alva nearly jumped for joy. ¡°Ah! Seamstress! Thank goodness!¡± Dropping her quill my advisor rushes to my side, pointing out the flaws of the gown. ¡°We need these hems touched up, and make sure to keep the front open. Her majesty will be wearing- pants.¡± I could hear the pain in her voice as she uttered that last word. Who knew pants could be such a source of conflict. I suppose more nobels wouldn''t be caught dead in anything other than a dress, but I am not most nobles.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    While the seamstress was perplexed by the new fittings, she did not question her soon to be queen¡¯s request. One of the former king¡¯s commands was to restrict the servants from speaking with any of the members of royalty. While I have lifted the restriction, some have continued to keep silent while in my presence. As the seamstress worked quietly on my gown, I admired the care and craftsmanship that she took. Every push and pull of the needle and thread was thought out carefully, it is mesmerizing to watch.


    ¡°My lady, please read this.¡± Alva brought me her parchment holding it high to my eye level. ¡°The ink is still wet so do not touch it.¡± After glancing through it briefly, I turn away. ¡°Looks good.¡±


    Alva gave me a skeptical glare. ¡°With all due respect to your grace, did you even read it? I think that-¡±


    ¡°I read enough. I trust your judgment.¡± My advisor sighed in defeat. ¡°Fine¡­¡± I am not one for words, for the longest time, I barely spoke in an effort to maintain my cover working in my father''s reign. I think that Alva is more qualified to give a speech than I.


    Suddenly there is a soft knock at the door. One of the event servants steps in the door but does not fully enter the room. She leans forward motioning for Alva, making sure not to look me in the eye. Another silent servant¡­


    With haste my advisor goes to the new visitor, leaning in her ear as she whispers a message out of my hearing. ¡°What?!¡± Alva gasped. ¡°We will be there at once!¡± In an urgent rush, Alva started to gather her things in the room, making sure everything was accounted for. ¡°We need to finish the alteration now! The ceremony is about to begin!¡±


    ¡ù


    The last time I was in this room was for my brother¡¯s wedding. I had no idea that their union would lead to this day. Ariella and Ren were just two strangers, now they rule over Theora and have a child on the way. This hall has seen many weddings and coronations, and now it is my time to take my oath, and swear my allegiance to Xosta and the people. Much like Galleren¡¯s wedding, the room is packed with nobles, all dressed in fine clothes and jewels. The strong stone pillars tower high, holding the arched ceiling from collapse. A bright red runner lines the aisle leading to the royal throne, where I will take my vows.


    Awaiting my arrival is a judge who will perform the ceremony, and create a signed document for the historian¡¯s records. His long black robes and tall hat show his authority and significance to the crowd, and soon my crown will outrank it. Next to him is a tall golden table, with a red velvet cloak with white trim, and the ever awe-inspiring royal crown of Xosta. The encrusted jewels are just as remembered, the gold metal glistening in the light calls to me from afar.


    Walking down the aisle was easy, but the sight of the people on me was more difficult than I had anticipated. Some of their glares felt like daggers, cutting their judgments onto me. I knew coming into this that not everyone would be accepting of me, and I am sure my bold fashion statement does not help matters. I will have to earn their trust over time, however, I can¡¯t help but to feel the pressure of disappointing them.


    Approaching the red cushioned throne I keep my head high, as Alva adjusts the train of my dress accordingly. Once I take my seat, I watch as everyone in attendance follows in a wave. I swallow hard taking in the amount of people before me. The two hundred or so eyes here are just the beginning. When I make my first address to the entire Kingdom, there will be thousands. My breath staggers thinking about it.


    The judge brings my attention back to the present, as he begins to read from his scroll. ¡°We are gathered here today, to witness history. As Xosta¡¯s next monarch is about to take their vows, pledging their allegiance to their people.¡± His voice belows, projecting to even the last pair of ears in the back of the hall. He turns to me, and continues. ¡°Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the oath?¡±


    ¡°I am willing,¡± I reply. I am ready¡­


    The judge nodes. ¡°Will you solemnly promise to govern the people of Xosta, and to your power cause law and justice to be executed?¡±


    I took a moment to take in the words, holding their power before I utter the words, ¡°I promise to do so.¡±


    ¡°And do you intend to lead the Kingdom of Xosta to a brighter future, maintain its laws and... traditions.¡± The judge¡¯s emphasis on ¡®traditions¡¯ was clear. While I didn¡¯t remember reading that word in the oath beforehand, I did not want to protest publicly against such a simple request¡­ ¡°I do.¡±


    The dark robbed judge smiles at my compliance, then slowly makes his way to the table of royal accessories. Taking the robe he carefully raps it around my shoulders. ¡°With this robe, I adorn you in righteousness and wisdom. May you take it with you for every day of your reign.¡± The cloth was soft to the touch, as it warms my shoulders. I close my eyes taking in all of the knowledge that every King has had before me, and a light flares in my heart knowing how proud my mother would be of me. May she rest in peace¡­


    Now comes the moment we have all been waiting for, when I wear that crown, I will officially begin my reign as the first Queen of Xosta. As the judge takes the bright glowing circlet, time seems to stand still, as my last moments as a knight come to a close and a new chapter of my life unfolds. As the cool touch of the gold is placed on my head, my father¡¯s final words ring in my ear, ¡®They will never accept a Queen without a King¡¯ I subconsciously clench my hands into a fist. My father has taken so much from me already, I will not let him spoil this moment now.


    ¡°With this crown, I pass on the power and authority of the Xosta monarchy to you. May it bring you honor and glory for all your days to come.¡± The judge took a step back and bowed to his Queen in respect. ¡°People of Xosta, rise! I present to you your new ruler! Queen Esteve! Long may she reign!¡±


    The crowd cheered and clapped as they stood from their seats with joy. The halls echoed in the rejoices of the people, filling my heart with a fullness that is hard to put to words. This was the moment I have worked for my entire life. Never have I felt so¡­ complete. I walked out of the hall through the cheering audience as a proud new Queen, with Alva right behind me. I did it, I am Queen of Xosta! My father must be turning in his grave. My proud demeanor shone through as I made my graceful exit.


    ¡°The people have already gathered in front of the palace for your first address.¡± Alva said shuffling through her written cards for my speech. Carefully she scanned through her words, looking for errors or areas of improvement. Her commitment to detail is astounding. The closer we are to the castle gates the louder I can hear the people awaiting my arrival. The multitude of voices sent an unexpected pit into my stomach. All of those people¡­ my people. Are here to see me¡­ I knew the weight the crown would give me, but I wasn¡¯t expecting to be this nervous for my speech. It is such a small task, so why is it affecting me so?


    ¡°Your Majesty! Are you well? You look pale.¡± My observant advisor snapped her fingers at the nearest servant. ¡°You! Go fetch the Queen a glass of water!¡± Within an instant, a goblet of water was in my grasp. Pressing the cool brass to my lips, I consume the liquid letting the hydration flush out my anxiety. ¡°You will do just fine. Smile, wave, and read your cards.¡± Alva handed me my speech with a confident smile. Smile, wave, and read the cards¡­ What could go wrong?

 Chapter 2: The Queens Speech

    As I looked over the palace courtyard I was taken aback by all of the faces that stood there. All matters of Xosta was there; from peasants to nobles, everyone wanted to see their new queen first hand. As the sun was bright, the heat sparked a passionate flame for every one of them. It is different to place your Kingdom¡¯s future behind castle walls, but it puts everything into perspective when you see all of the faces it represents.


    I step forward onto the stone balcony, keeping my back straight and head held high. Lifting my right hand, I smile and wave as Alva instructed. The courtyard was decorated in red, black, and gold Xosta colors. Streamers, curtains, and flowers hung from every window, balcony, and entrance, but it was the citizens of my new kingdom that caught my eye. As my feet hit the edge of the balcony the people slowly began to quiet their voices, waiting for my first words. I glanced at my cards, and taking a deep breath, I spoke.


    ¡°Good afternoon, and welcome to the Xosta palace. I am pleased you all could be here on this momentous day in history as I am crowned as your first queen. We live in uncertain times, but as your leader I swear to you to create a better Xosta then what was left behind for our former King-¡±


    ¡°KING KILLER!¡± a voice shouted from the crowd. The interruption shocked the entire courtyard as people began to whisper amongst themselves at the spectacle. I looked in the direction of the voice, to see two armed guards escorting someone from the palace.


    One of the balcony guards stepped away from his post, and approached me. ¡°My apologies for interrupting your Majesty. The citizen has been escorted out of the courtyard. Please continue.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t going to let this disruption ruin my first address, but if there is negative talk about the new queen I need to know. ¡°I wish to speak with this person. Please make sure he does not leave the place just yet.¡± I order. The guard bows in respect. ¡°Yes your ladyship.¡± and leaves swiftly to fulfill my order.


    Clearing my throat I find my place back in my cards and continue on. ¡°I know the trials and hardships of the people, for I grew up among you as a child. As such, I know that great reform must be taken. With lower taxes and redistribution of funds, I plan to remake the poor and create a better, happier place to live¡­¡± As I reach the end of my written speech I feel a lackluster in my heart. The people are also sandsperpants, and I am sure citizens are concerned about their new presence. ¡°Part of this happiness includes the sandserpants. They have been hiding for far too long, and have been invited into our city to live with us as brothers and sisters. I hope that you all can welcome them with open arms as I have. For together we can build a better Xosta.¡±


    As the crowd cheered, I could help notice a slight disinterss in their enthusiasm. Was it something I said? Maybe I should have stuck to the cards¡­ Keep smiling, and make a graceful exit.


    Upon re-entering the castle I see Alva frantic as ever talking with two guards. ¡°How could you let this happen?!¡± The two iron men stood there silently, taking the lecture like champions. ¡°I¡¯ll have you fired for this!¡±


    ¡°Whoa! Easy Alva, it wasn¡¯t their fault. The guards can¡¯t control what people say. I think they handled the situation to the best of their ability.¡± My intervention was well received with the men, as a sense of relief washed over their faces.


    Angrily Alva turned to me in disdain. ¡°No, but you can. Why did you go off script?! Now they have more ammunition!¡±


    ¡°They? Who is they?¡± Alva bit her tongue. ¡°Tell me.¡± I glare hard at her, pulling the information from her lips.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°There are a number of people who are¡­ not pleased with your sudden change to power. They believe you to be-¡± Alva paused, choosing her next words carefully. ¡°Unfit to rule.¡±


    I was furious for a number of reasons. That there are people who don¡¯t see me as good enough to sit on the throne, and the fact that Alva and everyone else have been keeping it a secret. ¡°When were you going to tell me about this?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping I would never have too. After the first address things normally tone down¡­ but after today I think we may have a bigger problem at hand.¡± I could see the concern in my advisors eyes, this was no joke.


    If I don¡¯t have the acceptance of the people, we could have rioting in the streets, rebellion in the palace, and even other territories looking for a vulnerable queen to overthrow. I need to get to the source of their concerns in order to gain their favor. ¡±I¡¯ve had that man who spoke out detained. I will speak with him, and get to the bottom of this.¡±


    Alva nods in agreement. ¡°Excellent idea your Majesty. I¡¯ll have the guards summon him to the throne room. Let¡¯s see what this man has to say.¡±


    ?


    The leather arms of the chair. The soft velvet caressing my back. The throne is exactly how I imagined it would feel. So why do I not feel like royalty? I am only a few hours into my reign, and a problem among the people has already come up. ¡®King killer!¡¯ The citizens'' words were not wrong, and they haunted me. My father was not beloved, at least by most of his subjects. He was responsible for countless deaths, including the miscarriages he forced on my mother. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine the number of children who died of starvation due to their poverty. With the taxes at an all time high in Xosta it forced many to lose their homes, and with imported crops, most of them couldn/t even afford to buy a crust of bread. King Thybaut got the justice he deserves¡­  So why am I the villain in this story?


    As the guards brought the man forward, I began to see the anger in his eyes. The clear disdain by my presence brought about a rage in my soul. The man is brought to his knees before me, his legs hitting the stone floor swiftly. The long throne room hall was plain, Alva was not expecting this area to be used yet or I am sure it would be decorated properly; But the torches lit around us was all I needed.


    Setting my royal gaze on the interrupter, I take note of his fine clothing. The silks and gold jewelry around his neck told me all I needed to know. He is a noble. With nobility comes snobbery, and quick judgement. However if I am going to be a successful Queen, I need the support of everyone in Xosta, including the nobles.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± I speak clear as day, but the man seems to be reluctant of my question. In a rage, one of the guards shoved the mans shoulder. ¡°Her Majesty asked you a question!¡±


    ¡°My name is of no importance.¡± The gentleman kept his face from me. His dark brown hair shading his eyes from my sight.


    ¡°Perhaps... But we are civilized people are we not? I only wish to ask you a few questions, and you can go on your way.¡± His displeasure continued to grow, his shoulders tightening with every word that flowed from my lips.


    The man took a deep breath. ¡°I cannot guarantee you will like my answers, your grace.¡± Just before the guard reached down to strike him I pulled up my hand, holding him from his action. ¡°Your sharp tongue nor your answers frighten me¡­ now tell me, what came over you to create an outburst during my address?¡±


    I could nearly hear the stubborn man grinding his teeth. It is not in his stubborn nature to submit, but I will not allow him to leave until I get the information I need. ¡°The members of nobility have strong feelings for those who overthrow respected Kings¡­ Say what you will about King Thybaut, but he put us first in every manner. The nobility of Xosta demand to maintain their recognition and influence in the kingdom, or I can assure you my ¡®outburst¡¯ will be the first of many.¡±


    It shouldn¡¯t surprise me that the nobles feel threatened by a new rise in power, but the look of resentment in his face worries me. I may have more of a problem on my hands than anticipated.


    ¡°Without a king, the nobles will never accept you as the crown!¡± There it was, what I feared the most. My father''s words have come true...

 Chapter 3: Pride and Matrimony

    ¡°Get out!¡± I roared. The civilian in front of me was the focus of my rage. ¡°Get him out of my sight! Now!¡± The armored guards obeyed their orders, guiding him out of the throne room by his arms.


    I could feel my blood boiling under my skin. The anger consuming me. He doesn¡¯t know anything about me. Who do these nobels think they are? I am Queen! I fought for them! I sacrificed everything to overthrow my father and it is not enough. I need to get out of here.


    Nostrils flared I stormed out of the throne room, retreating to the royal bedchamber to calm down. As I slammed the door behind me I rested my back on the smooth wood placing my hand on the cool metal knob for balance. I could feel my heart beat pounding in my chest like it wanted to jump free from my chest cavity. With my opposing hand I place it beneath my collar bone. Breathe in¡­ Breathe out¡­


    I kept breathing until I felt the blood in my veins slow to their normal flow. When my eyes reopened I saw that the room was filled with flowers and gifts. My rage must have blinded me from noticing till now. The smell of roses, violets, and peonies made themselves present as I walked through the array of objects left for me. The presents were not the only thing that changed.


    As I requested, Alva replaced all the furniture and decor that my father left behind. I didn¡¯t want anything that the previous king or any of his whores touched left for me to gaze upon.


    The new oak bed was beautiful. The tan polished wood was engraved with Xosta markings of vines and leaves, mixed with a few desert flowers. To match were a pair of end tables, a vanity, and a small dining table with wine and two empty goblets. As I admire the new furniture I am reminded of the bloodshed, and the joy of killing my father on this very floor. ¡®The people will never accept a queen without a king¡¯...


    His final words will not stop repeating in my head. Is this the ghost of King Thybaut? Is this his revenge from beyond the grave?


    ¡°There you are!¡± Alva¡¯s voice yanked me from my unrealistic thoughts. ¡°I''ve been looking everywhere for you. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡± I mumbled. I kept my back to her, not wanting Alva to see the rage slightly lingering in my eyes.


    ¡°That is not what I heard¡­ You yelled at him? Now the nobles have more to fuel their cause! What were you thinking?¡±


    I clenched my fist, tiring to contain my composure. ¡°He said I need to marry. I refuse to take orders from any noble no matter what their status. I never planned to marry, and being queen doesn¡¯t change that.¡±


    Alva sighed, ¡°Sit down. We need to talk further.¡± Her tone told me she thought differently about my problem. But she is practically the only one to help guide me though issues like this. I owe it to her to listen. As I took a seat in one of the lounge chairs, Alva poured us each a glass of wine, placing it on a table between us. ¡°We have yet to discuss the finances of the Kingdom.¡± Alva takes a large sip of wine, as if hoping to give her courage. ¡°King Thybaut used nearly all the gold and silver pieces saved in the royal treasury pretty early on in his reign. Forcing him to tax his people at a high rate to make up for the deficate.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°I am aware. Why are you telling me this?¡± Alva pushes my untouched wine glass towards me. ¡°Please drink. Would make me feel better if you had a bit of alcohol in your system for what I have to say next.¡±


    Her panic started to alarm me, what is so bad that she is struggling to tell me? ¡°Spit it out Alva!¡±


    She gripped to her skirt tightly and swallowed hard. ¡°Taxing the people was not enough. After years of high taxes, people ran out of coin to give and started to accumulate debt of their own. So King Thybaut made a deal with the nobles. They would help keep the Kingdom afloat, and in exchange the crown would grant them leniency to certain laws, and powers in parliament.¡±


    ¡°What exactly are you saying?¡± Alva looked me in the eye, and I could see the fear in her gaze. ¡°You are queen in name only. The nobles are the ones who control Xosta.¡±


    As Alva¡¯s words set in, I realized that she was right. I should have taken that drink before hearing what she had to say.


    ¡°Anything else you would like to mention? How long have you known?¡± I could feel the anger swelling inside me once again.


    ¡°I''ve known since before we met.¡± The shame in her voice caused me no sympathy, but sparked more rage. I stood up and walked a few steps away from her in an effort to control my temper, but I could feel my will power hanging on by a thread. ¡°I am so sorry.¡± Alva pleaded ¡°The nobles have become unpredictable, and I didn¡¯t want to burden you before you were sworn into the crown.¡±


    ¡°Well, next time a problem comes to your attention I am to be notified immediately. Or I can find a new advisor. Understand?¡± I could tell my stren tone struck a chord with her as she nodded in submission. ¡°Leave me. I need some time to think.¡±


    ¡°Of course your Majesty. Before I go I have this for you.¡± Alva held up a folded  parchment with a wax seal. ¡°You received a letter from Theora.¡± Carefully she placed it on the table, and bowed, taking her leave. ¡°Goodnight your majesty.¡±


    When I was finally alone with my thoughts, the quiet set in. Everything that I worked for was suddenly taken from me. The gifts and flora around me suddenly seem empty. Meaningless. These are merely a means to gain my favor, so that I will stay in line for the nobles as their ¡®royal face¡¯. Feeling despair creeping in, I lunged for the letter in the hopes of good news.


    Dear Sister,


    Congratulations! You are queen of Xosta, and I couldn¡¯t be more proud of you for this momentous accomplishment. I know how hard it was to get to this point, and I want you to know that I have no regrets about surrendering my crown to you. Things in Theora have been going extremely well! We have been slowly rebuilding from the damages of war, and the people are overjoyed at their princesses'' return. Arie has been in good health. Doctors say the baby is as well. We are remiss that we both could not make it to the ceremony. We didn¡¯t want to risk traveling with the baby and are still getting settled in our new home. You are going to make an amazing queen, and while there may be some difficult decisions along the way I know that you will always put your people first.


    Sincerely,


    Galleren


    As I stared at my brother''s letter feeling the parchment between my fingers, I pondered on his words of encouragement. I have come this far. I will not let the nobles take away my right to rule, and the right of the people to have a leader in power who puts them first.


    Reclaiming my chair I replaced the letter with my goblet. In order to take back my power, the debt between the nobles and the crown needs to be whipped away. Whether I like it or not, marriage to a wealthy member of royalty would be the fastest and most logical answer to my predicament. And with that realization, I took my wine glass and drank every last drop.

 Chapter 4: Party Planning

    ¡°This is most excellent! Look at all these replies!¡± Alva says shuffling through a mountain of paperwork on her desk. ¡°There must be nearly fifty letters of interest. Of course, we will narrow down to a select few, taking into account wealth and status, but overall this is a tremendous start!¡± Alva¡¯s expression flattened when she saw my unamused demeanor. I could feel the wrinkle of my furrowed brow pulsating. ¡°Why does this not please you, your grace? I thought you would be thrilled.¡±


    Normal Alva is the picture of organization, but as I look around me my advisor¡¯s office is a mess. Piles of open books, maps, and scattered papers covered nearly every surface. She is working hard to arrange this event for me, but I hated everything that it stood for and all the involvement that I would need to do. ¡°I feel like a prized cattle being auctioned off to the slaughter¡­¡± I say in a grouchy tone.


    My appointed event planner scoffs. ¡°Oh please. Don''t be so melodramatic, your majesty. Many kings and queens have had to endure an arranged marriage. Be thankful that you will have some opinion on who you spend the rest of your life with, others can¡¯t say the same.¡±


    She is right. I should be thankful, but I never wanted this. Marriage was always off the table for me, I never really considered it until now. I always thought that one of Ren and Arie¡¯s heirs would take the Xosta throne someday. Wait¡­ Does this mean I need to bear children too? I turn to a tall mirror hanging on the wall and contemplate what I would look like with a pregnant belly. I shudder at the thought.


    ¡°My queen, have you considered a venue? It might be wise to have it here in Xosta to show off the potential home for the candidates, but Xosta is across the ocean. It may be better to host at a different location. Perhaps somewhere greener?¡± I knew what she was implying.


    ¡°You want to have it in Theora?¡± I asked.


    She nods, ¡° Precisely! It is an easier trip for most of the prospective bachelors, and much  more romantic than our dry wasteland.¡± I shot her a glare, insulting our home¡¯s climate. ¡°And! Queen Ariella will be close to giving birth at that point. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to witness the birth of your niece or nephew?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    That would be wonderful if I can make the antidote in time. I¡¯ve managed to keep Ariella¡¯s poisoning a secret, if word got out I fear people may use the information to their advantage. Even if I trust Alva with my own well-being, I don¡¯t trust her with the life of my brother''s unborn child.


    Actually, come to think of it, I would have quick access to most of the ingredients I would need, and I could deliver it straight away if things were down to the wire. ¡°I agree, I think Theora is an excellent idea.¡±


    Alva smiled, scratching more ink with her quill and parchment. ¡°Alright, I will send word to King Galleren at once.¡± Hearing my brother referred to as ¡®King Galleren¡¯ nearly made me laugh. During our handful of childhood encounters, I would tease him mercilessly in play. Now my brother whom I gave noogies to is a king. I bite my lower lip to hold back any lingering urge to chuckle.


    ¡°Now that we have chosen a venue. Let us discuss the activities.¡±


    I roll my eyes. ¡°Activities? Is that really necessary?¡±


    Alva raised her eyes with annoyance. ¡°Yes my lady. These men will be traveling from miles away. As the hosts, it is our duty to entertain and ensure that each of our guests has the opportunity to get to know you.¡± Get to know me? This is going to be more painful than I had anticipated. ¡°Now typically at such a prestigious event, there is a ball-¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± I interject. Of all the things I hate in this world, dresses and balls are top of the list.


    ¡°Your majesty please,¡± Alva spoke in an urgent tone ¡°It is customary to hold a grand ball in honor of the event. If you did not have one, it would be considered rude. It is important to make a good impression.¡±


    Tapping my foot I sulk with my thoughts. If I am going to have to do this, then I should at least get something out of it. ¡°Fine. On one condition. We also hold a tournament.¡±


    ¡°That is brilliant!¡± Alva stood out from her chair with excitement. ¡°We can have each of the candidate''s duel for your hand!¡±


    ¡°Well, I was actually thinking of it as more of friendly competition. As the idea of these men ¡®fighting for my hand¡¯ makes me want to vomit, but whatever you think is best.¡± My laced sarcasm did not register to Alva, as I can already see her mentally planning the entire tournament in her head. I can put up with whatever torment Alva can throw at me. My one hope is that I find a match that has a sizable treasury, and doesn¡¯t make me want to gauge my eyes out.