away.
“So—”
“You look beautiful, my daughter. I’m glad you came.”
“Of course, father. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Come.” He took my arm and started leading me through the people. “The Queen has been waiting for you.”
I sighed deeply in my head but did well not to show displeasure for it on my face.
We walked through the people, this time them being more focused on my father which I was glad for but then I saw the Queen and the gladness suddenly left me. I wanted this to be over before it started.
We both stopped and bowed our heads. “Your majesty.”
I lifted my mask after my bow and she smiled this fake smile. “Ah, Adele—Aleksander. Welcome.”
How dare she use my father’s name? It sounded like poison coming from her lips but I kept everything as my father would have wanted. I was kind and showed no ounce of disloyalty. “Thank you.”
“I was hoping you’d come. Kill two birds with one stone kind of thing.”
“What do you need?”
“I have another assignment for you actually. It just aroused within the hours.”
Thank you! Best news ever! I’d be more than happy to leave. “Of course. Where to?”
“I have reasons to believe that someone by the name of Chan Doe has been forming a secret organization to overthrow the capitol. I need you and your team to travel to the south seas of Maaki to find him and do what you do best.”
I nodded, already looking forward to the long trip away from her but spoke in a loyal melody. “Of course, your majesty. As you wish. I will inform them at once.”
“You can depart as soon as you feel ready. For now, you are relieved to enjoy the night.” We bowed our heads again and turned to leave. “Ah, Adele? One more thing.”
No. No. No. I wanted to just leave. I looked up at my father but he just shrugged his shoulders for having no idea what it was about and I turned back. “Certainly, your majesty.”
“You are relieved, General. This is women talk.”
“As you wish.” He bowed his head and left.
Please don’t leave me alone with her!
It was too late. He was lost in the crowd and Arianna was still focused on me. “Come. Sit.” I walked over and sat in the chair to the Queen’s right very carefully. “I wanted to talk to you about your father, Adele, if I may?”
Curiosity rose and I became a little interested in staying. “What about him, your majesty?”
“Please, call me Arianna.”
“What about my father, your majesty?” I replied, letting the Queen know I would not become friendly and call her by her name without having to actually say it though it sounded more out of loyalty than what I really meant.
“Very well. You know what a big influence he is on this country. There isn’t a subject of mine that doesn’t respect him and so I’d like to make him my King.”
My eyes opened a little wider and my stomach churned. “You mean marry him?” No! I already hated the idea. The last thing I wanted to do was call the Queen, mother. She was no mother. She was barely even a Queen.
“Of course.”
This wasn’t happening. What else was there to say but the truth? “My father is indeed an honorable man to serve as King, your majesty but if he was to marry you, that honor would be stricken from him and I won’t let that happen.”
That’s what I was surely thinking the truth was but I didn’t actually think that I would have it in me to say it out loud but I did. It happened and the Queen’s expression changed. She was displeased. “You detest against me but I see you have not the choice. I was not asking you. I was telling you. Your father and I will wed and there is nothing you can do to stop it. If you try, I will take care of you myself as I have tried and failed just recently. I didn’t expect to see you back here.”
I knew it! She truly expected us not to return from venturing into Seni and it only made my hate for her grow. “Then you clearly underestimated us.”
“Yes, I did but no harm done.
“So—”
“You look beautiful, my daughter. I’m glad you came.”
“Of course, father. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Come.” He took my arm and started leading me through the people. “The Queen has been waiting for you.”
I sighed deeply in my head but did well not to show displeasure for it on my face.
We walked through the people, this time them being more focused on my father which I was glad for but then I saw the Queen and the gladness suddenly left me. I wanted this to be over before it started.
We both stopped and bowed our heads. “Your majesty.”
I lifted my mask after my bow and she smiled this fake smile. “Ah, Adele—Aleksander. Welcome.”
How dare she use my father’s name? It sounded like poison coming from her lips but I kept everything as my father would have wanted. I was kind and showed no ounce of disloyalty. “Thank you.”
“I was hoping you’d come. Kill two birds with one stone kind of thing.”
“What do you need?”
“I have another assignment for you actually. It just aroused within the hours.”
Thank you! Best news ever! I’d be more than happy to leave. “Of course. Where to?”
“I have reasons to believe that someone by the name of Chan Doe has been forming a secret organization to overthrow the capitol. I need you and your team to travel to the south seas of Maaki to find him and do what you do best.”
I nodded, already looking forward to the long trip away from her but spoke in a loyal melody. “Of course, your majesty. As you wish. I will inform them at once.”
“You can depart as soon as you feel ready. For now, you are relieved to enjoy the night.” We bowed our heads again and turned to leave. “Ah, Adele? One more thing.”
No. No. No. I wanted to just leave. I looked up at my father but he just shrugged his shoulders for having no idea what it was about and I turned back. “Certainly, your majesty.”
“You are relieved, General. This is women talk.”
“As you wish.” He bowed his head and left.
Please don’t leave me alone with her!
It was too late. He was lost in the crowd and Arianna was still focused on me. “Come. Sit.” I walked over and sat in the chair to the Queen’s right very carefully. “I wanted to talk to you about your father, Adele, if I may?”
Curiosity rose and I became a little interested in staying. “What about him, your majesty?”
“Please, call me Arianna.”
“What about my father, your majesty?” I replied, letting the Queen know I would not become friendly and call her by her name without having to actually say it though it sounded more out of loyalty than what I really meant.
“Very well. You know what a big influence he is on this country. There isn’t a subject of mine that doesn’t respect him and so I’d like to make him my King.”
My eyes opened a little wider and my stomach churned. “You mean marry him?” No! I already hated the idea. The last thing I wanted to do was call the Queen, mother. She was no mother. She was barely even a Queen.
“Of course.”
This wasn’t happening. What else was there to say but the truth? “My father is indeed an honorable man to serve as King, your majesty but if he was to marry you, that honor would be stricken from him and I won’t let that happen.”
That’s what I was surely thinking the truth was but I didn’t actually think that I would have it in me to say it out loud but I did. It happened and the Queen’s expression changed. She was displeased. “You detest against me but I see you have not the choice. I was not asking you. I was telling you. Your father and I will wed and there is nothing you can do to stop it. If you try, I will take care of you myself as I have tried and failed just recently. I didn’t expect to see you back here.”
I knew it! She truly expected us not to return from venturing into Seni and it only made my hate for her grow. “Then you clearly underestimated us.”
“Yes, I did but no harm done.
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