The Knight Queen

Chapitre Un: Arrivée

Caught in the moment, not even thinking twice,
Everything's frozen, nothing but you and I.
¶Why Don't We––Fallin'¶

   Ä̤ Ẅ̤Ö̤M̤̈Ä̤N̤̈––adorned in the silkiest of ball gowns coloured a lovely navy blue and a crown sat atop her jet-black hair which winked at the sheer touch of illumination––looked at her reflection in the looking glass, lost in thought.

   "When is my betrothed to arrive?" she channeled the question to her Royal Advisor, who had stayed mute all the while.

   "They were caught by an unexpected blizzard on the eastern borders and their journey was hindered. Hence, their advent is indeterminable, Your Majesty," he replied and she nodded.

   "What did you say his name was again?" she asked, not a change in her tone.

   "Crown Prince Rafael Hernando of Zejardo, Your Majesty," he answered with a smooth tone and to that the Queen nodded once again.

   A storm brew in Napoleon's (the Royal Advisor) mind, uncertain of whether to out it or not. Alas, he took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.

   "Your Majesty, I believe you are aware of the consequences Troyes will suffer if you do not agree to-"

   "You speak, only when spoke to, Napoleon," the Queen cut him short and shot him a glare through the looking glass, making eye contact for the first time.

   "And aye, I am indeed aware of the consequences that Troyes will suffer if I do not succumb to Nayern's orders. However, what you fail to notice is that if I do hand over Duke Alain for due punishment in Nayern, the people of his duchy will start to be dubious about me and invite others to join them in forming a coup to overthrow the monarchy," she finished, her tone calm despite the emotions swirling within her being.

    "There is also the fact that failure to hand over the Duke to the Nayern Emperor will wage a war with the Emperor having a good reason to initiate said war because of the supposed assassination the Crown Princess of Nayern. Troyes will suffer miserably since Nayern is in possession of the strongest army in the realm, Your Majesty." The Queen let out a sigh. Her Royal Advisor was correct, both ways were liable and would lead to a war of some sort. The thought had been bothering her ever since she received the letter from the Nayern Emperor a fortnight ago.

   "Let us leave it at that and ponder on it later, dismissed," she commanded and Napoleon nodded his head before leaving. She walked towards the adjoining room filled with volumes of books on facts all about Troyes: her library.

   Plopping herself down on the plushy chair in front of her desk, she stared at the fire that roared heartily in it's hearth, providing much needed warmth in the cold room. Her eyes wandered to the big portrait on the East wall, one where her entire family was smiling happily and glee shone in their eyes. The same pain shot through her heart; an aching for her family. They meant the realm to her, that was, before they drowned at sea.

   They had set sail for Gael, to visit her grandmother. It was a tradition they had kept every year and which she wasn't a part of because of her accursed sea sickness. Reports had already come in from the sailors that the tides had turned and they were unfit for travel, but, they had heard none of it only to perish at sea.

   Tears threatened to fall out of her eyes but she sucked it in.

   This is not a time to sit and mourn. Your mourning period is long gone. Now, you are the Queen of Troyes and you need to find a way to get out of this sticky predicament you are in.