Queen of Jericho

Chapter Two

        "Is there any way that you could send this to Caroline?" I ask, placing the letter on my desk in the hands of the Mail Carrier. I don't know why I'm asking, if only to be polite. "She is invited to the ball of my brother's crowning. Instruct her yourself that she mustn't open it alone. It is a state invitation."

He murmurs to his counterpart, nodding, yet not really hearing me. "It is of most importance that she show her face, as her father is married to the Empress," I tell him, knowing that he wouldn't hear much other than what to instruct. Lord Riversan has always been arrogant.

Before the lord could walk out of the door, I called to him with my head between my hands. "You are expected to be there as well, Sir,"

Lord Riversan bows. "As you empower," He says, our national locution slurred on his lips with mockery.

Anger holds no power over me in such states, as this is an everyday situation. I'm just bored of it now.

At the age of twelve, I was put to work for the Empire. For the age of twelve, my duties consisted of constructing schedules, and planning parties for the royal court. Not much, but I've been groomed for this position- the one I'm in at the moment- since birth. My duties entailed budgets for the South Central Kingdom(enlarging the economy, trade, and the disruption of the poor), Along with approving new orders and laws made in the Southern Central area, or Kingdom.

Because Alexander is not yet married, he shall be Emperor until the three of us have children able to rule- as it has been done for generations. The favorite grandchild shall take the Empire. Mother was the favorite, unfortunately killing off all of her cousins and out-lasting her siblings.

I will never have more than one child. Preferably a daughter, because a male can't kill a female, and my brothers are aiming to have only sons- so that they don't have to kill anymore.

Yet Mother still thinks we should carry out tradition. Alex will make sure that her rule will 'overturn' itself. Somehow.

Mother didn't have the luxury of loving her brothers or sisters, for her the games started when she was sixteen.

"Bonjour, mon cherie," Abigail announces, as she proudly comes in with my tea. With a lemon on the side, as always.

"Hello," I chirp, and pull a new sheet of paper from the stack. There was something slightly amusing about new pieces of paper. The way it felt in my dry hands, so light it was almost not there.

"Are the southern territories doing well with the Brazilan shipments?" She asks, nodding to the paperwork that was already done. I had been working on this assignment for months, trying to find another way to get the people of Oak City to settle with the new arrangements, whatever Mother's husband decided was good for them.

"Yes, actually. I'm going down there with Cassian tomorrow, our flight leaves in about an hour."

"Ah, so like a charity case? Well done, Miss." Abigail grins, as she sets down my tea. As she was very close to my age, I considered us as friends. The life of a Queen was always lonely- Mother would tell me often.

"Thank you. I did hope that you would be able to come, but my Mother suggested that I bring only a few units, and I need bodyguards as we are going into the southern parts of the Empire." I hummed, scanning the report that Cassian so kindly sent to my desk. 'You are so much better at this,' he wrote on the top of the paper. "Also, I knew that you had an involvement with Lord Hemming this afternoon, and I didn't want to disrupt that."

Abigail starts, "Your Highness, I would be glad to accompany you-"

My hand is fast to stop her. "Abigail, no. You do so much for me on a daily basis, I think it would be a wonderful Idea for you to have a free weekend."