Regina is a beggar woman in 1599 Italy, a street musician and a fighter, she is mistreated by pretty much everyone. She reunites with a childhood friend named Don John after being taken in by the governor's daughter Hero.
I looked in the mirror at my new dress in my chambers, I still haven't gotten used to being treated as kindly as Hero and her family's treated me the past twenty four hours. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter."
A young and pretty girl walked in, she looked younger than Margaret and Ursula, Hero's ladies in waiting, also known as servants.
"Good afternoon milady Regina."
"Good afternoon."
"My name is Madeline, I was sent here as your new lady in waiting."
I smiled.
"Pleased to meet you Madeline."
"Likewise milady, his lordship Leonato sent me to serve you if you need it. A lady in waiting would help dress their mistresses."
"I put on dresses myself, I don't need served for that, let's think of something else you could do for me."
"I will do anything for you milady, what I'm here for."
I sighed.
"I'm sorry, I'm not used to luxuries like this, you see, I've been living on the streets making a living by music all my adulthood, I lived like this when I was a child living in Aragon, my father was friends with the king of Aragon, when I reached of age, I ran away. Hero and her cousin found me and decided to take me in."
"I was a beggar too milady, I've been working here for weeks because of Lady Hero, I work in the kitchen."
"I appreciate you trying to understand me."
"My pleasure milady, I needed this job to help take care of my younger siblings and sick mother."
"How old are you Madeline?"
"I'm of age, the eldest of all my brothers and sisters."
"Then there's no need for Leonato to send you away. Since you have a sick mother, you know standard nursing, taking care of the sick or injured?"
"Yes milady."
"Then that's what you could do for me, I tend to get into brawls mostly men who try to have their way with me. Quite a few fight back, they're scoundrels."
"Yes milady, I will do it."
"Thank you very much, for the time being, I will think of something else for you."
She curtsied.
"And his lordship says there's a ball tonight in celebration of the soldiers return from the war."
"Oh...thank you Madeline, for now, you're dismissed."
"Yes milady."
"Call me Regina, just Regina."
"Are you sure...Regina?"
"Yes."
"Yes Regina."
She left.
Less than an hour before the ball, I had my dress on.
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I heard a knock.
"Enter."
Hero and Beatrice walked in, they had shocked looks on their faces.
"Regina, you look lovely, red and black are your colors," Hero said.
"Thank you Hero. I had no idea there was a war going on."
"There was...it's over now, Benedick, Claudio-"
"Oh Claudio..." Hero sighed putting her hand on her heart.
"You love this Claudio?" I asked.
"Yes, and Beatrice used to be in love with Benedick."
Beatrice nodded.
"Oh...that explains why you two are at each other's throats."
She chuckled.
"The other soldiers that will be there is Don Pedro and his brother."
I froze.
"Don Pedro, did you just say Don Pedro?"
"Yes, and his brother."
"Don John," we said in unison, I was louder.
"You knew them?" Hero asked.
"Yes, I told you I was born in Aragon. I spent part of my childhood with the princes, my father was friends with their father."
"Oh, then it'll be quite the reunion."
Beatrice pat me on the back.
"But steer clear of Don John, he's not a good man."
I felt sad, I was closer to Don John when we were children.
"Why, because he's only a half brother to Don Pedro. Was he asked to be born to another mother?"
They kept their mouths shut until it was time for the ball.
