Conspiracy of The Silence

Tarchannen Roial I

“Her Majesty, the Queen Aerope is pregnant. As of tonight, the 28th of April,of the year 1990, all the royal doctors have confirmed that the queen is four weeks along her pregnancy. After evading the topic for almost two weeks today at exactly 4:00 0’clock in the afternoon the first family’s spokesperson gave a brief but direct speech concerning the queen’s delicate situation. Much concern is given Her Majesty’s health for she is still recovering from a past serious ailment. But the main buzz is; is this finally the royal birth that would produce the prince Cardinia has long waited for?” this was the narration spoken by a newscaster, flashing on a gigantic LED screen atop a Vanderbilt owned skyscraper - one of the family’s newest addition to a conglomerate of infrastructure devoted to telecommunication and mass media. The airing was one of the many a washed all   over Cardinia, especially here in its capital – Cossack City.  The news of the queen’s pregnancy has taken the country by storm. Though it is common for any royal event to be publicized in hyperbolic examples, this happening on the state’s first family and how it was treated by the media is something very out of the ordinary.

One day, while the queen was 8 months along, the king decided to visit her. He has tried his best to avoid seeing her. It was too much for him to bear witness the decline of such lovely creature –whose once legendary beauty captured his eyes and made him decide, after everyone has told him her status was respectable but not what should be for the next queen of Cardinia- to make her his bride.

      “How is the queen?” the king asked in particular the head of his wife’s doctors. He has just finished his dinner –eaten alone in the presence of his servants because his four daughters have all been ushered to their beds, after eating in a separate area by a depressed and agitated Queen Mother. After which Her Majesty then joined her son on his study for a late interview of the staff who were assigned to take care of the queen.

      Before the old craggy doctor could speak up, the Queen Mother spoke, her regal air quieting those before her. “My son, how could asking a physician provide the calm your heart requires?”

      “I am merely asking about the queen’s health through the view of a medically trained person.” The king answered, his tone barely controlled.

      “Really? Is that all there is?” the Queen Mother’s eyes clouded. “I am your mother Domitian. I raised you all by myself after your father’s untimely death. I know every nuance of your behavior.”

      “That is true. However personal you know of me Your Majesty, this is my queen we are discussing.”

      “Enough of you talking like the autocratic king you never were! I was a queen myself, and a ruling one at that. My judgment isn’t as rusty as you think it is Domitian.” She said then strode towards the door. All the people about, except the king, were aghast by the dowager queen’s demeanor. Before leaving, she gave the king a lengthy look and said, “You are still very young my son. I wished your father was still alive, for all this” she raised a bony hand in resignation, “-has made me miss his strong presence.” Her eyes became downcast and when she spoke at last it was a lonely and tired voice that came out. “Nevertheless, we must make do. As old as I am, and as young as you are we must fix this or the house will shatter. She did not have to suffer my son. Make amends, your soul and hers need it.” And with that the queen left.

      “Yes, if only father was alive, I wouldn’t be the man I am.” Domitian, the man, not the king, said under his breath.

He sat beside the huge bed. His eyes roamed the entire room and noticed everything -the dim lights, the closed windows covered with dark fabric and the silent maids and ladies-in-waiting that stood by. It was as if the room was not inhabited by the living but was a domain of death. But what moved Domitian the most was the frail woman who lies in the bed. His once beautiful and fearless queen now slept in the clutches of death. Her proud features held by pain. Suddenly she started thrashing about while asleep, her attendants coming to her side but the king signaled them away.  With a gentle shake of her shoulders the king awoke her.