WITCH - The Queen

Chapter 6

Cleo

The carriage stopped in front of a small estate, which was painted in various shades of pink. Pretty flowering weeds and ivy overgrew the front yard. Ivy also climbed up part of the house wall. Algae grew on the old roof, which required repair.

"Your grandma lives here?", asked Cleo, looking at the house in horror. "When was it renovated the last time?"

"A few weeks ago? Grandma wrote that she had recently mended the roof."

"Her?"

"Yes." Charlotte sighed. "My grandmother, Antonia, thinks she can do it on her own. The good old lady is three hundred years old and stubborn! My grandfather... Well, he's too scattered to worry about repairs. Clemens. He is her fourth husband. Mortal, like all before him. He should be ninety by now. Ten years ago, the two had their first child together. I told you about that... Ernestine is a lovely child, but just as scattered as her parents."

"I remember." Cleo was relieved that Charlotte had repeated her grandparents' names. Cleo had forgotten them, which Charlotte probably suspected.

The two got out of the carriage and made their way through the front yard. Fortunately, the weeds hadn't yet taken over the sidewalks. At the door, the two were greeted by a tall girl who pushed past the servants. They smiled amused and bowed to Cleo and Charlotte.

"Charlotte!" The girl embraced Cleo's wife stormily. "Mom told me you're coming today!"

Ernestine had a round face and brown, large deer eyes, just like her tangled hair, which was probably once braided. Her eyes wandered to Cleo. The girl looked at her with big, pretty eyes. "Who are you? Mom said Charlotte is bringing a woman."

Before Cleo could answer, a witch with long, blond hair appeared at the entrance. A small, round pair of glasses sat slightly crooked on her round nose. "No. I said 'her wife', Ernestine!" Charlotte's grandmother bowed deeply. "Welcome Your Highness!" Then she hugged Charlotte. "Welcome my little one! Come both in. I have tea and cake." Antonia's gaze wandered over Charlotte's dress and she nodded appreciatively. Cleo had to stop herself from laughing. Charlotte had not exaggerated. Antonia cared about what her granddaughter was wearing.

Ernestine grabbed Charlotte's hand and pulled her away. "Come! Mom baked herself! And I helped!"

Charlotte looked apologetically at Cleo, then she had already disappeared from her sight. Cleo was alone with the older witch.

"I am very pleased with your invitation", she said and entered the villa. Inside everything was colorful. Nothing fit together.

"Oh! No!" Antonia grabbed her hands and squeezed them lovingly. "I'm happy! I was delighted when I heard about the wedding! Charlotte used to talk almost exclusively about you."

"Did she?"

"Certainly." Now Antonia looked at her more closely. Just like Charlotte before. "You look adorable! I'm used to a lot from Charlotte... Once she wore a terrible dress at a family celebration. Believe me! Bilious green. A horrible color. Come along. We should get to the cake before Charlotte and Ernestine start without us. There is raspberry cake. Unfortunately without raspberries... The fruits were moldy. What a pity. We, therefore, colored the dough with beetroot juice... Oh. I have one request. Please just let my husband Clemens sit in his armchair. He lost his ability to hear nine years ago and hasn't been able to see anything for a year now. He is blind and would only be frightened. I don't know how long I'll have him with me."

"I'm sorry."

Antonia smiled. "I appreciate that. Thank you very much. I have lost so many beloved men. Three husbands and also five of my children. Except for Charlotte's mother, they were all mortal. But then, ten years ago, Clemens and I decided to have a child together. He didn't want me to be alone when he... And maybe I'll be lucky this time and Ernestine is a witch? And she stays with me for a long time. Forever, if we're both lucky."