WITCH - The Queen

Bonus 19

Marie sat excitedly at the breakfast table.

Finally, she was twelve years old. That was something special. For her birthday there was her favorite breakfast. Sweet honey buns, fruit, and jam.

"Mom? Am I going to get my magic today?", she asked, reaching for a few grapes. Her father smiled into his tea. Her mother, on the other hand, stirred thoughtfully in her coffee. "How did you come up with that?", she asked, smiling.

"How?" Marie snorted annoyed. "You got your magic when you were twelve!"

"But not on my twelfth birthday. But that would be something, wouldn't it? A great birthday present."

"Magic or not, we have a wonderful birthday present for you!", her father grumbled. "You can open it after breakfast."

She nodded excitedly. But there was something more important to the little girl than gifts. Marie desperately wanted to be a witch. She dreamed of getting her magic on her birthday, but she still didn't feel any different than the day before. "All right."

Her mother stroked her hair in amusement. "Magic manifests itself between the ages of twelve and sixteen. But there is no guarantee whatsoever. Magic is rare, my treasure. A special gift."

"But our queen is a witch! And I want to go to the academy! I want to be a witch!" And that's what she wanted right away. "At the academy, I would meet nobles! Nobles, Mom! And... Isn't Princess Julia almost as old as me? Maybe we'd be in the same class!"

"With the princess?" Her father raised an eyebrow. "This is very unlikely. Her Majesty's last children were all mortal. And so far, the youngest is said to have shown no magic."

"But, if! That would be exciting!" Marie almost knocked over her coffee, which she drank with a lot of sugar and even more milk. "Just imagine this! I could be friends with a princess. And... And if my magic shows up early, then I would be a powerful witch! And then..." Then surely a noble boy would take notice of her and marry her! Or one of the princes? No. Prince Fritz was way too old for her, and Prince Peter? He was also a few years older. That was hopeless. And otherwise, only Princess Cleo and Princess Julia were not taken yet. Princesses were outside Marie's area of interest. She wanted magic! She wanted to marry a nobleman! And she wanted to meet Princess Julia.

"If you get magic, sparrow", her father reminded her proudly. "And if not, then that's not a bad thing. One day, you inherit the family business. With or without magic!"

Marie rolled her eyes. She didn't want to inherit a company. She wanted magic. Magic. Shiny glamour and adventure!

"But being friends with a princess sounds wonderful!" Her mother chuckled softly. "That would be something. Will the princess be a witch? What do you think? That would be very nice for the queen. After three mortal children. And two have given up their title. It's a tragedy."

Marie sighed. Why was there no guarantee of inheriting magic? Why did it have to be rare?

After breakfast, a big gift was waiting for her in the living room. She got a new, silver dress, fine shoes, a few books, and an expensive sketchpad. And the most beautiful pens she had ever seen. And she already knew what she wanted to sketch first. Her best friend Theo was plucking weeds from the flower beds. With the pad and pens in her hand, she ran outside.

For now, she had forgotten the magic.

Twelve-year-old Marie had no idea that at day her magic showed up, she would lose all her mortal friends. Little did she know that she would be the only witch in her class. And she also had no idea that she would actually make friends with the princess.

And she had no idea that her prince charming was a red-haired elf.

An elf named Theo.

Yes, the future was much better than Marie had expected at the age of twelve. Especially now, hidden behind a high hedge, where she and Theo secretly kissed. Marie had gotten her adventure. And it didn't lack the shine either. And all this without any nobles, because her first sword was shiny.

(c: sasi)