Heavy is the Crown

10

The two girls watched the man and his guards walk up to the castle doors, and Marcia's panic grew with every step he took. She backed away from the window, but Anetra continued to watch in curiosity.

"Who is that?" She asked, not recognizing the flag that waved from the carriage. She had seen multiple kings and queens from the other realms before, but had never seen this man.

"I'm not sure." Marcia whispered, eyeing the way the wind picked up and even darker clouds started to roll in. Suddenly everything felt off and uneasy, and she didn't like it at all. She especially didn't like that it was ruining the little time she had with Anetra.

"Princess!" She froze when hearing herself being called from outside of her bedroom. "Your mother is asking for you!"

Marcia and Anetra shared a panicked look. "Oh no-" The smaller girl said in a hushed whisper, looking out the window Anetra had come in through. Guards had started pacing around the area. There was no way she'd be able to climb back out without being caught.

Anetra followed her gaze. "Fuck-" She glanced at the door when hearing footsteps. "Um-"

"Come here-" Marcia grabbed her by the arm, pulling her towards the wardrobe in the corner of the room. She shoved her inside before Anetra could protest, shutting the door tight right before her bedroom door opened.

"Princess?" Amethyst appeared in the doorway, wearing a stunned expression on her face. "You should, um...come to the throne room. Right away."

Thunder shook the castle, making Marcia shiver. She glanced at her wardrobe before nodding. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Please hurry. I don't think the queen wants to wait much longer." Amethyst said in a tone that Marcia couldn't quite place. She watched her rush back out the door, letting out a sigh once she was gone before turning to her wardrobe.

Anetra felt her heart pounding in her chest when the princess opened it again. "Stay here..." The smaller girl said in a whisper. "Until it's safe for you to leave. I'll be right back."

"Be careful." Anetra said, feeling a strong urge to protect her already. "That guy just looked...weird. I don't know..."

Marcia smiled a little despite the situation she feared she was in. "I'll be okay." She said. "Just hang on."

She closed the wardrobe again, leaving Anetra in hiding before she rushed out of her room.

There was a new feeling in the castle. One Marcia didn't like. The twins were silent, there were no guards arguing with each other, and there was no one running around pampering her mother. It was quiet. And it felt so much darker and colder than usual. She wrapped her arms around herself. She didn't like this at all.

The large doors to the throne room were already open. Marcia stepped inside, feeling small under the eyes of the guards around her. She looked to the side, finding her little sisters shivering and huddling close to Amethyst and Salina's sides. She was about to go over and ask what was wrong, until her mother's voice made her jump.

"Marcia?" Queen Isabelle called for her, standing at the top of the stairs that led to the sparkling throne. "Come up. There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Marcia felt her mouth go dry. She took a shaky breath, slowly walking up the stairs and coming face to face with the man she had seen outside. Immediately, she felt as if all blood had been drained from her body.

His hair was as dark as night and his eyes were gray. The jewels on his robe sparkled in a way that almost looked unreal, and the scepter in his hand was twisted in an odd shape at the top. He still wore that smile on his face. Marcia didn't like that smile at all.