The Heart and The Sword ~Part One~

Chapter One : The Only Witness

She sat on her throne, her eyes roaming around the room. The guests were dancing, cheering, eating and drinking, but she found no joy in the celebration.
 
—Would you like me to bring you more champagne, Your Majesty?
 
—No, Calia, thank you. You should go and enjoy the festivities. Ask Conan for a dance.
 
Calia giggled and nodded respectfully.
 
—I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty. The party is for the nobles to enjoy.
 
Sylvia rolled her eyes. In truth, she didn't even want this party, but four celebrations have been cancelled already and she could not do that to her people any longer. Due to the harsh cold that extends itself over the rest of the seasons, when the Summer Solstice arrives so does warmth and it has become the people's favorite holiday. She didn't find any joy in it. Not anymore, not since the attack that took place on this very day five years ago.
 
The people were understanding up until now, and they probably wouldn't have blamed if she had cancelled the celebration this year as well, but she could not do that to them. They deserved to unwind.
 
—Nonsense, Calia. The Solstice is for all to enjoy. In fact, I am ordering you to go and have fun and stop attending to me.
 
Calia shook her head, though a smile stained her lips.
 
—It would not be fair, Your Majesty.
 
Once again, Sylvia rolled her eyes and stoop up.
 
—My dear guests, she said, the music stopping and the guests watching her carefully, I hope it won't be too much trouble to you all, but since this is the first Solstice we're celebrating in quite some time, I thought it would be only fair that the palace staff along with the knights join us. So, please, all of you, eat, drink, dance.
 
The guests and staff seemed unsure at first, but with one look and a nod from their queen, the musicians resumed their song.
 
The servants cheered and bowed their heads in thanks to their queen. A few of the knights asked the maids to dance, while others formed a circle of their own and started dancing to the beat of the drums.
 
A few noble guests murmured in dislike, but to hell with them. Her staff had worked hard to make this party perfect and because of it, they had to miss the town celebration. The least she could do was allow them to have fun for a few hours.

Sylvia sat down in her throne and looked up at Calia who just watched in awe.
 
—Now, go and have fun, Calia. I am more than capable of attending to myself.
 
—Thank you, Your Majesty, Calia almost cried and bowed before making her way to Conan and asking him to dance.
 
Sylvia smiled at the sight of them. Conan had been courting Calia for quite some time, but for some reason they did nothing more than talk and flirt when only she could see them. She sighed. There was a part of her that wanted to get in the middle of it and nudge them together, but she decided to stay out of it. Who was she to dictate their personal lives?
 
—You made quite the spectacle, sister.
 
Sylvia looked at Thalya who approached her slowly, due to her heavy belly and, most likely, aching back.
 
—As always, I suppose, the queen said, taking in her sister's state.
 
She was pregnant with her fourth child and from what Thalya's told her, she wishes for more children. Something Sylvia surely didn't even dream of, despite her sister's constant nagging. She never liked children enough to ever want her own.
 
—The dukes won't be happy with you.
 
—The dukes can go home of they dislike the party, Sylvia said, already itching to go back to her chambers and rest.
 
—I do believe I've found you a husband, Sylvia.
 
The queen's eyes shot to her little sister. Her blood started boiling. It was no secret Thalya wished to see her sister married and just as pregnant as she was, but she knew very well Sylvia wanted to rule alone, to appoint an heir rather than breed it. Where did Thalya find the audacity to look for a husband Sylvia didn't want?
 
—First of all, I do not wish for a husband. Second of all, I would appreciate it if you would stay out of such matters. And third of all, you should really concern yourself with your own marriage and children.
 
She was a bit more cold than she wanted to, but the prospect of marriage alone made her skin crawl. She could not say if in the future she would rule alone or find someone to share the burden with, but for now, she was content in her loneliness.
 
—Good Gods, Sylvia. It has been five years, even Julyan is looking for a bride and he's only eighteen.
 
—What happened five years ago has absolutely nothing with my wish to remain the sole ruler of this kingdom. And I would appreciate it if you would stop insinuating such things.
 
Thalya rolled her eyes, rubbing her big belly and nodded in a mocking way.
 
—Your orders are law, Your Majesty.
 
With that, she put a sour smile on her face and left Sylvia alone with her thoughts. Marriage, she almost scoffed out loud. She's heard all about the prospect of marriage from the dukes in the first two years of her reign and from her mother long before that. She was sick of it. She never wanted such a thing and, most likely, she never will.
 
—Our sister seems to want to tear your head off, Julyan said as he approached his sister.
 
—Tell me something new, dear brother.