Moonflower

Chapter 1: Present Day

I stared out into the distance trying to drown out the shouts of the vast sea of people standing below me. They all looked so small and insignificant from where I was seated on the balcony. It was as if the universe was trying to make me see how powerful I am. That in a single week, I would be the Queen and would hold all of the lives of my people in my hands. That fact terrified me to my very core. The thought that one wrong decision on my end could end the lives of thousands wasn't an easy burden to carry. My breathing became shallow and my hands started to tremble. I was so afraid of becoming Queen that I realized something. I wonder if this is how my mom felt when she became Queen? I let that thought sink into my brain for a moment. When my mother became Queen, she was much younger than I was, and especially when she was married to my father. When she had turned eighteen, a single two years after marriage, she had my eldest sister. Alina was the first Darrow heir to be born, and she was my parents' pride and joy. My mother was treated like a pawn and baby machine for all of her life. She was pawned off to my much older father and her life from then on was over. She was reduced to mere property. I wasn't built for this. My whole family ignored me for two decades and sent me away so they didn't have to think about the mistake they made. I still didn't know proper Queen edicate, how to host balls or tea parties. Hell, I didn't even know how to make laws, pass laws, or what kind of laws I needed to enforce or strike down. I got zero help from my mother when my siblings died, and she didn't help me when my father died either. Deep down, she thought that she would last longer. Maybe last until she died of old age or other natural causes. And then on April 10th, my birthday, she passed away. The only good thing that came from her death was that she passed in her sleep. I tried to think that she left this world with zero pain, but I will never be sure. No matter how much I hated my parents, I didn't want them to die in vain. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked towards the one constant in my life besides the death of my family.

"Alfred," I let a soft smile tug on my lips as I looked at the man who had acted as my father for the past two years. He had stepped up when my family locked themselves away in the west towers of our palace. All away from me of course. I couldn't tell if they were doing it for my safety, or because they now had an excuse to finally abandon me for good. But Alfred was there for me. He helped me learn some tips and tricks to navigate the life of a royalty. It never stuck with me of course, but I appreciated the effort he put into making me somewhat prepared for the inevitable that we knew would happen. When my father died, I had fought my mother hard to get him to stay employed at the palace. I gave some sob story that he was all I had left of my father as my siblings were dead. And how I would be able to feel closer to him through Alfred. She eventually bought it after I got on my knees and begged, embarrassing myself in front of the King of Winterberry.

"Do you wish to know what they are saying? I can act as your translator," Alfred said.

I thought for a moment. Might as well.

"Please, I would love that."

Alfred smiled at me and began to translate. Long live the Queen, that must be good. I felt a huge weight get lifted off of my shoulders, and unfortunately, a new one settled down. What if I didn't meet their expectations and caused them to riot. They could easily overtake the 3 three palace knights and get to me. Killing me and then falling to anarchy. Everything that my parents had worked so hard for could come crumbling down because of something stupid, or because of a shit marriage.

"Keep your head up, Mani. They are watching you."

I felt a shiver travel up my spine as I tried to calm my nerves all over again. I knew that voice all too well. For the past year I was tormented by the same stupid phrase I heard all those years ago. The way their words echoed in my head and bounced around my brain made me feel like passing out. I felt a single drop of sweat trickle down my back. Nothing could ever make me forget that voice, not even the fact that the owner of the voice was no longer here anymore. Pull yourself together Mani. You are a Queen now. All of these people depend on you. I looked back towards the townsfolk and gave them a bright, big smile and waved to them all. They went wild. I simply couldn't imagine how many were down there. I only assumed there were thousands, but taking another look...it seemed like there were millions. I still had no fucking clue how to act as Queen besides the classic advice of "smile and wave." This of course was the only thing that stuck with me from the lessons Alfred taught me. All I wanted to do was to go back inside my newly inherited palace and go to sleep forever. But sadly, I couldn't. I had a responsibility. I had a LOT of newfound responsibilities that made me want to blow my brains out in front of all these people.

"Must I make a speech?" I held my breath, waiting for his response.

"No, your highness. Not until you are married," he replied like it was something so casual. In my parents Kingdom, the Queen was not allowed to speak to the public until she was married. The rule was incredibly outdated and ridiculous..though it gave me time to prepare for what I would eventually say. Would it even be appropriate to address my familys' death?

"When will I be wedded?" I prayed that whoever I was married off too was at least my age, or less than fifteen years older than me. I was fine with the idea of being married to a man who was a decade older than I was, hell I liked older guys. But the idea of being forty and my husband being seventy made me want to puke. In about two weeks I could be married. I prayed to every God I could think of to send me a King who was young, bearable, and hot. That was all I could bring myself to ask for. I didn't exactly know what I wanted in a man besides physical appearance.

He slightly shrugged his shoulders which ended my little daydream. Alfred was just as unsure as I was about everything realistically. He gently placed a hand on my back and told me that I was being summoned to attend some fancy bullshit dinner party with two neighboring Kingdoms. I could feel my sanity slipping away, gradually of course. The very last thing I wanted to do was be whisked away to another Kingdom and have to interact with pompous assholes while wearing the ugliest dresses possible. I dreaded the fact that I wouldn't be able to sleep away all of my problems like I did for the last two years. I started to make my way back inside when I remembered all of the people who were still outside. I panicked and was confused on how I would even conclude whatever the hell I was just doing. Once I heard Alfred speak, I knew that I was going to be just fine. I hoped so at least.

I glanced back at Alfred, someone I fought to keep employed at my palace after my father died. He truly kept me sane over these past couple of years when my whole life came crashing down.

"I'm so sorry Mani...but your father has passed on," my mother cried.

I had no reaction to my family's death anymore. All of my siblings were gone, and half of the staff that used to keep the palace warm were gone. All fired by my mother and father. For the longest time, the palace felt cold and completely empty.

"I see."

My mother looked at me with an ounce of shock.

"That's all you have to say?" she questioned me like my reaction was the most outrageous thing she could possibly hear.

"Mom, we have lost our whole family, and someday you will die as well. All I ask is that you let Alfred stay in the palace. I will need someone to comfort me."

I looked back at the crowd and smiled while doing the classic "Queen wave." I could hear the faint sound of horns and other instruments that were playing the tune of the same song that played at my mother's first appearance as Queen. I knew that it was going to be a very long next couple of weeks as I made the transition into becoming Queen.