The Key ♕

15

Sophie's Point of View

I watch as Nathaniel's figure fades away. My mind is spinning - Abigail's threats, Anne, Nathaniel's kindness, the way that Lucas makes me feel... it's all unbearably overwhelming.

I circle the lake, wanting to get my mind off everything. I take a few deep breaths of the refreshing air, and I immediately feel much better. I look up at the sky - clear, blue, and not a cloud in sight. I hold my hand up to shield my face from the setting sun as a low voice calls my name, "Sophie."

I look around and find the king sitting by a crook of the lake. "Your Majesty, I'm so sorry, I did not see you there."

I curtsy as he laughs and waves me over, "it's all good. Come, sit with me."

"Yes, your Majesty." I carefully bend down next to him, smoothing out the creases of my skirt.

"This is my favorite place in the whole country," he says, skipping a rock across the water.

"Alice mentioned it to me. This is truly a beautiful place; I can see why you love it so much," I reply.

"It's not just because of how beautiful it is," he frowns.

"Oh..." I am unsure of what to say.

"Do you want to hear a story?" He suddenly says. Something about the tone of his voice changes abruptly.

"I'd love to, your Majesty," I cock my head.

"Once upon a time, there was a prince. He became the king of England at 17 because his father passed away. He had a best friend and the best friend had a beautiful wife. They would come visit the young king all the time. They were the king and queen of France." He paused and looks at me with his kind eyes, though marred with age and stress.

"And is that young king you, your Majesty?" I swallow hard, afraid that I may be stepping over the boundaries.

He looks surprised, yet glad, "it is, Sophie."

"The queen's name was Marie. She had long blonde hair, blue almond eyes, flushed cheeks, and most prominently, a smile that could melt hearts. She was the most beautiful woman the king has ever seen," he continues. "Marie and the king fell in love. Deeply and madly. Over and over again every single day."

A tiny gasp escapes my mouth. This is the first time that I've heard this story before.

The king smiles at me, and continues talking. "Royal marriages were never destined for true love, as it never will. The king and queen of England did not love each other, just as the king and queen of France did not love each other, either. Yes, they adored and respected one another, but it was not love, but rather responsibility. However, the queen of England was especially protective of her husband and detested Marie. She looked at her with cruel eyes, but deep down, she knew that Marie held an irreplaceable place in the king's heart. Marie loved visiting the English palace. She came here all the time, and when she did, she spent all her hours in the arms of the king. There was a certain lake that they loved coming to."

I smile and give him a compassionate and knowing look as I realize that we are sitting beside the very lake itself.

"There, they had no fears, no worries, just love. They hugged and kissed and did whatever they wanted, until one day, she disappeared. Marie was gone from his life, forever. The last time he saw her, they were laying next to each other by the lake, whispering about how the stars are just like their love - far away but brilliant. Marie left a box - the king's only keepsake of her. What troubled him the most is that she left no key to unlock it. Whatever she put in there, the king will never find out. The king was devastated. He cried everyday for months and defused the leave the lake, then news came. He found out that Marie gave birth to a baby girl, only for her life to be brutally taken away from her a few days after. Italian rebels infiltrated the palace and killed all royalty. Every single one of them. That's when the king realized what heartbreak meant - to love a person more than yourself then have the love stripped away from you without notice."