Corsets Are Uncomfortable And Annoying.

Chapter 1

I awoke from the sudden banging on my door. The knocking was fast-pased and sounded very urgent. I looked at my grandfather clock and saw it was around three o'clock in the morning.

How absord.

"Come in! Come in!" I exclaimed.

"Your majesty." One of my helpers , Robert, bowed.

"What is the matter? It is three o'clock in the morning. Has something happened?" I asked getting out of my warm bed. I saw his face was panicked and tears were running down his cheeks.

"Your majesty, the Queen was found dead." He sobbed.

I stood there shocked. What had he just said? My mother was dead? I knew this day would come but it didnt mean I wanted it to. I fell to the ground and sobbed into my hands. I heard Robert come next to me and embrace me in his arms.

"Does everybody know?" I managed to ask through my tears.

I shouldn't show any weakness's but it is simply impossible at a time like this. Mother, me and everybody else had a strong relationship. The whole palace loved the Queen. The whole country! She was so brave, many envied her. If she wanted something, she would stop at nothing to get it.

"No. I went to check on the Queen a-and she hasn't moved from her last position. I-I tried t-to wake her b-but she didn't wake," Robert sobbed, "Then I came here."

"We must tell the others as soon as possible." I quickly got up and helped Robert to his feet.

You could say Robert and I were best friends. We have grown up together. His mother helped in the kitchen and him and I used to play together. Then he grew up, his mother became old and couldn't work in the kitchen anymore so Robert took her place.

This is the second time I've seen Robert cry. The first time was when he was 13 and fell and scraped his knee when he was playing with me in one of the castles many gardens.

I knocked on Edwards door that is next to mine holding Roberts hand even though it is quite inappropriate. But I didn't care at the moment.

When Edward didn't answer I knocked harder. He opened the door to his room and I burst into tears and started sobbing all over again.

"What happened?" He asked Robert. Edward took me from Robert and hugged me.

"Mama is dead!" I wailed throwing my arms everywhere.

"Calm down Annie." He said in a stern voice.

"How can I?! Mama is dead! " I cannot believe my unacceptable behaviour. That is probably why Edward is becoming quite annoyed at my sudden outburst.

"Is what she speaks of true?" Edward looks at Robert with tears in his eyes.

"Yes, sir." Robert said trying to act all strong in front of my younger brother, but I could see his red eyes.

"Where is she now?" My brother asked, but I did notice the tears racing down his face. He hates to show his weaknesses when others are in his presence.

"She is in her room, sir." Robert answered.

I was still crying but I managed to ask, " Do we tell the others now or in the morning?" referring to my other brothers and sisters.

"We shall not speak of it until the morning. The others need their rest. We will tell them at breakfast. Robert, inform the other helpers to help take care of the body." Edward instructed. Robert nodded, he gave me one last glance before walking down the hallway.

"I don't want to sleep, Ed." I sobbed because I know he would tell me to go to my room. " I can't and I am sure that you cannot either."

"Very well." He sighed and pulled me into his room closing the door behind us.

The minute the door was closed I ran to him and hugged him. I cried so loudly I am not sure how my siblings slept. Meanwhile my brother silently cried with me, swaying both of us.

I had never seen Edward cry. Not even when he got a scratch or when our dog, Dash, died. But I am sure he has cried, just not in front of anyone. He probably went to his room when something traumatic happened and cried there.

What were we going to do now? Who would rule the country? Our father, Prince Albert, died years ago.

"Annie, she was an elderly woman. This was going to happen sooner or later. Mama wouldn't want us to be sobbing over her death would she? She would want us to be strong and remember her for her great power and bravery." Edward said after a long period of silence. We were still in each others arms. Edward was quite a lot taller than me. I got my mothers height.

"How will we tell the others?" I asked, pulling away from him and walking to the window.

"I don't know. Is there a specific way to tell them? They will notice her absence." Edward said.

We had both calmed down by now. I realized we were both wearing our nightgowns. I'm wearing my nighty and Edward is in his night trousers and shirt.

"We shall just...tell them." I said, still looking out the window.

The sun was rising by now and it wouldn't be long until our siblings would be awake. We must all wear black today.

"When will we tell the world?" Edward asked.

"We shall send a letter to the government. We could also tell great Britain publicly and word will spread around the world." I said.

"We must change for breakfast." I nodded.

"Wear black and I will order my ladies to tell the others and everybody to wear black. We'll explain at breakfast. See you at breakfast, brother." I kissed my brothers cheek and left his room.

After telling my ladies to make everyone wear black including themselves and my siblings, I went to my room and to my closet looking for a black dress and a bonnet.

One of my ladies came in and helped me put on my corset and outfit. She was already wearing a black dress herself.

"Are everybody else wearing black, Mary?" I asked.

"Yes, ma'am." She nodded concentrating on tightening my corset.

"Too tight." I inhaled sharply, struggling to breath.

"Sorry, ma'am." Mary was from America. She came with her family who also work in the palace.

"Do you know why you're all wearing black?" I asked looking at myself in the mirror.

"No, ma'am." She answered tying my corset and starting on my hair.

After getting dressed I went downstairs and saw a magnificent meal presented on the table. It looked delicious, but I didn't want to eat. Not when Mama was not seated with us.

I sat in my normal seat with Edward on my right and where Mama would be on my left. Edward was already seated and was waiting patiently for everyone to arrive. Both of us didn't say a word.

Soon enough all our siblings were around the table.

"Why is everyone wearing black?" Asked Alice, sitting opposite me.

"And why is Mama late?" Alfred asked.

"Mama will not be joining us." Edward said.

"Why not? Is she alright?" Helena asked.

"Mama is-is in a better place, Helena. She is gone." I said not daring looking them in the eye. I felt the tears coming back.

There were audible gasps.

"What?" Louise whispered.

"She's- she's d-dead?" Leopold sobbed.

Everyone was in tears and hadn't eaten. How could we? I felt guilt because the chefs had put time into making our meal but I told them they could serve our uneaten food to the helpers and servants.

"But what now?" Beatrice asked.

"Pardon?" I looked at her bewildered.

"Who will take control of the country?"