Livianna

1.

On Fridays, the king held audiences with his people, and the entire royal family was expected to be there. As the Royal Princess, of course I had to be there and listen to the qualms of the kingdom.

My lady in waiting helped me dress into a fluid dust rose gown that exposed my collar bones enough to allow a pendant to hang from my neck. I paired the dress with some ivory lace slippers. Mariam, my lady in waiting fashioned my hair in my signature braid knot, something not too elegant but not to be under appreciated either; perfect for the audience.

"Thank you Mariam." I smiled at her through the mirror.

"My pleasure, mi lady." She bowed slightly and left me to my thoughts.

These audiences were painfully dull. Nothing interesting came from an uncommonly peaceful kingdom. Other kingdoms would kill to be as peaceful as we are, but a little turmoil, at least fights within the villages or personal disputes between the court, would be rather welcoming.

I made my way to the main audience hall. The guard began to open the door and I caught a glimpse of the herald clearing his throat in preparation for my annunciation.

I walked through the large gilded oak door.

The fanfare of a trumpet blared momentarily. "Princess Livianna Íñigiez de Aragón." The heralds deep voice boomed through out the hall. The people stood in respect as the guards raised their sabers.

I erected my spine as best as I could, acknowledging the important diplomats and court members. I took my seat beside The queen. The trumpets sounded again.

"Prince Damian Íñigiez de Aragón." My brother walked up the isle with a lopsided smile that made all the court ladies weak at the knees. His hair was disheveled, meaning he had been making on of the lady's dreams come true minutes ago.

He took a seat next to father's throne.

"Good morning, sis." He beamed.

"Morning." I replied. "Next time you should try to compose yourself before entering."

"Oh shut up." His signature smirk plastered on his face. "Liven up a little. Let your hair out of the tight knot it is." He even had the audacity to wink. "You'll find yourself smiling more often, not just when that pitiful guard escorts you around the gardens."

I shot him a glare. I could feel the color rise to my cheeks. Before I could argue against him the trumpets interrupted, this time the fanfare was more elaborate. The crowd stood as did we.

"Queen Alicia Íñigiez de Aragón." The crowed bowed their heads as the queen glided by. Once she hit the dais, I curtsied and my brother bowed slightly, not as much as the public.

"Good morning darlings." She smiled.

"Morning mamá." We replied in unison.

She took the vacant throne next to me. "Why so flushed, dear?" She asked.

I heard Damian snicker on the other side. "It's nothing mamá."

"I sure hope so." She turned to Damian. "Please try not to leave the ladies so unruled and untidy." His smirk shone one again. "It's a hassle for them to get their corsets laced up by themselves."

The fanfare sounded louder this time. Everyone stood.

"His Majesty, King Esteban Aragón." The crowd bowed deeply, mother and I fell into a curtsy and Damian bowed lightly.

"Morning, everyone." He greeted us.

We murmured our replies. He took the large throne next to Damian.

"You may be seated." The benches creaked as the people say. "I thank you all for being here today and allow me to hear your worries and troubles so that I may aid you in whatever way I can."

And so the people came forward telling the king their please and he listened intently at each one of them. Some repeated the same thing, but they were never reproached or mocked.

As the king was about to finalize the audience, both of the back doors opened wide to let a young man dressed in black pass through. There was no speck of color on him save for his lightly bronzed skin. His eyes were thinly lined with black kohl making his darker lashes stand out. His boots didn't rustle against the thick velvet carpet, it was as if he was gliding through.

He took his sweet time to reach the dais. I could tell the king was growing a bit impatient. He was tapping his foot lightly against the foot of his throne.

"And you are?" The king spoke just as the man stopped

He bowed to the king very lowly, much like a flamingo. When he rose he shot the king a half smile. "You're Majesty," he paused looking at the people gathered. "today I come not to seek your aid, but to provide you with some." The king sat back, curious at this stranger's proposition.

"And how would you do that, young man?" The question of his name long forgotten.

"Well, it's been years since true laughter has bounced off the marble walls of this heavenly palace." He spun slowly motioning the pristine audience room. The room nodded with agreement. "Luckily for this kingdom, I have the necessary solution to bring that laughter back."

There was a ghost of a smile on the Kings lips. "Pray tell me, how do you plan on doing that?"

"It's quite simple, you're Majesty." He inches to the first stem of the dais, "May I?" The guards tensed.

"Please." The king said.

The young man pranced up the steps to the queen's throne. "I could compare the Queen's beauty," he reached behind the Queen's ear. "To the beauty of a gorgeous rose?" He placed a kiss on the rose petal and gave it to the Queen.

He then slid over to were Damian sat. "I can also compare the Prince's courage to that of a," he clasped his hands together and then cupped them together forming a small vacume within, "to a brave knight." He revealed a chess piece. A knight. "Although sometimes he can be a little," he pressed his palms together again, "a little foolish." He had turned the chess piece into a joker card.

He stood facing the crowd and bowed. The crowd errupted in cheers and applauses. He walked down the steps with such elegance it almost appeared gothic.

He reached the bottom, hands behind his back waiting for the king' s verdict.

"Well," he began, "I will say I am quite appalled by your short and improvised act, and I hope you'll be happy to know,"
He paused as if trying to recall the name he was never given.

"Alessandro Cardozo, at your service, you're Majesty." He bowed, again resembling a flamingo.

"Cardozo, I will use your services." The people broke into applause. "You will receive lodging here, there will be a horse and chariot at your disposal should you wish to travel into the city, but you will only be paid when you perform at my gatherings. Do you agree?"

Cardozo bowed slightly this time. He shot the king a half smile, almost taunting him. "With pleasure, you're Majesty."

"Very well." The king smiled. "Cassian." He called the guard Damian had been teasing me about before. "Take Cardozo to the empty vacant room on the second floor."

Cassian came to stand next to Cardozo. "Yes you're Majesty." He bowed and directed me a wink, making my cheeks blush pink.

They left and soon after, the King stood to terminate the audience.

"Thank you. I hope I have resolved some if not all of your problems. That will be all for this week." Father reached back to interlace his arm with mother.

They walked down the isle together, out the grand oak doors.  after a few steps, Damian and I preceeded them, thus giving full closure to this week's out-of-the-ordinary audience.