The Fruit of Our Despair: Kings and Queens

Chapter One

⬪ CHAPTER ONE⬪

"YOU'RE NOT THE CROWNED QUEEN"

The noble King Gustav reigns over the Kingdom of Haercrest. All the Kingdoms near Haercrest respect and admire him. Behind the rustic walls of the castle, in the living area, sits the King and Lord Edmund distressed and on edge. They are preparing for something through red wines that will change everything... forever.

"You must not tell anyone what I am about to tell you. Not any of the other lords. No one. See, I am being targeted. I have done something that has dis-dis-disgraced the mighty Kingdom of Malgrov. If-- I stay here, all of Haercrest will be in danger and I will be dead. This has been my plan for months now. Do not worry me. You are to take my place at the throne and become Queen." the King whispered

Lord Edmund sits upright. "Your highness, with all respect, do you mean the Princess will take your place?"

"Yes! That is what I said isn't it?"

"No, your highness. You indicated that I would become Queen."

"Oh. Well, yes. Talula will take my place as Queen."

"How do you mean, sire? What did you do to upset the Kingdom of Malgrov?"

King Gustav, slurred slowly, "The Kingdom as well as Princess Tulu--Talula will soon be under the illusion that I have died. It is-- be announced that I was ssssuffocated by a commoner. This will cause a stir in the village aa--and people to be wary-- cautious of any suspicion. Princess T--Talula will be declared the crowned Queen, the people will applaud and they-- indeed be vigorous with their beloved Queen. As she is admir--admirable and compassionate! Cheers." He chuckles loudly sipping his glass which leaks from his mouth.

"Sire, you do remember that a Princess must marry before she becomes Queen?"

"Indeed I do."

"Well, surely there are no men worthy to marry a Queen here, sire. What would we do?"

"The new King of Malgrov is looking for a wife. Talula would be pp-perfect there."

"But sire, Malgrov isn--"

"Do not worry, Lord Edmund! Wine?"

"No, your highness. It is important that as your Lord and daughter's Keeper, I stay respectable and clear minded."

"Good man." King Gustav chuckles slamming the bottle down on the table.

. ● .

In barely over a week's time, the news about King Gustav's death circulated quickly throughout Haercrest, all surrounding kingdoms, and to the Princess Talula, his daughter. The people of Haercrest were incredibly devastated by the loss of their King, as well as the once jubilant and cordial Princess who was now a bitter, dejected, egotistical Queen. Justas the late King Gustav prophesied, the people of Haercrest were indeed very delighted when it was announced that Talula would be their ruler. They all had admired her since she was kind and also remarkably beautiful. She is a very fair skinned woman, soft jawed with a full cherry-blossom mouth; her lips are an imitation of mauve. Her wide eyes are slate blue, and her honey colored hair was a bright yellow blended with a cinnamon shade of brown.

. ● .

In Haercrest, the law is that an eligible Queen must marry as she can be crowned. The ordinance is a King and a Queen must rule together. Delbrook, a Kingdom that closely surround them also have a law, but their legacy is blood has only ever married blood. The Kingdom of Malgrov is three weeks away, east off the coast of Haercrest, Talula was offered to their King. There, she would be crowned Queen of Malgrov. Everyone in Haercrest is aware of his haste to bloodshed; he is an arrogant oppressor who shows no mercy nor compassion. She is fearful of the King who is chief of warriors, bringer of death and destruction. If they did marry, the people of Malgrov and Haercrest will be merged, creating a new empire, and Queen Talula was indifferent to being a part of a kingdom that treated its people as slaves and killed other nations who themselves too wanted peace. She worried of the building of their new empire and did not want to be submissive to a King who was solely in control, she wanted to share the authority. But, she knew that in the end she may not have a choice.