The Queen.

Chapter 2: The Throne

Isabelle was seated on her bed, not sure of what to think, what to do. After the burial of her father two days after his death, she's still in disbelief. In one day, how it all came crashing down on her, weight of it all.

'it was just one day, in one day, and my life, i... I will never be the same again, papa is gone. Mother is in state of hysteria, she won't talk to anyone, she shut us all out completely... and Mary? Charlotte and Mary needs mother more than ever and now they're lost... too scared and alone... the royal court is in an utter disarray... everyone is coming to me, how can I bare all this?! I know nothing about ruling I know nothing of politics, I can't even comprehend that I am.... Queen"

So many thoughts deluge inside of Isabelle's head, even thinking of the word 'queen' flinches her. Ever since she was a child, she used to watch her father, carry his duties as a king, and she watched him being loved by many, the royal court, and the people of Swiok Frary. She often saw him strain over the substantial weight, the crown put him through. Countless adversaries he dealt with, insignificant and sometimes arduous situations he was put under by the royal court, which every time she impressively watched him handle diplomatically. The late king Albert was never a malicious nor power hungry king. He was indeed a compassionate man, a loving husband and a doting father.

"Oh my dear sabbie, one day you'll know what it would be like to sit here. I would love to see the day to watch you wear this crown, govern this land as a true strong queen you are."

Isabelle was reminiscing one of her favorite unforgettable memories she had with her father. Only little as 9 years, she was sitting on her father's lap as she played with her beautifully sown doll, not understanding the caliber of what her father was saying to her at the time, she looked up at her father to see a regretful tear stream down his face. Little sabbie was confused but she paid no great attention to it. She was more interested in her doll

"But as your father my dear I pray it never comes to a day where the crown falls onto your head, I cannot bear to watch you endure the intolerable hardships it'll put you through.... You're my little sabbie, you'll always be my little sabbie"

She didn't understand then, but she does now. A wave of emotions comes crashing onto her. She kept herself intact, she had to show all of the people, her mother, her sisters, her subjects, that she was strong. The strong queen she is. She realized that now, not only is she queen, she is now a mother, a father and an older sister to charlotte and Mary. These responsibilities scare her, it emotionally drained her. She bottles her emotions, to protect her loved ones, but who will protect her? She only had herself. She only has herself to truly let go. The crown, her mother, her sisters and the death of her father sent her in an unbearable state of pain and tears. Unlike the previous rulers of their family, house of Boddinham, late King Albert did not desire the power and its riches. Seeing Albert's father, Isabelle's grandfather make appalling choices, almost destroy his family and his country, and watch the weight of the crown defeat him, change him as the man he once were, made Albert truly despise royalty wholly. He only desired to love his wife and his children and carry his duties as a prince, a son and a brother. But following the death of his brother through disease, he had no choice but to carry the crown. Nevertheless Albert was a truly successful and loved as a king, always praised and blessed. He led the country with harmony throughout his years of sovereign.

'How will I ever be as good as papa? He didn't want this for me, nor did mother....how can I make papa proud? I can barely control Mary to sit in one place, let alone a country....?'

Isabelle was interrupted with a loud knock on her bedroom door, she paid no attention as she was grieving in great depth, locked inside her mind.

''Your majesty, the court is waiting for you'' says a familiar voice, which snaps her from her painful thoughts and emotions. Isabelle walked up to her bedroom and carefully wiped away her tears, she does not want anyone to see her in the state she was in. quite reluctantly she proceeded to walk out of her room, and step into a world she's a stranger in. A life she's not ready for.

"Where's mother?" she asked from her late father's personal butler, Richard, who worked under the boddinham house and served her father since she was a child. Richard looked hesitant to answer but he knows that now he's to serve the little girl he watched over as his own, the little girl he promised to protect. "The queen mother is in her room your majesty, and royal highness's are in the court, waiting for you"

Afraid and disappointed, Isabelle let out a small sigh and followed Richard to the royal Boddinham court. As she got closer and closer, she hears the loud distinct voices overlapping each of whose present at the court, assuming their preparing themselves to doubt and question the young queen.

As soon as Isabelle steps foot to the court, the loud voices all stopped together, all eyes on the new queen. Sending shivers down her spine as she makes her way to the throne. A majestic chair she once remember seeing her father sit on. It suited him well. 'How can I even sit here'  Isabelle thought to herself as she walked past her two sisters, who were guarded by their chambermaids.

As hesitant as she could ever be, she carefully yet gracefully, sat on the majestic throne. The young queen can feel the piercing gazes of all who's present at the court on her.

'For Papa, for mother, for charlotte and mary, I will not let this ruin me. I will not let this run me down. If my country needs a ruler, a ruler I will be. There's nothing more to be helped, I will make my family proud. I will protect my family and my people. Nothing will crush me, for I must let the crown win, the crown must always win'

Isabelle took a deep breathe, and covered her true emotions with the strength she felt rushing through her veins. She knew what she must do, what she needed to do. She vowed to herself she won't ever change who she really is. But she cannot fail her subjects, her country, and her family.

"Your royal highness, it is in our great interest to inform you that there will be many changes within the kingdom, the court and the army" the duke of Taliscur came forward to face the young queen Isabelle, not fearing her, but respecting her, solely based on the love and loyalty he had for the late King Albert. Although doubting the new queen's ability to rule, he showed great faith. It is a form of tradition under the house of Boddinham to change every rank in the kingdom and court after every reign of a sovereign. Although the duke and all that served under King Albert seemed almost disappointed to leave they must now let others succeed after them.

"such as?" she responded in a confident yet firm tone.

"Your royal majesty, if you may, I will now be taking over the royal army, succeeding captain general Henry mount" then comes a deep voice quite thick of an accent, the accent that isabelle finds attractive, a man comes forward and stands next to the Duke. Tall and intimidating, he had a smirk on his face, he was perhaps confident of himself and his position, he looked to be quite experienced in the battle field, and most of all he was perhaps the most handsome man she's ever laid her eyes on. Isabelle has seen many men in her life, most of which were proposals from all around the world. Just like her parents she believed in true love, thus she rejected each proposal. Isabelle was quite lost for words and she could feel her confidence losing its pace as she felt herself trembling, her heart jumping. He was blonde haired, perhaps golden, and she could see his piercing blue eyes directly staring at her, waiting for her response. He was quite big and built, she could see his uniform hugging his muscles.

'Who is he? I've never seen him before... He only look's just a few years older than I'

"Yes, you may proceed" Isabelle managed to speak in the same tone as she did before, she can't possibly let a man weaken her, not a queen.

"Jacob Thornburgh at your service" he bowed down to the young queen and stared deep into her eyes, and gave her a smile, and proceeded to walk up to the rest of the members in court. 'Who is this man?

She knew she couldn't do much as to get rid of the new captain general, he seems too adorned for his position. What is she feeling?