Finding Happiness

Daniel

            I walk into my mother's study and find her reading her books. She's always buried in her books. She looks up and puts her book on the table and smiles at me. She beckons for me to sit and I take my seat.

"Regina...what are you wearing?"

"My riding clothes. Daniel's taking me riding today." Mother shakes her head and sighs.

"Regina you spend so much time with Daniel. It's unhealthy. There are rumors." I'm intrigued. I lean forward on my seat.

"The queen. Queen Ava has died in childbirth. King Leopold is looking for a wife. I thought you were the perfect candidate. He's rounding up all the young maidens of royal blood to attend a royal ball where he will choose his wife."

I stand up and run out of the room with Mother calling me to come here. She can't stop me though. I run to the church and find my sister Zelena praying at the altar. Her red hair is covered with a black veil and tears stream down her face. Her husband Jackson or Jack kneels beside her. He too is crying. Tears escape my eyes. My sister has miscarried another child. It'll be her fifth miscarriage, she did give birth once. To a little boy...he died before he could even be named. Now she's miscarried again. She's my older sister but she has no royal blood. Her father was a stable boy...she's my father's stepdaughter.

I leave the church and head towards the stables. Maybe a little ride will help ease my mind. I mount my horse Magnificent and ride towards the old oak tree. Daniel's already there waiting for me. I demount my horse and run into Daniel's arms. He picks me up and spins me around. We share a kiss...which is taboo do to our religion but we kiss anyway. After we break for breath he laces his fingers into mine. He runs his fingers through my hair, ruining my perfect braid.

"Regina...did you hear the news?"

"Yes, I did, Queen Ava died two days ago giving birth to Snow White. Mother wants me to attend. It's the law that I attend the ball. I'm unmarried and not engaged."

"Your father has given me his blessing. He's working on your mother's mind." Daniel drops down to one knee and I cry. A princess becoming engaged to a stable boy. I nod my head and he puts the brass ring on my finger. We share another kiss before I must run in for tea. Mother would kill me if I was late for tea.

I change into a blue dress with blue crystals at the collar. I sit down to tea and wait for the servants to pour Mother and I a cup. Zelena joins us, she wears a green dress like my own and her red hair is up in a bun. The sign of a married woman. She sits down and I see her tear stained face. Mother doesn't say a word and neither do I. I try to make small talk but before I can utter a word...my sister speaks.

"I've miscarried again. This is the sixth lost child. Jackson and I have decided to not try again." An idea comes into my head. I keep my mouth shut though. I need time to figure out the next course of action. Would my sister want a bastard child? Having a child would mean that Daniel and I could stay together. With tea over I run to the stables and find Daniel. I tell him my plan and he agrees.

"When is the ball Regina?"

"In two months. Plenty of time."

"Regina..."

"Daniel. Trust me with this."

Two months later...

I sit in my bedroom and Zelena braids my hair. She does my makeup and does what a proper sister would do for her sister. I love my sister...she's everything to me. I remember when we first met. I was six and she was eight. She had been sent away before Mother was saved and before Mother married Daddy. Mother brought her back after I was declared heir to the throne. I'm fifth in line...so I'm not technically heir anymore. Zelena finishes my hair when Mother comes in. Mother beckons me to stand and she hands me a new dress.