Where the Two Paths Meet

Chapter One

Dearest Princess Rosalind of Astall,

Please accept my greatest condolences for the passing of your beloved Father, King Fredrick. I wish you well along with the Queen Mother Francesca, and your little sister Princess Margaret. The sudden passing of the late King of Astall must be heartbreaking. As you may know, I am Prince Charles of Edenshire, and I have been of age for the past few years. My wishes are to find a beautiful bride with claim to title and fortune. Our union may be what our kingdoms need to thrive. Please take this letter as an offer to unite our two great kingdoms. I look forward to your response. 

Best wishes,  Prince Charles

I can't help but laugh at this ridiculous letter. This prince's condolences for my fathers death is very much appreciated, however my father has been dead for a year now. I do very much miss my father, he meant the world to me. But a queen cannot dwell in the past, that damns the entire kingdom. 

As a queen, my focus is on the well being of my kingdom. I do what I think is best. Marrying this prince would surely destroy everything. Firstly, he is slow to receive and send messages. This is something that is vital in times of war. Secondly, he is not the heir to Edenshire. I need to marry someone to secure my position as Queen of Astall, and the best way to do this is to marry a king or a prince destined to be king. I can't marry just any prince. Thirdly, he needs to marry a women with title and fortune because his family is completely broke. They have borrowed from so many kingdoms and their debt is extraordinary. My kingdom can not afford that much of a financial burden.

"Mother this is just ridiculous. Even insulting." I say, tossing the letter into a pile of other offers. Once the kingdoms hear that I was going to become Queen of Astall, it was a flurry of marriage proposals. One proposal was more like a threat. The letter was from the King of Veisla, it stated that if I did not marry his 6 year old son once he was of age, that they would go to war with my kingdom. I can not wait 12 years for a child to be of age.

"Rosalind, why are you so quick to deny these men! Time is running short and you need to marry someone. Most women get married at 16 and you're 20! 20 years old and not married" My mother says this almost every day. However I can't blame her. She is worried that my kingdom will be taken from me. Without a King, a kingdom looks week.

"Rosy please just settle on someone. All of these men are decent. Some of them are even attractive." My sister is also desperate that I marry. She is 17 years old now and wants to marry but unfortunately for her, she can not get married until I do. She is the exact opposite of me. Quiet, accommodating, weak willed, emotional, and the sweetest girl. I shake my head.

"How about we throw a ball. It'll be a perfect way to meet the men behind these letters. Perhaps you will find a liking to one of them. It will be held at the end of the week." My mother is right, a ball could help. I agree and she leaves to start arranging the party. 

"Are you ready for your coronation next month?" Margaret asks moving to sit next to me on the couch. She takes my hand in hers. 

"Oh course I am." The truth is that I am not ready, but no one can know that. I am so nervous for the day that I am official crowned Queen of Astall. As of now, I am the acting queen regent. Normally, when a king dies, the heir has their coronation a month or two after. This keeps the kingdom strong. But since I am a women and unmarried the Eminence wanted to wait until I am married. Since that hasn't happened, and the status of the kingdom grows weaker, the Eminence agreed to crown me unmarried. This is something that only happened once before and it was because the women being crowned was unable to have children due to a birth defect. No prince or king could wed her because then their family line would have ended. 

I wish that this world did not have to rely on male authority but sadly it does and I will never be strong enough without a husband. I wish that I could rule on my own, and I know that I could be a great queen on my own. I have so many wonderful ideas to improve this kingdom and to improve the relationships with our allies. But having a husband means that he has the final say and he can veto my commands with a wave of his hand. That is why it is so important for me to marry someone who I think is right for this kingdom. I can't have a man abusing power and destroying my kingdom. A kingdom that my father, the late king, and all the kings before him have worked so hard to build. 

The door opens and a guard comes in, "Her Majesty, Lord Frey and Lady Kenna wish to have an audience with you in the thrown room.". I sigh and command my guard to let them know I am on my way.

What can these buffoons want now.

~~~~

Published July 12, 2018