A Tale Of Queens

Lessons

Alti took another gulp of her wine.

She was standing on her favorite spot; the balcony of her room. From this height, the kingdom was spread before her. The Central Market located at the center of Khelet never slept, even at night. She could see the small dots that were people, closing for the day or going on with business. And the torches that lit up each store seemed like tiny dots of light in the distance.

Absently, her mind drifted from one trivial matter to another. Whether she should dismiss that maid that talked too much. How to get Sa-Alti to eat any thing other than sweet potatoes. If it was time to henna her hands again.

Finally, Alti allowed her mind to dwell on the matter at hand. Allowed herself to digest the fact that her sister was pregnant with her husband's child.

She was a little surprised at her own composure. After all, had she not just received the biggest blow of her life? Yet she had managed to remain unfazed, had even been able to plant doubts in Phelon's head.

But now, she was human again.

Now she allowed herself to feel hurt and betrayed and even guilty. She very well knew the things she had done. Maybe she deserved this.

Her mother's voice echoed in her ears.

...Don't you?

And don't we share things with the ones we love?

Now apologize for being selfish...

All her life she'd been forced to share with Ifika. Small things at first. Her comb. A pair of sandals ‘that she wasn't wearing anyway.’ A fine silver necklace gifted to her on her sixteenth birthday.

Alti had born it all. After all, she was older, more mature and should not be bothered with such mundane things. Of course, sometimes, she'd slipped. Complained, protested or just sulked. But at last she'd finally, finally grown up. And the past was well behind her. Or at least, it should have been.

But now, Ifika was back.

Now she was expected to share her husband with her sister.

A strange laugh bubbled from her chest. It was pained, a little delirious. Soon, it devolved into tears.

Alti remembered the times when she had cried herself to sleep every night. Cried because even in her own home, her purpose was to cater to Ifika at her own expense. She had been so confident that she had escaped that life, that the previous Alti was long gone.

But fate, her worst enemy would not let her be. So here she was again.

She swallowed the rest of her wine and wiped away her tears.

She was the Queen. She had clawed her way to this point. She obliterated obstacles. Ifika was no match for her. Ifika was nothing  compared to her.

What a great pity indeed that she was about to be taught a valuable lesson; one that her parents refused to teach her all those years ago.

Do not covet the things belonging to other people.