The Crown

Two.

The Crown

When Charcoal was twelve years of age, she sat up straight and paid attention to every word her teacher said. She loved to learn because she knew that learning was all part of the process of growing. Whenever her teacher would ask her several questions about the problem, Charcoal would answer them correctly. Even when Charcoal got certain things wrong, she knew that her mistakes were worth learning from. But her classmates did not believe this to be true. They thought that Charcoal was a very dirty, disgusting girl taking up space in their classroom. "You think you are so perfect don't you?" One of her classmates asked her, Charcoal was not afraid to answer her but she did anyway. "I am not perfect but the righteous King is." This answer made her classmate very mad, "Ha! If the righteous King made ugly, filthy people like you then I assure you he is not perfect. You are nothing but a troll!  The garbage is supposed to be outside not in the classroom."

And that was how Charcoal often received hate everywhere she went, she prayed for brighter and happier days in the future, because her anxiety and depression were swallowing her up into a well of self-hate and suicidal thoughts. She wanted to be like everybody else, she wanted to be normal and at least average when it came to her appearance. But she could only hope and trust in the righteous King.

~*~

"To wear the crown you must be like it. Be bold, be tall, be beautiful. You must also be responsible and determined to serve all of Spain with your heart. Then riches will fill you like water fills a cup and you will swim in royal glory." Carrot made a funny impression of the Duchess Helene as several of the maids laughed.

They were all gathered in the kitchen cooking and cleaning for dinner in the evening.

"Do you think our lady Denissa will wear the crown?" Bunny, another maid questioned Carrot.

"I cannot say, but I hope she does. She is fit and young to marry. She knew that she wanted to be a princess from the moment she turned six years of age." Carrot answered.

"Huh, and now she is twenty-one years of age and wants to be a Queen." Luca, another maid interrupted the conversation.

"What do you think Charcoal?" Carrot asked the dark-skinned girl in the way back of the kitchen who was putting charcoal in the furnace. Everybody turned in her direction to hear her response.

"What do I think about our lady Denissa?" She asked them.

"Do you think she is fit to wear the crown?" Carrot asked her once again in a more brutal tone.

"Umm no, I think she is not prepared, it takes a lot more than attractive looks to wear a fragile item. And the real question is... does she love the prince or his gold and glory?"

"Oh shut up Charcoal! Of course, she loves the prince. Do you want to rule?" Carrot asked her mockingly.

"No? can never, I do not know-

"Nothing, you know nothing. You are just a black slave no different from us except for the skin color that is." Carrot said.

"Aha ha furnace Charcoal girl. Not even a baron can marry you." Bunny laughed.

"Oh, Bunny. You are talking about barons and baroness'? A farmer would refuse her the second he saw her. That mole near her eye is bigger than her future itself." Charcoal, so they named her couldn't keep track of who was mocking her anymore.

Everyone laughed at her, making her feel left out and lonely, the black sheep amongst the white flock. But she did not keep quiet.

"We are not slaves, we are maids. Nobody deserves to be called a slave. If you are going to mock me then at least remember who you are at the end of it."

Carrot walked up to her with much anger, grabbing her shoulder and pushing her against the hot furnace wall.

"You better shut it Charcoal. Do you even know who you are? Where you are from? You are a lost fool and you may be lady Denissa's court lady but that does not stop me from burning your hand in this furnace. Well, it would not change much after all, since you are already burnt." Carrot threatened.

"Where is Charcoal? Lady Denissa wishes to see her." The footman, Hobert, called at the kitchen door.

Carrot let go of Charcoal immediately after she heard Hobert's call. Charcoal walked past her and out of the kitchen with Hobert.

Charcoal often wondered what she ever did to the other maids, they treated her so wrong and never made her feel welcomed.

~*~

"You called for me, my lady?" Charcoal bowed before entering Denissa's room.

"Yes, come Charcoal. Choose between these three dresses. Which one looks delightful in your eyes?" Denissa walked over to her wardrobe with Charcoal behind her.

Three lovely dresses hung on the display. Blue, Yellow, and White. "Well my lady, yellow always fits you well."

"Perfect, I will wear it. I am going down to Barcelona for the day with the prince. Do you think I should wear a sun hat or perhaps not? Or maybe in a low, parted bun? Oh, I am confused, help me now." Denissa sighed, losing control of what to do.

"I think you ought to sit down first. My lady, I believe that the prince wants to know you, not your pleasant looks. You should be aiming for what he likes and what you two will do together in Barcelona." Charcoal giggled as she began to brush Denissa's hair.

Denissa sat down in front of her vanity and took a simple breath of air, but then began talking again.

"Oh, I do not even know what we will do in Barcelona. I am such a pretty fool." Denissa shook her head, worried.

"Do not fret lady Denissa. Do you know what the prince likes to do in his free time?" Charcoal asked her, as she stared at her in the oval-shaped mirror.

"The last time I visited the palace he was painting in the art parlour." Denissa quickly remembered.

"Aha. You see. Take him to an art show in Barcelona. I am sure he will find it interesting and fun." Charcoal suggested.

"You are right but art shows are quite the bore these days, so why not ice cream after?" Denissa added in.

"There you go, I am sure you two will have a lovely time."

"Yes indeed. I need two more favours... you love to paint, I have seen you draw and do crafty things in your room, perhaps you can lend me a painting or two just to make me seem more believable that I'm interested in art as well." Denisa's tone seemed like she ordered more than she asked.

"I... well... my paintings and drawings are just to pass time by my lady, I am not good at all. It's a hobby I'm trying to learn each day-

"Hush now. Worrying too much will give you wrinkles. I believe that if you want to be an artist tomorrow you can be. Now for the last favour...."

~*~

"My lady, are you sure this is a good idea? I don't want to disgrace you." Charcoal said, hiding behind her like a scared child.

The two of them were in a carriage to the train station. Where they would meet the prince and go to Barcelona.

"You cannot possibly disgrace me, you are my court lady. You are supposed to assist me wherever I go. I especially need you now. Because you need to start explaining what these paintings mean."

If Charcoal once prayed for confidence, she needed it now. She was going to meet the prince of whom she had never seen before only heard, and she didn't want to ruin things.

The Crown