The Crown

Eight.

The Crown

When Isabella was pregnant with Manuel, the prince Spain. She would always sit on the balcony and rub her stomach as she glanced at the seas and cities in Madrid that layed out before her. "We own this all Emmanuel, A Kingdom built with strength and pride. One day you will see what I see." Marcus came outside to join his wife, kissing her forehead before sitting. "My beautiful wife. We would not be here if we did not have each other." He held her hand watching as she nodded. And there would come a time in every year where the family would sit in that balcony out of many they had around the palace and talk about their future and their past. "Emmanuel my future King of Spain. You just keep your good looks so that you may find a beautiful wife like I did your mother." Marcus smiled glancing at Isabella. "That is for grown-ups papa." Little Manuel no older than four years old said, before running inside.

Breakfast in the Royal Palace of Madrid was held outside. Madrid was also a beautiful view from where they were seated. Isabella was eating fruits and talking with her mother when she asked, "Ma, is the view not quite amazing? Sometimes I stop to think and remember that I own this all." Isabella giggled slightly.

"WE own this all, you know that without my proper guidance you would not have married Marco." Rita laughed proudly. but she soon stopped when she realized Isabella face full of guilt. Isabella remembered the past when everything was perfect compared to the mess she was in now. They named it the family balcony after Marcus, her late husband. She missed him dearly and now thought about how much Manuel reminded her of him. But Manuel was not speaking to her for the cruel thing that she had done, that was why Isabella felt guilty all of the sudden and no longer had the appetite to eat.

"I know you are worried about Emmanuel. But there is nothing you can do except give him time to heal physically and mentally. Emmanuel is not the type of boy to forgive, he wants you to feel sorry for him, to know how he is feeling through his actions. It is hard for him to admit that he was wrong to run away from you and try to avenge an enemy he was not prepared for, that is why it is so hard for him to even look at you because he knows his wrongs. But if it will help in the least, I will go speak to him.

~*~

Charcoal was cleaning Denissa's room when Carrot and Bunny walked in, pretending to help her arrange Denissa's bed when Carrot faced her and asked, "We heard that you are leaving us?"

"It is only until the prince is well." Charcoal said, wondering what the two of them were up to. Bunny laughed, she did not believe Charcoal was telling the truth. "Ha! That is ridiculous, you are too black to enter such a beautiful place, you will pollute it."

Charcoal had had just enough of their rude remarks. She knew that she was black, ugly and filthy, she believed it more than they knew. But lady Denissa wanted her to be her court maid and could have chosen anybody else, so she was very honoured by that.

"I do not care ladies, there is the reason why I am the closest maid to lady Denissa. She does not think of me as a miserable person, she is my friend. My.. first friend." Charcoal was surprised to hear her own words for the first time.

"Aww look at you, so happy and joyful for nothing. Lady Denissa might be your friend but you are certainly not hers. Just your mould is enough to scare someone away." Carrot joked.

Charcoal knew that was true, here she was thinking that she had made her very first friend, but she had not made a friend at all. Her looks scared people away, even babies feared her at times.

But they were certainly not the ones to speak to, they had issues of their own. Carrot was fat with very tan/ orange skin that is why they named her carrot.

And Bunny's gap-tooth of a rabbit was enough to fit a carrot through, that was why the maids named her bunny after all.

But instead of Charcoal pointing out their flaws, she remembered the words her mother taught her, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It was one of the most important rules of love, it was not rude, or selfish. It did not take record of wrongs. So she found something that was good about them and said it instead. "For the time being, I will miss you both. Your funny jokes, rude remarks and hurtful plots. Remember that you are beautiful and take care, the righteous King loves you and will always be with you." Charcoal curtsied before walking out of the room, leaving them surprised.

It was a very mature thing to do and she did not regret doing it.

~*~

Rita, Manuel's grandmother walked into his chamber, he was lying in bed and reading a book.

"Ah, that is the book I had given you by John Bunyan is it not?" She asked him. "Apparently so. I have been reading through it but I still do not understand." He sighed placing it on his lampstand.

"Well, it is about a man who goes on a journey. His faith is tested and trailed, he faces challenges." Rita explained.

"I know that Abuela, that is the obvious plot of the book but there is more to it, he carries a heavy burden everywhere he goes and I am curious to know when will it finally fall off? He has suffered enough."

Rita took both of his hands and smiled, her grandson was at least interested in the book, he wanted to know what would happen next and that was such a surprise, judging by his rude character he had shown his mother and some of the servants all week.

"Just keep reading and you will see. I believe that his book will change the way you think of many things. Have you greeted your mother today?" She asked him. Manuel did not want to talk about his mother. He rolled his eyes in annoyance at the thought of her.

"No, she has been nothing but a walking threat-

"She is your mother." Rita cut him off, correcting him.

"She is a lair Abuela and you know it. Who knows what else she is keeping from me? She was already at the tip of my hand and I tried to be patient with her but when I heard that she was keeping the killer of my very own father from me, her only son, I saw nothing but selfishness and pride. I lost it and cut her off from my life. I do not need her again."

"But she is still your mother. When your father died, she went through one of the most painful stages in life. Sadness and sorrow. He died from the very same reason you were about to die from stubbornness."

Manuel lied back, looking surprised that he was. Stubbornness rang in his head for the first time and it came to his realization that his heart and thoughts were leading him to death.

"Stubbornness is not a good thing my son, I hope it stops ruling your life. It sits right next to disobedience and that is what gets people into trouble." Rita then left him alone to think.

Was he stubborn? Maybe that was why the people's hate for him was constantly growing.

The Crown