The Ruler of Wattpadia - Contest

Day With The Queen - Baronetess Saffron

I sat in the parlor, with the elaborately stitched cushioned-chair, completely nervous, and it was difficult to hide. I kept wanting to fidget with my bun, where my pen is tucked away. I spent most of the way here trying to find the small parlor (definitely not small), so I didn't have my explanation prepared before the queen herself entered.

As always, she was impeccably dressed with the latest fashions. Her kingdom is so up-to-speed. I, however, was not. If only I'd been paying more attention despite being bedridden. I only had the vaguest idea of what was going on.

"Good afternoon, Barontess Saffron," she said sweetly.

I stood and bowed. "Good afternoon, Queen Oxy." I sat when she did. One of her staff members entered with a cart to fill the table with small foods.

"I haven't seen much of you, dearie," said Queen Oxy. "There have been many goings on in the castle."

"I apologize for that, Queen Oxy. There's no other way to explain but to say that I fell ill. I don't travel as much as I did as a child, so my immune system has weakened over these few years."

"How terrible. You were free to continue resting, sweet. This contest is always open."

"I understand that, Queen Oxy, but I wished to continue participating. I appreciate you allowing me to continue."

"Not at all. I feel compelled to ask, though, about your life before arriving here. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not! Feel free to ask me anything." I sat up straighter and kept my hands busy with fill my plate.

Queen Oxy smiled. "Then I ask that."

"I beg your pardon, Your Highness?"

"I'm asking about your life before you arrived here."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I.... Well, my family is of noble birth. It's a matter of public record, but after my mother passed away, and my father had long passed, it was all left to me. But because I was so young, we fell in rank, and Dusau has taken care of me the most, financially, anyway. I've done what I can for the community, but... well, my dreams are bigger than my purse."

Queen Oxy chuckled lightly. "And what are these dreams? Why decide to take a chance to become queen of Wattpadia?"

"From my experiences... from what I've seen.... Well-intentioned individuals with power to change aren't able to look at everything quite closely. The royals of Dusau don't often visit the poorest areas---not because they don't want to---but to go out so far and take note of what needs fixing... it's just too much. Sending staff and knights is possible, but the people of the poorest areas would feel more enlightened if they were able to see their royals in the flesh. I've spoken with a few families, most of whom are too ill to work, and they always look to the royals as if they are so far away. I believe we lose our sense of community."

"And this focus will be only in Dusau?"

"Oh, no, Your Highness. I wish to expand this idea through to the rest of the kingdoms. We need to be aware of every individual citizen. While it might not be practical, it is not impossible. I also hope to establish more inter-kingdom communication. Wattpadia is a large and resourceful nation. While we have our own borders, we are still one country."

Queen Oxy nodded, sipping her drink. "I see. It's very noble of you to be so considerate of other nations as well as your own. While it is enlightening to hear of your ambitions... what about you?"

I was a little startled. "Me?"

"Yes. What... or, who, is very important to you?"

"I.... Well, my housemaids. Lucinda is the head of the household, and then Alice and Bella are my ladies-in-waiting. There was more staff but... I couldn't afford to keep them. I did manage to find them better jobs, though, to support their families. Lucinda, Alice, and Bella decided to stay with me as they have no families of their own."

"That's really lovely to hear. I'm glad you have people with you. All women, you say?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Three wonderful women."

"What about a man?"

"Uh, there are no men in our household."

"No young man has piqued your interest?"

"Um.... Uh, how do you mean?" Jayce de Lons came to mind, but only because I'd seen him in the courtyard as I passed by it the second time. Besides, he was a brilliant man, very popular, so there was no connection to him whatsoever. Well, other than the fact we were both here representing Dusau.

The queen gave me a look---just like Lucinda's---that said something has gone over my head. "We'll come back to that later. While you were ill, we've had many incidents and accusations involving witchcraft. Letters were flying around about the participants, though I haven't received one from you. What are your thoughts on witchcraft in general?"

"Well, Your Highness, the same thought would apply to any manner of tool. I don't know much about witchcraft, but it has many functions. Put simply, if it is used to help others, I support it. If it is used to hurt, I'm against it. The same would go if it were a matter of someone owning a sword. It should be used for protection and nothing else. Aiming to kill... I'm extremely against that."

The queen nodded. "I see. Very insightful of you, Barontess Saffron. You haven't touched a thing on your plate!"

I glanced down, my food cold. "I'm so sorry, Queen---!"

"Don't apologize. It's alright. You just focus on regaining your strength. I look forward to more visits, and learning more about you. You're so reclusive."

"I'm sorry."

She chuckled as she stood. We bid each other a good afternoon before Queen Oxy left to attend to other, more important duties. I found myself awkwardly standing by as the staff member cleaned up the table, and soon I was left alone in the parlor.

I left the parlor, obviously, and decided to walk about the castle. My legs felt stiff and week. Some exercise would do me good. But then I regretted it and wished I could hurry to my room.

Everyone else was out in the castle as well, but noticing the couples, the groups of friends... I realized that I hadn't been speaking with anyone, even before I became sick. I established no relationships, or even anyone to exchange a simple 'Hello' to.

Back home, I often went out to the orphanage or local assemblies with a purpose. I had good relationships with the locals, those in the lowest castes. But here, where everyone here is used to the hustle of royal duties.... I wasn't sure what to think, and that worried me more.

I took out my pen as I walked, idling drawing on my hand inkless doodles. I still had this thing to worry about. Passed down through the women in my family, the pen never let loose one drop of ink. It wasn't the kind to be dipped. And it looked like such a simple thing too.

Playing with the pen, I was left with two goals:

Get the pen to work.

Make at least one friend.

I then tacked on a third: Don't get sick again.