The King's Wife

Kate looked out the window of the carriage, studying all the trees passing by. Her face resting on her arm, she let out a soft sigh. "Darling, please don't slouch," her mother scolded. "It's unbecoming of a lady." Kate turned around to look at her. "Perhaps," her mother continued. "You might find a noble yourself like your sister. You know, I never thought we would be swept off our feet like in those fairy tales!" She let out a small giggle. Kate sighed again. Aurora. That sneaky deceitful witch. Only she could sleep her way up into the world of royalty. I wonder how she was able to manipulate the King to marry her so easily. Katherine Lilith-Grace Hughes and Aurora Cordelia Anabel Hughes are the young daughters of Veronica Arlene Hughes. Aurora, age 20, was very coveted by others because of her beauty. She is tall, slender, deep brown eyes and long straight dark hair. She often wore off the shoulder, tight-fitting dresses. She was quiet, and had always been mature for her age. Many women in the village were jealous of her beauty and stature, while men merely viewed her as eye candy. She had quite a lot of men ask for her hand, but she curiously refused time and time again. It is obvious now why she did. In contrast, her younger sister Kate was quite the opposite. At 17, she is shorter, a bit more curvy, emerald green eyes and long wavy chestnut hair. Her clothing was a lot looser than her sister's since she was more active. She was far from quiet and often wandered off. Men often found her to be too outspoken or strange. She always longed for more excitement in her life, and her mother seemed to think now is her chance for that. "You'll find a nice polite noble man!" her mother continued. "Maybe a knight... wouldn't that be nice? A tall, handsome knight to protect you and cherish you and give you children and-" "MOM!" Kate interrupted. "I don't need a man in my life right now! I don't want one!" "But how will I get my grandchildren?" "You have Aurora!" "Oh pish-posh." Veronica waved off her daughter. "I want grandchildren from both my daughters. I'll barely get to see Aurora's children. You know they'll probably have some nannies watching over them most of the time. Or perhaps they'll be with some highly skilled scholars. You know they won't have the time for their own grandmother..." She started to trail off. Kate sighed again. There was no point arguing about it. *** The carriage stopped some time later and the women found their door opened by a tall man. "Excuse me, ladies." He bowed slightly. "You've arrived." The women poked their heads out of the carriage and looked around in awe. The castle was massive; fountains aligning the walkway to the entrance and beautiful flora surrounding it. There were a few guards alongside each side of the entranceway. The man led the women to the front entrance and through the castle. "Maybe the handsome guard is single?" whispered Veronica to her daughter. "Mother..." Kate mumbled and blushed. The guard didn't seem to notice. They were led to a massive set of beautifully decorated double doors. The guards on either side of the doors opened them slowly. The tall guard led the women past the long carpet up to where the King and Aurora were sitting on their thrones, waiting for them. "Your majesties." The tall man bowed graciously. "I present to you: Lady Veronica Arlene Hughes of Rukith and her daughter, Miss Katherine Lilith-Grace Hughes of Rukith." "It's about time." Aurora scoffed. She looked at Kate with cold eyes. Her legs were crossed and her head was resting on her fist. Sitting up there, she really did look like a queen. She already has the attitude of one. Kate bowed as her mother did, but glared in her sister's direction. "It was a long journey, my dear." Their mother smiled graciously. "Surely you wouldn't blame us for the distance." "We do live on the outskirts of Rukith." Kate crossed her arms. "In this big kingdom, even that is a half day's journey. I doubt you forgot what it's like." "It's blocked from my memory." Aurora retorted. "As is every other part of that life." Aurora waved her sister off. "You won't need to go back to that life anymore." The King finally spoke. Kate looked at him and accidentally made direct eye contact. He looked bored. He was slumped in his throne, like he didn't want to be there. Aurora looked at him and smiled sweetly. That faker. "My love," Aurora lightly touched his hand. "I think my family should get settled into their new rooms. After all, like mother said it was SUCH a long journey." "Yeah, sure." King Darius. Such a smooth talker. Kate rolled her eyes while her head was bowed. "Thank you, darling." Their mother bowed lowly once more and took her younger daughter by the hand. Another guard led both the women out of the throne room to their own quarters. *** "You could have been nicer to your family." King Darius turned to his fiancé and snatched his hand away from Aurora. "I was being nice." She pouted. "I was just acting.... 'queenly' is all." "Queenly?" Darius raised an eyebrow. "You always act 'queenly'." "I will take that as a compliment!" Aurora popped up out of her seat and quickly leaned over the King, her hands on the arm rests so he was pinned. She gave him a peck on his nose. Darius scrunched his nose in response. "You still could have been nicer." "Hmph." Aurora quickly got up and flounced off. *** The servants had already placed Kate's things in her new room when they arrived to their bed chambers. They were rooming right next to each other. Kate took a deep breath after the guard left her alone to change. She was finally alone. It was hard to imagine living in such a large space. For a long time, Kate was used to a small room above her father's bakery. Back when their family was together. Kate's fingers fiddled with the locket on her necklace. Father... It had only been a few years since their father passed. Once he did, the bakery went downhill too. Their mother tried to run it herself, but it just wasn't the same. No one would buy from a peasant widower either. Their father had left some savings, but the family soon had to turn to selling valuable belongings to get by. Kate finished putting the rest of her clothes in her new dresser. She was surprised to see some new dresses in her closet as well. She ran her hand through the fabrics of each dress slowly. She jumped when she suddenly heard a knock at her door. "Excuse me for intruding, miss." A small pudgy woman peeked in the door. "Your presence has been requested downstairs for dinner." Veronica gently pushed her way past the servant woman. "Please dress for dinner, darling. There will be many young men there and-" "Yes, yes, I know." Kate rolled her eyes and smiled playfully. "You wish to marry me off to a prince so I can be whisked away and live my happily ever after." Her mother smiled back. Kate noticed her mother in a velvet red dress, nothing like what she wore earlier. She must have gotten new clothes too. Kate's mother helped her into a new dinner gown and brushed Kate's hair thoroughly. She braided the side pieces of her hair and pulled them back with a ribbon. "You look beautiful, darling." Kate smirked at herself in the mirror. *** Dinner was next, the last thing required of her for the day. Kate wasn't even hungry, but their presence was requested by the "royal couple" and she couldn't find another way out of it. Veronica walked next to her, squeezing her hand in excitement. Kate smiled. There's no one in the world who deserved the royal life more than her mother. She struggled for such a long time after her husband died. She deserved the world in Kate's eyes. The guards opened the doors to the banquet hall. Hundreds of finely dressed people flooded the room. A long wood table stood in the middle with a variety of different foods - meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, and wine. Beautiful flowers adorned the banquet hall up and down the walls and on the table. The aroma of flora filled the air. Candles lit up the room nicely. This all had to be my sister's doing. "Sister!" Aurora called from across the table. She tapped on her wine glass with a spoon and the room fell silent instantly. "My sister shall be sat by me." People stared at Kate as she walked to the seat next to Aurora. Aurora squeezed her tightly and everyone sat down. Veronica sat next to Kate. "Welcome, everyone." Kate heard a sweet voice and turned to see the King's parents. Former Queen Elenor and Former King Phillip. "We especially welcome our new family, Lady Veronica and Miss Katherine. We welcome you in our home, and in our hearts. Please, eat to your heart's content! This is a celebration after all!" The King's parents smiled upon their new family members warmly as the room erupted into cheers. Soft music then filled the banquet hall as everyone began to eat. King Darius sat back and watched everyone else having fun and talking amongst themselves. He played with his hair between his fingers before spotting his best friend walk into the banquet hall and instantly ran from his seat to greet him. "Who is that young man?" Veronica asked, watching the King casually shake a tall, muscular man's hand. He was very handsome with dark features and black curly hair. "That's Adam." Aurora said before taking a bite of chicken. "He's here almost every day. Adam and Darius hang out a lot." She eyed Adam. "I think they train together too actually." "Train? For what?" Kate's attention turned to her sister. "They like to spare and sword fight." Aurora shrugged. "Like most men do." Elenor leaned into the conversation. "You know... Adam is single as well." She winked at Kate. "Now, THAT is the important question!" Veronica laughed. "I was just about to ask!" Kate chuckled. "I think he may be too young for you, mother." "Not for me!" her mother elbowed Kate's arm. "For you, dear!" "He is a very skilled swordsman." The former king ran his hands through his graying beard. "Very polite as well. A fine young man to wed." What is it with parents trying to marry you off? Kate watched her mother effortlessly getting along with the new in-laws, trying to play matchmaker with the royals. Kate turned to make a comment to her sister, trying to play nice, when she saw Aurora was no where to be found. Kate looked around and didn't see her anywhere. Her mother was busy talking and laughing with the former King and Queen, so Kate took it as an opening to sneak away. *** Kate tiptoed backwards slowly to ease herself out of the party. She slinked along the walls of the banquet hall, trying not to be seen. Unknowing to her, the King caught her out of the corner of his eye, but merely turned his attention back to Adam and continued their conversation. Kate made it out the doors of the banquet hall and sighed in relief before running down the halls to get back to her room. CRASH! Kate stopped dead in her tracks. "Now look what you've done!!" A voice screeched from around the corner. It couldn't be... Kate snuck down the hall and peeked from around the corner. A vase had fallen and broke onto the marble tiles. A tall figure stood in front of the mess. A woman crouched down to pick up the pieces. "Come on, baby." The figure crouched down next to her. "It was an accident." "Don't call me that!" The woman stood up suddenly and stuck her nose up in the air. "I am your future Queen of Rukith. You will address me as such before you get beheaded." Aurora. Kate watched as the man got up and pinned Aurora's body against the wall with his. "I know you. I know your reputation. You're no queen." Aurora smirked. "Not yet." The man smirked back at her and Kate watched as he kissed her sister hard and passionately. She didn't protest or try to pull away. Kate pulled her body back around the corner, confused at what she just witnessed. She tried to compose herself before running back towards her room as fast as she could.