Midnight Royale

Chapter 14: Elena, and the sun

I was wondering who is the woman in front of me that they are calling Queen Elena. I am panicked because she may be the queen of the Kingdom Amadeo?!

Queen Elena looks so young and about my age! I mean, the King looks young too but I can sense that he is older than us! How can this queen look so young? Or the King finds a new wife to make the queen?

I can say that the King has a taste.

"Didn't you get enough sleep?" She asked me. I don't know how to answer because I am still disoriented. Also, I am having a hard time how to greet her. Should I bow my head? Answer with respect? What? How should I act?

I guess Genevierre and the queen are so close to each other before?

"Nevermind! Don't answer that question anymore!" She shook her head and looked at the ladies instead. "Didn't you make sure that the princess will sleep well?! That's a very simple task to do–"

"Q-Queen!" I hurried up. "I sleep... enough. I just look like this because I am tired," I reasoned out.

Why do they always blame the servants when things go wrong with the royals? Lack of sleep is not their fault!

The queen shook her head at me. She raise an eyebrow and glared at the ladies who is currently bowing their heads.

"They are not doing their job properly then! Their job is to take care of you! You should get mad at them!"

I shook my head and looked at her. "Yes, yes! I will get mad at them, but not right now... I am sorry for not taking care of myself."

The Queen looked at me. Very horrified. She scoop my face and shook her head. "Don't be sorry! You didn't do anything wrong!"

What is this even conversation for? I couldn't get what is this for.

"Queen Elena, forgive us..."

I looked at the queen and held her hand. "Please forgive them. They didn't do anything wrong. Don't blame them..."

If someone should be blamed for my restless night, it should be Lazarus! That stink!

The queen is really mad about what happened! I mean, I just didn't get enough rest! In the real world, I always work without any rest! How is that?!

The queen is thinking in front of me. Does she take it seriously? I hate the palace for its unreasonable rules.

"Okay fine. I will forgive them for what happened."

I shook my head in disbelief. She is disappointed with the ladies because I didn't sleep well!

"Thank you for being kind, Queen..." The ladies show their gratitude by bowing their heads.

I am a little bit confused because they didn't do anything wrong. How can I change this weird system in the palace?

Wait—why would I change that? I am not going to stay here!

"Can you please leave us for a minute? I will help her to get ready."

The ladies don't want to obey the queen.

"We cannot let you do that queen..."

"No. No. That's an order."

The ladies cannot do anything but nod their heads and leave us.

I am worried about how can I deal with the young queen. Is she the wife of the King? This is the first time I saw her here!

"Let's get you ready for the day. Let me help you," she declared and jumped out of the bed. "Do you feel okay now, Genevierre?"

I nod my head to her. "Yes... I am okay." Lack of sleep is just a basic problem for me and I can deal with it almost every day!

"Okay. Then come here and go take a bath!" She casually said.

I am confused by her tone. The queen sounds very casual to me. Everyone in the palace sounds formal and authoritative. The queen sounds... friendly?

"Why are you looking like that?"

"I am so sorry, but my mind is still hazy because of the accident... But can you explain who are you?" I asked, confused.

Her eyes widened in disbelief and jump on the bed again with me.

She leans closer to me. "You don't know me?"

I shook my head, acting confused. "No... But can you introduce yourself if I remembered you correctly?"

"I am Lazarus' sister, Elena!" She introduced herself just like that. "I cannot believe this! Did you lose your memories? What is my brother doing? Should I call the doctors—"

I held her hand. "No... I am okay. I remember something but I am not sure if it's correct."

She is Lazarus' sister?! I thought she is the queen of the palace! My mind! Why is she addressed as a queen?!

She raised an eyebrow. "Then you should've been checked—"

"No, Queen Elena... I am fine."

"No, you're not!" She shook her head at me. "You are calling me queen too! You never call me a queen!"

My face is wrinkled. "What should I call you then? Forgive me because my mind is still hazy."

"You call me Elena!" She said.

"Oh... okay, Elena." I smiled at her.

"And what's wrong with you? I feel something wrong!" She pointed out again.

I just smiled. "Nothing is wrong. I just... remember things this way."

Her eyes wrinkled. "No... You look more soft and kind than usual. Did you hit your head hard?"

So... Genevierre looks cold too huh?

"I guess." I chuckled. I pull Elena's hand and looked at pleaded. "Please don't tell anyone about my condition. I don't want to be a burden to the palace anymore. Just help me to remember about the palace—or your brother and the king..."

"Are you sure you don't like to get checked?"

I shook my head. "No, I am really fine... But thank you for asking."

I hope she doesn't tell anyone about it.

Elena nods her head and finally let's go about convincing me to get checked. She told me to fix myself first...

She picks up a white ball gown again. I hate their fancy clothes... But for an unknown reason, I never feel hot even though the gown consists tons of fabric.

"Come here, V! I should put colors on your face..."

V? Is that Genevierre's nickname here?

Elena and Genevierre look like best friends. We are both silent while she is fixing my hair.

I am comfortable with the silence between us. It's not something awkward or suffocating. For the first time, I feel comfortable with someone aside from the ladies.

"You look fine as always..." She said after putting the last piece in my hair.

I smiled. The look is just simple and nothing extra. I looked at her in the mirror.

"Thank you for this..."

Elena is just smiling—then suddenly her eyes turn red—and its waters! My eyes widened when I saw her cry!

I immediately turn my head to her. "W-Why are you crying?" I asked her in disbelief.

She shook her head and caress my hair. Elena sadly smiled at me. "You're so pretty..."

"D-Don't cry over that! I am okay! Thank you for making me pretty..."

Elena pulls me for a hug. "Should I leave my husband and stay here, V? My kingdom is far away from here! Please don't do anything... I am still here... You are not alone. Don't leave me!" She cried like a child!

I was surprised by her words.

"We talk about this, right? If you have a problem, you can go to my kingdom and stay there! Just let the Aristocrats and Amadeo go into chaos because they lose you... but please don't take your life. You promised to stay... Promises should be fulfilled, Genevierre."

I don't know what to say.

"I... I am so sorry," I apologized.

I am relieved to know that Genevierre had a friend like Elena.

"Thank you for telling that." I smiled at Elena after she finished crying. "At least I know that all along, I was not alone."

"You are not alone!" She shook her head at me. "I hate you... Why did you even jump? And I apologize for coming late because the Kingdom had a problem..."

"No... That's okay... I mean, what happened to me is not your fault," I told her and smiled. "Don't cry for me. I am okay."

She shook her head and smiled back. "I am sorry for crying like a baby again."

Elena fixes her makeup after that small talk. Upon talking with Elena while fixing her face, I have known that she is a Queen from the other Kingdom. I thought Amadeo was the only place... But I heard that Kingdom Amadeo was the center of all. Kingdom Ramon was second, and the last Kingdom is far from here.

"Where is my brother? I should kick his face for being cruel to you."

"Don't blame him," I said and opened the door.

I was confused... when a bunch of people were waiting in my room. The group of Gloria was there too, but the people triple...

"Let's go and eat!" Elena grabs my arm and just walks with me.

I guess it was Elena's people! Well, she is the queen. I can understand why she has so many men with her.

"How far is your kingdom here, Elena?"

"Far! I told you! My father just wants to kick me out here that's why he pushed me to that peasant!" She is irritated.

"Peasant?"

"The King of course!" She shouted in anger. "Argh, whenever I think of that loser—I just lose it..."

Loser!? A king?

"Jonas!" Elena called. Then suddenly, there is a man who walks with us.

"Yes, queen?"

"Call my dear little brother. Tell the prince that I am here," she ordered and Jonas bow his head.

"Ready the garden! I want to eat there!" She shouted, and I can hear them panicking behind me because of the sudden command.

"So Genevierre, how are you? What did you say about your memory?"

"Well, I cannot remember—my mind is hazy... It's like a broken puzzle that is lost in pieces..."

"A broken puzzle that is lost in pieces?"

Elena is taking the lead while walking. I never thought that this castle is bigger than I ever imagine. It was big and fancy but hollow.

It's also creepy.

"Yes... A broken puzzle that is lost in places... I have the memory, but it's everywhere," I lied.

I cannot remember anything because I am not Genevierre... But I don't want to sound weird.

A big door awaits down the aisle which is the door to the garden. This is the first time I am going out to the palace!

"Okay, you can ask me anything that makes you curious," she told me and smiled.

The light from outside greeted me. The massive garden greeted me.

My mouth hangs open in awe. If the castle looks dead—the garden is so bright and colorful! It feels alive here!

There are even butterflies, and birds chirping around!

I saw a maze in front of me. God... This is beautiful! A paradise!

Elena and I proceed to the gazebo. A lot of food is offered to us just for a breakfast!

The ladies and men didn't step forward anymore when we entered the gazabo.

"This is... beautiful!" I told her and smiled.

"I told you to come here whenever you feel lonely, V. You just never listen..." She remark.

I didn't say anything about her statement. I am not Genevierre to answer that–but coming here feels good. I think it may prevent her from taking her own life if she saw the flowers here.

"So tell me, what are your plans?"

My eyes widened. "Plans?"

"My brother doesn't want to marry you V. Come to my kingdom instead! I hate leaving you here... Stop liking my fool brother... I.. don't take your life just because of that fool..."

I am quite surprised by her words. Is that possible? Can I leave here?

"Can I... really leave with you?"