The Amorous Mate

Chapter 10: Queen

“What do you think of Lord Matthew, Venida?”

Chelsea was watching the outside surrounding through the glass window of their carriage.

Her fascination were at the lines of cherry trees that are blossoming with pink blooms of flowers. For Chelsea, it was an immaculate scenery she could not help but keep on staring.

“What I think of the Baron Lord, your Grace?” Venida asked.

Her confused visage were exposed at Chelsea’s front, because she was straightly sitting in that direction. Her creased forehead from both the confusion and exhaustion made by the previous bandit attack they have endured, became more visible. Though she was only a few years older than Princess Demeter, she now seemed older than her age made from that stress.

To answer Venida, Chelsea nodded without looking at the servant. Still, her eyes were fixed at the firm standings of beautiful cherry trees.

After the bandit-attack incident, and when Lord Matthew and his friends left, they have also shortly returned to their travelling.

There remained only five royal guards as the carriage’s defense system. However, those guards assured that they were more than confident they could still protect the carriage and the princess.

They were nearing their destination, and the rest of the path was now not as dangerous as the place where the carriage was attacked. Only a few kilometers would it take then before they could reach the protected boundary of the kingdom.

Chelsea also learned that it was the reason why Lord Matthew and his company confidently left them. They were only after protecting the carriage at the vital point where criminals and thieves would attack. Now that everyone was already safe, they decided to leave them already.

“Why does it seem, our Princess is starting to fall to the charm of the dreamiest gentleman in the kingdom?” Vennett interrupted.

“Why does it seem, our Princess is starting to fall from the charm of the dreamiest gentleman in the kingdom?” Vennett interrupted.

Chelsea did not react from Vennett's suspicion. However, from her peripheral vision, she saw Venida hitting her sister's hand, as if she was warning her sister about her garrulous mouth.

“W-Well Princess, as for me, Lord Matthew is a fine man—I mean a beautiful man every woman deserves to have in their life. I saw him how he cares for you, how he gazes at you, and I’ve been hearing from him how much he will want to conquer all the mysteries of the sky only to make sure you are not distressed, but whole and happy.”

Chelsea’s eyes widened in shock. She looked at Venida, perturbed, with lips widely parted and shocked. “W-What? L-Lord Matthew is in love with the Prin—I mean in love with . . . me?”

The V-maids confusedly looked at each other.

“Daresay not, your Grace, that you also forgot about Lord Matthew and . . . your acceptance of his . . . marriage proposal?”

“WHAT?! I AM ENGAGED WITH HIM?!”

From an unanticipated discovery, Chelsea—shocked— joltingly stood up inside the horse-led carriage. She hit her head at the roof. What was worse is that the horses in the front were appalled from her suddenness, causing for their panic and gashed neighing.

“Goodness gracious! Calm down, your Grace!” Venida exclaimed.

With her strength, she forcefully pulled the weird princess for a calmed sit down back on the royal couch.

“I am . . . what? Mind if you tell me what was that f*****g thing again, Venida?”

Venida hesitated. “You are …”

“The Princess has arrived!”

Suddenly, their conversation were interrupted from the loud voice of a man outside, cheerfully announcing the arrival of the princess.

When Chelsea peered at the window, the line of beautiful cherry trees has now disappeared. Instead, it was changed with a setup of a small community. The people living the area were standing beside the road, smiling, and waving their hands to the carriage.

“The Princess has arrived!”

“Your Grace!”

“You are absolutely stunning, Duchess!”

“Is she the Princess, Mama? She is beautiful!”

Those were some of the muffled words Chelsea heard when the carriage has paraded on the community’s road. Seeing the people and their busy works, she was left stunned and wordless for she felt the warm welcoming from them.

“A-Are we on our destination yet?”

Witnessing the people’s cheering for her arrival, Chelsea seemed forgetting her rage and anger from knowing the fact that she was already engaged with the Baron Lord.

Instead, it was quickly replaced with both astonishment and joy.

“Sort of, your Grace. We are now at the periphery of Chesterfield city, might you ask. And that people you are seeing, are the family of servants, workers, and poor people choosing to stay in the center of all the possible gold,” Venida said.

“Can I talk to them?” Chelsea asked.

“No, Princess Demeter, you must not.”

Hearing that serious tone from Vennett’s voice, she felt disappointed.

She looked at the servant.

“But why?”

Again, the moment they saw the princess’ unexpected disappointment made by Vennett’s response, the V-maids confusedly looked at each other.

Both of them hesitated to answer her question.

Yet then, Venida was always the one who is taking all possible risk from answering the princess' desires to learn. She kept on doing it, even though she knew it might cost her possible heart attack from the shock in the princess’ startling reactions.

“They are, in ways, treated as filthy as a city rat.”

“WHAT?!” she exclaimed. “How could one—”

“Forgive me, your Grace, but allow me to finish what I need to explain first, before you could burst your chaos in the carriage,” Venida pleaded.

She has expected that the princess will be going to cut her off—and it occurred.

That is why, before the princess could talk more and suppress her eagerness to explain, she has to stop her. She even needed to exert a juice of intimidating tone in her voice, so that the princess would listen.

“O-Oh. A-Alright,” though stunned, Princess Demeter agreed to zip her mouth.

Venida sighed, relieved that Princess Demeter actually listened instead of letting her rage and anger burst inside the carriage.

“Well, it is not I who wanted to say that they are as filthy as rats, your Grace. But, it was the cruel social system emerged in the kingdom—they are the culprit for their lowly branding. That people who are waving at us, are families of the servants from the noblemen and women living at the heart of the Nightingale Kingdom—the Chesterfield City.

How they are treated is based on how the elite family sees them—just a mere moving object only good for hard labors. Seeing them always drenched from their sweat, or begrimed from dusts and mud, or reeked with the odor of livestock’s feces, the elite family branded them filthy. As filthy as rats.”

Chelsea shook her head in disbelief. “Even in this place, the social caste and injustice also exists,” she said. “Then why am I not allowed to interact with them?”

“Because, your Grace, it is the throne’s order.”

“Throne’s order?”

“The King’s order that not anyone from the Royal family shall dare touching any of the ‘filthy rats’ unless they were owned by any of the elites, or if you wish to make them their servants. Because, as peculiar as it is, but, touching the hands of the poor people, or hugging them tight, would mean you are accepting them in your abode—and would you be responsible for their wages.”

“B-But if I wanted to choose one of them to take in my house, wh-why am I still not allowed to interact with them?” Chelsea, still confused, has asked.

“You sure are aware of your title, your Grace?”

Chelsea stared at Venida but she failed to answer her.

“You are a member of the Royal Family. You are the 2nd Princess of the Nightingale Monarchy. You are the Duchess of the Saxton. And . . . your wealth was beyond one poor family’s imagination. Do you perhaps think that stepping outside would be nothing but peace?

Because the poor are desperate to escape from the traps of being poor, they would do anything to escape the rat trap. Once you have set your foot, and display yourself vulnerably, they will only rush to you and do any measure just to have the opportunity of touching your hand. You know the reason why.”

Chelsea anxiously placed her hand to another. “That is crazy.”

“Crazy indeed,” Vennett agreed. “But I must remind you, your Grace, that it was how you have claimed as us your servants. Me and Venida. And, it was . . . the most exceptional and unforgettable moment of our life.” Vennett showed her sweetest smile to the Princess.

“Did I? Oh, I did. Haha.”

Since Chelsea had no sure idea nor capacity to recall what has happened in the past of Princess Demeter, she only smiled awkwardly at the V-maids. She started to panic, knowing that they were starting to recall their pasts.

Chelsea looked at the window again. Then, she noticed that the scenery has somehow, again, changed.

To be particular, the lane of the houses beside the road shifted from poorly made and dirty — to one big, colorful, and fine abode.

The people that are walking outside wore silken dress, or cotton suit. When they noticed the arrival of the royal carriage, they bowed elegantly. It was far from how the previous community greeted her earlier.

In this new, rich community, the people moved as if they were men and women of fine grace, elegance, and . . . money.

“And now we are here at the elite town,” Vennett said.

Chelsea looked at her with the demand for an explanation.

When Vennett noticed it, she said, “if you are to ask, your Grace, Chesterfield is composed of three parts; one prefers calling it The Three Circles. The outer most part of the circle is where the families of the servants were, while the middle circle is this place—where the elites, the noble men and women, lives. And then, the inner circle is where the palace is boldly standing.”

Minutes passed, and the horses neighed for a halt. The carriage solemnly stopped.

“A-Are we now here?” Chelsea asked.

The V-maids nodded their heads, answering the lost thoughts of Chelsea.

Seeing that, Chelsea’s body froze in nervousness. She was now a few meter away from the palace. It was as if she can feel its power even though it does not exist.

Sooner, she will meet the important people in Princess Demeter’s life. How shall she act, it wonders her too.

One among the Royal Guards went to the carriage's door and opened it. Chelsea being nervous, lacks the idea to decide what was the next thing she shall do.

Shall she step out of the carriage, or not?

She looked back at the V-maids, hoping she could get an answer.

“After you, your Grace.”

She could not dare explain what kind of fear was possessing her chest. Still, because she have to move, she decided to step out from their transport.

As she stepped out, the domineering visual feature of the structure that was revealed in her front, has made her jaw locked in shock. Her mouth widely opened, gasping after seeing the pacifying stand of the Nightingale palace. She was mesmerized.

The palace was big.

The way it was constructed, even the mere details above the roof, were elegantly made—too beautiful that it seemed she was in the middle of a fairy tale’s realm.

“Wow,” she whispered.

The palace was the most modern-looking structure she had ever seen in this world. It was made in metal, cement, and bricks. Its structure were more elaborated and highlighted from the expertly executed combinations of colors. It is the most elegant thing she had ever seen.

“Behold!” out of nowhere, one of the soldiers in front of the palace’s entrance roared. “The Princess of the Nightingale, the Duchess of the House of Saxton, Princess Demeter Nightingale, has arrived.”

Soldiers appeared from the corners of the palace. They lined onto the entrance. Holding their heavy spears, they thrust it above, meeting the other spears of the soldiers lining in their front.

The intersecting spears from them formed an arc. A pathway. An entourage for the Princess’ return.

Nervously, Chelsea traipsed on the path.

Behind her were the V-maids. They were following the lead of her path. Their bodies were now as stiff and as nervous as Princess Demeter's. The moment she entered the palace, two other Royal servants and an escort welcomed her. They respectfully bowed.

“Mournful day it is, your highness,” said the escort. “Allow me to lead your way to the throne room. Your Majesty is waiting for your arrival.”

Hearing the name ‘your Majesty’, Chelsea’s rapid heartbeat doubled. She could not help herself but be nervous for the moment.

She was aware that the one the escort called ‘your Majesty’ was Princess Demeter’s mother. Because she was inside the princess’ body, then, she shall consider it her mother too. For now.

She was bothered because she could not disregard the fact that her mother in this world is a queen. The thought trepidatiously invaded her.

She will be meeting the queen. Her mother. What could be that Queen would be looking like? What could be her personality? Would she be intimidating? Would she be something like the kinds of frightening queen she watched in fantasy shows? She have no idea.

What she was certain of, is that she will be meeting the wife of the great man who ruled the kingdom until prosperity.

Who would not be shattered by that thought?

Knowing that she is a stranger stuck inside the body of a no-stranger to the kingdom, the blow of the pressure became strangling.

Chelsea glimpsed at the V-maids behind her. She wanted to ask for help, but the servants could not do anything but to just nod encouragingly, only hoping that they could persuade her to do her best.

She bit her lower lip. She blew a heavy sigh. Popping her knuckles, she followed the escort.

They were lead at the palace’s end of alley. From there, a ginormous door was sturdily standing. They neared, until even though no one was touching any of its parts, the door opened.

The first thing that Chelsea observed was the red carpet flatly spread on the floor. The escort walked on it until the half of the carpet’s track.

“Your Majesty,” said the escort, along with a bow. “Princess Demeter, the Duchess of the House of Saxton arrived here, in the palace. She is asking for you to heed her call.”

Chelsea’s stares passed through the bowing escort. She followed the track of the neatly spread carpet, until when she reached the end, she met the gaze of someone she shall not—or at least, she thinks she shan’t.

The gaze meeting hers was from the Queen. Her mother.

She was sitting on a silver throne, next to the gold seat which was currently empty. She smiled at her, and by heaven’s grace, it made her divinely beautiful.

One would not hesitate to quickly conclude that she is the Queen. With her aura, her presence, her beauty, and grace, she is a perfect description of a queen.

“Ask my daughter to come. I have longed her for a long time,”

The escort then looked back, and nodded at Chelsea. His stare seemed encouraging her to come and join him in the middle of the red carpet’s spread. Chelsea braced herself. Slow and nervous, she started walking on the red carpet.

She had no concrete idea what she would need to do after walking to the red carpet. Because of her rapidly beating heart, nervous, she did not notice she already passed through the escort’s position. Instead, she walked even nearer to the queen.

She started feeling dizzy. The only thing she could see were the blurry images of the scene inside the room. She too noticed that there were other people inside, watching her with intent. She could not discern if they were looking at her with mischief, or a sense of concern. Her own vision was betraying her. It was spinning.

‘s**t, what shall I do next?’ she asked herself.

Then, a flash of memory stroke her. She remembered Venida’s instructions back when they were still on the carriage, travelling.

She needs to bow to the queen.

However, her problem was that . . . in what way of bowing would she need to do in front of the queen? Does she have to bow like what the escort did earlier, or does she have to bow like the princess she has been seeing in movies?

“Your Highness?” she heard someone called her, but the voice was muffled and weak.

Panicking, she bowed. Only that, what she did was none from her previous options.

“Y-Your Majesty! Forgive the Princess’ immature act! S-She has been acting that way ever since she grieved from the news of her father and brother’s death!”

From the far corner of the room, Chelsea heard Venida’s voice. The next thing she heard were the sound of running footsteps.

“Y-Your Highness, please stand up. T-That is not h-how you should bow to the Queen’s presence,” Venida whispered to her.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry,” Chelsea said after raising her head from kissing the floor. She stood up. She dusted off both of her knees who has been supporting her untypical bow.

When she looked at Venida, she saw her paling face.

“I-Is my mistake really bad?” Chelsea asked. However, Venida could not answer her.

“Oh my poor daughter!” suddenly, the queen exclaimed. She stood up from her throne and ran towards her daughter.

Chelsea was surprised when the Queen’s arms wrapped around her. She felt a distinct kind of warmth—something that she is not familiar with, but something that her body could remember.

“Your Papa, your brother … they’re … they’re …” and the Queen cried.

Chelsea’s ocean-colored eyes made pearls of tears too. But she could not explain why. With the silence stirring inside the throne room, the only sound people could hear was the queen and the princess’ sobs.