Secret Existence

Beginning

“Eunuch Erald, is Her Majesty here as yet?”

“Not as of yet, His Majesty, I haven’t received word of her procession coming in yet. I will gather word of it now as your Majesty pleases?”

His question was answered with a grunt from the King and he bowed; going off with three soldiers and two of his subordinates.

The first of the hunting games had started and the royal and noble sons’ cackles and shivering whistles echoed throughout the pitch-black land which held countless trees for miles to go and poled torches every now and then. Of course, there were guards who followed just as vigilantly as their masters into the stupor of the forestlands. To them it was no competition, it was for their pleasure and excitement. There were no rules and they could kill anything and anyone that was within sight. By any, that meant no living thing was usually speared. Of course, the locals were warned never to interfere with the specialties planned for the royals and nobles, and so without more, there was no excuse to speak ill of them if their blood would paint their weaponry.

Meanwhile, at the campsite, the rest of the families were being entertained with music, food, warmth, and various performances. The air was totally different from what lurked around the enclosure of the site. It held the aura of power, wealth, and the scent of royalties for which was described by many as that accentuating sophistication and prowess; an effervescence that was expectedly exclusive to their bloodlines.

Speaking of which, there came the announcement of their honoured guest who everyone itched to catch even the slightest glimpse of. This guest is known to make rare appearances at royal events; once in a red moon one would call it. Notwithstanding the mysteriousness of this guest, the person was rumored to be the belle of the ball, the precious and prettiest in all of the earth, born from the womb of gods and goddesses and sent to bless Italy itself. Her alleged beauty was only seen by a few, and that was by the immediate royal Kings and their head wife. The child was kept heavily guarded by thousands of guards and soldiers, even rumored to be protected by otherworldly beings. All this was necessary because of the exceedingly great power she held and had to hone over the years. Of course, with this amass of power came many who would do anything to breach the sacred grounds of her abode just to take advantage of her power by any means possible.

Notwithstanding, the locals, nobles, and royalties respected her privacy and loved her for sure: she was recorded as a being who was amicable and a natural philanthropist who blessed Italy most profoundly even though she did not have to. Of course, this all was carried out by her right hand Heinemann and her subordinates for she also was never to exercise personal favours to anyone nor step outside the precincts which her guiding spirits allowed. She was known as Queen Illitia, Her Super-Terrestrial Majesty.

*****************************************************************************

Apart from the King, all had to rise for the arrival of Queen Illitia. Her carriage was lined with fine gold and emerald and her party held the finest of maidens who were specially dressed to perform a special dance of the hunt in honour of the event. Of course, the queen was not to be confused for the King’s queen of Italy as she was not necessarily of the human realm but took such a form to execute her purpose.

All stood attentive as the emerald green carpet was rolled out and the carriers of the sparkling litter diligently carried the Queen as if their lives depended on it (well it did). Queen Illtia was covered from head to toe with the finest of material so she wouldn’t be exposed unnecessarily. Even though covered, her gold jewelry could be seen shining as bright as Polaris. The litter came to a stop in front of the King’s table on the platform and Heinemann and another officiating officer of her palace helped her down from it.

She kept up with the formalities of respect but only nodded thrice towards the King and Queen while her officers and subordinates knelt. She was escorted to sit in beside the Queen. The King and Queen loved her as their own and so it was quite the sight to see the Queen softly rubbed her back and smiled from ear to ear at her. In fact, the other families who heard of the graceful girl loved her even though they have never personally met her. She was also the little princess’ so-called big sister because she loved the unique and pretty presents she sent to her and how much she admired her because of the stories her mother told about Queen Illitia.

The others present were all exuberantly filled at the presence of such a being. She as usual was swooned on as equally by males and by the maidens and girls who admired and secretly hated her; wishing to have been destined as such a being. Nevertheless, they never dared to speak ill of her outwardly, except one.

Myra never had an excuse to do so until she saw the returned princes all eyeing Queen Illitia looking as if they had been spelled. One prince especially shocked Myra; Prince Tyrez who seemed to take in the appearance of Illitia longer and more than the others. Heaps of coal were burning on Myra’s head now that she thought here comes this girl who invaded her beloved’s mind where she should be. Although this was her first time breathing the same air as Queen Illitia, her twisted mind principled this as enough means to hate her. She couldn’t afford to let anyone, not even her get in her way.

Contrarily, Prince Tyrez and the other princes saw Queen Illitia has a powerful prized possession they could have for their own outside the obvious fact that she is absolutely beautiful anything a groomed prince could want. It is no surprise that the conceited princes were impressed. Particularly, their leader Prince Tyrez felt for the first time the urge to take her for himself. Unlike Myra, Tyrez had known of this beaut long before and has seen her countenance at exclusive parties and balls; just not up close.

Typically, like all other males, the princes liked a challenge and surely Queen Illitia was a great one. That was an inherent given with all the safeguards, power, and restrictions put up against everyone including the royal family. The power she held could be used to sustain or wipe out an entire nation or maybe the earth if gods willed. Notwithstanding this sort of awareness among the princes, they saw her as beaming light to their respective kingdoms.

Above and beyond the ill-motives had by either of them, Queen Illitia was never born to fulfill the affairs or fall prey to the evils of men. Any misuse could cause the curse of destruction upon whoever wished to do so. Hence, she was not fated to marry a mere human. Luckily, no one knew about the one vulnerability which held a strain over her head and that came with taking on a human form that bounded her supernatural powers, and so being in this form inevitably came with such a flaw. For now, she was safe and kept away from the influence of outsiders.