Make Your Move Katherine

Oscar means God's spear

The next morning Anthony showed up at breakfast to inform her that the King would not be joining her. She didn’t know if that meant he was upset with her or if he was leaving as he had stated he would about the money but she didn’t ask.

Huh- upset…Oscar? That was so not a word to describe him.

She enjoyed breakfast alone and was joined soon after in the garden by Drago who smiled, “I knew you would be here.”

“Oh, are you well enough to be here?” she questioned him but looked at the manservant that spoke up the last time who nodded.

“Girly, you make me happy. I liked our last conversation. You lifted my spirit,” Drago mumbled as the four men stepped back after helping him onto the swing next to her.

“I won’t say you remind me of Alsie or my Olivia but you, I like for you. My new daughter,” he chuckled and Kat smiled warmly at the wrinkled man.

“Oscar left?”

“Yes, business is almost never-ending when you are King and he is under more pressure for he is newly crowned.”

“What does that mean?”

“They would push his limits,” he answered truthfully as he looked at the castle. “The people of the Kingdom.”

“But- don’t they like him?” Kat remembered how the people had cheered him on- well always where they went. Fawned over him, praised and screamed his name like lunatics.

“Ah- most people like to see a leader fail- especially the higher they are and Oscar is the highest so his downfall would be the greatest. Now it is worst for everything he does is under the spotlight with these media apps?”

She smiled at his use of ‘media apps’, yes, that would make sense- like a celebrity. People claim to love them but deep down they looked for mistakes they would make and even drench up their past ones too. Not like a celebrity, he is considered one, whether he accepted it or not.

“Do you have pictures with your wife and kids when they were younger? I’d like to see your daughter.”

“Dear, just look at Oscar and you will see her,” the man smiled as he looked at her then frowned, “Oscar didn’t tell you?” his frown deepened and she shook her head matching his forehead for she knew something was coming. “Alsie was his twin.”

“Twin? Wow. I never knew. Oscar and Alsie- strange names for twins,” she observed out loud as she pushed them forward on the swing gently.

“Really why?”

“Oh, well usually a twin would have matching names only slightly different,” she stated and the former King frowned, looking at her.

“I’ve never heard of this, interesting. Where are you from? Weren’t you chosen?” Kat took that moment to reflect on her words. Was she saying too much? Would Oscar be okay with her telling him that? Would he get sick again as he would focus his mind now on the ‘not normal’?

“Yes, I was actually but Oscar and I knew each other from school.”

“Interesting. I met my wife on the day we became engaged and married almost a year later. So did my father and the ones before him. Strange indeed that he met you as a child- this has never happened before- I wonder if they have the correct person?” the former king mumbled with a deep frown on his head.

Geez, another not normal thing she told him again. She didn’t like the way his face was etched in deep thought for she remembered Oscar saying that he had collapsed before.

‘How do I change the topic to a safe one?’

“Where I am from Oscar means grouch,” she blurted out and the previous King’s eyes opened widely and laughed. It didn’t but she figured Sesame Street deserved some credit for making Oscar, the loving but grumpy grouch who was worldwide famous.

“My dear, you are indeed strange. Oscar means God’s spear and Alsie means strong-willed.”

‘God’s spear? Hah.’

“Obviously I am joking,” she told the King. “Oscar is just a toy I had back home.” A small lie but she didn’t want the King to think of her words too much. She was surprised with the true meaning, however.

But Drago’s words had Kat thinking- just where exactly was she that they can’t make calls and the people speak strangely as if they had never been out in the world? She recollected how Oscar had taken her at such a distance from the castle to call her dad and her eyebrows took on a furrow. The reception was that bad? No…it couldn’t be, she remembered Oni saying they weren’t allowed their phones when they were with her.

They chatted a bit more before a beep was heard and one of the King’s men stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, it is time to rest.”

“My dear, you can come here freely on Mondays as the garden is closed from all on that day. You can be free without eyes on you,” were the former King’s parting words to her.

Kat spent the rest of the day chatting with the kitchen staff. Getting to know them was a task as she sensed their caution. While they were friendly towards her questions, she felt they were uncomfortable with her presence and Oni guided her back to her chambers.

Kat was going mad. Why wasn’t she allowed out of the castle? Or use of electronic devices? And why must the rest of the staff be punished because of her?

A radio would be nice you know, she informed Oni as she moped around in her room. Not even a television was available. Her marriage felt like a prison sentence to her.

“Your Majesty…would you like to go to the sitting room?” Oni asked Kat with a worried look on her face as she saw the sadness etched upon the Queen’s face.

Kat shook her head as tears ran down her face. Alarmed Oni ran out and returned with Anthony and not the head maid as Kat thought she would have returned with. “What seems to be troubling you, my Queen?” he asked her quietly, looking at her with an almost scornful expression.

“Look at where I am Anthony. You tell me,” She replied without looking away from the window she was perched by. Even the view was dreary as she only saw trees and pale blue mountains in the far distance. Not one building or road even.

“This is the second time I am seeing the Queen in this outfit Oni- why?” At his words, Kat turned around and saw Oni with her head bowed and hands clasped in front of her apron apologizing to Anthony. “Do you not know your job?”

“Anthony, I have no comfortable clothes. Don’t forget you took me from my home and this is the most at-home clothing I have- just what do you mean to speak to Oni in that manner?” Kat tried to explain to him that Oni only did as she had requested.

Oni still stared at the floor and muttered, “I’m sorry-”

“Quiet!” he deadpan.

The Royal Guard reminded her of Oscar at the moment with his words and sneer. She furrowed as she saw Oni’s fidgety fingers and felt sorry for the girl but held her apology back to the girl when she saw the warning on Anthony’s face. A queen does not apologize.

“Why can’t you clothe your Queen properly?” he asked the meek girl who looked as if she wanted to disappear at the moment.

“You are Queen so why can I remember your clothing? I’m not supposed to, am I?” Anthony frowned slightly and excused Oni, who dashed out the room giving Kat one last sad look as she walked out the door.

“My Queen, you almost let your staff know your personal affairs, didn’t you? Why? What did you tell the girl?”

Ah, now she understood why he raised his voice earlier. It was to scare the girl away so he could lecture her in the absence of others. Good move.

She didn’t get the chance to answer him for he went on with, “Didn’t the King get you dresses? Do you want me to fire her?”

Kat’s eyes widened. Could he- would he? Over such a small matter?

Nostrils flared she almost regretted sneaking in the wide-legged pants romper suit to the clothing that Oscar had purchased for her that one time- almost. "Your King-”

"Your husband," Anthony cut her off looking bored.

How dare he do that? Kat felt her cheeks heating up in anger, how dare he interrupt her? Wasn't she Queen? He had no place to speak to her like that. She opened her mouth to protest about treason but realized it was what Oscar would have done and stopped herself. Wait- was that what Anthony was trying to teach her?

Hah! Clearly, he did not know her well. Kat never backed down and it was why she was successful so far in her reports. Katherine Sky Turner- erm Julian, was no pushover. Raising her chin she retorted, "Take me out, Anthony. I need more clothing."