Make Your Move Katherine

Eat

Oni

“It’s been almost two days, you have been locked away, don’t you think you should act like an adult and not sulk?” Mr. Anthony’s voice was clear and loud as he pounded on the oak doors of Her Majesty’s chamber.

Less than a minute later, one side of the wide door was pulled open, revealing a white as a sheet-looking queen and Oni’s eyes expanded before she turned to stare at the Royal Guard as he glared at her. “Go in and serve Her Majesty,” he ordered Oni and the girl hurriedly pushed the tray in the room. Mr. Anthony’s words wiped the smile off Her Majesty’s face and she turned around and walked back into the room behind Oni.

The young scared girl, bowed as she rushed out of the room, afraid that the queen would shout at her again, like before. She did not fancy being embarrassed in front of the captain of the guards. Oni had been worried as the queen ate nothing and only drank the herbal tea. She had been in a dark mood since learning of the King’s arrival and knowing he was with his mistress.

She had complained to Julie that the queen was starving herself and Miss Julie had even tried to get her to eat too. The queen had shouted in her hysteria for them to leave her alone. Even Miss Moon with all her, “It is not proper,” talks did not change the queen’s mood. Oni was scared that the queen’s declining health would be blamed on her, for she had also heard a rumor that she could be punished because of it. Even death they had said.

Oni had chewed her fingernails till her fingertips bled.

She couldn’t die, for she was too young to die. She was too pretty. Plus, she had her younger sisters to care for, as her mother was sick and her father was in prison. Should she request to work elsewhere in the castle? This was the best paying job and all her mother’s bills were almost paid off because of it.

As a last resort, she went to the elder man as soon as the King left, for everyone listened to him as if the king himself had spoken, and told him about the queen. He was the only one that was authorized to have any say in the castle when the King was absent, at the moment.

The other royals did not meddle in the king’s personal affairs, probably because of King Drago’s influence. Perhaps it was because they were too busy being pompous with their luxurious lifestyles as King Oscar did not have the privileges as them to just book an appointment and just show up- or not. They were free to live their wealthy lifestyles.

King Oscar was burdened with everything while they lived off their family name. They had all hoped that Nuwa would have lessened his load but he chose instead to marry the queen. It confused the hell out of everyone who knew about Nuwa- which was just mainly castle folks and of course, the gossip columns that could only make speculations about then as the king had never confirmed his relationship with her publicly.

Katherine

“Eat,” Anthony commanded, as soon as Oni left, taking a seat and Kat was gobbling down the food hungrily. “Can you not rush like that? A queen must be poised.”

“This queen is starving and doesn’t care about-”

“If you are starving, why didn’t you eat?” he barked at her, standing up and glaring at her. Kat choose to ignore the fact that he interrupted her while she was speaking as it was for her own good. Somehow, she felt warm inside instead. Besides, the sight of the neatly pulled back hair, olive green, suit-wearing man cheered up her spirits.

“Where is that b*stard?”

“The King? He has left, you cannot use words like that to refer to the King, Your Majesty,” the stern-looking man cautioned her., bringing his eyebrows together in a frown,

Kat didn’t care for Oscar. She was glad he left again for that meant that Anthony would be visiting her once more. Her chest grew light with that confirmation. “When?”

“When he left? This morning, he has business in France-”

“Would you care to accompany me in the garden later then?” Kat was beaming for Oscar’s departure meant that Antony came over as soon as he left. Her stomach tickled with that thought.

“Eat,” he repeated his earlier words and sat back down as Kat shoved a spoonful of rice into her mouth, loving the taste of it. “Why did you starve yourself? Why lock yourself in?”

Lock herself in? She did not lock herself in; prison is where she’s at- a beautiful prison but a prison nevertheless. She simply locked the door because she was tired really of people wringing their hands telling her to consume food. People that she didn’t care for either. Tears ran down her face but she didn’t answer him. She chewed instead and swallowed while she listened to him lecture her about her health before he moved on to the staff.

“Oni was scared. Do you think it is okay to scare people?”

“Scared? Hah. Even self-so what? She’s an employee of mine. The King anyway, she doesn’t care about me. Whatever.” Kat swiped the tears off her cheek with her hand, which was not very queen-like and Anthony frowned as his eyes followed her movements.

“She doesn’t care? She was frantic with worry about you.”

“Yeah right. More like she was afraid of losing her job,” Kat mumbled as she took a sip of water before going back to her almost completely eaten meal.

“Lose her job?” Anthony scoffed and Kat rolled her eyes, swallowing the fish in her mouth before bringing another forkful up. “She could have lost her life because of you.”

“Tch, I doubt.”

“Your Majesty, if you are harmed, Oni will be held accountable for it. She will pay with her life.”

“What? That preposterous-”

“I assure you that I will not joke about the loss of someone’s life,” he deadpan. “Maybe not actual death but her life, her future will be tainted. She will be dismissed immediately and maybe most likely, charges will come her way. Her family too will be treated with scorn, for you are Queen. Everything about you is put above everyone else. You are the most important person, next to the King of course, “he added quickly, “and you cannot play with a person’s life.”

Katherine was taken back by his words. Surely, he was playing with her, but somehow, she knew his words were true. Kat needed to come to terms with her reality and why wasn’t she? She knew why. “But I don’t accept this role-”

“Your Majesty, you are not Katherine anymore. Whether you accept it or not, it is what it is,” his gentle manner did nothing to soothe her and Kat’s jubilant mood left as did her appetite and she dropped her silverware quietly. Anthony was looking her in her face and lying to her.

The most important person next to the King? Yeah right- what about the King’s woman?

“I hate it here. I only agreed to this sham because of my father. He has cancer and I needed the money to pay his bills,” she confided in him. “I had no idea what I really was getting myself into for all I saw was my father’s death. He has cancer you see.”

Anthony nodded but remained silent and Kat knew it was because he was trying to coax her back into eating. He was eying her plate she had shoved away.

“Years ago, he was treated and he had to sell out his share of a small restaurant you see, we had to pay some medical-” she broke of as her throat felt swollen with her restraint on her tears and hurt. “It wasn’t enough though and now he has had a relapse... I just can't lose him,” Kat's voice broke as the tears escaped.

Anthony opened his mouth to speak then but a knock was heard followed by Julie’s voice. Swallowing he answered, “Come in.”

Julie rushed in exclaiming, “Your Majesty, you’re eating. Thank you!”

Kat frowned and bent her head, hiding her eyes and emotion-filled face from Julie.

“Oni said you were- I had to rush in to see for myself- oh you didn’t finish it?” Julie went on, not noticing that Kat was trying to avoid her gaze. “That’s fine, you ate most of it,” and seeing Anthony indicating with a flick of his hand at the food she continued, “I’ll just clear this up and send over-” she broke off when she saw Anthony shaking his head no. “I’ll leave you two then,” she finished.

“Julie, I’m sorry for causing you to worry,” Kat mumbled, as Julie was about to leave after clearing the table and was rolling the tray out.

“Your Majesty- it’s- it’s okay. I’m happy you ate. Rest now,” the head maid returned, a bit flustered for she was not expecting the queen to apologize to her.

“And Oni- I’m-I- I’ll tell her myself later,” Kat said when Julie pulled open the door. Julie nodded and left. “I know, a queen does not apologize,” she muttered when she caught Anthony’s eyes on her and turned away. Still, Kat felt that an apology was the least she could do, seeing that they both could have lost their lives because of her stupidity.

"What would you do for a cigarette now?" she heard Anthony's deep drawl and smiled, shaking her head. She would just about do anything she guessed. A cigarette seemed like heaven to her now.

"I would give my eyes," Kat joked for she didn't want to see here anymore. “I don’t like my view here.”

"Would you? Any particular brand?"Anthony ignored the negative part of her statement, his eyebrow raised as he stood up.

"What a sh*tty Ursula you are," Kat smiled still not looking at the man who sat opposite her. She was worried about if any of the chicken she just ate stuck to her teeth.

"What a sh*tty Ursula you are," Kat smiled still not looking at the man who sat opposite her.

"Ah, I know this story, the little mermaid? I am the sea witch? Funny."

"Excuse me, I need to floss," Kat excused herself and got up. Anthony swiftly got to his feet as she walked to the bathroom. When she returned Anthony was standing by the doorway.

“The King won’t return for another four days; would you like to see the country, tomorrow?”