Queen's Reign

Chapter 1

The storm subdued a little, the sky clearing into a sunset as the day bled into the evening, making the clouds a soft, pearlescent gold. Adelyn sat quietly on one of the couches in the library facing the balcony, slightly hunched over reading a thick, humongous book. She was so engrossed in the story, she didn’t hear a servant entering the room, soft slaps of feet walking to her side. “Lady-”

Adelyn slammed the book shut in surprise, accidentally jamming her finger in the process. “Ow!” she yelped as she held her finger up, which was throbbing from the impact. “I’m really sorry, Milady. I didn’t mean to…” The servant immediately knelt on the floor, waiting for Adelyn’s punishment. 

“It’s fine, just a little swollen, nothing much.” She gently guided the servant to stand, the hem of her lavender silk dress lightly swept across the floor. “Her Majesty, the Queen wants to see you, Milady. Though you might want to cheer her up a little,” the servant told her with earnest eyes, eyeing Adelyn as she slowly took her book and proceeded to leave, holding the book to her chest.

The question unsettled her. “Cheer her up? Why?” she turned her attention to the servant who was trailing behind. “Her Majesty just got into a fight with the Princess, my lady. As to the details, I don’t know.” 

Princess Ethelina? What got them into a fight? She bit her lower lip, which she always did when she was in deep thought. “I will meet the Queen, but see that the preparations in the hall are done. And this time, no flying pets in the hall. Do you understand?” Adelyn asked. The servant put his hand to his heart, the proper sign of submission to a lady of high status. “Thank you,” she said and opened the doors, leaving the library in a haste.

Adelyn hastened along the hallways lined with sconces lighting the wall, casting shadows over the porcelain vases placed on top of oak tables that were placed throughout the hallway. The portraits fixed on the right wall and the scenery outside passed as a blur of colours, as she passed them. Running up a spiral staircase leading to the royal family’s chambers and making a left turn, she finally reached the Queen’s rooms. Catching her breath, she walked up to the guards, and they parted to let her enter. One of them offered her a magnolia, wordlessly smiling at her. Adelyn laughed lightly and waved her hand to politely reject the flower as she entered Queen Myranda’s room.

“Your Majesty?” her voice echoed throughout the vast chamber, walking past a maid sweeping up shards of porcelain from the floor. “Excuse me,” she said, slowly approaching the maid. “Do you know where the Queen is? And did you break something?” Adelyn gestured to the shards on the floor.

“Goodness gracious, my lady.” The maid curtsied and continued after she rose. “The Queen is inside her boudoir changing for the Autumn Feast. And this was broken quite some time ago, when the Queen was arguing with the Princess earlier,” she whispered. 

There it is again. I don’t believe it, the Queen has such a soft temperament… “Are you sure?” Adelyn asked the maid. “Yes, my lady. They argued in here, there’s no doubt about it.” The maid left her standing by the sitting area, and exited the room quietly.

Suddenly, a commotion came from behind the changing screen, startling Adelyn. She walked towards it warily and was about to draw her dagger when the Queen emerged from it, accompanied by three maids. She was clad in an emerald green ruffled lace ball gown, her wavy auburn hair tied into a twisted chignon, giving her a poised, regal look. Adelyn curtsied at the sight of her. Her crown inlaid with crystals, three gems of the national colours: aquamarine, blue and white, accompanied with tiny pearls to soften the look rested atop her head, reflected rays of light danced about as she twirled around. 

“Rise, Adelyn. I told you there is no need for formality when it comes to you, you might outright call me my name.” Myranda stated calmly as her maids tried to find the matching shoes to compliment her dress, bickering among each other in hushed tones. “Your Majesty, you look stunning,” Adelyn added. 

“I might be, but you’re not ready.” The Queen circled her apprentice. “Got it! Alice and Sarah, come here please.” The two maids curtsied while listening to their mistress’s orders. Adelyn awkwardly stood aside as the two excitedly ran past her, clutching her book to her chest once more. 

“Come on, Adelyn. This way,” Myranda led her towards the large mirror, sizing her up. Adelyn stood awkwardly, twirling a piece of her dark brown, wayward hair that got unravelled from her twisted braid knot and placing it behind her ear, smiling nervously. The Queen sensed her uneasiness. “Adelyn dear, I just want to help you get ready. I have an important announcement to make later during the feast.” She proceeded to loosen Adelyn’s hair from its style, letting it cascade past her shoulders in brown waves. Reaching into a medium-sized trunk on her vanity, Myranda’s nimble fingers pulled out a velvet drawstring bag and opened it, revealing the crystal hairpiece that was gifted to the next sovereign of Aeviria. The crystal flowers were accompanied with leaves made of silver and a string of minuscule pearls attached to the hairpiece, which left Adelyn stunned with its beauty. 

“My Queen, I can’t accept this. This is for the next Queen of Aeviria, she politely rejected as Myranda walked towards her, leaving the hairpiece on her vanity. Adelyn heard her exhale lightly as she felt the Queen gently braiding her hair, loosely piling it on top of her head to form a bun. “Adelyn, I know what this implies,” she said while trying to secure Adelyn’s hair. “I know everyone is under the presumption that Ethelina will be made Queen, but it is highly unlikely given that we have already secured the betrothal of my sister to Prince Khan of the Thatis Empire.” Her voice drifted away as she walked back to the vanity and held the comb as gently as she could in her hands.

“This piece is a symbol of a future to be Queen, as I intend to crown you now. My sister cannot be trusted to rule the kingdom, I would not have any of Mother’s work wasted down the drain with a spoilt girl such as her.” She paused, pain showing in her eyes. Adelyn’s eyes intently followed her as she walked.

“My Queen, it wouldn’t be fair to her. She has waited for years to be queen.” 

“I knew it wouldn’t work out for her.” Myranda sighed. “That is why I chose you. Because I knew you have the potential to lead my people, to lead Aeviria into a glorious era.” She stopped face-to-face with her apprentice. “Do you accept this title?” She held the crystal hairpiece over Adelyn’s head, suspended in midair. “Will you be the future Queen of Aeviria?”

Adelyn took in a deep breath. She definitely didn’t expect this to happen, expecting that she’d be Lady forever, serving the next queens of the kingdom. She didn’t know she was about to become one. Finally, she straightened her back, releasing all fear from her heart and said with an angelic smile: “I would be honoured to, my Queen.”

Myranda looked at Adelyn’s face in the reflection of her mirror and smiled back. She gently inserted the hairpiece into her hair, winding the string of pearls into Adelyn’s hair, seamlessly weaving it into her bun. “Thank you, my Queen,” Adelyn said as she dipped a low curtsy to Myranda. “Rise, the future Queen of Aeviria,” she lifted her palms toward the sky, gesturing for her apprentice to stand, where they stood, smiling at each other. A teacher to her apprentice, a student to her mentor.

Suddenly, the doors busted open and the two maids that went out earlier barged in clumsily, in their hands cradled a sleek light blue velvet gown, the dress sewn with tiny crystals and pearls on the hem, the skirt and the bodice, twinkling like stars. “Quick, go behind the screen and change there.” Myranda lightly shoved Adelyn on the back, giving her a playful wink. She took the dress from the maids and went behind with a smile.

*********

Meanwhile, in the Princess’s room, Ethelina sat on her highback chair, fuming angrily. She had already dismissed all her maids and servants from the room, sitting in her evening refinery, crossing her arms across her chest as she leaned back into the chair. She wore a midnight black lace gown to match her straight, black ebony hair, which she decided to let down this evening. A red ruby pendant hung from her neck, fingers adorned with several rings. 

How dare she let an imposter on the throne! The throne was supposed to be mine. Mine! She slammed her fist on the table, and the crystal orb on her table glowed a devilish shade of purple, brighter and brighter until it had conjured the face of an unknown woman. She deviously smiled at the angry princess. “Oh, Princess Ethelina. Angry yet again?” The woman’s voice slithered like a snake. 

“You know what? My foolish sister gave her stupid apprentice her throne!” Ethelina retorted, waving her hands in the air. “That Adelyn is an impostor, how dare she take my throne away!”

“Oh, is that so? Well, I might just have the perfect solution. If you’re willing to perform it that is,” the woman replied. Ethelina wickedly grinned at the words. “And what would that be?”

“Seems you’re interested. Well, bless you that I still have a little of this left.” An indigo-coloured vial filled with some translucent liquid materialised on the mahogany desk, shimmering in the darkness. The Princess picked the vial up, which was cold to the touch and c****d an eyebrow at it. “What is this?” she asked, turning to face the crystal orb. 

“Haha, well that is a vial of Starnight Thistle, one of the very rarest poisons there is. One drop, one death,” the woman chuckled excitedly. “But, in exchange for my poison… I would like something.” she flashed a wicked smile.

Ethelina listened intently to her request and nodded fervently. As the orb dimmed its light, she hid the vial in her dress pocket and went to join the Autumn Feast.