Song of Crowns

Episode 7: Crowns

My throat hurts from trying to contain my anger and tears.

I gave Alfonzo a nod and left the hall room. I rush to the stairs and to my room almost as quick as I could ever be. I dived into my bed and cried for how many hours I could count.

I am going to lose myself in this. I tell myself.

When I stopped crying, I sat up and let the anger in me go out. I know they can hear me even with the thick walls. I'm sure Alfonzo is rejoicing in my despair. Everything I am doing is for my people. I understand why Alfonzo wants me to bear a child. It's for the security of his position through his son. It's as if he wants to jail me in this marriage even if I just said that I have all the control through becoming the Queen.

And yet, I understand the pros in this as well. Now that 3/4 of the world's population is already gone, repopulating it is essential. The dome is big enough to house millions, but the living humans left in this dome is probably only ten thousand.

My being the first one to bear a child is something worth celebrating for the survivors. They'll see it as a success of mankind in these trying times. And I cannot let my future people down.

My tears have dried up in my sheets when suddenly, I hear the door propped open. I was expecting Evos, but only to be met by the green eyes of my future husband and jailer.

"Are you okay, your Highness?" Adrian asks as he sits at the end of my bed. I pull up my covers, seemingly afraid of him. "I'm sorry if my father gave you a shock. I will not force you if you do not want it."

"Of course, I do not want it!" I shout. He didn't flinch. "My life is already taken from me. Now you want my body?! What more could you take away from me?!" He didn't leave my eyes. The hazel-green circles resting on his eyeballs are fixated on my distressed state. I don't know why but this person in front of me has a certain pull on me I cannot comprehend. It is as if whatever he does to me and no matter how I fight back, he will win when he trains those eyes on mine.

"I guess you are not ready to talk," He says, looking down. He traced indescribable figures on my sheets before standing up. "I'll be outside if you are ready."

"I think you should go. Be with that girl." I say with an icy-stone tone. His mood tensed by that. I guess he realized by now that I caught him in his s****l affairs. He didn't say much and left the room.

I cover myself up and cry once again. My whole life is slipping away from me. Now, I have nowhere to run to.

I can never leave this dome, ever.

---

The next day is reserved for the preparations of my coronation. I am to be Queen of this unknown foreign place called HiveBerg - A dome-like refuge for survivors of the great flood that eliminated almost all of mankind. I am the only royal that is eligible to rule left of the survivors. Like what Adrian said, those they found are either too old or too young to take on the job.

My room is now filled with mirrors that I do not know where they got. Probably in a stockpile somewhere reserved for the scientists. There are a herd of fabric piled on top of my bed. There are also jewelries that I do not know where they got. A box sits atop my table and when I opened it, there is a crown-like headdress. It is lined with dark carvings but is dark blue, fitting the setup of being underwater.

A woman enters the room and I realize it is Maimie. She has two other girls following her.

"What are you doing here, Maimie?" I say with a smile.

"We want to work for you, your Majesty." Maimie says while dumping her arms with fabric.

"I'm still not used to the title, I'm sorry. But I'm grateful for the gesture. Are you sure you'd like that?" I say, seemingly bashful by the title.

Maimie rules out a tape measure and starts wrapping me with it. "Of course, your Majesty. I know basic household chores to be working for the future Queen. Senator Alfonzo came to us and asked if we would like to help you for your coronation. We happily volunteered." She says, giddy with excitement.

"Your Majesty," The other girl with auburn hair rolled into a bun calls out. "My name is Allory." She says with a curtsy. "Allory," I gave her a tap on the shoulder. "Nice to meet you." The other girl has jet-black hair that is rolled too in a bun but there are loose threads that fall on her sides. Her bangs frame her sweet and small face making her look like a young girl. "Your Majesty," The girl says, curtsying sloppily. "My name is Porschia. I was a musician but I can help around here."

I chuckled. "Even musicians can be helpful. What if you sing me songs while I rule the place?" The three soon to be my maids laughed in chorus. I love that they already feel comfortable with me.

The morning dragged on with them trying to fit me with the fabrics and designing my gown. I left them on their own by lunch as I scurry the hallways in search of anyone else that could be preparing for my coronation. Instead, I catch the eye of Adrian.

"Your Majesty," He bows. "Pleasure to be of your presence."

"As do I, Sir." I say with a half curtsy.

"May I have this walk?" He says extending an arm for me. We walk through the hallways in silence. Alfonzo says this home of his will be turned into a temporary palace before I could move in another palace that they are currently building. Apparently, Evos is in charge of that since he is an engineer.

"If I may ask," Adrian starts. "What made you change your mind?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, turning to him.

"Well," He says keeping up my pace. "You seemed to hate the idea of marrying me. I don't know what changed you to tolerate this."

"I still hate the very idea of it." I say while thinking back to the condition that I bear his child. "I don't think I'll be able to satisfy you, as well. You see, I'm not much of a girl who loves to linger in bed." He chuckles at my remark. He must know that I am insulting him.

"You are able to hold a conversation with me even if you hate my very presence. I think something changed you. What is it? The crown?"

I stopped and pointed my finger at him. "I was always born with a crown and I would never use it as a motivation to lead. Unlike you, I don't have to marry strangers just to acquire the world."

- End –