Shackled Sorceress: Winter Queen

Being a proper Crown Prince Consort was not easy.  It was four thirty in the afternoon, and Kalliope was sitting at her desk, reading and signing away. She felt like her eyes and fingers were going to just pop out and drop rolling on the desk surface, one after the other. She had been at it since lunch, which got miserably cold before she could even get to the appetizer.  Winter in Caelora were long, grey and merciless, just like its Emperor.  Kalliope’s lips pinched downward further at the thought of him. With much reluctance, she looked back down at the documents spreading before her. It would have been fine if it was a different kind of reading.  Despite her resolve and declaration, statecraft still held no interest for Kalliope, and she still loathed seeing courtsmembers. Interacting with their boot-licking, self-centered, leering faces made her want to gag. Numos, her half-brother-in-law, had been particularly obnoxious recently.  “He wants something, that’s why he keeps pushing about things he knows you do not wish to discuss with him.” Asa, her favourite sister-in-law had signed. Oh, how Kalliope missed Asa.  Asa was sent away on a secret mission by order of His Holiness the Emperor two weeks ago. Which meant they were to expect Asa’s return with some official or the other’s head some time soon. And, because of the nature of Asa’s “duty”, missives and correspondences were nonexistent.  Just another reason for Kalliope’s persistent foul mood. “Does Her Highness require something?” A soft voice asked, bringing Kalliope’s gaze from the pesky document before her up to a now familiar face. Tio was a handmaiden assigned to Kalliope, hand-picked by her beloved himself. She wasn’t any extraordinary beauty, nor was she unpleasant to look at. If Kalliope had to describe her new handmaiden with one word, it would be homely. Tio had dark skin, dark hair twisted into a simple but elegant bun on top of her head, sharp brown eyes and filled cheeks. Her stature was a perfect balance between slight and stout, and she stood three inches shorter than Kalliope. Her most prominent feature though, was a jagged, ugly scar that dragged from the back of her left hand up to her elbow, a long cut that didn’t heal right by the looks of it. Native to Caeloran Kalliope’s new handmaiden was of the serious type. Sometimes even quieter than Asa, Tio stood by Kalliope’s desk placidly, taking care of the Crown Prince Consort’s every need without her having to set a foot outside. It would have been stifling, except Kalliope had never been a social butterfly. The quiet in their chambers offered some reprise from the constant mundane discussions she might stumble in with Caeloran court members. At the same time … it was difficult to keep herself holing herself up in here without looking like she was being afraid of another possible assassination. Kalliope bit back a sigh. Being a proper Crown Prince Consort was difficult. “No,” she told Tio, “Are there any remaining correspondences I need to look after?” “Yes, Highness,” the handmaiden bowed, and produced a staggering stack of letters out of seemingly thin air, “We have reports from the border regarding the supply lines, Sindal’s Magistrate is requesting an audience with Your Highnesses in a fortnight, arrangements for Princess Alista’s courting ceremony, and gifts from General Gahallad …” Listening to Tio, Kalliope sort of wanted to cry. Is there such a crime as being too competent? Malus assigned Tio to Kalliope because he knew she wasn’t raised to deal with most of this nonsense. A Court Sorcererss’ duty revolves around ceremonies, official blessings, and smiting the occasional threats to the throne. Well … the last wasn’t entirely mentioned in the fine prints, but it was a given.  Cutting into Tio’s tirade, Kalliope asked, “Is there anything personally addressed to me?” Without a pause, Tio flawlessly shifts from her incredibly long list to another that was notably much shorter. Kalliope felt like she should be a bit more dejected, but was neither surprised nor upset by that. The Kalliope of half a year ago, hurt, confused and naive would have been, but that Kalliope didn’t have anything to lose yet. Not other than some childish promises, easily broken like porcelain cups. She wondered what that Kalliope would say about herself now. Kalliope wasn’t sure if that past self would have liked how she had turned out to be. She certainly liked what she had now, though. “-from Alari, and a letter from-” “Wait,” Kalliope cut in again, broken out of her reveries, “You said Alari?” Once again, Tio smoothly answered despite Kalliope’s interruption, “Yes, Your Highness.” Taking the letter from Tio, Kalliope frowns at the royal seal. Flipping it over, she frowns even deeper at her name, addressed in flourishing yet familiar calligraphy. Kalliope almost didn’t want to open this. She didn’t think she would ever forget what happened on her last days in Aleria. How spiteful and heartless her own sister had been.  Thinking about it now, Kalliope could somewhat understand why. Didn’t mean she had to forgive the behaviour.  With a sigh, Kalliope turned the envelope around and broke the seal. Wind-Moon Winter, Leviathan Year 231,   From Alari Royal Palace to Caelora Royal Palace, To His Royal Highness Malus Salthamael, Crown Prince of Caelora and Her Royal Highness Kalliope Caunduen Salthamael, Crown Prince Consort of Caelora, Her Royal Highness Venus Caunduen Jargannen, Fifth Consort of His Majesty the King of Great Alari, King Eiras Rorguth Urannen Jargannen, request an audience with her sister, Her Royal Highness Caunduen Samathael, on her official visit to the Holy Empire of Caelora on Earth-Sun Spring, Leviathan Year 232. Well regards and respectfully, Venus Caunduen Jargannen Kalliope blinked, and flipped the paper back and forth. “That’s it?” She asked aloud, “Most of this is just names and titles …” Tio tilted her head in acknowledgement, but she of course didn’t read the letter. Not that there was much to read anyway. The bloody letter wasn’t even penned by Venus. Only the signature was hers. Kalliope briefly entertained the idea of pitching an invasion of Alari to Malus. She knew he would do it too, should she be the one to ask. One, her husband was Mad Prince the Conqueror. Two, he loved her very much. Three, Malus probably would rather assemble an army of a few hundred thousands soldiers and ride for a few hundred thousands miles than entertain Venus here. To think that Kalliope once would have resented that. She sighed, resisting the urge to bury her head in her arms. There was much to mull over and she frankly didn’t want to. Kalliope passed the letter to Tio. “Pen me a response. Have it ready for review by tomorrow afternoon.” Tio accepted the letter with both hands, “Yes, Your Highness.” Pulling the rest of the official correspondences towards herself, Kalliope pulled out a fresh quill. Alright, Venus. Let’s see what you are scheming up this time.