The Lost Story

Chapter 4

“Renata,” someone called me, bringing me out of my thoughts. “My Lord,” I said, turning to look at him. Once again, I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice my surroundings. Not only did each member of the council now circle me, but now a woman was standing before me. “Young Renata, I have kept a keen eye on you since our first meeting. I'm unsure if you remember me; you were just a little girl then. My name is Sanxi,” she stated, extending her hand to me. I shook her hand. At this point, I had no idea what was happening. I watched as her eyes turned white, and her smile grew bigger. “I see you have turned out just how I imagined you would,” she says, letting my hand go. “Let me be the first to congratulate you, daughter of man,” she says before bowing to me. “No, no, please don’t do that. I am not worthy, please,” I started to panic. First, I have no idea what is going on. Who was this woman? How did she know me? Why was she bowing to me? Why was no one stopping her? Her laughter rang out as she smiled at me. “Can anyone clarify what is going on here?" the voice of our current Aela asked. This was the question I would like to know. The woman named Sanxi looked at her with what appeared to be pure amusement. “Well, if you must know, Jixy, we are witnessing history unfold before our very eyes, before you stand a girl who will outrank even you as of today,” Sanxi says, taking everyone, including me, by surprise. “What nonsense are you speaking?” she scoffed. It was then that the high elder stepped forward, saying, “She speaks the truth. Starting today, Renata, a daughter of humanity, shall receive the title of Reina. She will be the first Reina in more than a hundred years. Behold, Reina, the wise. Reina, the beauty. Reina, the virtuous.” He announced to the audience before turning to me and taking a knee. I stood there, completely lost and speechless, as I watched every member of our council kneel before me. “Get down on your knees, Jixy Zyarni. As I mentioned, she holds a higher rank than you," she says, shifting his gaze to both monarchs. Before I knew it, the only one standing was our ruling Rey, who looked at me with an expression I did not recognize. “I. I believe there must be a mistake,” I said, finally finding my voice. " You, Renata, are now Reina,” the elder stated. “I am sorry, but I don’t know what Reina is,” I said, because no one seemed to want to explain what they were referring to. The woman named Sanxi smiled. “Well, it's been a while since we had a Reina. So, in short, my dear, you are second only to Rey. You will be the first betrothed to the incoming Rey and only to the incoming monarch,” she stated, glaring at our current Rey. “But what does that mean?” I asked because I was having trouble understanding her explanation. "My dear, from this moment until your last breath, you will hold a title equal to that of a Rey, and our high elder," one of the council members announced as they approached me. I wasn’t sure if she recognized my confusion or sensed that I was on the verge of a panic attack, but she embraced me and gently rubbed my head. “Do not stress yourself; until a Rey is chosen, all we ask of you is to be willing and open to learning," she reassured me. Learning—I can learn. Now that this matter has been settled, let us celebrate the arrival of Aela, La Yarham, and our esteemed Reina,” the current Rey says, clapping his hands. I glanced his way and found him staring at me with an unreadable expression. It felt off, whatever it was.