№1|The Heart Royale
№1|The Heart Royale
>───⇌••⇋───<
Sweat dripped down a warm brown sugar forehead as the smell of chicken noodle soup filled the kitchen. Quincy “Queenie” Hearts had been here for hours, almost days, cooking pots upon pots of foods such as soups, meat dishes, and pies for the residents of the homeless shelter here in Barnsley.
“Miss Hearts,” the head of the shelter said, getting her attention.
Queenie spun around, passing the ladle to one of the other chefs. “Yes, Tatiana?”
“Don’t you wanna go home? You’ve been here helping the cooks for the past two days. You don’t even specialize in cooking, Miss Heart! I thought you said you wanted research material for your new novel?”
“I’ll get to that soon,” Queenie replied nonchalantly, grabbing the tray holding bowls of soup. “Right now, these people are hungry. You know my motto, Tatiana. No. Person. Goes. Hungry.”
“Yes, I know Miss Heart, but there is no need for you to do this. I’m sure you have other important things to do.” Tatiana followed her throughout the homeless shelter.
“No need? Tatiana,” she stopped in her tracks, abruptly turning towards Tatiana with determination in her eyes, “look around, I’m lucky enough to have grown up with food on my table and clothes on my back. These people, however, are not as lucky. If I can help in any way possible – even if I’m serving soup – then I’ll do it. No person in Barnsley, or anywhere in the world, should have to live like this. It pains my heart to see them like this.”
She rested her hand on her heart. “Everyone should have the access to a bed, warm food, and love. That’s what I’m trying to do.” She grabbed two bowls of soup from the tray, placing them down in front of the two children huddled in the corner.
The children glanced at the soup and then back up at Queenie, hesitant to accept anything from anyone.
“Don’t worry, it’s just chicken soup. Would you like some water? Juice?” Queenie asked, crouching down in front of them.
The boy shook his head, quickly averting his gaze. “N-No thank you…”
“You don’t need to be afraid. I just want to help.” She assured them, watching as they shivered as a gust of strong wind blew through the shelter.
Queenie stood up, walking towards the shelves to grab a black blanket. Walking back over to the children, she draped it over them. “This should help. Don’t forget to eat your soup. It’ll help with that cold your sister has.”
“I do-don’t have- achoo!” The sister sneezed, sniffling slightly. “I don’t have a cold…”
“You’re terrible at lying.” Queenie chuckled, tapping the little girl’s cheeks. “But you’re cute, so it makes up for it.”
“Where’s your mom?” Tatiana asked. “She never leaves your side.”
“My sister dropped her bunny outside, she went to go find it.” The brother explained, eating his soup. “This is very good.”
“Thank you.” Queenie smiled. “It’s my mother’s recipe. Hey, when your mom gets back,” she unfolded a piece of paper that was tucked inside her pocket, “give her this.” She passed the paper to the children. “It’s a list of buildings I’ve rented out, you and your mom can live there for free, no strings attached. There’s also a great school nearby this building,” Queenie pointed to the third building listed. “I think you two would like it there.”
“Thank you, Miss Heart… really… you have no idea how much this will help us and mom!” The sister cheered, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Of course.” Queenie rose from her crouching position. “If there’s anything you need-”
“Queenie!” A loud voice boomed, earning a sigh from the woman in question.
“Auntie Silvia… what a wonderful surprise.” Queenie rolled her eyes.
“I told you to be at the docks an hour ago! Don’t you remember today is a big day for our family?” Silvia reminded her, clutching her wrist as she pulled Queenie outside.
“You mean it’s a big day for Miriana?” Queenie muttered under her breath.
“Same difference.” Silvia replied, pushing her into the limo. “Let’s hit the road driver! We got a boat to catch!”
-ˋˏ *.·:·.⟐.·:·.* ˎˊ-
Loud foghorns filled the ears of all who stood on the pier of Barnsley. Streams of confetti were thrown off the famous cruise ship, The Heart Royale, to celebrate its journey around the world.
It was a big deal for the Heart Family, owners of The Heart Royale. The family was known for their money and also their worldwide automobile industry. They were the first ever to make an automobile to run entirely on water, rather than fuel.
This cruise was yet another business interest for the company since they already dominated the transportation industry on land, the ocean was their next conquest.
Everyone in the family was excited to be on a cruise for the next few months. Well, everyone except Quincy “Queenie” Hearts.
The autumn, warm brown sugar, toned woman sat impatiently in the back of the stretch limo, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor. She blew up a strand of her rose, almost deep crimson, hair away from her face, huffing in irritation. “Why do I have to go on this cruise?”
“Because,” said her Aunt Silva, pausing to take a sip of her drink, her warm cinnamon toned fingers wrapping around her glass of champagne, “it’s a big day for the company, Queenie. Just enjoy it. You’ll be able to see your sister, Miriana, again.”
“Oh joy, being stuck on a boat with Miriana the Miracle for months…” she groaned, staring aimlessly out the window. “Joy…”
“You know you’d have nicknames like that too if you performed some miracles with that magic of yours.” Silvia muttered into her drink, but Quincy heard her.
“Well sue me, I’m not some miracle healer like Miriana…” She rolled her eyes. “Ooh look at me, I cured the flu. I cured cancer. I cured AIDS. I took up the family business,” Quincy mocked. “I help people all around the world but nobody even cares…”
“You mean those silly adventures?” Silvia scoffed. “When will you realize everything you need is here in Barnsley? Quincy, you’re young and beautiful. You would make a great wife to a wealthy man. Although,” she looked at her niece’s outfit, “not when you wear stuff like that.”
Quincy wore a black leather jacket with the words “Off With Your Head” stitched in the back in bright red letters. Under it, she wore a black zip back cutout crisscross cami top, black pants, and black combat boots.
“Aunt Silvia,” Quincy groaned loudly, turning towards her aunt, “I don’t want to marry. I don’t want to be tied down by some man! I want to go on adventures! See new places! Experience new culture! Taste different foods! Learn new languages!” She flung her arms up in anger. “I can’t do that if I’m tied down my marriage, like Miriana will be.”
“What do you have against Soren?”
“For starters, his name is Soren. Like, what kind of name is that? Also, didn’t he go to court for arson and tax evasion? Did you miraculously forget that?” Quincy pointed out.
Silvia shook her head. “I remember. We were all there for the trials, but the judge said he was innocent.” Silvia reminded her. Quincy scoffed.
“Only because they ‘miraculously’ couldn’t find any evidence against him.” Quincy scoffed again. “Aso, that judge was so biased, she was practically drooling over Soren.”
“Try not to bring up the trails when we see your sister. She has her wedding coming up soon, so she doesn’t need you reminding her of hard times,” Silvia said, glaring at Quincy. “I want you to behave on this cruise, do you hear me?”
“Yes, Aunt Silvia…” Quincy muttered.
“Plus, you can finally get involved with the company! You know your parents’ dying wish was for you and your sister to find good husbands and take over the company.” Silvia stirred her drink slowly, looking down at the champagne as she thought back to happier times.
“Why do I need to be involved with the company? Miriana and you seem to have it all under control,” Quincy told her.
“Because it’s a family tradition,” Silvia said simply.
“Well, it’s one I’m not participating in,” Quincy muttered but was still heard by her aunt.
“Quincy,” Silvia’s voice grew serious, “what do you have against the company?”
“Nothing! I just don’t want to be a part of it.” She looked out the window to see a woman and her two children sleeping on the street, huddling together for warmth.
“Stop the car,” Quincy ordered. When the limo stopped, Quincy got out, went into the trunk, and opened her clothing chest to pull out a blanket
She walked over to the small family, passing them the blanket. The mother looked up at her and said, “Th-thank you-your highness.”
Quincy chuckled. “You don’t need to call me your highness. Sure my family may be famous, but we’re not royalty.”
The mother nodded. “Th-thank you Quincy.”
When she heard the daughter’s stomach growling, the mother’s face flushed in embarrassment. “Sor-sorry, Quincy.”
“Don’t apologize.” She walked over to a bread stand, buying a loaf of bread. “Here, eat,” she said as she handed her the bread. “I know the baker. He’s a family friend, so if you ever need food, tell him to just put it on my tab.”
“A-Are you sure, Quincy?” the mother asked.
Quincy nodded. “Yes,” she smiled, “I don’t want anyone to go hungry or cold.”
“Thank you, Quincy.” She thanked her again.
“Of course-”
The limo driver honked the horn. “Hurry up, Quincy! Stop talking to the commoners!”
Quincy sighed. “Why do you have to be so rude,” she muttered as she walked back to the limo, getting back inside. “They’re not commoners, they’re people.”
“Whatever.” Silvia rolled her eyes as the limo began to drive again. “You shouldn’t be talking to people like that. It’s bad for your image and the image of the company.”
“And god forbid the image of the company gets ruined,” Quincy muttered, rolling her eyes.
Moments later, the limo stopped in front of the large cruise ship. Quincy stepped out of the limo, gazing at the cruise in wonder. As much as she hated the company, it was beautiful and large.
“You know, this could all be yours someday if you join the company~” Silvia cooed, putting on her sunglasses as she gracefully walked aboard the ship.
“I don’t need a fancy ship, Auntie,” Quincy told her as the two boarded the ship.
Quincy noticed her sister sitting at the bar, laughing with the bartender. She had light ebony, the color of an iced latte, toned skin and long flowing white hair. She wore a white spotty maxi beach dress.
She placed her glass on the bar and said, “Oh Charles, you’re too much.” She smiled, sipping her margarita.
Charles had cool beige, almost truffle like, toned skin with emerald green eyes. His blonde hair was scuffy and swooped to the side. He wore a white shirt with a gold vest over it and black formal pants.
The bartender chuckled softly, cleaning the glasses before placing them on the top shelf. “I always enjoy making you laugh, Ms. Miriana.” Charles winked at her, earning a small blush from Miriana.
“You don’t have to call me Ms. Miriana. Miriana is fine.” She smiled up at him, tracing her fingers along the rim of her glass.
“Miriana, dear!” Silvia waved her hand up high, getting Miriana’s attention.
“My aunt is approaching me, isn’t she?” Miriana hung her head low, her eyes shifting up to Charles’ green orbs.
“Yes, so hurry up and perk up. Don’t forget to say something nice about Soren.” Charles whispered before walking off to the other side of the bar.
“Auntie Silvia!” Miriana cheered, throwing her arms around her aunt.
She turned towards her sister. “Queenie!” Miriana hugged her big sister tightly. “I missed you.”
As much as Queenie hated her sister on the outside, deep down she did love her. “Yeah, whatever. I missed you too.”
“Oh sister, you’re gonna love this ship!” Miriana clasped her hands together and locked arms with Quincy, walking ahead of her aunt.
“Are you excited about the wedding, Miriana?” Quincy asked as they approached Quincy’s room.
“Yeah,” Miriana replied quietly. “It’s gonna be amazing,” she muttered, opening the door.
“Knowing you, you have some big extravaganza planned, huh? I bet Soren has to pay through the nose for this wedding.” Quincy scoffed slightly, packing away her things.
“Yeah, sure,” Miriana said, leaning against the wall, texting on her phone.
Quincy looked over her shoulder. “Who are you texting?” She gazed down at the phone to see she was texting Charles.
“Who’s Charles?” Quincy questioned.
“Just a friend.” Miriana held her phone close to her chest, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
“Hmm,” Quincy smirked, going back to her suitcase, “just a friend?”
“Yes,” Miriana said before bursting out in laughter. “HAHA! Oh...stupid Charles,” she muttered, leaning back in the bed.
Charles sent her a puppy emoji with heart eyes with the caption, “Miss you.”
Miriana felt her heart flutter as she sent back a kitty with heart eyes. The word ’miss you more’ on it.
She sent another text below the emoji texting; ‘I’ll be back soon’ before she sent the kissy emoji.
She looked up at the ceiling. “Quincy, I know you write novels on your adventures, but why don’t you ever write a romance novel?”
“Romance?” Quincy chuckled, folding up one of her shirts. “I have no experience in that.”
“Sure, not now.” Miriana sat up. “But romance,” she swooned. “It’s that feeling of wanting to wake up next to a person for all eternity! It makes you feel all warm and tingly inside.”
“Why don’t you write a romance novel about you and Soren, since you seem to love him so much.” Quincy shook her head.
“Oh yeah…” Miriana frowned slightly. “Yeah, we are a great couple.” She went back to smiling., “I should see where he is.”
She dialed Soren’s number, getting his voicemail. Nothing new there… she went back to her messages with Charles, smiling to see he sent her another heart-eyed puppy.
Stupid Charles.
She didn’t reply to the message and helped her sister unpack.“Don’t you want romance, Queenie?”
“Sure,” Quincy folded one of her pants, “I would love to have the romance you and Soren have.”
“No, you don’t,” she whispered. “Nobody should have that…”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Miriana smiled. “Everything’s great between me and Soren.”
“I didn’t ask that but okay…” Quincy shrugged. “A person in my life for romance would be nice. I don’t know…I’ll see.”
“I’ll take what I can get.” Miriana smiled, walking towards the door. “Queenie, if you meet the right person, don’t close your heart...let them in all the way.”
“You too, Miriana.” Quincy smiled at her younger sister. “I may not have any skill in romance, but I’m not blind. I approve of him, you know.”
“Thank you, Queenie.” Miriana smiled softly. “I’ll see you tonight for dinner on the sky deck.”
