Chapter 1
The wind whispered through her hair, letting her curls float softly, but her eyes were dark with grief as she looked to the heavens. The sun was high in the sky and honey in her irises.
“She can’t carry. Her womb is sick. It can’t hold no seed.” Something caught in her throat.
“It’s the curse.”
“What should we do, then? They will know and will be relentless.”
“We must keep him away from her.”
Her eyes closed.
**
The servants shuffled around in the corridors, the garden, the dining room. They bent to pick flowers from the overflowing garden. What was once covered in snow was now thriving with green plants and myriad blue, pink, and rose. All the colors a painter could only dream to recreate on a canvas, but only to fall short of the natural and living painting. A silky tablecloth flowed in the air before lying down on a table with only two chairs at both extremities. Gold plates with colorful fruits, cheese, and meat were laid down on the table, some with a lid on. The servants moved the gold cutlery and cup to be aligned perfectly with the chair arms, and they were carefully inspected and wiped off for any stains. Servants strode in the corridors, moving next to the portraits of the late king and queen, the coats of arms placed every few meters, and the portrait of the new queen. Regal, her hair flowing around her like clouds, eyes firm but still soft, the gold crown sitting like an achievement. The sword-crossed sun engraved on the front, the crown spike moving towards the gold sun over her head.
A woman passed through the corridor. She had long braids, bronze like her skin, her boots stomping like impending doom. A servant came the other way with a bundle of silk in her hands, and the woman’s eyes narrowed. “Make haste. The queen is about to wake up.”
“Yes, Lady Lily.” She hastened, scurrying away.
Lily breathed out before entering the dining room where servants were still shuffling around with plates and cutlery. She looked at the clock. “Why is the table not made yet?” She arranged the breakfast table, Lily stopped in her tracks. She eyed the yellow piece of fruit, so yellow it made her think of…“What are those?”
The servant arranging the table stood straight. “I believe this is called pineapples. My Lady. These were imported from Mias.”
Lily scrunched her nose. “No pineapple. The queen doesn’t like them. Make sure to remove them.” she waved her hand as if to spread away a bad scent.
“But the Great Knight has expressed a liking for it.”
Lily snapped her gaze to the young servant. Juvenile enough to shrink from intimidation but grown enough to execute without needing a second warning. The servant hastily removed the pineapple plate, under the rolling eyes of Lily, and stepped away. Her gaze fell on the high clock overlooking the table, and she headed inside the royal corridor.
She saw handmaids straightening the bedsheet and pillows in the queen’s room. Lily looked around. “Where is the queen?”
They all gave each other a look.
Her laughter spread through the greenish expanse around them, overriding the pounding of the gallop, bright like the sunrays hitting their skin. Her tight curls bounced with the powerful stride of the snow-white mare, strands plastering to her forehead as she looked to her side.
Lach leaned forward on his dark stallion, the reins loose in his pale hands, hair whipped back and eyes tight on her. Amaya gave him a daring look, and he raised a confused brow.
She pressed her calves against Aurora’s flanks, and she was gone before Lach could scream her name.
“Amaya, wait for me!”
She could barely hear him through her sunlight laugh. She looked over her shoulder; Lach quickened the pace, a devilish smile tearing at his lips, so Amaya pressed her calves harder. She slowed down as they reached a hill, dismounting her mare in one agile motion at the top.
Achille’s steps faltered down, and the next moment Lach was breathless on her side. “I didn’t know it was a race.”
Amaya just looked at him with that playful look. “It wasn’t.”
Lach slowly stepped closer, the shadow of his form engulfing her. “Then why did you try to get away from me?”
“I didn’t,” Amaya closed the small gap between them, raising her chin high so their eyes could meet. “You were just too slow.”
Lach stretched his lips; he didn’t let go of her gaze when his hand caught her narrow hip. “It seemed like you were trying to,” his voice dropped in a soft tone.
“I wouldn’t,” Amaya whispered back against his lips. “Would you, Great Knight?”
“I have sworn to always find you, my Queen.” Amaya smiled, and Lach let their lips touch, but a loud blaring horn rang through the hill. They startled, unlacing from each other. “We should go back,” Amaya said, already on top of Aurora.
Lach dragged his feet as he grasped for the saddle. “Duty,” he sighed.
**
Lily paced around on the balcony, pressing her knuckle against her lips. Her steps halted upon hearing a laugh coming from the garden. She pressed her belly against the stone railing, her features tightening. The queen and the great knight heading towards the castle.
Amaya was surprised when she saw Lily at the top of the massive stone staircase of the castle entrance. “Lily.”
“My queen,” Lily bowed deeply. Her eyes then went to Lach as she stood back. “Great Knight.”
Lach stared. “Lady Lily.”
The tension between them was still palpable. Lach hadn’t forgotten Lily’s betrayal, but for some reason Amaya still believed she had her place next to her. Amaya’s eyes jumped between both. “Is there a concern Lily?”
“Your gown. You are late for your fitting.”
“Oh, right.” Amaya turned to Lach. “I should get going, I shall see you-”
But Lily’s voice swept through before Amaya was finished. “The Great Knight didn’t attend his reading lesson this morning.”
Lach’s eyes narrowed. “I was with the queen,” he said dryly.
Lily kept her eyes steady to the ground as she said. “What is a sovereign who cannot read? The tutor reported his grace’s aptitude is merely mediocre, »
Shame engulfed Lach so deeply he wished it was still winter to justify the redness of his cheeks.
“He will attend his lessons henceforth. The fault is mine that he was absent,” Amaya said quickly.
Lily kept going, ignoring the big eyes Amaya pointed at her. “For the dance rehearsal. You should be on time, Great Knight, as well. The wedding is but a few weeks away, and everything must be flawless for the wedding day.”
Amaya stepped before Lach. “He understands you perfectly, Lily. Rest assured, he will be mindful of not disrupting his duties.”
Lach’s cheeks got redder, but he still managed to talk. “I shall not be late,” his tone clipped.Then, turning his gaze to Amaya, his voice dropped to a softer cadence. “I must return to the training grounds.”
Amaya nodded. He stared at Lily a last time before he left.
Lily kept his eyes on him as he went down the stairs.
Amaya jolted towards Lily. “What possesses you to speak in such a manner? You know full well he was with me. I have been denied his company for an entire month. For we have been far too busy,”
“He should not neglect his tutors. For a future King, such discipline is vital.”
“He has been diligent in all his studies,”
“Not all of them, my queen,” Lily replied without blinking. « He neglected his reading lesson only yesterday. The tutor reports his grace was most difficult and lacking in focus.” Amaya sighed. “He must focus. The coming weeks will be consumed by preparations for the wedding, the summer solstice, and his ascension to the throne. There is no time for jest.”
Amaya watched Lach’s silhouette getting smaller as he strode. “I understand you, Lily. Rest assured, we shall both focus. When the summer solstice arrives, Lach shall be ready to rule. I am sure of it.”
Lily didn’t reply. She bowed and left.
“Lily…” Amaya stopped her. She turned.
There was something that was caught in Amaya’s lips, something she had wanted to say, but the sun was too bright to say any of it. “You might go.” Lily hesitated as if she knew, but then left, disappearing under the castle shadow.
