Prologue
It was 18:38, and the kingdom of Shellbrook had been doing quite well. They had prospered, despite the challenges brought by the recent floods.
Queen Maranda had stood with her husband and children as they welcomed everyone into the castle. Music played around her ballroom from the band, amplified by the speakers. There was a calm atmosphere to the air, mixed with a hint of excitement. Everyone had been looking forward to the celebration for the entire month.
As Maranda flitted around the ballroom, she spoke with her guests. She had always treated the kingdom as her family, and would welcome them into her home if they ever needed help. Part of the kingdom’s success had been her and her family’s guidance. She knew all of her people’s names off by heart, mixed with a fun fact, if one would ask her to tell them a bit about the other.
The queen’s gaze shifted around her people, as she moved to stand at the side of the event. The kingdom had been doing so well. She was glad that they finally had the chance to celebrate. She enjoyed seeing her people and talking to her friends and her family throughout the event, for things that, for once, had nothing to do with the state of the kingdom. They could finally enjoy themselve.
Maranda lifted her glass to her mouth as she spoke to her friend, Dee. “This event was a great idea, Dee. This was the perfect way for us to celebrate the accomplishments of the kingdom.”
“It might’ve been my idea,” Dee said as she hugged the queen, “but you were the one who pulled it off.”
She looked up as they separated, proud of her and her friend’s work, only to freeze. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a figure. They wore a red cloak and a red mask on their face. A familiar red mask. Unease creeped up her spine. “Did you see that?” she asked her friend who had her head turned to the table that was full of food. Dee let out a sound that sounded like a “huh?”, and turned to face the queen. Dee had been eating chocolate cake.
“I didn’t see anything. Was I supposed to?” her gaze drifted across the ballroom, but Maranda knew that it was pointless. The figure in the red mask was gone by now.
She didn’t notice the stares she attracted, as she, the usually calm and composed queen, frantically weaved through the guests, towards her husband who was talking to their daughter and a knight.
Before she could reach them, the butler approached the queen, holding a wine bottle and a few biscuits, his favorite recipe. “Would you like a refill?” he asked with a smile.
The queen shook her head, but took a biscuit. It helped calm her nerves, even if it was very little. She continued her journey to her husband.When the knight, who went by the name of Izekiel, noticed her, he moved away from Princess Clarise, who stared after him with a longing look. A smile pulled at the queen’s face, for a moment, realising that she would soon have a son-in-law. It vanished as quickly as she leaned in to her husband.
“Honey,” she whispered. “I think you-know-who is at the party.”
He looked at her, blankly. “You know… Who? Which who?”
The queen sighed, trying not to sound exasperated. She turned to move away, only for Rayan to put his hand on her shoulder, worry in his gaze.
“We’ll speak later,” he told her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
*
The rest of the evening came and went. The guests from the kingdom had left, and only the queen’s closest friends, family, and close acquaintances remained.
“A toast!” Prince Theodore, the King’s brother said, tapping the side of his glass with a spoon. “To Queen Maranda and Rayn, for rejuvenating the kingdom!”
Everyone in the room let out yells of approval at the toast, but Maranda could not stop thinking about the figure that she had seen. She hid her worries behind a mask of a smile, and took her husband by the arm. She had no doubts about what she had noticed earlier, and knew that it was a sign of something bad to come. She needed Rayan to know, too. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I saw a red mask earlier…” she trailed off. The king was eyeing her with a weird expression, one that would make one think that the other thought that they were crazy. Queen Maranda sighed, shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry. I think I’m going to retire for the night.”
King Rayen nodded. “I’ll tell everyone that the party is over, then. Everyone is staying the night here, at least.”
With a kiss, King Rayen said goodnight to Queen Maranda, and left to rejoin the rest of the group. The queen walked away to her quarters and, soon after, the king and queen’s family and friends began to disperse.
