The Queen's Jester

The Queen didn’t rule the biggest or mightiest kingdom, but it made great strides in becoming the center of aesthetic fashion and having a diverse culture.

Murals hung over the royal castle, each depicting members of the royal family. If you looked closely at the paintings, you could see the twinkle of the jewelry draped across their necks and wound around their fingers. You could see each colorful stitch of the garments that they dressed in. Each style became somewhat more complicated than the last. From simple robes, it transformed into puffed up sleeves, pants with tight stockings, to frilly skirts and cuffs. Also, instead of simple metals, they wore jewels of emeralds, garnets, and diamonds as well.

The nobility would often try to copy this fashion. Women would be in their full skirts and silk belts with large hats that protected them from the sun. Men would be dressed in their padded doublets, leg o’ mutton sleeves, and Girona that would often be a contrasting color.

Even the commoners had access to bright colors, but sometimes, you couldn’t even tell because of how dirty they were. Still – no one paid them much mind. They were allowed to go as they pleased without much consequence, assuming they didn’t stir up trouble or go to any barred places. Most of the time, they didn’t. It was a safe and peaceful kingdom.

Small shops, pubs, or open markets were busy hubs among the kingdom. However, people spent their time in the community square, standing or walking over the mosaic rose imprinted on the ground. It was the best place to spend one’s time discussing business, religion, politics and even love.

However, nothing could compare to the ever-growing garden where you could see the rainbow of flowers stretch across the plains. This garden – this gift – was a blessing from the Queen.

The Queen sat on her throne, a wide chair big enough to fit two people. It was carved from a majestic gold with red cushioning. The arms of the seat were chiseled to look like vines and those vines stretched to the ground of the throne where golden roses rested below the footrest.

She stared down at her royal messenger, wearing an emerald-colored lace dress with white ruffled sleeves and a large collar around her neck. She fanned herself as he read from his scroll.

“Your Royal Majesty shall have three guests passing as your suitors,” he announced. “King Edward of the Storm Edge Islands. King Caleb of Mytus. Finally, King Felipe from the Kingdom of Cielo.”

The Queen ceased fanning herself at once and leaned forward. “And is that the whole list?” She asked. “Are there no other suitors who think they are worthy of me?”

“I’m not sure your Majesty, but these are the only men who have responded to your invitation. They will come in time for the party to meet you and ask for your hand in marriage,” the messenger said.

She slapped her fan shut. She leaned back in her throne as a scowl contorted her face, which did not ease the anxious messenger at all. “Is my Queen not pleased? I apologize if my news upset you,” he said, blinking excessively at his shoes.

“I am just thinking to myself as to how I could have such a low number of suitors,” the Queen quickly assured him. “But no worries Simon. Do not think that it is you who have offended me.”

“If there is anything else your Majesty would like me to do, please give your orders,” he said not moving his eyes from the floor but internally feeling grateful for his Queen’s kindness.

“Not much. The ball is but a few weeks away. In the meantime, I will have you continue with assisting preparations.”

“Very well my Queen,” he said closing his scroll and giving her a slight bow before leaving.

When he was out of sight, the Queen took a moment to indulge in her seat and sigh. If it were any bigger, she’d like to sleep in it. Alas – even if it were big enough to fit her tall physique, what would people say if they saw their ruler sleeping in the middle of the day?

She at least allowed herself to close her eyes and appreciate the silence. What a troublesome affair, she thought. She hated the idea of being wed. What was the point of getting married when she already had all the power? She was already the Queen. Yet – the council insisted. They threatened, and she could not afford to be on the council’s bad side.

To make things worse, the only exception wasn’t even coming. What a bitter situation she was in to be forced to hold the hand of a man who would stop at nothing to keep her in check. Well, if one thing was certain, it would be that as long as she was the ruler of this kingdom, she would allow no man to control her.

The peaceful silence did not last long. Soon afterward, her thoughts were disturbed by a single orange ball that had bounced its way inside the throne room. It rolled down the red carpet and stopped by the steps of the throne.

A jingling sound could be heard from the man who was peaking from behind the door. He stared at her through the white and golden mask he wore. Out of everyone, of course it was the Jester who had bothered her moment of peace away from the other officials and servants. Who else would even dare?

The only problem she realized – she’d never seen this Jester before.

The only explanation was that he was a new Jester hired to be part of the entertainment during the ball. She had gotten a report about them arriving early, but none of them should have been placed anywhere near the throne room. Did the servants actually allow him to roam around?

The Queen stood up from her seat.

“My apologies my Queen,” he said with a goofy voice that made him sound like a character from a children’s play. He hurried inside, the bells jingling with each step. In his hands were three other orange balls just like the one by the Queen’s feet. “I was practicing with my juggling and the ball missed my hand and ran away from me. I apologize for my ball’s rude behavior! I shall teach it to never go to this room or to any room where your Majesty belongs to without permission. You hear that ball number two? I shall punish you for your disrespect.”

What a very odd way of speaking, the Queen thought, but nevertheless, she smiled. It was probably the only real smiled she put on all day.

“It is quite alright,” she said. She bent down to pick up the ball and handed it back to the masked fool. He took it with much appreciation, bowing his head repeatedly.

When he stopped bowing, she took a moment to stare through the crescents that made up his eyes. Behind them was a tint of light brown. A naturally soft expression.

“Walk with me,” she then said.

The Jester simply bobbed his head and did not protest. He walked behind the Queen with the balls in his arms like they were his babies.

They walked through the maze of the garden where there grew roses of red, white, yellow, and pink. She plucked a white one off before continuing to walk. A few aristocrats were towards the opposite direction of the Queen. They whispered to themselves after they walked past. The Queen paid it no mind, but the Jester kept looking back, wondering what they were saying. Probably wondering why someone as lowly as a jester could be walking so close to the all mighty Queen herself.

“I don’t understand why we are here, my lady,” he said.

“My Queen,” she corrected.

“Are you also not a lady?” he asked.

“That’s not the point,” she said and stopped. The Jester almost bumped into her, praying underneath his breath and thanking God that he didn’t accidentally touch her.

Next to them was a small gazebo that was hidden among the maze, tucked between walls of roses. The Queen commanded the Jester to sit beside her. A small, glass circular table rested between them. It was humid, even outside underneath the shade, so she opened her fan again. “I wanted to talk,” the Queen said.

“Just... talk? With me?” he asked as if that was the strangest thing he had ever heard.

“Yes, you,” she confirmed.

“Have I done something wrong?”

The Queen’s eyebrows raised at the question. “What? Oh heavens, no!” she reassured him. “In fact, I wanted to have a chat about the ball.”

The Jester stood up and peaked from small steps of the gazebo. There was no one to the left and no one to the right, but he knew that somewhere behind those walls there were people. Rich people and common people alike. He asked, “Should you not have sentries here with you?”

She scoffed. “If I wanted them here, I’d ask them to come with me. Besides, many may not know this, but I am more of a threat to my people than my people are to me. The late Captain of the Guard under my father secretly taught me sword fighting and archery when I was a girl. We will be fine.”

Back when the Queen was a girl, there was a visiting prince that she was desperately in love with. When he returned to his own kingdom, she demanded that she be taught to fight. Her plan was to learn how to survive so she could go visit him on her own. The Captain of the Guard at that time took it as a jest initially, but since he was so moved by the princess’s love and dedication for this boy, he eventually allowed her to train with him in secret.

Unfortunately, things turned for the worst.

The Jester gulped. “Oh. Ok,” he said and sat back down. “By all means, though, do not worry. I shall entertain as many of your guests as possible, showing off my tricks and telling jokes that shall have the whole room laughing.”

“I bet you will,” she said. “I hope you can be a good distraction for the guests. But for me, the ball will be nothing more than a waste of time.”

“What!” the Jester gasped. He rose from his seat yet again. “How could you say that? There will be music and dancing,” he said, twirling on one foot with outstretched arms, humming a childish tune. “There will also be food even for someone as lowly as I to feast upon.”

The Queen giggled behind her fan. Even though he always seemed to have a smile plastered on his face, she could tell that his excitement was genuine. “Have you never been to a ball in other castles before?”

“What does your Majesty think?” He asked that as if the answer was supposed to be obvious.

I think that you’re blissfully ignorant and that you don’t know or could never comprehend the dirty politics that take place behind these gardens and the closed doors of the castle. And yet... I’m so relieved. You will never have to take part in such ugly affairs.

“Not to mention the budding romances!” The Jester continued. “There just always seems to always be an atmosphere of romance when it comes to people of royalty. And I heard that in this ball, you shall meet three suitors coming from faraway places just to see you. Oh – how exciting! I wonder which one will capture your heart.”

“Now that is the part I really dread,” she groaned. “Truth be told, I am not interested in marriage.”

“Then what is the point of the ball?” he asked.

“The point is that while I may rule as Queen, this is still a man’s world. The laws of royalty dictate that if I do not get married within two years of accession, I shall have to abdicate my crown and hand it over to my successor who happens to be my cousin Anthony. Trust me when I say that nobody wants that.”

“Is your cousin that terrible?”

“The worst. He’ll see that all the progress I’ve made is reset – especially for women. Did you see them as they walked by earlier here in these gardens unsupervised or maybe you’ve been to the city and seen them shopping or conversing in public places on their own? That was due to my allowance. They weren’t given that freedom before. That is why my marriage is important. I must protect the life that I have given my people at all cost. And if I must be the sacrifice, then so be it,” she said, raising her head high.

The Jester, who now fully felt the force of the powerful woman in front of him, placed his juggling balls on the table. Some would not stay still. Two of them rolled off and casually fell to the grass. The Jester bent downwards slightly to pick them up before being commanded to pause with the rise of the Queen’s hand.

He twirled his fingers, looking at her with a hunched back and said with a quieter voice, “Your majesty seems to have a strong resolve. I appreciate you telling me this, but I wonder if I could ask – out of respect – why? Why tell me? I am only the entertainment. There are others within this castle you could have confided your feelings to.”

The Queen searched past his mask one more time – at those brown eyes of his. There was something about them. She couldn’t put her finger on it. She leaned her arms on the table. “Actually, I’m not sure myself. I simply felt I could trust you. I can trust you, right?”

She looked at him with squinted eyes. The Jester replied with a chuckle. “Of course,” he said. “But this makes me feel all giddy inside. Whatever shall I do?”

The Queen stood up from her chair, wiping her skirt. For the second time in one day, she picked up his juggling balls and held them in front of him. “Keep practicing,” she said. “I want my guests to be fully entertained.”

He took them. Their skin touched, if only for a moment.