The Mad Queen

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Three Years Ago

Today has been a strange day. I started the day with yet another council meeting. It was one of the rare meetings my brother attended. He has been very distant recently. Perhaps, the reason he showed up today was because of the subject matter. I am of the opinion that the cut from the Taxes that the council get are far too high. They do not need so much money. It is the money of the people of Vivelle and as much of it should go back to them as possible. There were some objections, of course. But, at the end of the day, I am the Queen. Vivelle is mine. Now, with the extra funds being saved from paying the council, I can use it to improve all the healing centres in the city.

Niklaus came to visit me after the meeting. He told me that I was stupid for lowering the wage. I scolded him and his disrespect toward me. He has to learn that though he may be my brother, I am his Queen. I told him that he was the Prince of Vivelle and did not need the money. He already lives in this beautiful castle. He already has power and staff serving his every need. Not only that, but he also has the finest jewels and clothes he could ask for. There is no need for him to have such a high working wage.

But, he is greedy. I fear that maybe his downfall. If I am to be a good leader, I too have to make sacrifices. If one of those has to be my greedy brother, then so be it.

~The Diary of Orianna Dulavelle.

Three Years Ago

There is a knock on my door not long after I get back to my room.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"It's me," a soft voice says.

"Not very helpful," I chuckle.

"Ray," she replies and walks in. A large smile lights up my face and I stand to give her a hug. She hugs me tightly, watching out for my back.

"That was a close call," she says. I shrug.

"It has happened before and it will happen again," I sigh and sit back down on my bed. Her eyes glisten with tears. "Rayana," I sigh and wrap her up in a hug.

"You can't be so casual about this," she begins to sob. I stay silent, not knowing what to say. "We still have three years," she gulps. "Three years with each other. That isn't much already. I can't face losing you then, let alone now," she cries.

"It's okay, Ray," I whisper in her ear. "They can't kill us before the Trial," I tell her.

"They can accidentally, Kristoff was so close. We were watching you suffocate!" she shrieks and steps away from me. "Plus, they can still hurt us." She slumps down on the bed and I lie next to her. We stare up at the ceiling in silence before she turns to me. "We should all run away," she whispers. My heart flutters and I close my eyes.

"We'd be hunted for the rest of our lives," I say, longing to be able to do what she says. "Then, when they find us, we will be executed for treason. At least when we die in the Trial, we will be the loyal princesses of Vivelle. Heroes," I gulp.

"You really think we will be seen as heroes?" she sighs rhetorically.

"At least we won't be enemies or traitors." She shrugs.

"What does it matter. Once we are dead we are dead. We won't care about a stupid reputation. I just want a normal life. Even if we are dirt poor, starving and cold. As long as all of us are safe from this castle and the abuse." I smile softly and stroke her hair.

"We could have a farm," I whisper. "In a small village far far away from here. Hidden in the mountains." I close my eyes and imagine it.

"We could marry whoever we want," she replies. "Have a family."