Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“It’s silly, is it not?”
“What is silly, Your Majesty?”
“The thought that that measly iron gate could protect us.” She chuckled to herself. “It exists merely for show, nothing but an illusion of power. It’s easy to forget that, when everyone else has so much belief in it.”
“I do not understand,” I said without thinking. I was not meant to talk, just listen.
“Of course you don’t. You are a child—or were a child. Events such as these have a way of aging you quickly,” she replied, her eyes still trained on the gates. “I’m afraid you will have to age even more, with this news.”
She gave me the letter in her hands. It had no signature, nor was it addressed to anyone. It merely read: “His Majesty King Wilhelm II of Malrovia has been assassinated while hunting.”
My eyes widened as I looked to her again. “This is Wilhelm’s father? He’s dead?”
“A group of disgruntled infantrymen were denied their full wages and compensation for their time in the war. They heard that King Wilhelm was lavishly spending their wages and those of fallen soldiers on his mistresses and children. They believed the whole monarchy to be greedy and evil, and wished to do away with him, as well as his heirs.”
“That’s why they attacked Wilhelm?” I asked angrily. “He knows nothing of his father’s dealings—”
“August’s father was a disgusting brute of a man: cruel, harsh, and self-righteous to an unbearable degree. However, he was a good king. Their wages were stolen by their commanding officers, but their commanders blamed the royal family, because the monarchy is so easy to blame. God’s anointed, who live in splendor they cannot imagine.” For the first time she turned to look at me. “None of them actually see us. They see our crowns and jewels, our vast estates and fine dress. But they do not see us, and you can easily make a villain out of someone you do not know. It is what makes rumors so powerful. What solution can be had?”
“You show yourself to the people.”
“We cannot. Because if they know we are human, too—that we bleed, too—they will stop believing in the power they give to us. And when they stop believing we are special, that we were chosen by God, they will come over those gates.”
My heart clenched tightly. Slowly, I gathered what she was saying. “The monarch is to be revered, but people do not give reverence to those who are the same as them. You must be different and distant. But because of that, people can go only by what they hear.
“With mere words, lies, men who swore to protect their country picked up arms to kill their king. And they will tell you it is justice, because they were swindled. The truth no longer matters more than their own suffering, their own desires for something different, something new. That was the case in France, they say, before they killed their king and queen. And ever since, Europe has been plagued by wars, all at the behest of one little man. When the people want someone to blame, they come over the gates for us. Then when it is over for us, they destroy themselves.” She held her glass out in front of her and let it drop from her hands. I jumped back as the wine spilled out over the broken shards of glass.
“Your Majesty, step back—”
“Ever since I was a little girl, I wished to be queen.” She chuckled as she stared at the glass. “I wanted to be special, and special I became. But this is how fragile special is, Hathor. I do not know what happens next, but I do know this: Should August live, should you wed him still, you will need to watch those gates, too. It is the price you pay for being married to royalty.”
“I—”
“Leave me.”
I curtsied and stepped back slowly, turning to leave as she ordered. It was only when the doors were closed behind me that I let go of the breath I had been holding. And as I was walking back to Wilhelm’s room, I remembered what my mama had said only weeks ago, though it felt like years. Royals are very…complex, she had said. I did not understand her meaning then, but now I felt her words to be the greatest of understatements. How silly and naïve I had been, to not realize she was right. I wanted so badly to be a princess; I thought she was merely dashing my hopes. In reality, she, and I was sure my father, also, merely desired for me to live a life unlike this. A life free of assassinations, free from being forced to adhere to unparalleled authority all the time. Being close to the queen made me aware of how everyone within the palace lived around her—including me.