She commanded her handmaidens to open the windows wide so as to let the cool air of the night flow in the room. She hated heat. She hated feeling warm and sweaty. She preferred mild weather, and never comprehended the taboo of considering sunny weather to be the good weather. She loved seeing dark clouds concealing the sun, while smelling the rain or its residues on the ground aroused her. And she was not pessimistic, in contrary to what another taboo supported for people who prefer clouds over the sun. She generally deemed taboos stupid, and particularly disliked people who lived abide by them. How is a Queen highly influenced by prejudice supposed to rule an entire Kingdom?

She got a hold of herself after letting the breezy air of Voldhast chill her. "I hope you are not focusing merely on your food tonight. You know I have been waiting for many days to dine with you. Not to eat of course. I've had enough of eating luxurious food my entire life". She looked ferociously at her handmaidens, one by one. Shouldn't you have been gone already? , she thought. And as if she had the capacity to reach one’s mind, the girls vanished out of the room in an instant.

The man on the other side of the table was busy eating a lobster, not seeming to care much about the seriousness in his wife's tone.

That idiot. I cannot decide what is more irksome. That he totally ignores me, or that he has been eating such expensive food since birth and has not learned yet how to clean it on his own. He was plump, and his cheeks always red. He encountered many health problems, since he was idle most of the time, resorting to gluttony when off duty. He also refrained from educational activities a lot. On his leisure time, when he was not eating, he commanded his personal jester to make him laugh, since the things he found humorous were not of a particularly sophisticated level. And when the jester felt under the weather, he just slept until King's duty called for him, or his signature. But she loved him. Fat and bored and boring as he was, she loved him nevertheless. He was generous, of sweet manners and excessively sentimental. Well, he sometimes was irritable, but that may happen to anyone now and then. Right?

Right.

"Out of all the activities you occupy yourself with, Trixis, if we can actually call them activities, it is high time we took advantage of one; learning history. Could you please remind this old woman what year this is?"

"Oh come one Cy, don't start wi-"

"Could you please?" she interrupted him. "I am a hag awaiting death. You expect me to remember everything?" she said ironically.

"What can I say. After all, the elders' death wishes should be treated with respect" he said, a smirk appearing on his face. "It is 112AC" he replied tiredly.

"Well, that is something new!” she said, obviously mocking him. “And what is this AC standing for? Oh, please forgive your Queen, but her age is often accompanied by senility."

That questioned seemed to have unsettled him. He took many seconds before answering. "A stands for After, and C for Curse. Specifically it means After the Curse” the King said anxiously.

Now take a sip of your wine, you scaredy little cat.

King Trixis IV took a big sip of his wine with trembling lips, spilling wine on the tablecloth consequently. "Shit". He grabbed with twitching fingers a piece of paper and scrubbed fiercely the spot left by the wine, moving the whole table along, the Queen's broth nearly falling out of the wooden bowl.

"Leave rinsing for maidens," she said in a tone of disappointment. "And go on please. What is this…Curse?"

"One hundred and twelve years ago, all five Kings of the Grand Continent died. Death of age, death by accident, betrayals, and murders. Assassinations or poisonings. And all of the deaths took place, allegedly by coincidence, on the same year. The first death occurred in the first month of the year, the next two in the middle of the year, and the last two happened two months apart, nearly at the end. Well, folks believed that the deaths could not be that timely, and so they started being suspicious of other Kingdoms, and thus, rumors started spreading like chickenpox. When the last King died of feeble heart, the suspiciousness and hatred that was being developed between the Five Kingdoms through the year bursted throughout the land. The animosity of the Realm could not be mustered by the widow Queens of the North, South, East, West and Middle. Therefore, the biggest war the Grand Continent had ever seen, started. It lasted for thirteen years, and its results were unprecedented. The Curse of the Kings it was called, because the Kings supposedly started the war with their sudden deaths, abandoning their Kingdoms. Cursing their Kingdoms.

"After the war was over, a new Grand Law was established, according to which, every Royal couple was required to choose a Guardian; combining the nature of an acknowledged mastermind, a fierce warrior and an able strategist, the Guardian would devote his life and energy to protect them from any similar incident."

She blew her broth. It was scorching hot, and she would not eat it until it became cold. She hated heat. But this would require some time, so she just took a sip of water from her wooden cup. "Does this remind you of something?"

"Should you drinking water bring me back memories?"

"The Curse of the Kings, you imbecile", she replied, letting a little laughter escape her mouth.

"Not this again... For the last time, Cy, this was, and is still merely a coincidence"

"At the start of the year, the Eastern King, Tiberius Castering II, died by accident. Then two months later, Marcosius Reeves , the Western King, gave in to his illness, and therefore died. So now o-"

"Only three months are left before the year's ended. Please, do not exaggerate Cyrene. Three Kings are still alive, including me. All of us cannot just die in a dozen and more weeks. And you also seem to forget that our Guardian is alive and kicking."

"King Mullohan is on his deathbed since long. And you really believe that just one person is enough to protect you? You, who just haphazardly welcomes Vaemyri and Anghastian jesters in the castle when Tabitha is sick. Who is never alert, and who never got to meet his own cooks and just eats anything he is served? You really believe that staying all day long in the Navami Stronghold is enough to guarantee you a serene death of age? Tiberius Castering is said to have died accidently when riding his horse. He fell down and broke his neck. While rumors support that this was a deed of his Guardian though."

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"Are you implying that Agnos is dangerous? I've known him since he was a child. You yourself proposed to make him our Guardian."

"I do not disagree, but with an idle King like you, he became dormant too. He is slacking all day long, drinking ale and wine. And whoring. Truth is I cannot recall the last time he held a sword. He is not suitable anymore."

"You can't jus-"

"Oh, I already did."

She clapped thrice. King Trixis IV looked anxiously around the room, his eyes goggling out of their sockets. A man around twenty and five appeared from the chamber across their table. He was really tall, of brown skin and long wavy crimson hair. The last man Cyrene recalled to be of such height was the Northern Guardian, Cassius. He must have heard everything we talked about from that chamber. That’s good so far.

"Who is this? He is not from the Grand Continent." said Trixis.

"He has more rights than most of the Grand’s inhabitants though" said the Medial Queen.

"No... you didn't j-"

"Oh, I told you, my dear King and husband. I already did"

"And what of Agnos? Who is supposed to tell him? His vow as a Guardian is sacred, we can't just revoke it"

"I am Cyrene Heavel, the Queen of the Middle. I do whatever I deem necessary for my Kingdom's survival. If you die this year too, people all over the continent will get crazy, and start believing that the Curse is back. As I will. And this, by the way, is Ymyr. He comes from thousands of miles afar. He left his continent behind, and sailed for weeks in order to protect you."

The new Medial Guardian stepped several feet closer and bowed before his King. It was obvious that he could scarcely speak the Grand Continent's language. "It is honor to meet his Grace. This is Ymyr vae Vass, of Orbis Terrarum. My life pledged to your wellness mo survival."

"See Trixis? He is a fast learner. And he has brought two of his best colleagues, just to ensure no harm will come to you until the end of the year", said Cyrene.

"So the Middle is going to have three Guardians from now on, and specifically until this year ends? Cy, this is madness. And what of Agnos?"

"Oh, do not worry my King of tenderness. I have everything checked. Agnos is going to live in a fortress, with nothing to worry about but enjoying himself for three full months. Lacking no luxuries, drinks and whores of course; until duty wants him back.

"Oh, Ymyr, please call in your colleagues" said the Medial Queen, and in an instant her Guardian shouted something in a different and rather unusual language. Seconds later, two other men came in. Both tall and of brown skin, the one having upright silver hair, while the other one short and brown. They both bowed before their King, with decisive eyes and expressionless like steel faces.

Then Ymyr said: "The silver is named Nequidem vom Aestus and the brown is Carbo je Fass. They both come nach my continent, Orbis Terrarum. They both come for serving you for the rest of your days and nights, your Grace."

"They both come for half my Kingdom's gold. And I am not your Grace. Get out! I cannot pay for your service, and even if could, I wouldn't want to! Now get out!" he said and...

...none of them moved. Not even blinked an eye.

Trixis looked angrily at Cyrene as she said: "I will pay them. It's been months since I started saving money. Savings are of top priority now. I melted all of our golden plates and cups. Do you believe that I just randomly got a fetish for wooden utensils? I hope you enjoyed your last feasting on expensive food. You must also get used to wooden forks and spoons. But do not worry; you have three months to eat that lobster. Unable to clean it as you are, you may finish it on time" Am I a bit too harsh? I really love him and I want nothing bad come happening to him. But there is no other way. "Moreover, the Medial Kingdom's taxes are going to be increased by one quarter"

"You are insane. I am signing nothing like that."

"King Trixis could not attend the last meeting due to health issues, and therefore the Queen is to take the decisions on his part" said his Queen. "Convincing enough?"

"You..." he stood up furiously, ready to unleash anger and flames. His breath was hot, as if it came out of a furnace. He approached his wife, his steps imposing like thunder.

"Carbo", said Ymyr vae Vass, and Carbo je Fass spontaneously locked a muscular arm around His Grace's neck.

"YOU FELON!" shouted King Trixis Heavel IV as the big foreigner started pulling him backwards. "Cyrene! You betrayed me. You do not longer belong to House Heavel. You are Nobelle of the Silver reincarnated!"

No. I am not such monster. Am I, Trixis?

"You let you fear devour you, Cy. The past is in the past and it is not coming back. Your only problem should have been our futur-" he shouted as the door of the chamber was closed by Carbo je Fass in front of him, making him disappear completely of her vision.

That made her heart fall apart. It looks like I will return to House Elmont again, when this year is over. If he doesn't hang me for treason of course.

Then she looked at the closed door and said: "No you idiot. The past is a warning for the future. Hence the gods gave us the privilege of not forgetting. As they also handed us the art of writing history. You have failed, Trixis."

She was sure that her husband had heard her. She lived most of her life in that chamber to know that any sound can penetrate that door. Carbo must be holding his mouth shut. Elsewise I would still hear him raging.

She turned her back to the door. I did not even bid him farewell. Oh, I am nothing but an old wretch for real now. I should be dying instead of preventing a war. The worst parts are that I cannot cry anymore, my children are miles away, and my Guardian, Agnos...

"Let us go" she said as they exited the room. "Ymyr, I want Carbo to be with him twenty four-seven. Treating him nicely. And also make sure no one in the Navami Stronghold or the city becomes suspicious of the King's absence. You know what to do with anyone who asks curious questions and spreads rumors."

"As my Queen commands. And what of the old Guardian?"

You mean our real Guardian. "I am still thinking of this."

"My Queen. He was very close to both of you. He will get suspicious soon. Questioning where the King is. He may be reason vhel we don't success. He must be eliminated"

She was ready for this from the very beginning. "You are my Guardian. My most faithful counselor." she lied. "If you believe this is necessary, I do too". And at that very moment, every memory of them and Agnos came back to her. All the days and nights they spent together. The drinks they had. Their dancing together when Trixis got tired early on their wedding. Their adventures at the Islands of Joy. The few times the laid together abed. Everything.

Ymyr nodded at Nequidem vom Aestus who left immediately without exchanging a word, revealing that eliminating Agnos was part of his plan from the start. The mercenaries of Orbis Terrarum. They are the best in the world. Never have they ever failed a mission before, from the beginning of their existence. The thing is that if their client is too feeble and begins to lose more than he gains, they begin to feel that they will eventually not receive their rightful payment. Then they take authority and duty to their own hands. And after that, they gain more and more power, ending up as masters of their masters. Many clients of the Grand Continent have fallen for this in the past. That shall be the reason why Trixis begun sweating when he heard where they come from. But they are maybe the only ones who can ultimately help us out of this. This is why I must be strong from now on. Show them that I am made of iron. Show them that I hated my husband for being powerless and expressing no grief after our separation. Show them that I am uncaring of Agnos’ murder.

I am Cyrene Heavel I, the princess of House Elmont, Medial Queen and Warden of the Grand Continent, Nobelle of the Silver reincarnated. I fear no one but death. This time I am preventing the Curse of the Kings in order to protect this generation and all the generations to come. For this is my death wish. And after all, the elders' death wishes should be treated with respect.