King Philip’s POV from behind the veil
Present Day
13th day of April R.A
The crowd rumbled under the heat of the sun. It was midday, so the heat had only begun to reach its peak. The courtyard around the gray brick castle was filled with the residents of Horizon District, which was the capital of Ashland. All the citizens were waiting to see the Queen of Ashland’s announcement. The future of the kingdom starts with the queen’s announcement. Every district would be watching the queen’s speech since broadcast technology had been revived about twenty years ago. It felt like the kingdom was finally past the survival and rebuilding stage. Ashland was a full country that traded with other countries along the Sea of Davina and the Navian Strait. It was an exciting time to be alive.
“Are you sure about this, your majesty?” General Lloyd Brown of the Ashland Armed Forces asked the queen. He looked over the queen with great concern. General Brown had just returned last night from collecting all the candidates for the Queen’s Challenge from each district.
It made my heart wrench. My old friend knew my wife was still in danger, but he had no idea how dangerous Ashland had become. My murderer was never caught, and no one knew why the king and queen were attacked that night. Reia, my wife, looked like she appreciated the General’s concern. He has been her closest adviser this past year and a dear friend. Sometimes she wished she could confide in the general completely, but even a queen has secrets she won’t share with others. She took his hand in hers, so he could escort her to the balcony.
“Lloyd, you worry too much. This is the beginning of a new future for our kingdom. It wouldn’t kill you to smile.” She grinned at him, causing him to blush slightly and give her a small smile.
That was a gut punch. Why did my friend have to blush at my wife? He’s been blushing and smiling more at her lately. Reia seemed to ignore it most of the time, but it won’t be long until he becomes more confident in his advances. Did he have such little respect for me as a friend, or did I miss something when I was alive?
“Better. Much better.” She wrapped her arm around the general’s arm. “Let’s get the festivities going!”
General Brown escorted the queen onto the grand balcony. Cheers blocked out all other sounds as they waved and walked toward the podium. Several guards were posted across the balcony, which eased the general’s worries a bit, but all the cameras made him nervous for the queen. Almost all Ashlanders will be watching the start of the Queen’s Challenge today. He left the queen at the podium and stood behind the queen to her right. He looked to be praying to the Creator that today would go well.
My wife, Queen Reia Ash, stood on the balcony of the Mortar Palace looking down at the sea of citizens below. The sun lit up blue eyes beautifully like the salty sea in the distance. Watching her take the stage after two years of solitude and grief was jubilant for me. I had been racked with guilt for leaving her when she needed me most. Hell, when our Ashlanders need us most. It was this guilt sitting on my soul that tied me to the kingdom even in death. There were so many things left undone because of my death, but I have faith that Reia will fix it all. She was always my rock, and I was her wall.
The crowd was worked up into a roaring cheer that still gave her older body goosebumps. The people of the capital were dressed in their best dresses and slacks although the sun was bearing down on the crowd, causing everyone a sticky and sweaty discomfort. The sun had risen to its peak only thirty minutes ago, which meant there was no end in sight. Reia hated having her people suffer from the summer heat, but the time had come to announce the candidates of the Queen's Challenge. She stepped toward the podium on the large, stage-like balcony to begin the first royal speech broadcasted to all the districts of Ashland at once. Queen Reia straightened her maroon gown with princess princess-collared, beaded bodice with sheer beaded sleeves that flowed into a pleated, A-line skirt. Rushing over, her maid, Helen, fixed a misplaced hair of her strawberry blonde haired braid and straightened the black plated and diamond encrusted tiara. Minister Guy Gordan called for attention and cued the queen that the broadcast was now live. Cameras focused on the queen as she smiled at her citizens beneath the balcony.
“The passing of King Philip Ash, my beloved husband, has taken its toll on me as a wife and the entire kingdom. If Philip was here with us, he would be overjoyed by the journey our kingdom is about to embark on. Please, take pride in knowing that Philip will be smiling down on our kingdom as he watches from the Creator’s Paradise.” She looked at me as if she could sense my presence in front of her watching her shine. Her smile diminished for only a moment as she refocused on the cameras. “Today, Ashlanders marks yet another benchmark of success for our great kingdom. Today, I will finally announce the candidates each of the twelve districts voted for to enter the Queen's Challenge!”
Reia paused as the clatter of the crowd consumed the air around. She signaled for the crowd to quiet as she began to speak. “The Queen's Challenge is a competition that will decide my successor since Philip and I were unable to give Ashland an heir.” Queen Reia took a deep breath. There was so much guilt and grief that flickered in eyes in that single breath. I knew it all too well. “The Queen's Challenge will have the candidates face trials that will help us find the best progenitor of a new dynasty for Ashland! The three left standing at the end of the trials will become the princesses of Ashland, and then face off in a final election, which will be decided by the people of Ashland. The king and I had planned to find an heir to our great kingdom together, but together, Ashlanders, we will find an heir worthy of our great kingdom. A true daughter of Ashland will continue to nurture our kingdom into the next era for Ashland.”
Another eruption of cheers forces Reia to pause her speech. Excitement hummed in the air. The queen glanced back at the balcony doors where the girls were waiting to be announced. These young women appeared nervous as a whole as Helen, the queen’s maid, tried to calm the candidates.
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“Please welcome the Queen’s Challenge candidates as I present them to you all.” Reia gestured to her maid to open the dark blue curtain nestled between a pair of double doors. A camera focused on the curtain as it opened revealing the first young woman in a yellow gown like the golden meadows of her district. Her voluminous, golden brown hair was in tight little ringlets, which framed her sharp cheekbones and soft violet eyes. “Amity Bellrose of District Golden Meadows.” Amity walked forward and took her place on the far right of the balcony just like the women had practiced before dawn this morning.
“Tylee Jones of District Foundry,” the queen called out, and the next woman walked out from the opening in a black gown with silver scrolling details. Her gray eyes sparkled against her dark brown hair, which was tied back into a long ponytail. Tylee held her head up high, but her walk was masculine in the way she moved. The queen called out, “Erina Drake of District Black Bear Cliff.” A long faint scar ran over the left green eye and captured the attention of the camera as the next candidate strolled out of the double doors. Her gold, wavy hair was tied back at the top while the bottom fell loosely to her shoulders. Her green gown matches the color of the deep forests of her district. Something about her seemed wild as she settled into her place next to Tylee.
“Roisin Castile of District Elder Tree,” Reia continued her list. A small red-headed woman stepped out of the opening. Her light blue dress made her sky-blue eyes stand out more against her braided red hair. She was the shortest woman to be presented so far. “Vestra Fairchild of District White Sands,” the crowd began to whisper as the next young lady stepped out onto the balcony. Vestra was one of the more mysterious candidates in the bunch because she looked nearly identical to the Minister of White Sands’ daughter. From her straight, thick, black hair to her deep indigo eyes to her golden tan skin, there wasn’t much difference between her and the Minister’s daughter. The similar appearance was nearly scandalous due to the rule against nobles competing in the Queen’s Challenge. There was about her that commanded me to look at her a second time. She would be one that I planned to keep a close eye on.
Reia didn’t wait for the crowd to react to Vestra, and quickly moved on to, “Orianna Lyncaster of District West Wind.” Orianna walked out with grace as she entered onto the balcony. Her dark blue hair was tied into two long pigtails warped in golden bands. She wore a light pink gown, which complimented her pale skin. Her eyes were gold like the bands in her hair. “Pippa Dollyn of District Buffalo Plains,” the queen did her best to keep the girls moving. Pippa had freckles as plentiful as the stars of the night sky. Her eyes were brown like the oak wood of the balcony, and her hair was a dark plum pulled back into two braided buns at the base of her neck. Pippa wore a dark blue gown with gold stitching, making it the more expensive of the gowns seen on the candidates.
“Kezia Ballister of District Rivercreek,” another name rolled off the queen’s tongue. An olive-complected woman walked onto the balcony. She was the tallest woman among the group thus far as her brown and gold gown only reached her ankles instead of the ground. Her sapphire eyes and curly, golden brown made her naturally sharp features soften. Kezia settled next to Pippa in the lineup. Some of the girls were beginning to look the same, making this presentation seem dull.
Reia began again, “Suki Karin of District Port Saya.” Suki shuffled out of the double doors in a lavender gown with pink flowers stenciled over it. Her raven black hair was pinned back into a dramatic hairstyle with elegant loops with a lotus flower hair comb at the top. Her jade green eyes contrasted with her fair skin. Her father, Captain Hikari Karin, had outdone himself on her wardrobe. She looked the most elegant among the women. “Aziza Bane of District Toba Peaks,” the queen repositioned herself at the podium. Aziza waltzes onto the balcony in a pink gown with white embellishments, making her the brightest woman in the bunch of girls. She had auburn hair tied back with a pink bow matching her gown. Her dark brown eyes and dark complexion complimented the color pallet.
“Lucina Augusta of District Violet Isles,” Her Majesty kept her face even as she waited for the girl to come out. Her bright blonde hair was short like the fabled pixies of old. Her medium blue eyes were complimented by her dimples. She wore a violet dress with cream scrolling on the bodice. The young woman joined the others as the group waited for the last candidate. A sigh of relief quietly escaped Reia’s lips as she said, “And Zoelle Orleans of District Horizon.” A thunder of cheers erupted from the crowd below as a girl with hazel eyes and dark strawberry, gold hair wrapped into a tight bun and layered bangs framing her face walked onto the balcony. Her dress was red and black with a corset-type bodice. Zoelle was a crowd favorite because she was the daughter of a captain in the royal guard, making her not quite a noble but very well known in Horizon. The queen had paused to allow the cameras to get close-ups of the young women on the balcony and the crowd below.
“Welcome candidates, one and all!” A new voice came out from the double doors. I groaned loudly at the perky voice though no one noticed since I was nothing more than a phantom. The cameras zoomed in on a raven-haired man, wearing a silver suit with a glittery maroon tie that matched the queen’s dress.
“Well, if it isn’t Jaden Dee, Horizon’s TV personality,” the queen said. She knew Jaden Dee was going to make an appearance once the girls had been presented. Jaden Dee had offered to host the Queen’s Challenge at one of the Queen’s charity events last month. Honestly, she didn’t think much of Jaden Dee, but he was a nice addition to the televised event because of his popularity.
Jaden Dee approached Her Highness and extended his hand out to my beautiful queen. Queen Reia accepted his hand begrudgingly. “It’s an honor to work with you, Your Majesty!” He kissed her hand and let it go. Reia looked uncomfortable from their interaction. I felt myself approach him and smack his face over and over, but nothing happened. Stupid phantom state.
Queen Reia didn’t let her smile falter, but there was something very fake about that man, which made her insides crawl. Fifty-two years of life on this planet, and she has been surrounded by fake people like Jaden Dee since she was born. People always kiss up to the crown even though the royal family could potentially lose its power at the election every decade. Her family has been in power for over a hundred years now, which was why Reia was determined to complete the Queen’s Challenge for her people. We had failed to have a successor on our own. At least this way, Reia could select and train her successor for the good of her kingdom. I was just happy that she wouldn’t be alone anymore. Although knowing Reia, she had other plans for this competition.
“Ashland, your candidates have been announced, and the host of the Queen’s Challenge has appeared, but we are still missing two things! The judges of the challenge and what’s next for the candidates! Queen Reia, please enlighten us on the events to come.” Jaden Dee gestured to the queen to speak.
“Ah, yes. I am the first of the four judges. Then, there is Duke Byron Yates of Navien, the younger brother of King Edmund Yates of Navien. Oceana Taylor, the President of New Horizons University, and of course, the ambassador to the Kingdom of Quillian, Wazzly Higgins of District Foundry.” The queen revealed to an excitedly astonished crowd. The candidates all had stunned looks on their faces. No one expected royalty from another kingdom to get involved. It was a good plan to involve our allies. It was a show of power she needed to enforce her authority in the government.
“What an amazing panel our queen has put together for a once-in-a-lifetime competition! I am sure the events and trials will be as unexpected as the panel evaluating the candidates.” Jaden Dee encouraged Reia to explain more.
“The first event will be in two days. We are awaiting all of the judges to arrive at the palace for the events.” Queen Reia answered.
“You heard it here, Ashlanders! The Queen’s Challenge starts two days after the event. We will be saying goodbye to our first candidate at the end of the first trial until only three remain for the final vote.” A whistling noise screeched in the air as Jaden Dee flashed his white teeth at the camera, but when he looked back at the podium, my wife was gone. “Queen Reia…”
No! I screamed into the veil between living and dead.
Crash!