There was a crack in the ceiling.
To make things even worse, it was right in the middle of the ballroom, where the massive chandelier was hung. Maria stood and watched it with great concern. With the castle overflowing with guests, it was no time to try to get it fixed. The queen's thoughts were occupied by possible cover-ups, ways she could make it as little noticeable as possible.
“Heavens,” she muttered to herself. “Why is it that things like this happen when something important should take place?”
Brandon, on the other hand, wasn't at all concerned. He, in fact, couldn't care less. With more important things to occupy his time with, he decided to leave Maria to worry about things that couldn't be fixed.
“Staring at it will not help, mother,” Diane said as she walked into the room.
Maria smiled, stretching out her hands and warming up her daughter's cold arms. She kissed the top of Diane's head, then looked back at the crack.
“So, what do you suggest?” the queen asked, still tightly embracing her daughter.
“Let it be. There is nothing we can do about it now,” the princess remarked. She leaned against her mother and put her head on Maria's shoulder.
While she was a beautiful woman, Maria was meek compared to her husband. She was a person who easily blended into the background, letting the world forget about her existence. She hated the world she married into as much as her daughter did. The queen understood the sickening feeling Diane got every time she saw the jewels on her crown because she knew they were not clean. She felt horribly sorry for her daughter, knowing Diane would rather be anywhere else than sitting on an overly decorated chair commanding criminals and pretending they were equals. But the princess had a duty. A purpose, a drive, her mother only seemingly lacked.
“I guess you are right,” the queen agreed, though in her heart lived an insurmountable need to set her life straight. “I am very glad you came back so soon. Why don't we go for a walk? I have missed it.”
Diane smiled warmly. “Of course.”
The two royals made their way towards the back garden. September almost forgotten, the leaves of the small forest that stretched out behind the castle painted their property yellow. The mother and daughter often enjoyed walking the small stone road and breathing in the fresh air that now smelled of rain.
“Was your trip pleasant?” Maria asked. She held firmly onto Diane’s bicep.
“As pleasant as such a trip can be,” Diane replied. “I am used to it now.”
“Is there no hope of you staying here?” Maria asked once the castle became invisible.
“None,” Diane answered, taking her mother's hand into hers. “I am not yet free. I only came back because father left me no choice. I think it is still too early for all this.”
“Are you unsure?” Maria asked warmly.
“No, I know I am right. And I feel horrible about it.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“We have talked about this before, Diane. Your work is noble. They should feel honored to be part of this.”
“To die, you mean.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You are right, I don’t. I can only hope I have made the right choice.”
Both of their dresses dragged on the ground, making rustling sounds that reminded Maria of the little girl who once skipped about in the forest and the fear she felt each time the princess would disappear from her sight.
“I know you do not get along, but he is still your father. I think you should come back once you have found the will,” Maria said solemnly.
“This is not about him. It is about me,” Diane answered, pausing for a moment. “It is too dangerous for me to stay. You know how the aristocrats are. They sensed something and they will not leave me alone until they find out what it is. And I can never let that happen.”
“And what if they do find out? What is it that they can do to you? Laugh at you?” Maria protested. She was not of noble blood, so she could never understand their pride. Besides, she was without magical abilities, while Diane's power to manipulate energy made her a Raven captain at fourteen.
“I am to be queen,” Diane reminded her mother. There were things the queen consort could not feel. The weight of being called 'king'. “They fear me. I would like it to remain that way. One cannot rule without fear because people are too quick to overestimate their own importance. Besides, it is easier this way. I don’t have to listen to him complain about my incompetence every single day.”
Maria narrowed her eyebrows. She had forgotten what time had turned her daughter into. She used to be bright and carefree; now she resembled her father. “I also wish you would understand,” Maria said, “that everything we do we do for you.”
Diane smiled. “You mean, everything you do.”
Maria let go of Diane’s arm. “He loves you.”
“No,” Diane raised her voice slightly. “He did what he did to protect the crown. He might have sacrificed it for you once, but never for me. I was born for the sole purpose of preserving the bloodline. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Diane!”
“And when he found out that I was destined to save the world, he decided to make bloody sure that I wouldn’t miss out because it would make his daughter the second Clara Heal.”
“Enough!” Maria yelled. Then they both stood in silence for a moment. “Let us talk about something else.”
There wasn't anything else for them to discuss. They made small talk and sped up their pace. It was their past that distinguished them greatly. Diane was the future of the world, the weight of mankind rested on her shoulders. Maria was born to parents without prospects and married into power.
“Brandon wants to see you at the meeting. It is in half an hour,” Maria broke the silence, once again testing the limits of tolerance.
“I know,” her daughter answered.
“What will you tell them?” the queen inquired, pushing her daughter into a conversation she knew Diane didn't want to be a part of.
“The truth.”
Maria hesitated. “They will ask you about the Flamer.”
“And I will tell them he is the one.”
She was too distant. Nothing Maria could say or do would reach her. The princess was trapped inside someone's interpretation of her duty, shutting everyone right before her door. Except for one person.
“Have you seen Isaac?” the queen asked.
Diane's eyes lit up. “Have you seen him? Is he here?”
Maria smiled. “I saw his father. He should be here as well.”
Happiness washed the tiredness off Diane's face. Isaac Leahy, the Prince of Florus, had been her best friend since she was a toddler. They were inseparable, and he was the only person who made friends with the monsters living inside her head.
Diane clapped her hands together and stopped walking. “I must go. I will see you at dinner.”
With that, she rushed back down the small stone road, spilling purple silk around her steps. Maria watched her, her smile long forgotten. It was all coming to an end.
“I hope time will allow me to see it through,” she whispered to the wind.
When it didn't answer, she smiled sadly.