Queen of Hearts

Chapter 1

Noon is my favourite time of day. Everyone just had their lunch and most are in their own chambers, relaxing, servants are no exception. It is the quietest in the library, which even scholars abandon to get some food. 

Only I remain in here, reading another story about mortal crime solvers. You’ve got to give them credit. No other kingdom writes this way. Sometimes I wonder maybe most of them have committed these things and that’s why they write better about it. After all, it’s easier to describe a thing that you have already done. 

I finish the chapter and force myself to put down the book. My timing for it was perfect because the next minute enters my mother, and smiles. “Reading again, while we’ve got much more important things to do.” 

I chuckle and put the book in its place making sure that it is pages are not damaged in the process. She is right. We have so many things to do. Today my grandfather, who’s known by most as King Azamarr, turns older. I don’t actually know how old because he never tells. He just tells that it is 1 year older than he used to be. 

Lords and some kings from neighboring kingdoms are coming over. You see, Sairem-our kingdom isn’t favourite kingdom. Well, it is favourite for the people of other kingdoms but their kings hate us. 

All because Sairem opens its doors for everyone- humans, sorcerers, naturally powered (controllers of air, water, earth, and fire), and even radioactive powers (they can be really freaky like going through walls or burning stuff with your eyes).

While other kingdoms only welcome their kind and don’t allow for exceptions, we house everyone who feels left out. Some group with their kind in districts while others prefer living all together in the capital city. Either way, everyone’s happy therefore my grandpa’s a good king. 

My mother and I walk out of the library and I rush towards the ballroom. I ordered it to be designed in green and gold, even carpets are changed from red to green. My purpose is to make it seem less official and more birthday like and green is the king's favourite color. 

Inside the ballroom, I could feel my vision come true as green curtains were being hanged. Veirn was putting in gold engravings around the curtain. I called him over and the pattern of gold design stopped in the middle. 

“What do you think?” He asks and I smile. “You are the designer of the year, cousin. Didn’t know you could create stuff this beautiful.” I admired his engravings, and he smiled. “Glad to help out. I got it here, go do other stuff.” Veirn said and pat me on the shoulder. 

Mom thanked him and as he walked away said. “He is acting all grown up, wonder what that’s about.” I chuckle. “I promised to score him a date with Jasmine if he does well.” Mom laughs as we enter the kitchen.  “Veirn and his love interests never stop amazing me.” 

Mom goes on to look through food preparations and I manage to slip out to go check the last factor- music. Last time I got an annoying complaint from Ezra, ambassador of sorcerer’s kingdom that music was too loud. This time I am sitting him farther away from musicians and asking for a more relaxed theme. I knock on the door and enter. 

Musicians do a slight bow and I nod at them. “Is everything ready? Need anything else?” I ask and glance around the room. Seems to me that they got more than they need.  Director, a man in his 40’s steps forward and smiles. “Everything is wonderful, Princess Miriam, we are all ready to perform.”  

I nod in satisfaction and leave them to be. Shoot, 30 minutes already gone and I haven’t even checked on everyone. My uncle still needs me to remind him about his present, and grandpa expects me to join him in what he likes to call a ‘private party’.

I quickly climb up the stairs and knock on uncle Weston’s door. A servant opens and with a half, bow welcomes me in. “Uncle, you got your present ready?” I call out as I walk from the waiting area towards his bedroom. The door is closed, he is probably sleeping. I knock and call him. Door swings open and he looks at me with confusion. 

Even though he and my mother are twins I can never see the resemblance, while my mother has a jawline and sharp looks, my uncle only got a decent eye color- green and his jawline is invisible because of the beard. “Present? Grandpa’s birthday, remember?” I say and wave my hands around still confused with his short-term memory. 

Luckily Veirn didn’t inherit that from him.

He looks at me with a blank stare and after a minute of furrowed brows and weird stared he mutters an ‘ohhhh’ and smiles. “Good job, Miriam. I don’t know what would I do without you.” I chuckled and take a glance around his room. “I think I should call someone to clean up around here.” He looks back and nods with distraction.

Poor thing, his wife left him 5 months ago and he still can’t get it together.

I walk out of his room and order a few of the servants to clean out his room.  I take another turn and arrive in my own chambers. My clothing is already laid out for me, and I see my usual helper and smile. I love it that she is already here. I get changed from my other clothing as she straightens my hair. The dress has an open back, perfect for my long hair, and its arms get wider as they reach my hands. White flowers are sawn into the sleeves with magic, making it appear as sleeves are only made up of the flowers, it looks kind of 3D, to be honest, I love it. 

As I finish getting ready someone knocks on my door, I mention for a servant to open it. “Princess, his majesty awaits you in the balcony,” Messenger says. I tell that I’ll be there in a minute. Servants help me as I put on the last details and I walk towards the balcony. 

I see him leaning on the railing, gazing towards the nothingness and the mountains in distance. Other balcony overlooks the city, but there are always people around the castle waiting for someone to come out and wave at them. 

“Here you are, young princess.” I slightly bow and smile at his nickname. “Good evening, birthday boy. How are you feeling?” I ask as I lean on the railing next to him. Grandpa chuckles and opens his arms for me, we exchange a hug, which makes me feel good energy flowing through me. 

Energy buzzes, or tingles as others call them are one thing that all creatures share. It started to appear this century, so it is still not that defined. I like to call it just an anomaly. But most believe that it has a hidden meaning. 

The myth is, if you feel ‘good tingles’ upon touching someone you can trust them, if the skin contact with someone gives you ‘bad tingles’, like a small electric shock, the person means harm to you, and they shouldn’t be trusted. 

Lower classes mostly live by that rule, but in the world of kings and lords, energies are mostly ignored. First of all because no one makes direct skin contact- ladies wear elegant gloves, and lords don’t show affection towards each other. Secondly, because it doesn’t matter, even if you feel all the bad things when you touch someone’s hand you have to hide it with a polite smile and move forward. Because it is politics, you can’t show them your weakness. 

I think of all this energy weirdness as my grandfather continues to look at nothing. It is clear that he wants to have a conversation with me about something, but I am not going to rush him towards it. 

After all, we have ‘good tingles’ and I can trust him. Funny.

“You know it is in days like this, that I can feel her presence around me. I know that she is here, smiling at the two of us. And, God, Miriam you look so much like her.” Grandpa says and turns towards me. I see tears glistening in his eyes, and smile and nod. Not being able to comfort him any other way. 

‘her’ is my grandmother- Queen Victoria. She died when I was little. The sickness wave was spread around the kingdom and I lost my father and her to it. I don’t remember how I felt back then, 8-year-old me didn’t have any understanding of death. But she saw how everyone cried and assumed that she should cry as well. 

“I am sure she is very happy for you. I mean we are still here, your Kingdom is still here, and we are going to have a great ball in an hour. I think Sorcerer royalties are going to show up this time. So, it is all great, isn’t it?” I ramble on, trying to cheer him up while still trying to show empathy for his sadness. He thought for a moment and turned back towards the horizon. 

“Yeah, you are right.” I could see a small smile tugging at his lips. “Well, let’s go down and see how the preparations are going, shall we?” Grandpa offered his hand to me, and I took it. As we neared the stairs noise from the windows overlooking the city caught my attention. I looked at grandpa expecting him to notice it as well, but he didn’t seem alarmed. “I think we better check that noise,” I said.

“It is nothing, my dear, kings shouldn’t be alarmed by every noise.” Grandpa chuckled.

Well, I am not a king

“Maybe it is something important?” I questioned, refusing to accept his answer. Kings should be the most worrying ones. “If it was important I would be notified by now.” And as if on cue, one of the guards rushed towards us, jumping over the stairs. 

“Your majesty, the special guest has arrived.”