Guilty scratches
The queen, after enjoying her much-needed bath, her servant, Sandra, proceeded to help her to get dressed. The dress that the maid chose for today did not reflect the turbulence within her. The sumptuous turquoise blue garment was decorated with silver threads on the entire side of the torso. It shone and contrasted beautifully with the queen’s pale white skin. It fell in the form of a cascade, covering her thin, and shaped legs until it touched the floor. The sleeves made of translucent tulle did little to hide her delicate and fragile arms. The queen was a sight to behold. But this beauty became her biggest enemy now.
Amberjill watched her reflection in the mirror, as her servant did her hair. The blush she acquired from the hot bath gave her vitality, but it only lasted for a few minutes. The pale white skin that characterized her returned without delay. The queen began at that moment to hate everything that she was. Wishing her skin was tanned, and her long hair turned black. Her electric blue eyes must have been the colour of transparent honey.
Amberjill struck her dresser, making her servant jump in fright, and hurting her delicate hand at the same time. The immense frustration and the sense of injustice towards her were overwhelming. Amberjill brought her hand to her chest, trying to get rid of the pain. Sandra, witnessing what happened, said worriedly, “My queen, your hand.” The servant reached for her mistress’s hand, but Amberjill would not let her. “I’m fine, Sandra, don’t worry.”
“Your Majesty, if the king finds out that I did not take good care of you, and you suffered any harm, he will ask for my head.” Sandra alarmed, answered. “Ha, the king will be too busy to notice anything concerning me. I don’t even know when I’ll be able to see him.” The servant, seeing the immense sadness in her mistress, said, “No, my queen, I don’t think so. The king loves you infinitely. Of one thing, definitely, I’m sure. He would never let any evil happen to you. I bet my life on it.”
The queen, through the mirror, looked her servant in the eye. “You value your life so little then, Sandra? Would you bet on it so lightly, despite what you have witnessed?” Amberjill looked away, and continued, “My king was left without love for me. He lost it somewhere, and I don’t know if he wants it back.”
A single tear escaped from her eyes, running down the length of her cheek, getting lost somewhere on her neck. Sandra, seeing this, couldn’t take it any more. She threw herself at her mistress’s feet, and leaning her head on the queen’s lap, wept bitterly. Life was cruel because hers had been just a beautiful fantasy.
∞∞∞
The Queen’s Day went on as usual. The only difference was the immense sadness that hung around the chambers, and that Aurora was absent. It was past lunchtime, and when the queen finished, she continued with the embroidery that entertained her all morning. She had very little left to do. The embroidery was the shield of arms of their king. She promised him that she would finish it as soon as possible so that he could show it off at banquets or meetings. But what was the point of ending it now? The queen thought several times about discarding it, throwing it aside, just as she was discarded. But she changed her mind, she promised, and Amberjill never breaks her promises. Without giving the matter another thought, she continued with her arduous task.
"Your Majesty!” Amberjill heard Sandra say through the door. She looked up, and that’s when she saw the door open. To her complete surprise, her king, and husband, was the one who entered. Nervously, she put her embroidery down on the small table to one side and got up immediately.
Her first impulse was to go to him and throw herself into his arms. No, she won't do that. She hardened her heart, and only bowed her head in reverence, just as her education had directed. But Amberjill did not receive her husband in this case, only her king. She waited, head down until the king spoke. “Amberjill.” The king’s voice was soft and tender. The queen might think it was full of love, but that was no longer the case.
Hearing her king speak, she looked up, and she couldn’t help but cover her husband’s body from head to toe with her gaze. Everything looked like yesterday, except for a nasty scratch that couldn’t be hidden on one side of his neck. The queen’s insides twisted violently. Her hands went cold, and her face burned. The queen’s expression couldn't be hidden this time, causing the king to raise his hand to where Amberjill was looking. The guilty scratch under his hand.
He knew that he had been found out and that there was nothing more he could do about it. The makeup that one of his servants applied to hide his treachery failed miserably. But Amberjill put on her mask again, and with it, she faced her husband.
“Your Majesty, what a surprise to have you here. If I had known that you would come at this hour, I would have waited for you.” The queen pointed to the tray with empty plates, indicating to the king that she was not available for that purpose. Looking back at her husband, the queen struggled hard to maintain the placid smile a queen should have.
Alcott, at that moment, lost his tenderness, and with determined steps approached Amberjill. Your majesty, that word on her queen’s delicate lips, sounded empty, and lifeless now. A few inches away from her, the king took her hand. The queen frowned, as the king grabbed just the hand that had been damaged. Alcott, for his part, does not miss any detail of this. Worriedly, he raised his queen’s hand to inspect it. A pronounced bruise formed on the side of the queen’s hand, making it visible that something had hit her.
