The Queen’s Royal Obligations
“Who did this? Who dared to touch your delicate skin? Name it, Amberjill and that person will be burned with firewood.” The king’s eyes flashed with a vengeance. But after the shock of hearing the king’s words wore off, Amberjil slowly and delicately removed her hand from the king’s, saying, “Your Majesty, no one dared to lay a finger on me. It was my carelessness that cost me this bruise. There is nothing to worry about.”
The queen smiled slightly and took a few steps back. “Have a seat, Your Majesty.” Amberjill pointed to the chair across from where she was sitting. Alcott nodded and took a seat, but his gaze immediately went to the embroidery on the table, and he could not help but ask, “I am pleased to see that you are still working on the embroidery. That makes me very happy.” The king smiled placidly, thinking it was a good sign.
Amberjill kept her fake smile, while at the same time, she said, “That’s right, Your Majesty. I promised you I would, and I don’t break my promises.” The queen’s electric blue eyes pierced the king’s heart. Contrite and humiliated by his own actions, Alcott deeply regretted everything that had happened. But he also knew there was no turning back. This had to be brought to an end.
The king cleared his throat, saying, “My queen, I have been informed that you have moved your belongings into this room. That is not necessary. It is required that the queen sleeps in the royal chamber, with the king. The court will begin to speak, and that will be damaging to your image, my queen.” The king, truly shocked by this fact, let it be known that he wanted her back.
But Amberjill had already made her decision. “Your majesty, that is true. But I don’t want to be seen as the first wife who put obstacles in the way of the second. The court will see this act as a gift from me. Everyone will understand the need for the new royal couple to get to know each other. I, leaving the way free, will speak wonders of me. Don’t be upset about that, Your Majesty. The people of Mahala are with you, and with your new wife.”
Alcott’s eyes widened to the maximum when the realization of all this was accentuated. The king swallowed painfully. He didn’t consider the effect it would have on his queen’s feelings or the reaction of his people. The king was no fool, and the mask of calm that Amberjill projected was not credible to him. Alcott managed to see through it the immense pain that his queen carried in her heart. He knew all this very well since he had to wear his every day, even in front of his beloved.
“My queen,” Alcott leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his legs. He hesitated, but in the end, he had to be clear on how things had to work. The security of Amberjill and the kingdom of Ruana, and Mahala, were at risk. “I know that Abba’s presence in our lives is something you were not expecting. I never saw it coming myself. But you, my queen, you must know that politics are like that. The happiness of monarchs matters little in comparison with their subjects.”
Alcott searched his queen’s eyes for any sign that would indicate that he was on the right track to win her trust again, but he saw no such sign. And, the king, with his heavy heart, forced himself to continue. “My feelings towards you have not changed. You are still my beloved queen, my Amberjill.” Impatient, the king waited for the queen’s mask to fracture, and her true emotions to overflow her eyes, but all to no avail. The placid, annoying smile on Amberjill’s face didn’t waver.
Not only that, but the queen’s smile grew. Amberjill leaned forward a little and extended her hand to where the king’s was resting. With a light touch, the queen patted it. “Your majesty,” she said, smiling. “Your humble servant does not need any explanation. You, as king, have the power to do and undo at will. And if acquiring a new wife, or more, is what you decided, no one could tell you otherwise. You are the great king of Mahala. Powerful conqueror of cities. Who could tell you no?"
Amberjill withdrew her hand, and assumed her rigid stance, leaning back against the seat. Her vacant eyes returned to the embroidery that was still unfinished. She, without expecting anything else, took it and began to work on it.
The king’s bowels were frozen. His heart was dry. Alcott knew that he was losing the heart of his beloved queen. Her body was in front of him, but the warmth and love that she had always given him with full hands were contained deep within her. Far out of reach.
“Amberjill,” the king said, his voice cracking. The queen looked up from the embroidery and smiled warmly. “Your Majesty, may your heart not continue with turbulence. I will make your wife Abba feel welcome, and those who follow. At the end of the day, that is my task as the administrator of your castle. Abba and I will get along well, don’t worry. If that’s what was taking away your calm, don’t suffer any more. The harmony of the kingdom is our primary concern.”
Amberjill, having finished speaking with her husband, returned her gaze to her embroidery, and resumed her task. The king, stunned, froze in his seat and didn't know what else to say. His beloved wife had become the most skilled politician in his castle.
The conflict in his mind was such, that he was about to reveal his secrets. No, the king restrained himself. All in due time. Alcott nodded briefly and got up. The king walked towards the door, practically dragging his feet, but before leaving the room, and still turning his back on the queen, he said, “Since you decided to leave my side. I will need to arrange for an emissary to ask for your presence. Your obligations towards your husband have not ceased.” Having said this, the king went through the door, but in the distance, he managed to hear Amberjill’s voice, “of course, your majesty, at your command.”
