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Extract from "Queen of the Rebellion"
Chapter 2: Announcing the Unthinkable (Snippet)
Chapter 2: Announcing the Unthinkable (Snippet)
The kingdom had already started to shift away from Elliot, our previous leader, and onto a new leader — a leader that Mother had chosen.
Each royal leader after our previous rebellion, before I was even born, did nothing. Who knows what Jude will do? He’s our next heir, after all.
I tried to ignore the worry, looking into my wardrobe instead and focusing on the soft, silky gown. A deep midnight blue, stitched and embroidered with silver linings and patterns of stars caught in the light. I didn’t want to even start with the possibilities of what could happen when Jude leads us.
“Hey,” the familiar voice arrived behind me, “ready, Scarlett?”
I turned swiftly to see Jude waiting at the doorway, his formal royal black blazer smoothed down with a silver crest securely pinned onto his chest. I wordlessly nodded towards him as he effortlessly lifted me up.
I looked towards the vulnerable self in the reflection of the mirror: a girl in royal blues, armed by her brother. The beautiful damsel in dismay, looking like an endangered stray.
Photo by Andreas Ebner
He took me across the alleyway and down the stairs, where I once misstepped, leading to Jude’s persistent act of aid.
It was unusually quiet, excluding the rhythmic steps from Jude. No servants chattering, no movement from the guards, not even the whispers of crowds outside the palace. It was as if the castle was acting mysterious itself.
Through to the balcony, and outside the castle, civilians stood in silence, the blade slashing through the crowd. Jude carried me towards a stool just tall enough to see the crowds. Mother stood right by the balcony beside me, whilst Juliet was standing to the side, unseen.
Secondborns were born that way. Hidden. Invisible. Outliers.
Well, since Jules stands as royal, she would just be treated as an invisible figure. Others were treated worse. Some secondborns are even malnourished.
“Sovarynians,” Mother stated, cutting through my thoughts, “it is very unfortunate to see that my son, King Elliot of Sovaryn, has deceased at such a young age.”
Silence followed like Eli’s shadows remained. No whispers. No birds chirping away. No movement was heard. Just a moment of silence, like the last few moments of Eli’s life…
“But the throne shall not remain empty. It shall not remain unseated,” the Queen continued, “According to the law of secondborns, I, as the Queen of Sovaryn, have the authority to choose the next ruler, even if that isn’t our original heir.”
Mother’s words hung low as she swept through the crowd, “Therefore, by the power destined in me, I pronounce that from this day forward, Her Royal Highness shall ascend to the throne.”
Mutters went across the crowd, wondering who Mother was referring to as “Her Royal Highness”.
“We shall wait for Her Highness’ fourteenth birthday to arrive, which is next week, when her coronation will take place. Please may all citizens of Sovaryn show their loyalty and respect to the Queen Reagent.”
Queen Reagent.
Fourteenth birthday.
Next week.
The words blurred past my mind. I don’t believe I heard that right. Or did I? I’m not too sure.
Mother chose me to lead. Not Jude. Not Jules.
Me.
I couldn’t move.
“She will ascend to the throne of Sovaryn, and soon, even the rulers of Duskess will bow down towards her tonight.”
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