by Emily Albert
Remy finally got the nerve to speak. “Lenna, that’s not why I did it. She was suffering. I had to help… I had to do something. You saw how bad it was. She wasn’t getting better, no matter how much you tried to reassure me. So because of me trying to help her move on and find peace, you want me to be banished or killed? To disappear just like Father did? You know the devastation that caused. How do you think it would work out if it were to happen again?”
“You won’t even try to deny it?” She nearly laughed at how weak he was.
He threw his hands up in resignation. “What’s the point? I have my reasons, and I’ll stand by them. I had to do it.”
She took a breath.
“Well, Remy, back to Father… the difference between you two,” she was beginning to yell, “is that no one cares about you! You don’t have any children. The people have always preferred me—I’m sure you know that. I certainly don’t care about you. And, oh, yes, you killed the only person who did care about you: our mother.”
Trample him… Doesn’t it feel good?
Lenna’s stomach lurched from her cruel words, but her mind roared to life. She gave him a moment to continue justifying himself. He didn’t.
“You’re giving up that easily? I suppose it doesn’t matter. Listen to me: Your defense is weak. No matter what you say to justify your actions, you will always be seen as the murderer of the Queen. And the murderer of your mother—I wonder which is worse. What you say means nothing, because the people will listen to the person whose argument is stronger, and the person they already trust: me. When I say jump, people will jump. When I say kill the murderer, they will kill the murderer. And that is what will happen. No matter what your true motives were, they will all believe me when I tell them they were malicious. You should have thought of that.”
She left another moment open, but Remy said nothing, just looked at her as if he had never met her.
“So if you thought this would open the door for you to become King, you were wrong. That door will be barricaded by the people who adored our mother. The throne is not rightfully yours, and everyone knows it. The kind of ruler the people want would not kill the Queen.”
The love for her family escaped her. All that mattered in that moment was that Remy would never become King. He wouldn’t get in her way.
“We’ll never make it to the tests,” she said. “Once I tell everyone—”
“You don’t have to!” Remy pleaded. “Lenna, you have to try to understand! I had to do it. You saw her suffering.”
“I understand that you had your wildly twisted reasons. But I also know that it’s good you did it. Well, it will be good once I tell everyone. The door will be wide open for me to become Queen.”
Remy’s mouth hung open and his eyes were wide. “That’s all you care about? You’re not even upset that she’s gone?”
“Remy,” she said, finally calming down, “I suppose I should thank you… But listen, brother… I’m not a monster. I’ll give you a chance to withdraw honorably. Your confession would be far less humiliating than me making a scene, I think. You can even tell your sob story if that makes you feel better. It won’t make a difference, but you can give it a try. I’ll give you a week to admit what you’ve done and forfeit your chance of becoming King. If you don’t, I’ll take this matter into my own hands. Understand?”
Remy nodded numbly.
“Excellent.” She clapped once. “And Remy? Get out of bed. It’s pathetic.”
As Lenna sauntered through the castle on her way to the stable, Kendra found her.
“Let’s go to the courtyard, yes?”
Without waiting for an answer, Kendra dragged Lenna by the arm to the courtyard. There were many groups of people walking or sitting at benches, but Kendra found a secluded seat.
“What happened?” she whispered, though they were far away from everyone.
“It was him.’ Lenna had to stop herself from grinning stupidly. “He told me. Didn’t even try to deny it. He said he needed to help her, put her out of her misery.”
“Oh, Lenn… I’m sorry. I can’t believe it.”
Lenna shrugged.
“I told him he had a week to confess and forfeit his right to become King or I would tell everyone myself.”
“Lenna, he’s your brother, and he had his reasons. You don’t have any sympathy?”
“It’s hard to have sympathy for a murderer. I can’t pretend he didn’t do what he did just because he’s my brother. He still needs to be punished.”
Good girl. So strong. He will be out of your way soon.
“Hm.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what to think of it. So I’ll get back to you on what the ‘hm’ means.”
“Okay. You’re allowed to have your opinion, but you’re not going to change mine.”
Kendra scowled to herself, an expression that was obviously meant for Lenna.
“I’m sure you miss her.” she said gently.
Lenna shrugged. “I’m coping. I’ll say my final goodbye at the funeral.”
Kendra inhaled deeply. She said, “I still love you, you know. But you’re changing. I need you to see that, because I need my baby. Okay?”
“Yes, Kendra. I love you too.”
Kendra studied her face. “Are you happy?”
Lenna smiled. “Yes. I think I am.”
Ten
The funeral was composed of the entire castle population. Upon walking into the chapel, Lenna remembered fond old memories mixed with a new feeling of indifference. Placed at the front of the room between the podium and the rows of benches was Fay’s casket on a platform.
First obstacle down. The next one will follow.
She glanced at Remy, who was wringing his hands. He needed to be caught, and she needed to be Queen. She would expose him today.
Fay’s parents, Omar and Celeste, found Lenna, hugging her tightly and stroking her cheeks. They were both soft, plump people with skin and hair just like Fay’s. They were jolly even at their daughter’s funeral. She tried to avoid them, wanting to get on with her speech.
Lenna spotted Coira in a somewhat clean dress, her hair brushed, the dirty freckles still on her face. She strode over to her. She wanted her first stab to be about where she could have possibly gotten a decent dress, but she let it go. “How did you get in here? And how did you know about it, where it was, everything? This is ridiculous!”
“People talk, Princess. I know things. And at first, I told ‘em that I’m Lady Coira, returning to the castle to go to the Queen’s funeral—may she flourish. They didn’t believe me, said they knew all the ladies in the castle. So I said I was only joking and that I had urgent business to discuss with the Prince and Princess. When they said you were busy, and that they still knew I didn’t belong here, I said it was very urgent, and that I couldn’t wait. They gave me a hard time about it, but I batted my eyes and giggled, and here I am. Ha! I think you may need to invest in some better guards.”
“May she prosper,” Lenna muttered. “And that’s impossible. You think I would believe that? How did you get in here?”
Coira shrugged and smirked at her. “The first part was true, at least. The part where they wouldn’t let me in.”
“I know. You really tried the whole ‘lady’ trick again?” She rolled her eyes. “You need to get out of here!”
“Hey, I’m only here to honor the Queen. Is that such a bad thing? Besides, no one knows who I am. I got all dressed up. I won’t cause a scene.”
“Please. This is my mother’s funeral.”
“No, I think I’ll stay. You need all the support you can get, especially if somethin’ bad happens… I can feel tension in here somethin’ terrible.” Coira pulled at her collar.
Lenna could feel it as well, as it all emanated from her; she fiddled with her black tulle sleeve. “Don’t you maybe think that’s because it’s a funeral?”
“No, no, it feels like somethin’
else. Can’t put my finger on it.”
You need her on your side, remember?
“Fine.” Lenna plastered on a smile. “Welcome to the Queen’s funeral.”
She composed herself for her speech, walked over to the minister, and told him she was ready to begin.
He called everyone around the platform and said solemnly, “We are gathered here today in memory of a tremendously kind, understanding, wise ruler: Queen Fay Greyor.” Lenna tried to focus on what she was going to tell everyone when it was her turn to speak, but in the back of her mind was Fay’s voice, kind and soft. Her smell when she hugged her. Her deep black hair. The way she had taught her how to be a respectable ruler as a young child. All these memories trickled in, and Lenna felt like she was losing control.
Shh, keep it together, child. You need only make this speech and you will be free. Your mother is meaningless. Grief will only get in your way. Her death was a means for you to step to the throne.
Her guardian was right, of course. Becoming Queen was her goal. Or, it was her guardian’s goal that had become hers. No, she decided, she had always enjoyed the power, even if she had not realized it as a child. Ruling was what she was born to do. She let the thoughts slip from her mind as she realized she had been staring into space. She heard the minister call her name and heard the last of his words: “...say a few words, Princess Lenna?” She must have looked as if she was just mourning; all eyes on her held looks of concern. Putting on a pitiful face, she stepped toward the platform and felt chills up her arms. She tried not to look too excited, but her strides were fast enough to make her long black skirt stream behind her.
“Thank you, Darris, your Holiness,” she began, “As you all know, Queen Fay was a wonderful queen. She was compassionate and strong. She aided the less fortunate, trying to rebuild the town, or at least keep its people alive. She was good to everyone in the castle. But what none of you have seen is Queen Fay as a mother—she was a remarkable one. She taught us everything we know about ruling. She held us when we were scared. She taught me to ride, even though I was uninterested at first, and now I ride in her honor. One thing she would often do for us when we were upset was stay at our bedside until early morning hours. She would let us sit there, wallowing, crying, talking, anything. She was there for us even if we wanted to watch our ceilings for hours. She wanted us to know she was there. Recently, Remy and I have had to stay at her bedside while she was sick. Now, I’d like to bring Prince Remy up with me.”
Lenna turned to look at Remy, whose eyes were glowing and grateful, thinking that just maybe his sister had forgiven him. As Remy walked up beside her, however, she continued: “I would like to acknowledge the effect my brother had on our mother’s life. See, even though she had waited on us hand and foot, your prince thought that it just wasn’t worth it anymore to help her. He is the one who killed her. He poisoned her, and I found her in her bed the next morning.”
Lenna spoke calmly, ignoring Remy’s panicked, pleading expression burning into her. She was so frank and sincere, and the people in front of her hung on to her every word; Remy was smart enough to know it was pointless to deny his actions. Aside from knowing that his sister would always be believed above him, he had to see the desperation of the people. They would believe anyone was the murderer if it meant someone would be punished.
She continued. “We all wanted to find the murderer. Well, here he is. We must decide what to do about it. Seeing as he is my own brother, if anyone could show understanding and sympathy, it would be me. But he does not deserve either, and I hope you will all refuse to grant him those things as I would. He is a monster, and he deserves no mercy. If we must, we will hold a trial, but I feel it is unnecessary. He has already admitted to me his crime and will not even try to defend himself today. He would easily be found guilty.”
The crowd looked wide-eyed at Remy and muttered amongst themselves. Fay’s parents looked mortified.
“I-I—” Remy tried to speak up, but his voice shook. “She was suffering. I only did it because—”
“See? He is guilty of this crime—” Lenna motioned to him. “Guards, take him to a cell!”
Every person in the crowd was talking now, and some were even yelling. Even those who were still crying from the funeral stirred and shouted. Their uproar was all the consent the guards needed. As they escorted Remy out of the chapel, people’s hollering became satisfied.
The throne will be yours. The world will be yours.
Lenna glanced around at the people who all remained at the funeral. Coira walked as close to her as the guards allowed. “Wow. I thought my family was messed up. Everyone in town will be furious We all loved her.”
“Good. You had better tell them all. Don’t let anyone forget who the murderer is.”
“There’s a reason you’re pushin’ so hard for people to know about Prince Remy, isn’t there? And it’s not just about justice. I saw the little smiles slip onto your face. You enjoyed that, huh?” Coira hid her concerned voice behind a facade of playfulness.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. It is about justice. He killed our mother. He needs to be punished,” she said flippantly. Her heart raced and she smoothed her black satin dress with shaking hands. She felt very little love or loyalty to her mother in that exhilarating moment.
“Yes, your Highness. Sure.”
“Thank you all for attending,” Lenna said, turning her attention back to the entire crowd. “In memory of my mother, I am going to donate toward repairing the crumbling buildings in town. I believe this is what she would have wanted, seeing all her kind donations to the poor in the past. Now, I hope you’ll follow to the garden for the burning ceremony.”
“Yes, a very generous donation indeed. I’m sure the townspeople will greatly appreciate it, and it honors Queen Fay.” Darris nodded at Lenna. “I was going to have Prince Remy say a few words, but, ah… I thank you all for being here to celebrate Queen Fay’s life and mourn her death. As Princess Lenna said, you will now follow us to the garden.”
Lenna waded through all the people looking at her mother’s body. The first, glaringly change in her mother was that all the life had drained out of her skin. She was used to seeing her looking pale and depressed, but death had leached out more warmth and color than she could have imagined. This body lying in front of her was not her mother at all. Her powdered face looked like a doll, with her eyes closed, her head facing straight up, her expression completely flat. Her hair was up in the type of twist she never liked to wear. She was outfitted with a new ruby red dress paired with a large gold necklace, bracelet, and earrings. She did not like to wear that color red, as she found it too harsh, but no one could have known that but her. The unfamiliar look of her body was unsettling; Lenna wished she had dressed her instead. Her throat tightened and she felt a twinge in her stomach from the loss.
It is all over. The body, it shows you that she’s gone. You can move on. It is time. You have me now.
The heartfelt words made her tear up and twisted her stomach further.
Everyone else had finished paying their respects, and Lenna allowed herself one last look at the body. How could this be her mother?
She heard what her guardian was telling her—she really was gone. What was the point of staying here and longing for something that would never return? She suppressed the grief bubbling up inside her.
You will move on. You will rise above her.
When the minister tapped on her shoulder, she pulled herself away and smiled at him. She repeated over and over in her mind, “She doesn’t matter, she doesn’t matter, she doesn’t matter,” and it helped her ignore the pain still in her belly.
“Are you all right, your Highness?”
Lenna cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m all right.”
Darris looked at her with compassion, his lips turned down. “It is natural to grieve. She was a wonderful queen, and a wonderful mother, I am sure.”
“I said I’m okay, thank you.”
/>
“Yes, your Highness.”
It will be “Your Majesty” soon enough. Everyone will bow to you, kneel to you. You will be the best queen who has ever lived, your Majesty.
Lenna smiled and bowed her head to hide it.
Darris said, “Should we lead everyone to the garden for the burning ceremony?”
“Yes, of course.”
“We will have guards carry the Queen in her casket in front of us. Lord Ricard, please gather everyone and bring them to the garden.”
“Yes, of course!”
It was comfortably warm outside. On the walk to the garden, Lenna felt both empowered and heavy. She tried to lighten her step as her guardian encouraged her to fight through her faint distress.
It was not a far walk to get to the garden, which was in the back of the castle. Everyone followed quietly and dutifully.
Close to the maze of winding paths were dozens of rows of waist-high wooden flower beds. From a distance, the manicured flowers looked like strips of colors blending together. Butterflies fluttered around the beds. Bees lurked in the centers of flowers.
Someone had already set up a bed very unlike the one in the chapel. It was a pile of wood and sticks with space for the Queen’s body in the center. It was built in a clearing in the yard, away from everything. As they arrived, Fay’s body was being placed on it.
“Now,” Darris began, “This is the traditional funeral in Queen Fay’s home country, Amoretta. We all thought it would be what she wanted. We will burn the Queen’s body so she can become pure and so her ashes may lie with the plants to bolster the garden. May her soul rise with the fire and find a safe place.”
Darris took a stick from the pile, lit it with a torch held by a guard, and dropped it back onto the rest of the wood. Slowly, the flames enveloped everything, including the body. Hardly anything could be seen through the fire, but when it reached Fay, Lenna could see every head bowed. The pleasant smell of wood was overpowered by that of burning flesh.