Chapter 66 Two Days Until Unification Day
Quarters of the house servants.
Melina and her daughters woke up before dawn. Alicia woke Arturo. Melina had only slept a little, thinking about her daughters and her failure.
Alicia sadly: I am supposed to serve the Herald soon.
Melina spoke quickly: Do not leave these rooms. I can go to the kitchen for food and wine. We will stay here today, together, safe.
Juana: We cannot hide in our rooms for long.
Melina with tears in her eyes: I need to protect your safety. Please stay here with me. I need to know that my daughters are not in danger.
Juana insisted: We can find Pedro. He will protect us.
Melina shouted: Stay here! Please!
Arturo and her daughters stared at her, wide-eyed.
Alicia took the hand of her sister: Yes, Mama. We will stay.
The expression of Melina changed to a smile: Thank you, my precious daughter.
The woman went down the corridors towards the kitchen of the servants. She noticed guards on the stairs and in the kitchen. Her hands trembled as she prepared the food and watered down some wine. Every man seemed like a threat. She kept her head down and left as soon as she could
Alicia: Is our mother okay?
Juana in a shaky voice: I do not know. She never yelled like that before. But I think I understand a little. The guilt in my heart hurts more than the memories. I should have warned you.
Alicia embraced her sister: I am not angry with you. I am angry because this monster hurt my family. And Arturo, I cannot express what I feel. We...
Arturo allowed a few tears to escape his eyes: I could not tell you. Am I... am I a buggerer now?
Juana and Alicia approached the child and hugged him.
Juana: No, no. What happened was not your fault. What he did to you did not change you. You are a sweet, good boy.
The three of them sat hugging each other and crying.
The royal chambers.
Monika and Olivia were not used to having breakfast in a dining room decorated with gold, silver, and gems. The royal maid served them food and tea on a silver tray. They both tried to pour the tea for themselves but then realized that life had changed.
The maid bowed: Is there anything else you require, Your Excellency?
Olivia hesitated: No, thank you.
The woman left with another bow.
Olivia spoke near a whisper: I do not know how to act.
Monika: I understand, Princess.
Olivia laughed: Monika, please, it is me.
Monika: You must become accustomed to titles. It is possible that you will be our queen very soon.
Olivia: How can I be queen? I do not know anything about these things.
Monika: Everyone probably feels afraid before receiving the crown. You are an intelligent and kind young woman. Those are qualities far superior to those of most nobles.
Olivia: If I am smart, it is because you taught me. You taught me about Pegasi and Unicorns. You taught me about goddesses and gods.
Monika: I tried to prepare you for life. I pray that I was taught enough.
Olivia: What would happen if I am not the queen?
Monika: It is hard to say.
Olivia tried to sit taller: I need the truth. If I cannot receive it from anyone else, I want to hear it from you, Mutti.
Monika looked at her plate: You will either rot in jail or marry the new king. Or you will be executed. I am sorry, my dear. Your life is in danger because your father was a dishonorable and heartless man.
Olivia: I understand. Will you stay by my side?
Monika lovingly: Natürlich meine Tochter.
The rooms of Count Esteban.
Yegor searched for the warrior while his mother was busy with the young maids. She found her with her husband. As he approached, he saw part of a sentence come out of the lips of the tall man.
Esteban whispering: ...if the sword cut into his lung, he will die.
Tatiana facing the page: Yegor, what do you need?
Yegor: I have a problem. It is my birthday. I need a present for my mother. I wanted to buy her something this week, but a lot of things happened.
Esteban smiled and knelt: Are you confused? Your mother will buy you a present for your birthday.
Tatiana to her husband: No, love, he is a man from the north. In the north, each child buys or makes a gift for their mother on their birthday. It is a custom I have never explained. We will never need this tradition.
Yegor: If I cannot go out and buy something, I will be a bad son.
Tatiana: You are a good son and a good man. When your mother needed you, you were braver than many knights. A young man like you fighting to save those women. Your mother knows you are a good son.
Yegor smiled with relief: Thank you, it is my first birthday as a man and as a warrior.
Esteban: It is important to you, right?
Yegor: Yes, Count.
Esteban patted his shoulder: I think I have something that will serve.
The man got up and went to his office. They heard him open a drawer and he returned with something wrapped in cloth.
The count looked at his wife: This would have been a gift for you on Unification Day. I hope you are fine if I give it to him for his mother.
The man sat down and urged them to do the same. At the table, he opened the cloth to reveal a hairbrush made of teak wood with silver inlays.
Tatiana smiled: It is beautiful. Would your mother want that? You can certainly say it was bought out of love.
The two exchanged a deep and warm look.
Yegor looked at the warrior: She will love this. Are you sure, my Boyarina?
Tatiana kissed his head: Of course. A Boyarina must reward her warriors.
The page took out his purse and poured some coins onto the table.
Yegor: How many?
Esteban smiled: It is not necessary.
Tatiana: Count, the honor of a man from the north is in danger. To not buy the gift for his mother would be a terrible disgrace.
Esteban smiled: Good, of course. Two of the small silver will do.
Yegor pushed the coins towards him, took the rest, his bag and the gift and put them in his vest. He left quickly smiling.
The warrior kissed her man and hugged him around the neck. She knew the gift had cost two royal gold coins or more.
Tatiana: It was beautiful. Like your heart.