Chapter 64 The Court of Bastards
The royal chambers.
Olivia was sitting on a sofa covered with silk fabric with silver and gold threads forming a pattern of large trees. She tapped her feet gently in unison, her eyes wide and frightened.
Monika patiently: You are very nervous.
Olivia spoke rapidly: The court will decide if I am to be queen or if I am going to die. What does the court do when there is a king?
Monika: They are advisors to the king or queen. They help with decisions and matters related to currency, war, harvests, and trade.
Olivia: Decisions?
Monika: Yes. That is the reason for having a royal court.
Olivia: If I give you an order, will you obey it?
Monika: Of course.
Olivia: Stay here and do not follow me.
The bastard princess got up and went out the door.
She walked towards the main corridor and four guards approached her.
Raúl: Excuse me, my Lady. But where are you going?
Olivia: Downstairs to talk to some people my age.
Raul: I cannot let you do that, my Lady.
Olivia: What do you do if I keep walking?
Raul: I will stop you.
Olivia: Can a guard harm a person he calls my Lady?
Raúl: Yes...no. Maybe.
Olivia: I am leaving. If you want to stop me, you will have to hurt me. When the royal court makes its decision, I might just be queen.
A guard whispered in the ear of Raul: We are here because the count is angry with us. Angry with you.
Raul: Royal guards. Escort the Lad...Princess, two forward, two back. Do your job.
Four armed men formed a square around Olivia and walked in step with her.
They descended the stairs with a loud clatter of boots. When they reached the chambers of Esteban, a royal page blocked their path and spoke to them.
Antonio: What do you need, my Lady?
Raúl: The princess wants to come in and speak with some people. Please speak to her respectfully.
Antonio genuflected and gripped the hilt of his short sword.
Antonio: At your service, Your Excellency.
He opened the door and bowed to her as she entered.
Raul: Do you need guards inside?
Olivia: No, thank you.
She turned to look at Antonio and whispered in his ear: I do not have money for them or for you.
Antonio whispered cautiously: The guards are not given coins for their duties. I am fine, be brave.
Olivia looked into his blue eyes and her heart forgot how to work for a moment. She realized she had stared at his eyes for longer than she had intended
She almost ran into the room and looked at Gunther.
Gunther: My Lady. Can I help you?
Olivia: Yes, Lupe and Marco.
Gunther: Of course.
He turned around and went into a room, then returned with two young people. Olivia smiled at them and hugged Lupita.
Olivia: I need help. How many people are in a court?
Gunther: My Lady, it is not a specific number. There are seven regular members at the royal court and six junior members.
Olivia: How many are here?
Marco: Five, six with Frieder.
Lupita pointed to the princess: Seven.
Olivia: Are there any adults?
Gunther: No, my lady.
Olivia: Please take me to the others.
Frieder was in bed. Gunther and Kerstin were sitting next to him. Marco and Yegor blocked the door with their bodies. Lupita was standing in a corner. Olivia was standing in front of them all.
Olivia: I need a secret royal court. They called me princess.
Marco: You are the daughter of a king.
Olivia: But the bastard daughter.
Lupita pointed to herself, Olivia, Marco and Kerstin: There are more bastards than legitimate children here.
Olivia: Raise your hands to take an oath.
Three girls raised their right hand, and four boys raised their left hand as was the tradition of formal oaths.
Olivia: Never tell anyone about this secret court. In this secret court, we tell the truth and my name is Olivia.
Seven voices spoke a phrase every child learned at some point in their youth: By the gods or kill me in my sleep.
Olivia: I want to leave the castle and hide somewhere.
Lupita: Is it because you are afraid of dying?
Olivia: No, yes, but I think I am more afraid of being queen. My father was king and everyone hated him.
Gunther: That is correct. He was cruel to many people, like my sister.
Kerstin took the hand of her stepbrother. He always called her sister instead of stepsister. She could never explain to him why that mattered so much to her.
Marco: We can help her escape. We have already escaped through the windows.
Yegor: Da. But now there are more guards. It will be dangerous.
Lupita: She does not need to escape if she is the queen. She can be a good queen.
Frieder: My parents told me that Reynaldo was a good king.
Gunther: In Blasser Hafen this opinion is different.
Marco: In our neighborhood, nobody talks about a good king, only about less bad kings.
Kerstin: Now I am scared almost all the time. But I am not afraid of you, Olivia.
Lupita: If you are a queen, you can choose to be a kind queen, right?
Olivia: I suppose so. Monika told me the nobles will try to control me.
Marco: So, you cut off their heads.
Lupita: Marco!
Olivia: I do not want to kill anyone. What happens when I must decide whether someone lives or dies?
Kerstin: Think about what this person has done. What harm did they cause the victim? After your father raped me, that night I thought a lot that the king should die. But after his death, I felt guilty.
Olivia: If I become queen, will you help me?
Six young people nodded.
Olivia: Fine. But what will I do if I am not queen? Escape?
Gunther: If you are not queen, who will sit on the throne?
Olivia: Count Valero, or maybe Aurelio. They might kill me. Monika told me Aurelio might want to marry me. He is old. I think he will rape me. I know two of you know how bad this is. Do you think I should run away if I am not the queen?
Gunther said sadly: Three of us. Four years ago, at Blasser Hafen. That is why I am here. I was sent to this castle after the captain was killed.
Kerstin: Our mother married two bad men. You do not want that. If you must, run away.
Olivia: Can you help me if I need to escape?
Frieder: Of course.
Five other voices: Yes.