Virtue

Courted

With permission from her majesty, the King of Saria would like to invite Lady Elizabeth Marie to a grand ball to discuss future courtship with Prince Adam of Saria. Accommodations will be set for the Lady's arrival, if she were to accept - King Richard of Saria

"And she granted permission for you to go?" I scoffed, not being able to believe that my dear cousin was forcing me to do something I did not wish to do. The second I was made aware of His Majesty's proposal, my heart dropped. "What kingdom is having the ball again?"

"Saria," I answered, fixing my hair in front of the mirror I shall never see again. "A tiny neighboring country. It's nothing compared to Great Britain and her...fair and understanding queen." The sarcasm in my voice was easily detected by my fellow Ladies in Waiting.

"But Elizabeth, as much as it pains me to say, you were her majesty's favorite cousin. Not to mention, her favorite out of all of us. She must have a good reason for wanting to marry you off." As terrible it is for me to admit, I already knew I was my cousin's favorite. So you can imagine the shocked that ran through me when Liz told, no, ordered me to attend the ball and accept the King's proposal.

Being born royal is one of the biggest burdens of all.

"My lady, the chariot has arrived," one of guards said as the entered my room without my knowledge. I was too busy taking in the marvelous detail of my room. The room I cried in, danced in, joked in. There are many memories I shall hold dear as I leave.

My feet swiftly moved out of my chambers and down the corridor to the front of the palace where my chariot was waiting for me. Driving it was a very slender man holding whips attached to four white stallions, the crest of Saria prominent on the side.

At this moment in time, I could only hear the muffled goodbyes from my family and friends. My cousins and the other queen's ladies all shed a few tears as I flashed them a smile and shuffled to the door of the carriage.

"My lady," the footman spoke as he opened the door. As I raised my foot to step in, a voice was telling me to look back. As I turned, I made sure to take in the palace and I eye it for a few seconds, mentally saying my farewell. I may never see her beauty again.

My eyes scanned every window and crest until the fell upon a figure.

It was my cousin, the queen herself looking down on me with her viewing specs from the window of her chambers.

I smiled a goodbye smile but it immediately fell as she removed the tiny binoculars to reveal a stern look. Her eyes piercing me like the sword that was used to kill her father. Her lips formed into a thin line. Her whole appearance shouted seriousness.

A tiny sense of fear came over me but I quickly shook it off as I nodded to her and climbed in the chariot.

Her look of farewell confirmed my thoughts from earlier. Being born royal is the biggest burden of all.

From now on, things would be different. I'd be a different person, with a different title, living in a different country.

I had only visited to the Kingdom of Saria once before when I was little. All I had ever known was England and that was alright. I was never open to change or very accepting of new things. To be honest, most children aren't. Liz had some official business with the King and Queen, something about trading goods and using Britain as a short cut to Saria.

At the time, I was only 4 or 5 and had no interest in foreign affairs. For the entirety of the trip, I stayed in my chambers, playing with the servants.

Years later, I still have no interest in Saria what so ever. It was a small country with a weak economy, the lowest unemployment rate and lifespan average. It wasn't very well know across the land.

Except when word of the incident happened.

No one paid attention before it. Not royalty, nobility, not peasantry alike. But when word that the queen of our neighboring country had fallen ill, Saria had began to become more popular than any other country in Europe.

From what I heard, she was a virgin queen for many years until she had a son with the king. You don't find that these days. Someday, I wish to stay a virgin even after I marry, just like her.

Although she seemed like perfection with a crown, her life ended too soon and the kingdom fell into chaos after her death. There were no sightings of the king outside of the palace for six months. From what I heard, he turned down every suitor that the royal adviser suggested and held many balls to help the king find another wife and move on but nothing worked.

My cousin was even considered. They hoped to join the two kingdoms but Liz didn't wish to "lift the soul of a dying man."

"My lady, we have arrived," The driver's words pulled me out of my thoughts as I stared out the window.

The view of the castle peaked through the forest trees and my heart sped up. We had indeed arrived.

The flags sticking at the top of every roof on the palace made them seem arrogant and full of pride. Great Britain does posses that trait as well, but we try to hide it from other countries. Unlike Saria, who literally has a flag posted on every vertex of every building.

The stone carpentry gave the village a old-timey feel. Seems like someone is stuck in the past.

I continue exploring the small details as we passed through the peasant folk and almost gasped when I saw a couple in a alley fornicating.

Have they no shame?

How can one carry out such actions in public?

And they both looked so young...is that the normality here?

Oh no. Lizzy, what have you done?

As we drew closer and closer to the palace, the driver starts to whistle a recognizable tune. Strange, I know I've heard it before.

The castle doors are only about 100 feet away now. I'm here, I thought. First is a meeting with the king. If I can get through that, I should be safe until I learn any further orders from him.

The carriage door swung open, the light from the sun stinging my eyes. Putting on foot in front of the other, I climbed down steps.

I finally spoke as I reached the ground. "The tune you were whistling earlier. What is-"

"Peaceful Waters by Vincent Van der Burgh, a lovely piece, don't you think?" The driver asked, extending his hand. I smiled and took it, his lips coming in contact with my glove.

"Indeed, it is," I answered, understanding what he meant. Van der Burgh wrote the arrangement to bring worried individuals peace. Was the tune a secret message from the driver to me? Was he secretly trying to tell me that everything would be alright?

"It's been a pleasure, Lady Elizabeth. Shall I inform the queen of your safe journey?"

I smile and nodded, using my gesture as both a farewell and an approval of his request.

The next steps I will take will be the first steps on a new path to a new life. In a new country with a new husband.

I didn't even dare to think about how the prince would look like, act or hold himself. I had had enough weight on my shoulders already.

My thoughts from that moment on made my belief in my opinion even stronger. Being born royal is worst the burden of all.