Prologue
The man stood on the deck of the ship, surrendered to the rolling of the ship, the unsteadiness that non-sailors experience while walking on the sea, and the salty taste of the air. The ship charted a southwest directory, and there were clouds in that direction, as well as the west. Other than that the day, drawing near it's end, was bright and cloudless.
Dinner had just ended. He had eaten lightly—one always does while at sea, if one is unaccustomed to the rolling of the sea—and he had then quickly headed for fresh air.
His mind should likely have been fixed on his journey, but instead it was fixed on home. So much so that he did not hear his wife approach until she was standing by his side, joining him at the railing and linking her arm in his. "A beautiful evening, is it not?" she asked.
He had looked her direction, a brief reprieve from his thoughts, as she gazed out over the ocean. Turning his head back to the sea he answered, "Yes, I suppose it is. As beautiful a day at sea as can be had."
"You say that unconvincingly. What is troubling you?"
"I'm concerned about affairs at home."
"Home, or our daughters?"
The man quickly met his wife's eyes, "Our eldest."
His wife sighed. "That is always cause for concern."
"My concern is new, to myself at least." The man turned his gaze back to the sea. It was easier to look over the water now, the sun having just dipped beneath the western clouds. One wondered if they looked dark because of the approaching night or if it meant bad weather was on its way. "I've been wondering, what would happen if people found out about what we've labored to hide?"
"Then she will have to adapt to people and how they will react."
"My worries run deeper than that, I'm afraid." Here he turned to face his wife directly. "For someone in her inevitable role, such knowledge among the general population could…people can react, very negatively to things they do not understand. Could this not pose a danger for her?"
The man's wife looked troubled. "Yes, I suppose it would."
"I have begun to question whether we've done the right thing. We've only taught her to hide it; shouldn't we also teach her about how to handle affairs should people find out? To prepare her for and tell her of the risks it would pose?"
"It seems a wise idea."
"Or even," he continued, "as she'll be of age in three years, whether she and we believe hiding it is wise to begin with?"
"We all decided it was."
"Yes, but maybe we can control the message. It might be better for the citizens and our daughters safety if people found out under a controlled revealing."
The man's wife nodded, looking again at the sea. The clouds were darkening, getting closer. "Yes, perhaps. We should plan on discussing these things with her once we arrive home."
"Your majesties!" The man and his wife turned around, a young sailor quickly walking up to them. "Begging your pardon, but the captain requests you return to below deck. It appears we are heading into a storm."
The king looked once more out at the sea, the clouds looking more menacing. "It appears so."
The young man departed, and the king and queen began to walk arm and arm across the deck. "Try not to burden yourself with this, we can attend to this when we arrive back home."
"Yes," the king replied. "When we arrive home."