II
The King of Glanzreich strode along the marble hallway, flanked on either side by his officials and guards. The procession moved smoothly in rhythmic fashion, the servants aligning themselves on either side of the moving party as they passed by them. Rounding the corner, they moved towards the large ornate doors of the meeting chamber.
As if sensing the arrival of the King, the grand doors fell open without signal to reveal a wide room bathed in sunlight. Furnished with a large polished table at its centre, the room was dressed with large oil paintings depicting various royals of the Glanzreich nation, finishing with the current King's portrait directly behind the head of the round table. The windows to the right of the room were left ajar, the floral scent of the flower beds floating into the room like a veil.
Viktor took his seat at the head of the table as his advisor took the closest seat to his right.
"As your highness is aware, the Southern Isles has been a colony for 7 years now. This visit is their first to our nation, and as far as the report they have submitted, they wish to discuss infrastructure and trade, although I am unsure as to why they have requested to see your highness personally…"
Viktor silenced him with a raised hand before meeting his steward's gaze evenly.
"This is their first visit. As a colony, they have submitted their nation under our care and it is only right that as their monarch I should meet with them first. I will then be able to judge from there the best advisor to deal with their needs and how to cater to their specific requests."
His steward glowed at him, his eyes watering as he fell to one knee.
"As-as you say, your highness," he wept, to which Viktor smiled.
A sharp knock sounded at the door.
"Your Highness, the Diplomat of the Southern Isles has arrived with their consort."
At his signal, the doors fell open again as Viktor went to stand, his blue gaze immediately locking with a confident hazel stare. The female instantly dropped into a deep curtsey, the two men on either side of her bowing formally.
"Your Highness," she greeted.
Viktor stared at the female, surprised on the first front because of her gender, and secondly for the familiarity of her voice to his ears. His body seemed to tell him he knew her, but his mind could not fathom the signals.
"The pleasure is mine," he said aloud, dispelling all distracting thought as the gaze of his advisors returned him to the reality of the moment.
The trio straightened, the female lowering her eyes respectfully as one of her older male companions spoke.
"Your Highness, I present to you Second Lady Valeria of the Southern Isles, sister-in-law of the current High Chief of our nation, and our newly appointed diplomat. We are her spokesmen and advisors, and keeping with the custom of our nation, we will be speaking on her behalf," the tall tanned male greeted. While he was dressed in a plain black suit and white shirt, he noted the gleaming woven shell necklace around his neck. The pearl colour of the polished shells seemed to catch Viktor off-guard as a memory rose to surface of his mind.
25 years earlier
"… so the three friends went up against the Monster of the Deep… 'I am so scared!' Prince Vix cried, but Heins the dwarf encouraged him along as the underwater Monster rose up from the sea… hayaaaah!"
The huddle of children jumped. Their long shadows flickered in the firelight as the tanned female quickly scribbled a line on the stone wall they faced with the piece of coal in her hand.
"Lia burst ahead and struck the Monster in the eye with her dagger. With the Monster half blinded, Heins then used his staff and cast a spell on the creature, before Prince Vix kicked him into the deep, never to see it again…"
Ria drew waves around the Monster she had drawn on the ash coloured stone. She quickly added three more figures, two tall and one short with a big nose.
"But what about Lia's necklace?" a little boy piped up from amongst the children.
"That, little Ben, will be another story for tomorrow night. Alright, time for bed," Ria replied, as the children groaned.
Ria watched them with tender eyes as they dispersed, fingering the shell necklace beneath her tattered blouse.
"I'm glad they finally defeated the Monster…"
"I hope I can have friends like Lia."
"Maybe not Heins, he's ugly…"
"My favourite character is Sir Vix!"
Their cheery voices warmed her heart as they returned to their cold beds. The sight always left a bitter taste in her mouth, yet at least with her stories, she could give them something to look forward to every night.
"Wh-what is that!?"
A red-head appeared at her side, accompanied by Viktor who quizzically studied the coal scrawls in the dying firelight.
"Just a story I tell the children every night Vik. It's a tale of adventure and drama-"
"And romance?" the blonde added hopefully, to which the female deadpanned, "Without the romance."
"It's a tale of three friends and their journey to retrieve Lia's prized necklace that was stolen at the Deep by the resident Monster there," she continued proudly.
Heine had to admit, although the coal drawings were quite rough, the outlines of the main characters were evidently familiar.
"Who's the short thing?" Viktor asked with a crinkled nose.
"That's Heins, the dwarf," she replied nonchalantly.
Heine's eyebrow twitched as he glared at her.
"Dwarf?" he gritted in a low voice.
"A dwarf with a big nose but huge magical prowess, and the moral backbone of the group," she countered defensively before pointing at the tall figure with short hair.
"That is Sir Vix, the handsome one of the trio, although a little dense at times, he cares deeply for his friends and is the unofficial leader of the group," she added before finally indicating towards the female with wavy hair.
"And Lia. She is a runaway from a distant land on a quest to find her lost heirloom, a pearl and shell necklace of great value. Although she's a loudmouth and really stubborn, she greatly admires her two friends, even if she doesn't show it. She is the most energetic of the three and tends to put them in dire straits with her carefree attitude," she finished with a satisfied smile.
Viktor and Heine exchanged a look before glancing at Ria who stared at the coal drawings.
"One day, I hope to tell my stories to children all over the world. Dreams are important for us, they are what give us hope for a brighter future, and no matter where we may start from," she paused, taking a long look at all the children chatting and sleeping along the concrete paths, "It does not determine our end, so long as we have a dream to fight for."
Viktor stared at the drawing of the three friends before glancing to look at Ria who was fiddling with the pearl and seashell pendant around her neck. She had never said anything of her origins beforehand, although all that was clear to both himself and Heine was the fact that she was a foreigner.
"Well, you're going to have to learn how to draw properly," Heine commented after the long pause, causing their friend's brow to furrow deeply.
"Of course, that's a given!" she snapped, her fists balled at her side.
Viktor continued to stare at the coal outlines. Needless to say, the inspiration for the characters were evident, however their bond stirred something within him. Remembering his promise with Heine, his resolve and dream to become king one day further confirmed itself in his mind.
In light of the future, he could not help but be intrigued with where the three friends would eventually find themselves.
Present
Several hours later
Viktor rifled through the paperwork with ease. The numerous reports and submissions from Council were filed behind him in meticulous fashion, and he was silently thankful that the current lot of paperwork was his last for the evening. The candlelight quivered as his chamber filled again with the sound of his quill scratching against paper.
"Your Highness, the Royal Tutor requests an audience with your majesty."
"Let him in."
Moonlight shone in through the large window pane to his rear as the doors to the room creaked open. Heine's shadow approached his desk and at his arrival the King signed his final document before regarding his old friend with a tired smile.
"Just the person I wanted to see," Viktor greeted as the other male pulled up a chair alongside him.
"Everyone, please leave us," Viktor commanded as the two guards bowed without hesitation before slipping silently out the door.
Heine did not respond as he revealed another bottle of fine wine.
"For some reason I feel as though this is not a celebratory drink," Viktor spoke as he studied Heine's unusually sombre attitude. The taller male opened the hidden drawer beneath his desk to retrieve two glasses.
"Celebrations are not the only occasions which call for a drink," Heine murmured as he opened the bottle and nimbly filled their glasses.
"I heard the delegation from the Southern Isles arrived with a female diplomat," Heine stated, surrendering a glass to his friend as he took a seat alongside him.
The Royal Tutor noticed the sharp change in the King's features, his face assuming a thoughtful expression.
"Yes – in fact she is the reason why I wanted to see you," he replied as he clinked Heine's glass with a nod before taking a slow sip.
Heine thought back to his encounter earlier that evening at the café and could not seem to forget the watery hazel gaze of the female who had arrived and departed so swiftly.
"The diplomat is known as Lady Valeria, aside from her initial greeting, she did not speak at all. When I first saw her something disturbed me about her appearance, and it was only partway through the meeting did I realise who she was."
Viktor paused, turning to look at Heine who met his initial gaze.
"Believe it or not, Heine, but I am sure it is Ria," he said in a low voice. Heine dropped his gaze as he took a deep sip of his drink.
"Then you have confirmed my suspicions," Heine sighed as he studied the glass in his hand. Viktor watched his absent movements patiently, his eyes slightly wide in surprise.
"Tonight while I was in town, I believe she came into Café Mitter Meyer. I noticed her initially and realised quickly that it might be her. My reason did not want to jump to conclusions, however she approached me and sat with me in my booth."
Heine felt his cheeks redden slightly.
"However I did not acknowledge her as I perhaps should have. I claimed to not recognise her, and in her embarrassment she left the café," Heine mumbled.
Viktor looked thoughtful for a moment as he sipped his glass.
"So, it is her," he sighed wistfully.
"The Southern Isles is still rather underdeveloped as a nation, however if I am to believe the reports from the Governor there, several schools have been opened, as well as a hospital, all with the aid of the Second Lady," Viktor informed, to which Heine looked at him.
"She personally funds the Isles' only orphanage and teaches the children to read and write. When I read the initial reports, I was impressed by her work, however realising who it is…"
Heine reverted into his chibi form as the King began to shed tears.
"I am so touched at Ria's work - she grew up to be a woman of her word," he wept as Heine patted his back stiffly.
"Heine, if it is true that she approached you in the café, you ought to make amends," Viktor suggested seriously.
Heine inhaled deeply, having already considered the idea numerous times already. The Royal Tutor finished his glass.
"Tomorrow evening will be a good chance at the official state welcoming of the visiting delegation."
Heine silently agreed as he mulled the idea of seeing his old friend. Complicated feelings arose as he considered her reappearance. When she first left without any word, he was upset, naturally and even became angry at one stage. After the anger, he simply pretended that she never existed. Having packaged all such emotions away neatly, he never anticipated having to face her again. He found himself frustrated more than anything at the blunt refusal of his emotions to cooperate with his logic. Yet, despite being taken by surprise earlier that evening, he never intended for her to be embarrassed at his hand or to cause her any undue hurt. More than anything, he in the very least wanted to clear that misunderstanding.
"Well, I think it's time we call it a night, don't you think Heine?" Viktor suggested, drawing Heine out of his thoughts.
He knew what he had to do.
X