"Will you be going into town today, my Queen?"
"Yes, Virgo. Since my country is in a stable position after securing the borders, I think it is a suitable time for me to visit my people," the queen stared at herself in the mirror as Virgo removed tens of pins from her hair. The queen's hair fell around her shoulders and she sighed. She raised her fingers to her temples to relieve the pain of her hair being so tight to her skull for so long.
The queen had just returned to her room after a celebration with her highest army members and the most supportive nobles in the country that helped to pay for the expenses of battle.
It was now close to evening and the queen wished to take a break after nearly a month without leaving her palace.
The queen changed into a loose dress and comfortable sandals with a flower in her hair. She walked to the kitchen.
"Aquarius, would you like to come into town with me today?"
"Oh, I wasn't expecting you, your highness." The head chef looked up from one of her new recipe books. "I'd love to. I'll be ready in just a moment." Aquarius washed her hands, removed her hat, and hung her apron on the hook next to the door to the kitchen.
"Ahhh, it's nice to get out after so long," the queen said enthusiastically, stretching her arms in front of herself.
"It is."
"How is Scorpio doing, Aquarius?"
The chef looked into the distance with a blush. The queen giggled.
"I think he needs to propose soon... That man obviously has your heart, and you have his from what I have heard from him. Wouldn't it be nice to have a marriage to show that happiness to the entire country?"
"Your highness..." Aquarius blushed even deeper and covered her face with her hands.
The queen noticed a small sparkle from the chef's hand. She quickly grabbed the chef's wrist and inspected her hand thoroughly. "You didn't think to tell me? Aquarius, I thought we were close!" The queen pouted.
"It's not an easy topic to bring up in conversation and you've been busy and," the chef tried to reason.
The queen smiled, "I am kidding." She held Aquarius's hand, "Congratulations! Now, since you haven't told me about what happened, you will tell me every detail while we go eat."
"Thank you for bringing me into town today, your highness. I have a lot of inspiration for future dishes now," the chef said.
"No worries, it's fun to have peaceful times in town with my friends," the queen responded.
She looked across the town square towards the children running around and playing with the birds. Some mothers were watching closely and a few dogs ran around the children. One child fell over near the queen and her chef and began to cry.
The queen carefully picked up the child and smiled, "Where is your mother, little one?"
The child stopped sniffling and pointed towards a woman frantically running towards them, "I'm so sorry, miss! Annie, I told you to be careful!" The mother took the young girl from the queen's arms carefully and covered the child in kisses.
"No need to be worried ma'am, she isn't hurt," the queen waved her hand at the mother.
"Thank you so much!"
"It seems that we should be heading back now," the queen said to Aquarius, turning towards the palace.
Before walking, she noticed a head of a vibrant hair color that reminded her of her late husband. She paused and her eyes widened.
Aquarius, who had noticed the queen wasn't following her, stopped and looked in the direction the queen did. "Your highness?"
The queen was breathing heavily, her eyes watering when she looked more closely at the person.
Aquarius placed her hand on the queen's shoulder, worried. "Lucy?"
The queen stood frozen in her spot, and then sank to the ground. Aquarius shook the queen's shoulders. The chef looked around to see what had shocked her queen and noticed the same thing.
Aquarius quickly covered the queen's eyes and picked her up to carry her to the palace.
The queen woke up in her bed, the moonlight shining into her room and into her eyes.
She looked to the side of her bed to see Aquarius asleep in a chair. The queen laid a blanket over her dear friend and decided to sleep.
"Aquarius, you saw what I did yesterday, yes?"
"Yes."
"Did you know about it?" The queen dropped her fork onto her plate.
Aquarius stayed silent, offering more tea to the queen. The queen shook her head.
"Did you know, Aquarius?"
The chef looked away.
"Aquarius!"
The chef jumped in shock that the queen was yelling.
"I was told not to speak of it," she mumbled.
The queen abruptly stood and knocked over the chair she had been using.
"By whom?"
"I have sworn not to say."
The queen ground her teeth together, "how long did you know that he wasn't dead?"
"A year."
"A year... An entire year, he has been known to be alive and no one had the thought to tell me?" the queen shouted, "does anyone know how betrayed I feel at the moment? That I have been fooled into thinking that my husband has been dead? No one thought to tell me such vital information? I've been mourning over a year for nothing?"
"I'm sorry, Lu—"
"Don't you dare call me so casually when you have betrayed my trust!" The queen stomped from the dining room to her bedroom to grab a cloak to hide her dress, then ran out of the door of her palace, dragging Loki with her.
"Your highness, please don't be angry with Aquarius. It was for the best," the guard reasoned.
"The best? I have been miserable for over a year, Loki, is that really 'the best'," she snarled and stopped walking.
"When we found him, he wasn't in good condition. We thought he was going to die, and he did! He was dead! His heart had stopped, and he was cold, Lucy!"
"Why did I see him walking around yesterday, then, if he was dead?"
"He woke up a few days later."
"And—"
"But he didn't remember anything," he interrupted, "Not what had occurred, not you, not even his own name, Lucy! We couldn't let you live with someone you held so dearly in such a terrible state. So, collectively, we decided to leave him in good hands in another country where no one had known who he was or where he was from, and they hadn't questioned it either. It was the safest place for him to be while in such a state.
"I'm sorry, Lucy. I'm so sorry." Loki looked down, ashamed.
Lucy stared blankly at the guard. Silent.
"I don't care anymore," she finally said, "Just bring me to him."
"Yes, your highness," Loki said nervously.
A late chapter, at least it was only a day, I suppose. Anyways, the plot has finally come about! And it is so different from what I originally thought of when I created the concept of this story. Nevertheless, I hope you will read the next chapter when I write and upload it.
Having no reviews last chapter was really disappointing, so definitely tell me what you thought of this chapter.
I shall see you soon!
-BloodyTeddyBear