CHAPTER TWO:
THE PRINCESS AND THE PLOT
Somewhere along the King's Highway, just north of Nottingham, a royal parade marched into the majestic greenwood.
At the head of the procession, a single man carried a proud, blue flag with a golden wasp and a bold crown for its sigil: Princess Chloe's coat-of-arms.
The royal trumpeters blared the kingdom's anthem through red, puffy cheeks. Other musicians slammed on drums or blew vibrant pipes. Behind them, four burly guards heaved a massive, copper chest on supports they carried staunchly on their shoulders.
But the greatest eye-popper of this parade was the glittering, golden coach being pulled by four mighty, white stallions. Though it was entirely made of wood, the coach was painted in gold, giving it a more prominent, rich glamour. Moreover, every decoration from the roof and frames to the hubcaps of the large wheels was pure, solid gold.
The purple curtains were normally closed while travelling. But today, they had been pulled apart on one side of the coach, exposing two women lounging on their frilly cushions with their treasures.
Princess Chloe never enjoyed the outdoors. But the summer heat made the inside of her grand litter more humid, and that made the princess's smooth, golden hair frizz up on the ends. Chloe didn't like that, so she commanded Sabrina, her fidgety lady-in-waiting, to draw the curtains and let the fresh air in.
Besides, it pleased the twenty-year-old monarch to smile and stare with crude smugness at the tiny, cookie-cutter villages that sat along the highway. She hated peasants and their wretched smock, but Chloe never turned down an opportunity to show off her plush, radiant gown of red satin silk and fine French lace, as well as her bejewelled bracelets, rings, and necklaces that flashed in the sunlight. Every time Chloe caught the widened, envious gazes of the common folk, it made her sparkle with pride. Quite literally.
But once her entourage passed into Sherwood Forest, Princess Chloe leaned back in her cushions to relax. Trees were not worth her attention. She preferred counting from the bags of gold taken from the tax collectors scattered in every town throughout the kingdom. Aside from being the centre of admiration, Chloe was always happiest when surrounded by money.
The princess's blue eyes twinkled as she picked up a handful of coins from an open bag, letting them rain back down through her fingers. She sighed with a giggle. "Taxes," she said in a nasal, high-pitched voice. "Beautiful, lovely taxes!"
Lady Sabrina sat across from the princess, holding a large, two-handed mirror in her lap. She wore a simple but elegant dress of olive-green etched with crimson thread. Her cropped, fiery hair fell flat past her face, and her teal eyes bore childish excitement and reverence.
"Your Highness," Sabrina said in her mousy voice, "you have an absolute skill for encouraging contributions from the poor."
Chloe smirked at that, and she curled a finger through one of the curly strands bouncing beside her face. "To coin a phrase, my dear servant," she said. "Rob the poor to feed the rich."
Both ladies laughed at the joke.
Making a mockery out of the notorious outlaw Ladybug, and her motto, was another one of Chloe's part-time pleasures.
Though the princess had never actually seen Ladybug before, the red-hooded archer's reputation was a frequent topic at court. Most of the nobles often made fun of her. A peasant stealing on behalf of an entire town of snivelling rats? And a girl besides? It was inconceivable!
But one stout man, the Duke of Hodcot, didn't join in on the laughter. "She's real," he said with a trembling tone. "And dangerous too. The last time I was in Nottingham, she swept my carriage into a ditch and made off with my chest, my horses... even the clothes off my back! She's a witch, I say! She ought to be beheaded and burned! If any of you go near that cursed place, you'll draw her wrath upon you! And mark my words, you won't be laughing again!"
Princess Chloe shrugged at the memory. Nottingham was her next stop on her tour of the kingdom. Once she arrived, she would set things straight. No more outlaws would scurry along the gutters again. And no one, not even an eighteen-year-old girl, would dare try to steal from the future Queen of England.
Speaking of being a queen, Chloe reached for the large, golden crown perched on one of her velvet pillows. She held it up in the sunlight, smiling at the metallic sheen.
The six teeth of the crown were broad and flat, and the band was adorned with twelve jewels in a symmetrical pattern: three rubies, three emeralds, and six smaller diamonds. The crown was big, and meant for a man – not a woman. For, you see, it belonged originally to King Felix, Chloe's much-beloved older brother.
But then he traded his crown for a war helmet, and left it in Chloe's hands. A sad failure on his part.
Sabrina held up the mirror, and Chloe beamed brightly at her pale, pearly reflection. She gently lifted the crown and placed it on top of her head.
Gold was heavy, but apparently this gold was heavier. The crown slid down the back of Chloe's head, causing the front to almost obscure her eyes. The princess frowned.
"A perfect fit, mistress!" Sabrina praised, ever the sycophantic one. "Most becoming! You look regal, dignified, sincere, masterful..." She took a breath. "... noble, elegant, spectac–"
"Don't," Chloe interrupted flatly. "Don't overdo it, Sabrina."
She adjusted the crown, shifting her ponytail a bit, and then lifted her hands away. When the crown didn't fall off this time, Chloe grinned. "There. That, I believe, does it?"
Sabrina nodded in confirmation.
The princess sighed with content. "I was made to wear a crown like this. This is how a true princess should appear: powerful." She chuckled darkly, slurring that word on her tongue. "Powerful..."
She snapped her fingers, and Sabrina passed her the mirror. Chloe flashed her gleaming smile as she double-checked the position of her crown. "Mmm... it even matches my hair," she stated as though it was a big surprise.
"Oh, yes," Sabrina said eagerly, clasping her hands together. "How well King Felix's crown sits upon your noble brow."
"It really brings out the blue in my – What?" the princess snapped, her voice darkening like a sudden thunderstorm. She laid down the mirror and pivoted towards Sabrina, her petite face twisting hideously. "King Felix?"
Sabrina gasped and covered her mouth, her pupils shrinking into her sockets.
"Sabrina, what did I tell you about mentioning my brother's name." Chloe's words came out as a dark remark instead of a question, and her eyes became narrow blades that could skewer a person to the bone.
It was an expression that spoke clearly: I am England's rightful ruler. I am the queen.
The timid maidservant giggled nervously, her cheeks rosy. "A thousand pardons, Your Majesty," she breathed. "It was a... mere slip of the tongue."
Chloe's frown remained, but her features softened. "Well, see that it doesn't "slip" again," she commanded with honeyed coolness. "I didn't rise to power just to remain a princess."
Sadly, no matter how many times she spoke it into existence, Chloe would never stop being a princess. Not as long as Felix still lived.
"I understand completely, my pri–" Sabrina cleared her throat. "My queen. After all, we're in this plot together, if you don't mind my saying so. And it was by your command that I forged those fake holy documents."
A warm sneer appeared on Chloe's face, her bitterness and jealousy forgotten.
It was a brilliant plot! With Felix now out of the way, Chloe had full control over all of England. If Felix died in battle, the throne would pass to her. If he returned, Chloe would have more than enough gold and soldiers to have him overthrown and shipped across the sea in a slaver's brig. Either way, the princess would win.
"Oh, my dear, stupid, big brother," Chloe mused, "rushing off of that crazy crusade!" She burst out into snort-like cackling.
Sabrina shared the princess's amusement, and she giggled into her hand. Then, she looked up with a pitiful sigh. "Much to the sorrow of the Queen Mother."
Chloe suddenly stiffened. That name was almost as worse as Felix's!
Her face crumpled with misery, and she let out a shivery whimper. "Mother..." She pouted and drew her knees up to her chest like a naughty girl in time-out.
Felix had gotten everything: the throne, the wealth, the glory, the love of his people... even that of his mother Queen Audrey, who apparently was far too busy being supportive of her son and heir to pay any real attention to her daughter – the spare.
Chloe had never forgiven her mother for that, even after the old queen passed away a couple years ago. Now, just the memory of her made the princess fall into depression.
She scowled, as though trying not to cry. "Mother always did like Felix best," she muttered with pure disdain. Then, she curled up into a tight ball, put her thumb in her mouth, and start sucking rather noisily.
Sabrina's face twisted with uneasiness and sympathy. "Your Highness, please don't do that," she pleaded softly. "It's not good for your self-esteem. And... well, you see... you have a very loud thumb."
Chloe ignored her and kept on sucking, staring off into oblivion.
Sabrina rolled her eyes to the coach roof, stood up, and opened a chest carrying the princess's personal belongings.
When she came back and sat down, she displayed a small, worn, yellow teddy bear with button eyes and a white-and-black-striped belly. It made a soft, squeaky noise whenever Sabrina moved its limbs and head.
She didn't like doing this. It was not only embarrassing – it was downright ridiculous. But alas, Sabrina was Chloe's lady-in-waiting. She would do whatever it took to bring the princess back to normal, however pathetic it may be.
"Your Highness?" the redhead sang sweetly. "You really shouldn't sulk like this. Mr. Cuddly wouldn't want his precious princess to be sad, would he?"
Chloe's eyes jerked up at the teddy bear, and she immediately stopped sucking, though her thumb was still in her mouth. "Hmm?" she asked.
Sabrina smiled and made the bear's head nod. "That's right. Mr. Cuddly wants his princess to be happy, so she can take over the kingdom and never have to live through those painful memories again."
The princess yanked her thumb out with a wet Pop! Then, with a big smile, she snatched up the teddy bear from Sabrina's hands and squeezed it tight, making the bear squeak.
After a few minutes in blissful silence, Princess Chloe regained her cold, haughty composure, straightened up in her seat, and cleared her throat. "Never speak of this to anyone," she stated, "or you're walking to Nottingham."
Sabrina tried not to roll her eyes again as she curtsied. Chloe had never said "thank you" once in her life. There was no sense in starting now.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Your Eminence," the redhead sighed. "Wouldn't dream of it."