"Nadir said you gave an earful to the men in the house today." Madam Giry was showing her parts of the castle.
"Nadir?" Christine asked, taking in the beauty of the castle.
"The foreigner."
"Oh," She nodded, "Yes I suppose I did give them an earful, but I highly doubt any will remember it with…."
"So you enjoyed the House of Nobles?" A smile came across the woman's face.
"Probably the most enjoyable experience I ever had." Christine said dryly as they went into another grand room. "Is this the library?"
"Yes," Madam Giry nodded, "it is the oldest room in the castle."
"I can see." She nodded, "Does it have a piano?"
"No." What an odd question.
"Do you have a piano in the castle?"
"This library has a thousand books at your pleasure." The woman completely ignored the last question. "It is the greatest collection in…"
"Yes I am sure she has learned that long ago." A woman with black hair, honey colored eyes, came forth. Her tan skin contrasted Christine's pale glow. "After all she was sent here to be our queen."
"Mistress Arabella." Madam Giry started the introductions, "She is…"
"Glad to finally meet the future queen." She curtsied. Her clothing was fine and her jewels big. She was in a word beautiful. "Do you like our little country? Or least the small amount you seen of it?"
"Borswan is very beautiful." Christine smiled, "I consider myself lucky to be here."
"Enjoy your time here then." Her beauty did not match her grace as she walked out of the room.
"Who was that, Madame?" Christine asked, looking after the woman that just walked out.
"That would be the king's mistress." She informed her, distaste flowing through her every word about the woman had not been lost on Christine, "You should be weary of her, Highness. Her manner is as fake as her jewels."
"You mean he does not buy her real jewels?" She looked at her, and then back at where the mistress was last seen, "She must not be that good in bed then."
Christine loved the smell of fresh roses in the gardens of the castle. They were truly beautiful as well. It also helped her to take her mind off of the whole castle buzzing about her. As she walked about the servants would quickly glance at her and then succumb into fits of gossiping as they hurried away. And the only persons she had any contact with were Madame Giry, who only showed up when it was convenient for her, and the Giry girls, who told her what they heard about her in the kitchen. As far as she knew, she was an outspoken woman who only came here to marry the king and then run off with a noble with his money, oh and she was unfit to marry the king with her outspoken disposition.
Christine knew she was outspoken, no one had to tell her that. But in her country everyone was. Everyone had opinions, but everyone waited until they were spoken to. They asked her what was so different from her country and she told them! True she should have stated it better but still they asked her and she responded. Damn men!
As she turned down another path she stopped. A girl was trying to put her tiny fingers into the calm blue water, but Madame Giry stopped her. She turned to the girl and started to sign to her. The girl was deaf. Christine studied her while Madame Giry made her signs. The girl was beautiful with black curly hair and bright blue eyes. Her smile was carefree and youthful. She could not be more than five, Christine decided with her height. And obviously clever to be able to sign at will.
Christine had to chuckle when the girl told Madame Giry to bother someone else. They turned to her when they heard the small noise. The girl's eyes widened and she caught Madame Giry's hand. Christine smiled and waved at the girl. The girl waved back shyly.
"My name is Christine." Christine signed to her.
"I'm Cecile." She signed back.
"Do you like water?"
"Yes, but I never went swimming before." The girl rolled her eyes, "They told me they wouldn't be able to hear me if I started to drown. I may not be able to speak verbally but I can scream."
"I do not doubt it." She smiled.
"Will you take me?" Cecile's beautiful smile came through.
"Her Highness will not have the time for such things." Madame Giry cut in.
"Don't be silly," Christine signed. "Of course I will."
"You're going to marry papa?" The girl looked at her curiously.
"Depends on who your father is." She smiled.
Cecile gasped and ran past Christine. She turned to see a man in a formal suit hugging the girl. He had the same color hair and eyes. When he straightened she saw he was well over her small height perhaps a foot taller. But peculiarly enough a white mask sat on the right side of his face. Her breath seemed to escape her.
"Madame" The man turned to Madame Giry his voice was deep yet soothing. "I thought I told you not to take her near the water."
"You told me not to let her in the water, Your Majesty." She curtsied and straightened. The king and his future wife stared at each other. Both not entirely sure what to make of the other. She cleared her throat, "You Majesty, this is Christine Marie Annette Daae, your future wife and queen. Your Highness, this is Erik Alexander Minuet Destler III, king of Borswan and your future husband."
"You're Majesty." Christine curtsied.
"So you are the woman who spoke to the House of Nobles." He nodded, "They told me you said some unsavory things."
"Nothing unsavory," She said. "Only true."
"And what would that be?"
"I simply said that in Liren there are equalities between men and women."
"Are you suggesting that I run an unequal government?"
"I am not suggesting," Her head tilted, "I hardly call twelve men and zero women equal, unless the counting is different in Borswan than Liren."
"Perhaps I should…" Madame Giry tried to take Cecile from the king but he moved her out of reach.
"So what do you propose I do?" Erik asked, "Put women into the House of Nobles?"
"Maybe Princess Cecile would like…" Madame Giry tried again.
"For starters yes!" Christine nodded, "Then maybe teach some of the men that women have a voice too!"
"Princess Cecile…"
"This country is much different from yours, Princess," his tone was even, "Some do not like change."
"But does not everyone deserve a voice?" Game. Set. Match.
"Perhaps Princess Cecile would like to go to the library now?" Madame Giry started to lead the girl from her father.
"Yes," The king nodded. The girl stopped and he couched down to her height "What is it darling?"
"I want Christine to come too!" She signed to her father. There was a pause, before the king straightened.
"I do not know what effect you have upon the kingdom but my daughter seems taken with you." He lifted a brow, "She would like…"
"I know what she said." Christine interrupted him signing and saying to prove her point. "And I would love to come."
I am very glad that I got positive feedback on this story because it is really different from my writing before but I wanted to try something new! Thank you to my beta and to the reviewers. Please review and tell me if you truly like it!
E.V. Oleander
