Royal: Chapter 1
A Sapphic, Medieval Fantasy Love Story (Romantic, not a Romance)
[ All chapters are posted in their most raw form; please forgive minor grammar or spelling mistakes, they will be caught during the editing process ]
“Your highness, are you decent?”
Fervent knocks rapped at the door to her chambers, as the frantic steward tried to maintain his composure. Villagers had already lined up outside the castle gates, waiting for their chance to earn a place in the royal court. Normally, the King would handle the hiring of new staff, and deciding how best to compensate the families. But in his current state, the King could not do much at all.
In any other royal house, the duty would then fall to the Queen, or to their first-born son, the crown prince. A series of unfortunate circumstances had struck the Veorin Kingdom in recent years. Fever and malaise broke out several years ago, taking out nearly every child under ten and elder. The Queen herself succumbed to the illness, locally known as the Red Death. It was a miracle the rest of the royal family and court survived. Complications from the disease likely influenced the King’s rapid recent decline.
There was no crown prince at Castle Veorin. There were no sons at all, in fact. After their daughter Rianne was born, the King and Queen had difficulty conceiving and bringing another child to term. Many urged the King to find a consort or take on a lover to fulfill his royal duty, but he refused. His loyalty to the Queen was one of his more admirable qualities.
Princess Rianne grew up quickly. As the sole heir, duty to her country came before anything else. She experienced many things far beyond the age she should have, including the loss of her mother at the tender age of twelve. Now, seven years later, she was tasked with practically running the court and castle herself. Thankfully, she was not unprepared. But she was, after all, still a teenage girl, with limited lived experienced outside the castle walls.
The steward knocked again. “Your highness? I really must insist you come to the Great Hall at once.”
A deep sigh sounded from inside the closed bedroom. The bed squeaked and footsteps padded along the floor. Shortly after, the chamber doors unlocked and pulled open. Rianne stood in her dressing gown and robe, glaring at the steward and handmaids behind him.
“I have told you once, I have told you a hundred times. I do not need to personally hire every single staff member. You have accompanied my Father dozens of times for this procedure, surely you know what they are worth, and who to hire?”
Her auburn hair fell loosely across her shoulder, unkempt and slept on, as she pressed her side against the half open door.
The steward, named Bailey, kept his eyes downcast as she spoke. “Apologies madam, but I am…unsuited for the job. The villagers…they come here to see you, to ensure their loved ones will be taken care of here…”
“They come here to see Him.” Rianne yawned and rolled her shoulders back. “They could not care less about me.”
Bailey lifted his eyes to hers. “That is untrue, madam.”
Rianne sighed. She let the door swing open and turned her back to the group in the hall. “Mary, Josephine, come in and help me get dressed. Bailey, let the villagers mingle in the Great Hall, serve them bread and honey while they wait.”
The steward bowed deeply, grateful to have some kind of direction from her before the crowds became irate. “Yes your highness.”
“I’ll be down in a moment.” Rianne collapsed onto her dressing stool and dropped her elbows against her vanity. Her fingers massaged her eyes, her forehead, and her cheeks before she sat up and looked at her reflection. Though only nineteen, she felt aged well beyond her years. It almost looked as though her face was catching up. Age lines crinkled by her eyes and lips, while her skin appeared thin, pale, almost gaunt. She wasn’t sleeping well, and hadn’t eaten a filling meal in weeks. How did her Father manage by himself for all those years?
“How’s this one, m’lady?” Josephine’s whispering voice piped up from behind her. She held up a gown, a simple frock colored peach with delicate embroidery. It was cut modestly, and the ideal frock for the task at hand. Rianne waved her hand.
“That’ll do.” She sat upright as Mary picked up her horsehair brush and began to brush out her hair. Rianne winced when she’d pick at a knot, careful not to show too much discomfort.
“Did you sleep well m’lday?” Mary asked, smiling into the mirror as she tried to make conversation.
“I did. Until Bailey decided to beat down my door.” Rianne picked up cream container and spread it over her hands before she pressed it against her face. She followed that up with a plume of setting powder.
“He can certainly be abrasive.” Mary concurred, continuing to brush out Rianne’s long, red hair. She was a sight to behold among the sea of mouse brown and raven haired villagers. The occasional straw and honey haired children broke up the consistency, but they often grew out of their golden locks around puberty. Rianne was fair all over, including her pea green eyes. Many suspected she never went outside at all, should her skin change hue to match her hair.
Rianne nodded, again wincing as a particularly stubborn knot was tugged at behind her head. “Abrasive. Where did you learn that one?” She asked, a coy expression shared between her and Mary through the mirror.
Mary looked her in the eyes through the glass, and blushed. “I- that book you gave me, it has so many words I’ve never heard…”
Rianne raised an eyebrow. “So you are reading it then. Very good. Make sure you share the skill with your fellow maids.” She added, darting her eyes to Josephine behind them. The girl was setting up the changing screen.
Josephine glanced to the pair by the vanity before looking down at the floor. She then moved across the room to behind stripping the bed.
Mary sighed, and leaned forward, placing her face beside Rianne’s ear. “Some of them still believe it is against the faith to learn to read. But I am doing my best.”
Rianne rolled her eyes. “How else are you expected to follow God’s law if you cannot read His divine texts?” She mocked. Rianne was not a religious woman, though she played the role of a pious Princess when necessary. The Church did not have a stronghold here in Veora yet, even with the influx of missionaries over the years.
Mary shook her head and stood up, beginning to style Rianne’s hair for the day. “I agree fully, m’lady.”
Boisterous conversation filled the great hall. Guards lined the walls within, standing stoic and silent while families mingled around them. The steward did as he was instructed and called the kitchen staff to serve bread, honey, jams, and milk to the visiting villagers.
Of the visiting families, many were farmers and had the means to provide for their own with the crops and livestock they tended to. Despite their impoverished appearances, such as missing buttons or small holes dotting their best clothes, they were considered comfortable financially. As comfortable as one could be without a title or formal education.
Those who were not farming families came from a class that rested between titled families and the working class, such as merchants, medicine, and other business owners. Today, only two visiting families came from that middle class.
Mothers with sweat lined shirts and dirt stained skirts stood beside their sons and daughters, fussing with their garments and hair in hopes of making a presentable offer to the King. Fathers wearing fancy boots and weathered hats stood quietly beside their offspring, whispering instructions for how to answer questions, and how to best present themselves should they be picked.
Compensation was always the primary goal of these hiring days. The royal family paid handsomely for the young adults they hired into their staff, which could subsidize a family income for a couple of years. If they needed a new horse, or to repair their roof, or to send another child to finishing school, they could now afford it. Sometimes, that money would be invested, and later earn that family a formal title in their village.
A secondary goal was to offset the family burden of taking care of their adult child. It was mostly daughters offered up for these positions, as daughters became expensive dowries once they’re wed. Sons were often recruited into the royal military, yet some did serve in the castle alongside the steward and his staff. Once hired, they became property of the King, and as such, their responsibility for future dowry, retirement, and other expenses. It was rare for servants to leave their positions and begin a life away from the castle.
Rianne stepped through the mahogany double doors leading into the Great Hall, hushing the crowd with the mere creak of the door hinge. The visiting villagers all looked her way. A few sighs could be heard, as clear disappointment read on some of their faces. Rianne tried not to notice and walked toward the throne. Everyone in the room bowed their head, and waited for her to be seated before raising their faces.
“So ‘e sends out ‘is daw’er ‘e does. Every time I ‘ope to get a glimpse of te King, it’s ‘er grumpy mug instead.”
Hums of agreement join the disgruntled woman, who held tightly to her daughters hand as she spoke. Her voice was hushed, just loud enough for the other families beside her to hear. She sucked her teeth as a queue began to form before the throne.
“You’d think he’d have at least taught her to smile at her subjects. It’s so unbecoming for a woman of her status to be grim, especially at her age.”
“I heard she turned down yet another prince who came to call. At this rate, she’ll be all shriveled up before an heir is born.”
More hums of agreement came as the families lined up, whispering their gossip to each other before they presented their offspring to the Princess. Now annoyed that they had waited an extra half hour for her, they did their best to remain cordial.
Rianne could not hear their words, but she could certainly read their faces. She knew how she was perceived by her people. They liked their King, and their Queen, much more than they liked her. Her nickname, ‘The Unsmiling One’ pervaded her, even when Princes and distant Kings came to court her. She was in no way rude, not officially, but her distinct lack of laughter, smiles, and an otherwise feminine gentleness made her seem crude in a way her male counterparts were never considered. A man was called serious, thoughtful, and robust when he wore a neutral expression. A woman was considered a brute when she did.
“You may begin your pitch.” She said with a sigh, resting her hand under her chin as the first pair of villagers approached her throne. Based on the size of the line, she would be here for quite some time.
The pair bowed deeply, touching the floor with their knees before they rose back up. “Your highness, my daughter Hazel is entering her eighteenth year. She has learned everything from me mum and I, such as cookin’, cleanin’, mendin’, and the like. I can assure you she will be a great gift to your staff.”
Rianne looked at the mother, then the daughter. She was scrawny, shy, her eyes never left the floor. She seemed almost afraid to be there, like something would happen to her if she failed. “Hazel.” She said, hoping to get the girls attention. When she glanced up, she held her gaze. “What is your favorite thing to do at home?”
Hazel seemed caught off guard by the question. She clasped her hands in front of her, then behind her, as she looked to her mother for help. Her mother said nothing, only nudging her to speak. “I- I like- tending to the animals, ma’am. Our barn cat just had kittens. I…helped with the birth.”
Her mother looked distraught at the answer she gave, then looked up toward the Princess, expecting the same. Rianne felt no such way, in fact, she was relieved to hear an honest answer. This girl was young, but curious. She would do well here.
“Very well. Have her fitted for a uniform.” Rianne watched the look of relief on the mothers face, and the shock on Hazel’s. The two stepped aside, hugging each other and whispering their goodbyes as Bailey guided her out of the room to the other maids.
Another pair stepped forward, this time a father and son, dressed in ill fitting formalwear.
“Your highness, my son Adam is most astute at maths, horsemanship, and has been formerly trained in etiquette by private tutors during my travels. As one of your most trusted village merchants, I am here today to offer his services to you, in hopes of providing him a better, more stable life than I could.”
Rianne looked over the two men. The father was clearly older, a stout fellow with wiry facial hair. His son was not as round, but a full figure, with a hairline receding much like his fathers. He could not be much older than twenty five, and was likely a drain on his fathers finances.
“Are you married, Adam?” Rianne asked.
The younger man stood taller. “No, your highness. I have yet to meet a woman who has appealed to me in such a way.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Certainly you’ve met at least one in your travels?”
“I’ll admit, there are beauties all over this continent. But none have been able to sway me from my duties.”
He sounded hardworking, and honest, she hoped. Though something about the way his eyes kept drifting toward a male servant told her everything she needed to know.
“Very well. We will find you work in our library, until Bailey believes you are ready to train with him, directly. Our steward will not wish to work forever.” She teased, looking over at him. Bailey grinned and extended his hand to the younger man.
“Your highness, I will work for as long as I am able.” He guided Adam in the same direction he did Hazel, toward the back of the room, after he waved goodbye to his father. It was not as emotional a departure as Hazel and her mother.
The next two villagers to approach captured Rianne’s attention. One woman was small, round, and walked with a limp. She had a small child on her hip, no older than five, resting their face in the crook of her neck.
Beside her stood a much taller figure, who stood at least a head taller than her. Broad shoulders pulled tightly at their tunic, just as their thighs did to their trousers. Their hair was short, falling forward over their eyes in straight brown swaths. Rianne could not see their face clearly, beyond the sharp angle of their jaw and slope of their nose.
“Afternoon, your highness. I don’t want to waste none o’ your time ‘ere. This is me daugh’er Arden. Strong ox of a woman, like meself.” She added, chuckling as she cleared mucus from her throat. The young child she held turned their face away. “I know she ain’t much to look at, ain’t dain’y and pre’y like the other maids you got, but she’s a hard worker. Will never let ya down on a job.”
Rianne’s eyes never left Arden as the older woman spoke. She had never seen a woman like this before, all muscles and sharp angles with short hair. She could only wonder why her mother would want to give her away like this, when it was clear she was an asset to their family farm.
“Arden.”
They lifted their face, their bangs falling away to the side to reveal light brown eyes. They said nothing, but looked at Rianne expectantly.
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Six.” They answered. Rianne understood now. Based on Arden’s size alone, feeding someone of that size as well as six other growing children was expensive. It was in their best interest to try offering her to the royal family first.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty two.”
“Aye, she should be off married wiff kids now ‘n all that, but you can imagine there ain’t many guys willin’ to marry a gal who can lift more bales of hay than he can!” She laughed at her comment, again clearing her throat after speaking.
Rianne nodded. “I can understand that. Men are easily emasculated by women they cannot control. I find that to be a weakness of their sex.” She sat back against her throne and waved her hand. “You will do. Bailey, show Arden back to their new quarters.”
Arden looked at the princess, almost surprised by her words, before they awkwardly hugged their mother and followed Bailey back with the others.
Rianne continued hearing out the different visitors, approving some, denying others, and overall performing her duty to her kingdom by sitting in on tasks her father should have done. By the time the hiring ended, she had forgotten all about those she had hired earlier. Tomorrow, she would place them in their respective positions.
