Her Empire

I awoke to the sound of my exorbitant curtains being drawn open, letting in the infernal sunlight.  "Wakey wakey Princess!", an extremely happy servant said.  "Ugh, ten more minutes?", I muttered into my pillow.  "Now now, you know your mother is expecting you for breakfast.  It is your birthday after all!", the servant  chirped.  She was right.  Seventeen years ago today, I was born into a newly conquered empire.

There were many different rumours surrounding my birth.  If anything, it was a whole conspiracy theory.  Some said that my mother used powerful mind control spells to overpower the men resisting her.  They claimed that this was used as a form of some sick, sexual torture.  Other say that The Corruption made Mother's subjects more sexually attracted to each other and to her as well.  The servants, however, spoke highly of my possible father.  They said that he was a gallant, gentle man who would swoop in at night and see my mother like a forbidden lover.  They also said that my mother still kept in touch with this mystery man, but whenever I brought it up to my mother, she would flinch and brush the question away.  I've since given up my search for him, for all of my efforts have come up empty.

"Okay then, seventeen more minutes?", I tried.  Hopefully the servant would be won over with my "clever" sense of humour.  "Very funny, your highness.  Now get up!", she grunted as she tore the blanket off of my queen sized mattress.    My body was racked with chills from the sudden shift in temperature.  "Okay!  Fine, I'm up!", I moaned.

"Good, get dressed and meet your mother for breakfast.", the servant said one last time as she walked out of my room.  The door swung shut with a heavy thud.

I rose out of the soft mattress and planted my feet on the marble floor.  So, this is what seventeen feels like?, I thought to my self.  I sulked over to the large dresser that had my usual garb and a large mirror on top of it.  I examined my newly aged self.  I didn't appear to be any different, my physical features appeared to be the same.  Shoulder-length hair, messy from my long sleep, check, narrow shoulders and waist, check, small breasts, check.  Everything was the usual royal norm, and I loved it for its benefits.

I slipped out of my pewter nightgown and opened one of the drawers containing my lingerie, all black and in lace.  My mother is convinced that I MUST have the finer things, so only the lace makes it into my room.  I hooked my bra on and slipped into the panties.  I moved on to the next tier of my dresser.  I pulled out a grey t-shirt with the logo of the empire emblazoned on its back.

I usually chose to wear this whenever Mother and I ate together.  It was a rare occasion I relished.  She was always so busy with royal affairs and meetings, so I never got a chance to see her.  It was special occasions, like my birthday, where she set aside all other matters and just focus on me.  Don't get me wrong though, I still had a contraband of graphic tee's underneath all of the formal wear.  I grabbed a pair of black dress pants from the next drawer over and slipped them over my lace panties.

I examined myself in the mirror one last time, deciding what to do with my hair and make-up.  After considerable deliberation and experimentation, I decided on a simple pony-tail and a shade of green lipstick that was customary among The Changelings.  I was about to leave my room, but something caught my eye.  It was a small, rectangular, black box with a blood-red ribbon wrapped around it perpendicularly to the opening.  Attached to this ribbon was a folded tag.

I picked up this mystery gift, and examined the tag first. Happy seventeenth. Sisis.  I gaped at the name on the tag, and my jaw dropped in shock.  I threw the black box against the wall, not even opening it to see its contents.  After all you did to me, you expect to win me back?!, I mentally shouted at myself.  Sparing myself from further fury, I walked out of my room to go to breakfast.

{oO0Oo}

"Happy birthday Princess!", The Captain of the Guard greeted me as I entered the dining hall.  The other residents of the dining hall turned toward the sound of me entering.  They gave me a chorus of "Happy Birthday" 's and "Good Morning" 's as I took my seat.  "Yes.  A very happy seventeenth birthday to my lovely daughter!", my mother toasted, "To Krystal!"

The sounds of clanking glasses brought an embarrassed smile to my face.  I wasn't used to this kind of attention.  Sure, I've been in front of crowds and at important ceremonies, but the love from my immediate family and the court always made my feel warm inside.

"Ahem, so Princess, have any plans today?", one of the advisors asked.  I opened my mouth to answer, but was cut off by Mother.  "Yes, she has plans.  With me.  So if you have any other questions address them, to me!", Mother snapped.  That was out of character.  "Okay, so what are these plans we have?", I asked her.  "What?  Oh yes,  well we can..um..we..Ugh!  I'll tell you later!", she fumed.  Something was wrong with her, and I need to know what.

"Mother, are you all right?", I asked sweetly.

"Of course!  What made you think I was distraught about rebels sneaking into the city last night!  Because that wasn't on my mind at all!"

"Who mentioned anything about rebels?"

Hook, line, and sinker.  Everybody at the table dropped their forks at the Queen's sudden outburst.  I wore a sinister smirk, and my mother was deeply blushing.  She took a long sigh and said, "Yes, rebel forces were spotted within castle grounds last night.  Although their motives are unclear, I assure you that they were apprehended and jailed.  They are on the execution block for the next week.  So please, don't fret my loyal court!"

"Urm, right, so Princess, do you want to open gifts now?", The Head of the Guard asked in an attempt to fix this now-awkward situation.  "Sure.", I smiled warmly, aiding his attempt.

{oO0Oo}

The gifts were nothing special, it was the birthday usual: shirts, books, jewellery, and make-up.  I was on the large couch opening these wonderful gifts, but something kept nagging me.  It was a pair of aqua eyes locked on me from across the lounge.  These eyes belonged to Ralan L'Etranger, one of my mothers advisors.  He work a cocky grin while he waited for me to finish opening gifts.

"Ralan, did you poison my food?", I asked him without looking at his piercing eyes.  He elicited an amused laugh.  "No, my dear!  I just found this", he said holding the black box from my room, "in the waste bin?  Any reason why you didn't open it?"

I shot him a cold glare.  "Why do you think?"

"Because it's from my son, Sisis?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Maybe it was an apology."

"I don't want an apology from him, not after he broke our Bond with that slu-"

"Krystal, that's quite enough!", Mother scolded.  I turned to see her disappointed look.  "Sorry Mother," I said softly.  "I know you and Sisis had....a falling out," she said pulling me into a side-hug, "but it's a little offensive that you didn't even open it."  I got her message loud and clear.  "Yes Mother, just give me the damn box.", I whispered.

I hatefully ripped the red ribbon off of the gift.  Just the ribbon sent me into a spasm of hatred.  I wanted so badly do destroy it with a powerful blast of Changeling magic, but Mother was already mad at me.  The falling ribbon revealed the golden clasp holding the box closed.  I rolled my eyes at yet another obstacle in this horrid journey of opening this box.  I released the clasp, and the box sprung open.  The sight inside was truly beautiful, despite who it was from.

It was a golden necklace sitting on some expensive red velvet.  I grabbed the inner jewellery and picked it up, but when I did, I saw Ralan's shit-eating grin.  "Well?  Exquisite, yes?  It was quite expensive as well.", he boasted.  At the end of the necklace, a emerald pendant hung off of it.  It was the best thing I've ever gotten, but it was...his

"Yes, I suppose it's nice, but I've seen better", I said in mock boredom.  I hit a nerve there.  "What?!  That was over fifty-thousand bits!  How have you seen better?!", he shouted.  He quickly stopped his rant when he saw my fuming mother.  "Ralan, I think it's best if you left before my temper...flares", she said, putting great emphasis on the last word.  "R-right.  Happy birthday," he said walking to shake my hand, but when I grabbed it he whispered, "you ungrateful dyke!"  He stormed out of the room, leaving the rest of us to discuss my birthday plans.

{oO0Oo}

"So I have a great idea, Krystal", Mother said to me.  "What's that?", I asked her, unsure of her plans.  "Well, it won't be today, but", she said, leading me on, "I think you're old enough to sit in on next week's execution."  This hit a special place in my brain, never in my seventeen years was I allowed to see the public executions, but now Mother trusted me enough to see one for real.  "Would you like that?", Mother asked me.  "Yes, I would love to accompany you!", I said happily.  "Well then, next week on Thursday.", she said as she retired to her war room, "I'm sorry I have to go, but this is a serious matter."  "It's okay Mother, don't worry!", I smiled.  She returned the gesture and closed the door.  I went back to my room and waited for next Thursday.

Maybe today wasn't all bad after all., I thought, looking at the gold and emerald necklace on my dresser, but I can never forgive you.  Not ever.