章 6: The Weight of a Crown
Viella and Raden stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, so many thoughts rushing through her mind that she could not bring herself to speak.
The whole situation was utterly ridiculous. How could she be engaged to someone who had been missing for years? And he didn't even know whether he was coming back or not!
"That's not fair to me," Viella finally said, stepping back. "Then what should I do? Wait forever until he comes back? *If* he comes back?" she demanded.
"If that's what it takes," Raden said, his words slow and deliberate.
Viella looked over to her father, whose face had turned into an expressionless mask. "How can you do this to me!? What right do you have to condemn me to a life of waiting!?" she yelled, her voice breaking.
She had always felt anger towards her father for leaving a crater in her heart that only he could fill, yet he refused to. What had cheered her up was the thought that one day she could build for herself what she never had. But now?
"Calm down, Viella. I have been made aware that you wish to be a herbalist. You may learn to be one under Raden's tutorship. That should be more than enough to rectify the injustice you feel I have committed," King Peter said dismissively, waving her away like a finished topic.
Viella felt an ugly emotion creeping into her chest as Raden gently placed his hand on her arm, guiding her to stand aside as Queen Joanna took center stage, all her children standing behind her like a line of loyal soldiers.
"Your Majesty," Queen Joanna said, "I believe it is our turn to receive your wisdom."
"Indeed it is, my Queen," King Peter said, more relaxed. He leaned back on his upholstered golden throne, then beckoned all of Queen Joanna's children to come forward.
"My daughter, Crown Princess Safana. Please step forward," King Peter said, his eyes shining with love, though there was disappointment there. Safana did as she was told, her demeanor as confident as ever.
"Safana, I don't think I can put into words how disturbed I was by what you've done to your siblings. Viella might no longer be a princess of this kingdom, but she is still my daughter, your sister, and a human being. You had no right," King Peter said, his voice carrying a sadness Viella had never heard before. His gaze rested heavily on Queen Joanna.
"She will learn from her mistakes," Joanna said, defending Safana still.
"I will have to agree with Raden on this matter. It was not a mistake; it was a premeditated crime. If Jasper and Tara had not come running when they did, Viella would have died, and my honor as a king would have been tarnished. Viella is not Safana's—or even yours—to punish, Joanna," King Peter said. With the Queen's name spoken without a title, it was as raw as a slap to her face.
"Then what will you do, Your Majesty? She is my firstborn, the Crown Princess of Olaos. What punishment can you place on her without ruining her reputation?" the Queen asked, fear in her voice. Viella watched on, her own problems momentarily forgotten.
She had not expected her siblings to receive any consequences. But the King was rarely predictable. His face had hardened at the sight of Safana. Whatever love there had been now disappeared.
"She has already ruined her own reputation," King Peter said. "Safana Eliona of Olaos, you were born to carry a crown on your head, and it would have been yours if you had shown yourself worthy of it…"
"No," Safana said, realization dawning on them all.
"As a ruler, one must know where the line lies for themselves before they draw it for a kingdom to follow. You've shown us a cruelty, an unspeakable act one should not commit against another human being—let alone a sibling, whose life rested in your hands. And so, you are no longer the Crown Princess of Olaos."
Viella looked at Safana, who stood with her back stiff and shoulders raised. She couldn't see her face, but she could tell Safana was glaring at Peter, her expression insulted.
"Your Majesty…" Queen Joanna said weakly, "You've taken away her position as Crown Princess. Then please do tell—who is she now? And who will take her place?"
"Patience, my Queen. Safana, Catrina, and Finn—you have stood side by side to commit a horrible act against another soul. I would have you banished, but because of who you are, I will send the three of you to the monastery, where you will learn to serve others and not just be served."
Like a hammer, King Peter's voice was absolute. It weighed heavily on them, causing a chorus of cries from the three.
Catrina fell to her knees, begging for her life. Safana simply turned and walked away with her head held high, ignoring Viella and Raden as she left. Finn, who had been silent the whole time, accepted his punishment with his head hung low.
Viella glanced at Jasper, then at Tara, who returned her surprised look. Only two candidates remained.
"As for the position of Crown Prince…" King Peter paused. "I have spent the night thinking about it, and my decision is made. Jasper, my youngest—you will now be the Crown Prince of Olaos."
Viella turned to Jasper, her heart beating with excitement. She and Tara rushed to embrace him, as he stood facing his father with tears gathering in his eyes. He bowed his head.
"Father, His Majesty, I am unworthy of the position. But you honor me with it. I will spend the rest of my life striving to be worthy of its weight. Thank you," Jasper said, with Tara and Viella standing behind him.
Viella found it strangely refreshing how, despite their previous distance, she could share this special moment with Tara, and Tara with her, without any lingering hard feelings.
"Viella, now that you've seen justice served, we must leave at once. Pack your belongings; you will move to the Silver Tower as my apprentice," Raden said, placing a hand on her shoulder. The gesture reminded her of the horrible position she had been placed in—and the betrayal she was about to commit.
"Let's go," Viella said.
The morning passed quickly, but the change of heir to the throne sent ripples through the palace grounds. Maids and butlers moved with a swiftness Viella rarely saw. Not one movement was wasted as the former Crown Princess's chambers were emptied, then refilled with belongings that belonged to Jasper.
Viella glanced back at the palace before stepping into the carriage, where Raden sat waiting for her. It was astonishing how many things could change at once, like the restless waves of the ocean. She wondered if she would ever know peace.
"You will first learn which plants can and cannot grow in which seasons," Raden said the moment she closed the carriage door. If not for the plans she had made, she might have been excited beyond compare at his words. Now, she was simply relieved that none of her siblings cared enough to expose her secret lover.
In truth, Viella understood why they no longer cared. Being stripped of one's title and sent to a monastery as punishment was a banishment in all but name.
"I will do so," Viella replied before satisfying the burning curiosity in her chest. "Can you please explain to me how all of this came to be?"
Raden's eyes narrowed. "I could guess what you mean, or you could clarify. Your question is rather vague. Many things have come to be, and I know the answers—albeit incomplete ones."
"I'm asking about my engagement to your nephew. What else could possibly interest me?"
"Perhaps you might have asked about who I am and how I came so far. It wouldn't be far-fetched for a student to want to know as much as possible about their master," he said.
"Or in-law," Viella corrected, trying to make her words sound as natural as possible. Despite everything, the reality of her engagement still hadn't settled in her mind. Why should it? She was going to marry someone else tonight. This engagement had no hold on her.
"Indeed," Raden said, stroking his luscious, greying beard. "Very well. Let us start from the beginning. What do you know about the Black Gap War?"
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