Monarchy (2 page)

“Would a glass of water suffice?” he answered dryly.

Gwen laughed. “Still a bundle of cheer, aren’t you? Bring me some of Daddy’s fine scotch, on the rocks and maybe one all around too. Looks like everyone could do with a slap.”

The atmosphere around the table got thicker by the moment.
 
The King picked up his knife and fork and continued eating as though Gwen was just a gush of wind that passed through. Gwen leaned back in her chair and took out a cigarette just as Sir Windsbury returned with three glasses and a bottle of whiskey. (Not the King’s finest, though). The King silently nodded when offered a glass and continued eating.

“Oh, this is ridiculous!” the Queen exclaimed. “Where on earth have you been, Guinevere? I’ve been worried sick.”

“Quite literally, apparently” Gwen mumbled, tapping the unlit cigarette on the table.

“You watch what you say to the Queen.” the King sneered.

“I’m sorry, Father. One tends to up the defenses when they receive such warm welcome.”

“SIX YEARS, GUINEVERE! SIX YEARS AND NOT ONE PHONE CALL, NOT ONE LETTER, NOT EVEN A DAMN ‘WISH YOU WERE HERE’ POSTCARD!” the King grew a horrid shade of purple as he screamed and a dead silence fell throughout the palace. “You, my dear princess, should be damn grateful I’m not banishing you to wherever it is you came from.”

Elsie wished she could excuse herself and get away from the unpleasant conversation unfolding but etiquette stated that she could only be excused by the King who was now wrapped up in what seems to be the start of a fight that could last for months.

Gwen emptied her glass of whiskey in one gulp and gestured to Sir Windsbury for another.
 
“I was busy living and thought it inappropriate to gloat about my newfound freedom outside this cursed court.”

“Then why aren’t you busy living right now? Why did you come back now?” the King pushed his plate aside and got up threateningly.

“I’m confused, Father.
 
Did you inform me of the Queen’s ailing health as part of some twisted plot so you could have the pleasure of kicking me out yourself?
 
Don’t lie, the day I left was one of the best days of your life except that I did it on my own terms and not yours.”

“You had the right to know about the Queen.”

“And deep down you sincerely wanted me here, so, why the hostility?”

The King couldn’t answer. Instead he also emptied his glass of whiskey and left the dining room without another word.

“My room’s still in the same place, John?” Gwen asked before emptying her second glass.

“Yes. It’s being fitted with fresh linen as we speak.” he answered.

“Thanks. I’ve had a very long trip and wish not to be disturbed at all tomorrow. Goodnight mother. Goodnight Elsie.” she said and stomped out.
 
Outside she screamed a foul comment that echoed of the palace walls.

The Queen winced and Elsie could see the hurt in her eyes.

“I’m exhausted as well. Sir Windsbury, please tell the kitchen staff that I am sure the apple dumplings would have been delicious but I regret my appetite is a bit off. Goodnight, Princess.” She got up and left Elsie confused and alone to make sense of what had happened all on her own, as always.

Chapter 3

It felt like she slept for only a few seconds.
 
Elsie wished she could somehow steal just a few more minutes but the marching band’s morning practice in the park made it impossible.
 
She sleepily found her slippers in the dark and got up to go to the bathroom.

She thought she was mistaken at first but realized that the door of the bathroom adjoining her room with Gwen’s was indeed locked. Elsie sighed, thinking of how she was going to miss not having to share.

She knocked but there was no reply.

“Gwen?” she called but the room remained silent.

“Gwen, are you in there?”

Silence.

“Oh no, you didn’t!”
 
She shouted.

Gwen had forgotten to unbolt the door from her side. This was like being eight and sharing a bathroom with a teenage sister all over again.

“Gwen! Please open the door for me.”

Silence.

Elsie banged her foot on the ground and decided to try and enter the bathroom from Gwen’s side. The palace corridors were already buzzing with activity.
 
Two servants, who were whispering gossip to each other outside her door, gave her an amazed look as she emerged inappropriately still dressed in her nightgown and stomped furiously over to Gwen’s door.

“Guinevere!” she banged loudly on the door.

Silence.

She gave a cry of irritation and turned the knob. Surprisingly, this door was unlocked.

Gwen was still asleep, even though her curtains were already open and the door of her balcony stood ajar. Elsie could hear music blaring from the Mp3-player headphones in her ears.

“GWEN!” Elsie banged her foot on the ground again and slammed the door behind her.

“Buzz off. I’m sleeping.” Gwen groaned.

“I need to go.”

“Then go.”

“I can’t get in.”

“Then how did you get in just now? Through the balcony?”

“I can’t get into the bathroom because you bolted the door from your side, you stupid….” Elsie bit her tongue just in time.

Gwen gave a dry laugh. “Can’t swear can you? God, you’ve turned into mother.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Elsie scoffed.

“I didn’t mean it to be one.” Gwen said as she drew the covers further over her head.

“Who on earth are you?” Elsie asked with disgust.

Gwen mumbled something inaudible before lazily sitting up in bed.
 
It was the first time since her return the previous night that Elsie could really look at her.
 
Her hair was cut short on the one side while the other side was left hanging to her one ear in which she wore three earrings and as she opened her mouth to take a swig of the glass of liquor that stood on the bedside table, Elsie could see the brief glint of a tongue ring. On the inside of her right forearm a tattoo in giant gothic font read ‘Princess’.

Gwen lit a cigarette and blew the smoke in Elsie’s direction. “I thought you needed to go?”

“I did.”

“Then why are you still gracing me with your presence?”

“I asked you a question. What happened to you?” Elsie tried to find any sign of the sister she once knew in the woman that sat before her.

“You like it? I call it,
free from this damn life
.”

“I don’t get it. Why do hate us so much?”

Gwen showed some sign of remorse and nipped the cigarette. “I don’t hate you, Elsie” she said in a less aggressive tone, “I just grew tired of all the frills and fuss. I needed to see what the rest of world live like and you know what? It’s awesome.
 
I loved it so much, was it not for mom’s condition, I would still be out there.
 
I didn’t have to watch what I do or say all the time. There was no schedule I had to follow. No boring tea parties, pretending to like people I really despise. Does the Duchess of Nat still come around for her weekly tea?”

Elsie sniggered. “Yes and her daughter Stephanie have joined her for the last three years. It’s awful.”

“See? I just couldn’t do it anymore. Wait till you turn 18, it gets worse. That’s when Dad starts to introduce you to prospective husbands and mom gives you the weekly speech on abstinence.”

Elsie felt that old comfort she used to share with Gwen returning but there were pressing matters on hand and as the King said: ‘Rather sooner than later.’

“The King wants to abdicate after the Queen’s death.” she dropped the bomb.

Whiskey flew over the duvet covers as Gwen accidently breathed in some of the liquid in shock. “WHAT?”

“I’m sorry. He probably wanted to tell you himself but I thought that I might be able to lessen the shock. Give you time to think about the implications his decision will have. Maybe, you can convince him to reconsider.”

“No, no, no, no. It won’t happen. I think I made sure of it when I returned last night.
 
Look at me. Queen?”

“That’s why…he plans on…asking you to forfeit your title.” Elsie said carefully.

“He can’t! He wouldn’t dare. And make you Queen?”

Elsie felt a bit insulted by this. “Excuse me? Are you saying I’m not worthy of being Queen?”

“Elsie, you don’t want it. You’re sixteen…”

“Seventeen.”

“…seventeen. You’re still a child. You don’t want to be Queen, well not yet, at least.”

“If the responsibility it thrust upon me, who am I to resist?”

“I won’t allow it. Screw him, my answer is no. I won’t give up my title and give him the satisfaction of retiring while my baby sister has to do the dirty work. I can’t believe he would be so selfish.”

“So, you want to…”

“Become Queen? Are you insane? No, I’ll give you the title, just not now. Dad still has a lot of mileage left on his engine and I’ll tell him that. In fact, I’m going to tell him right now.” Gwen got up and pulled on the jeans she wore the night before and a pair of worn leather combat boots.

“Gwen, don’t do this. I wasn’t supposed to tell.”

“You’re already his bloody pawn, Elsie. You’re coming with me. We’re going to settle this now.”

They stormed from the room on the third floor to the dining room on the second. Gwen like a raging bull in front while Elsie pleaded at her heels to calm down. Gwen threw open the dining room doors just as when she arrived. As expected, the King and Queen had already sat down for breakfast.

“I need an audience with you. Now!” Gwen demanded of the King.

“I’m afraid I have a full schedule that I’m already running late for” the King said from behind the morning paper.

“You’ll have to make time then. It’s about your planned abdication.”

Chapter 4

The maid who was serving the Queen tilted her tray, spilling tea all over the table.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty” she apologized, frantically trying to clean the mess.

Sir Windsbury, sensing the privacy of the matter, took the shocked servant lightly by the arm and led her towards the serving kitchen while reminding her of the secrecy clause in her employment contract.

“Now, was that really necessary?” the King asked calmly as he folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. “Excuse me.” he said to the Queen as he got up.

“You’re coming with.” Gwen whispered to Elsie and they followed the King to his office next door.

“You’re abdicating?” Gwen almost screamed the moment the door closed behind them.

“I thought it best for the nation.”

“You thought it best to leave a sixteen year old in charge of a country? ARE YOU INSANE?”

“Seventeen….” Elsie mumbled.

“Does this mean you have denounced your title?” the King asked curiously.

“Sure as hell not.” Gwen folded her arms across her chest defensively.

“Then my decision should be a very happy one for you indeed.” The King smiled.

“You’re kidding, right? You’d rather die than see me become Queen.”

A long silence followed. Elsie felt caught in the middle of a tactical battle plan. The King, on the one side, trying to fool Gwen out of her title and Gwen on the other hand, was making the King’s position as difficult possible.