Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
My mother glared at Hathor as she turned to exit the room.
“Well done—”
“Oh, dear!” Hathor sank to the floor once they were gone, dropping everything. She took a deep breath, raising her hand over her heart, her hazel eyes wide in terror. “Why did no one tell me she was here?”
I laughed. “What happened to your courage all of a sudden? You stood unmoved toe to toe with her, and now you are terrified when she is gone?”
“Do not laugh at me! I had no choice, you know the words come out of me before I can truly stop myself. And I could not just ignore her, when I knew she was speaking of me. Then I could not simply stop speaking, or else it would have been worse. Papa says if you end up in a fight, you must see it through, if peace cannot prevail.”
“Hathor, you are not breathing. Take a breath,” I reminded her and she did so, still on the floor. “Good, now please come and sit beside me, since I cannot go to you.”
“Wilhelm, what am I going to do? She hates me!” She frowned as she sat beside me. I took her hand.
“Did I not tell you before that it does not matter what she feels? Only what I feel, and I feel happy now that you are here.”
“Well, that’s good for you. But it is still important that your mother does not dislike me.”
“Why?”
“Because she is your mother.”
“I know, but she does not matter—”
“She does. Even if you despise her. She matters because she bore you. You would not exist without her. No person truly wants to be at odds with their parents. It hurts.”
“What am I to do, if talking to her hurts as well?” I asked quietly, and she paused, her shoulders relaxing as our fingers played together. “Hathor, you are right: No person wishes to be at odds with their parents. But some simply are, as I am. She is strong-willed, and so am I. There is no remedy for it. You mustn’t let it bother you.”
She nodded to me. “Did she at least apologize to you? For all that happened.”
“She did not, nor will she. Instead, she did as she is accustomed to doing: She gave orders. Queens apologize only to kings.”
“So, what now?”
“Now you stay close to my side, so she does not poison you.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “Would she do such a thing? That is a bit drastic, do you not think?”
Again I laughed. She truly was the sun to me. All of my soul brightened at the sight of her.
29
Hathor
I was not allowed to stay the night at the palace as I had previously. Though I wanted to, especially when Wilhelm started to feel pain again and his doctors began to give him medicine. I stayed until he fell back asleep, as late as I could possibly stay, before taking my leave. However, before I could go, I was summoned by Queen Augusta, and I could feel the nerves racing to my heart once again. When I entered, she was seated across from my queen—which meant I now had two queens to face. I had barely gotten used to dealing with one.
“Your Majesties.” I curtsied to them both again.
“Lady Hathor, I’ve been informed of your great care for my son. I thank you for that.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” I said, waiting for the second part.
“You clearly have a strong and clear wit, and I’m willing to make use of such gifts,” Queen Augusta said, but it made me wary, for I was sure she did not like me enough to concede so easily.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Good. Now, as you know, my husband, the former king, is dead. Do you know what is to happen next?”
“A new king will be crowned.”
“Yes, Wilhelm’s brother; has he spoken of him?”
“He has,” I said, glancing to Queen Charlotte, hoping she’d give me some clue. She merely sipped her tea slowly.
“Frederick was not born with the greatest strength, but he is very sharp in mind, and I have no doubt he shall make a great king. However, he is still very much in need of help, and the only person whom he can truly trust to aid him is his brother, Wilhelm. So, he will need to leave with me as soon as possible. Do you understand?”
“I fear I will need further clarity on what you want from me, Your Majesty.”
“I want you to tell him to leave with me.”
“He does not wish to.”
“Of course not. He’s had a great deal of fun throughout the years; youth is like that. But it’s time he becomes the prince he was born to be. Since you care about him, you ought to want that as well.”
“I want whatever Wilhelm wants.”
“How sweet she is, sister.” She smiled, though her eyes did not carry it. “And how naïve. Princes do not know what they want. It is a side effect of having so few choices since birth. They need to be told. And sadly, he will not listen to me—but he cares for you, and you care for him. You would not wish him to lose his inheritance and title and position, and protection—”