Part III

I didn't care about the others, just waiting until the poison would start working. However I couldn't bring myself to leave the decision to fate, it was so easy to think I would leave it that way and just accept whoever survives the ball. I thought that suppressing the feelings would be less problematic, still my gaze was wandering in the direction of Jacob and Romuald, making sure their glasses were still full. There were still a few people who had empty hands, so I asked my father to announce that I would like to make a toast. He seemed surprised but agreed, as I wasn't much committed earlier. The information spread quickly and on everyone's faces I saw confident smiles. After all, they thought that their handsomest and the number of compliments they gave me were enough for me to choose them. We stood on a platform, so everyone could see.

“My dear guests, I think we all are a bit tired of waiting for my lovely daughter's decision.” I smiled apologetically. “However we need to understand that she was supposed to choose a lifetime partner, not a dress to wear. Honestly it can also take her some time, so it's your last chance to run away.”

He was laughing and the rest joined him, one by one. That's how they wanted me to be charming, pretty, idiot and who was nothing more than an item to show off when the right time was. My father easily forgot that when he was still asking about children's opinion, mine was always closest to his.

“Please forgive me my tardiness, as my dear father said, the decision of that importance couldn't be made quickly. After all, dresses can be changed easily, husband not so much.” A wave of praise for my sense of humor, like I would need it. I just did what was expected to do and met eyes with a few candidates. “I hope you will forgive me the way I want to point out two of you, who I would like to duel. One simple rule: the winner takes it all. You all have glasses and here I have two swords.” A servant gave them to me. “So now let me exchange it in the hands of those who would be fighting for me. You know that women like to be dramatic, so I must meet those expectations. One last chance to step away.”

Of course no one would, but I saw a few, whose faces for a moment were doubtful, but no one was eager to be the one to break out of the group. I was wandering between them, pretending to choose some but going away at the last moment. They wanted some drama and I was willing to give that. First I took a glass from Romuald's hand and gave him the first sword without a word.

“Whoever my opponent will be, the prize is already mine.” He smiled at me and his confidence earned him an applause.

Romuald must have thought that his win was just a part of the show I planned and our wedding is just a formality. The tension was rising so I left the bigger surprise for later. The one who was the most shocked was my father, when I gave the second sword to Jacob.

“Thank you for giving me the chance,” he said, my answer was a simple nod.

When I stood next to my father I asked everyone to give swordsmen some space, and before we all were going to completely lose ourselves in a fight we should raise a toast. I couldn’t stop smiling, even though I shouldn’t, but everything seemed to go according to my plan. The execution was dependent on the help, and I was happy that I was building the trust of them since I was a kid. It was not for the day, but I knew that that matter was important. My father used to be different, so after the tragedy that had happened to our family, he started to be more cruel and distrustful to people who were working for us for years. They were afraid of him, so having few loyal to me was crucial to executing the plan. Of course I promised them to treat them better as soon as the crown would be mine.

Jacob and Romuald were getting ready for duel. I came closer, thinking which one I would prefer to win, and my heart was slowly leaning towards the first one. Maybe because the kingdom he was from was small and not so important in all that political game, but for sure steady. I could see more honesty in his actions than in Romuald’s, who would gain a lot from marrying me, as he wasn’t the oldest son and had no chance to actually inherit the crown. So I was wondering how long he would keep the act of a man who would respect me, however he seemed a bit fake, something charmed me enough to give him a second sword.

The fight started. The rest was commenting that Jacob can’t stand a chance, soon they realised they weren’t right. Both were talented and experienced with sword fighting. Their moves were fierce, but still accurate and somehow smooth. The spectacle amazed me and I didn’t think that it could make me feel so many emotions. I stopped breathing every time when it looked like the blow could be the last one, got scared and happy at the same time, that there could be only one winner, however I didn't expect that the result would be no winner at all. Jacob was the one whose sword made a final blow, just its deadliness wasn’t right, giving the Romuald the chance to hit him with a hidden dagger.

The silence was overwhelming for a moment when both duelists just were lying in their blood, which mixed surprisingly couldn’t be distinguished. Shock put everyone into silence and waited for my reaction. I got closer and kneeled down, my dress started to change color and I thought it actually suited me. Romuald was trying to meet my eyes, but I just gave him a quick disappointed glance. I would at least prefer to have a fair winner, but he just couldn’t deal with a loss.

A tear? My heart made me drop one for Jacob after all, when I saw him smiling at me. I was wondering why he would do that, when I thought that naturally the first thing he should do was accuse me for leading him to this moment. It felt like he was happy that he won, but just approved his fate and mine as well. And it seemed that mine was just ruling alone. I was sad that I made a good choice with him and had no use for it.

I stayed with him until his last breath, while behind me there was a stud after stud when another body hit the floor. I couldn’t enjoy that moment, because when the poison started to work, a panic occurred, some tried to escape, but the doors were long closed. My father was looking at me in disbelief, I asked to give him a little bit less of the poison, so he would see my victory. I came close to him and took the crown of his head and put it on mine. The weight surprised me, it was heavier than I thought, but still I felt I could handle this with no problems.

“I wish you would do that my dear father.” I said adjusting his white hair.

“What have you done?” he rasped out angrily.

“You always said that if I were a boy with my ambitions I could achieve anything, so I am trying to meet your expectations.” I patted his cheek reassuringly. “From the beginning I was not going to be just a mere woman and obedient, pretty wife like you wanted to sell me to one of them. I can handle it so don’t worry and lie in the grave peacefully. I will make you and mom a new, pretty tomb.”

My smile was bright, if he just didn’t change, focus on me and let go of the obsession of having a male descendant this wouldn’t happen. All I needed was a belief in me and support. Nothing more, nothing less than seeing some worth in without marrying me to someone and looking for a gain to kingdom not me. Father’s stubbornness didn’t let him go peacefully and he was resisting the poison longer than I assumed. The final result exceeded my expectations, but I was ready to shoulder all the consequences. I turned around, the help was kneeling down, my dearest friend in tears shouted: “Long live the queen!”

The truth about what happened at the engagement party could stay hidden, but loyalness cannot always win with love. At least that was the case of the young queen’s friends, who caught the attention of one of the candidates for her hand. The handsome prince deluded her and the servant helped him escape from the poisonous massacre. He never kept his promise about taking her away and marrying her into the royal family. Her tears were not of happiness because the princesses plan went well but the betrayal she faced moments before. The only thing left was doing everything she had to hide that she did the very same thing to her friend, so she was the first to shout in the queen's honor.

This kingdom was no more and no one remembered its name anymore, even old maps weren’t kind enough, but couldn’t help it, if someone was erasing it passionately. The princess laid her hands on the crown. She was a queen but her reign was short, too short considering her ambition some could say. However there were the consequences she had to bear after taking the life of other’s sons and brothers. Even the richest kingdom couldn’t survive long being at war with multiple other kingdoms at the same time, and the brightest strategist mind couldn’t prevent the tragedy. Only one heart was lucky enough to find peace after getting the revenge, the others had to accept that enough should be the thought the killer princess was dead.