THE AFTERNOON TEA

Caroline’s POV:

I ran back to my room and put aside any princess’ behavior convention, ignoring all protocols of how an heiress to the throne should hold herself. This was not normal my usual manners, so I realized that all the servants that I passed by looked at me in amazement and easily got out of my way. I silently thanked the heavens for this posture because I am sure I could not hold back the tears any longer if someone decided to stop me in a corridor and ask me what was going on.

I opened the door to my room and threw myself on my bed, where I knew I could finally cry without being disturbed. The tears had been blinding me since the beginning of the corridor that took me to my rooms, and because of that I did not realize that there was anyone else in my room.

That someone was Lucille, who was polishing my jewelry. It was still early, so there were too many tasks ahead of her to-do list. She was more startled by my sudden arrival than I was when I realized she was there.

"Care? What happened?" Lucille asked me concerned.

"Lock the door! I am unwell. I'm not leaving my room anymore today!" I commanded through the tears that I could no longer hold.

She quickly obeyed me without saying anything else, and when the door was locked, she came running back to my bed and sat by the headboard to talk to me.

"What happened, Care? You looked so happy this morning..." Lucille asked me.

"It was that stupid industry meeting." I told her as I cried copiously.

Her expression became severe. Yes, Lucille was practically my older sister. I do not care that our positions are so different. I could tell her everything. And I knew she would be mad. This girl could defend me fiercely. Or at least get angry at what saddened me. After all she was still just a maid and my parents were the King and Queen of the country where she lived, so she could not do much more than support me.

I felt her hand in my hair and she started stroking it in a gesture of consolation. Then she murmured, "Can you tell me what happened?"

"As I normally do, I tried to give the industry council a new idea and that idea was rejected as the most absurd thing that was ever proposed at a meeting in the last reigns." I started to explain.

"Well, I keep telling you that. You need to come up with a plan to get reliable information to present your ideas, and sooner or later I think you will have to stand up for yourself a little too. After all, you are the future Queen! They need to start showing some respect. " Lucille told me and I knew that from the tone of her voice that she hated the attitude of the counselors as much as I did.

“But unfortunately, that is not all, Lucy." I told her and then went on, "When this disaster of a meeting finally ended and I was dismissed, I was leaving the meeting room and I heard Lord Deveraux talking to my father, and he believes that I should not ascend to the throne."

"How come he thinks you should not ascend to the throne? Are you going to end the monarchy tradition when your father dies or something?" She asked me irritably.

"No, he does not think I should ascend to the throne alone. He thinks I need to get married and that the Prince Consort should rule in my place," I explained to Lucille, and she gasped in amazement.

"And do you think they would ever have the courage to arrange a marriage for you?" Lucille asked me carefully.

"Honestly? I do not even know what to think. I did not believe my own parents would accept such an absurd idea, but it seems to me that my father thinks it is a good idea. Do you see that I have no way out?" I asked her. "They will probably use the argument that this will be the best I can do for my country. Many people say that they envy my position, but I bet they would not envy anything like that."

"You're probably right," Lucille murmured. "Well, as far as I'm concerned, your schedule for today is canceled. Do not worry. I will tell everyone that you are not feeling well and that you prefer to stay in your room for the rest of the day."

"You are a life saver, Lucy," I mumbled.

Lucille smiled and said to me, "Unfortunately, that's all I can do, but I do it with all my heart."

I lay for a long time in my bed while Lucille paced my room, polishing jewelry, brushing coats, polishing shoes, and anything else that occupied her hands. Occasionally I heard a knock on the door, which was certainly from some other maid wanting to enter. Lucille was true to her word and did not let anyone else in. She told everyone that I was not available for the rest of the day.

Soon, my lunch was delivered to my quarters, and Lucille brought me the tray of food. I did not have much of an appetite, but she insisted so much that I ate half of what was on the plate. Right after that I took a good nap and when I woke up, I took a long shower. All of this helped me to think and reflect a lot. The bad part is that I could stay in my room for today, but I could not run away forever. Too early, night fell, dinner came, and I fell asleep again. Soon it was also time to get up for a family breakfast.

This morning my father pretended that nothing had happened, or maybe he did not realize that I overheard his conversation with Lord Deveraux. Well, in a way, it was normal for his advisers to underestimate me, and maybe he really did not know that I had heard the suggestion of the arranged marriage. The fact was that from now on, I would probably wait for the bombshell news to fall on my lap, and it apparently would not affect anyone else but me.

The rest of the new day was passing by without any further incident, as I had not been summoned to the meetings that would take place, so it all came down to my etiquette classes with Madam Tremblay and an afternoon tea with my mother.

I knew that my mother loved me, but she always remained a little distant, delegating my education to tutors who charged exorbitant prices and my housekeeper, who was responsible for teaching me good manners just as a princess should have. I was a perfect lady before society, but I missed a certain maternal affection, so I found it at least curious when she decided to call me for that tea.

There was a hall that was for the Queen's private use. That was where we met in the afternoon. The maids left the tea tray and Madam Tremblay came to monitor the progress of our little meeting, but at a certain point in the conversation, my mother addressed her and said, "Ameline, would you mind leaving us alone for a while? I will call you when you can come back."

Madam Tremblay must have been surprised by the Queen's attitude because I saw a shadow of amazement seep across her face, but she knew her place. She composed herself and said, "Of course, Your Majesty. I will be available when you need me," and after that she discreetly left the room.

I decided not to put pressure on my mother and let her take the time she needed to say whatever she wanted to say to me.

"Caroline, my dear daughter. I invited you to tea today because we have not talked in a while. How are things going?" She asked me, and I started to wonder what kind of question that was. I am her daughter, after all. Why did she act with me that way as if I were a distant countess to whom she barely spoke? Maybe it was because the whole time she was involved in everything but my life.

I put my rebellion aside and answered her politely: "Everything is fine, Mom. No big news. I continue to attend meetings on the various fronts of the government. I am always watching and learning," Yes, learning that when I ascend to the throne, I will change the entire council of lords and nobles. The only reason I am just not going to strip them of their titles is because I am sure it would be a tremendous scandal across the kingdom. I thought all this but said only what was necessary to not disturb her.

She nodded and said to me, "I'm glad you're learning so much, dear."

I replied dryly, "Thank you, mom."

We were quiet for a moment, as if she did not know exactly what to say to me. After a while, I started to ask myself what exactly I was doing there at that moment. It was then that she decided to talk about whatever she wanted to discuss.

"Well, my dear, I think we need to talk about your future." My mom said, and a knot formed in my stomach. She looked serious, and I had a feeling that maybe that might not be a good thing.

"What is there to talk about the future, mom?" I asked her cautiously.

"Well, you will be the Queen someday. I think that sounds obvious, doesn't it?" She tried to make a joke with me, but I did not feel the smile appear on my lips. I knew there was more to this story, so I waited silently to see where that reasoning would take her.

Then she continued: "Well, you need to go out there and meet young people who are around your age, so that you can marry and continue our lineage. It is no longer my responsibility and of your father to produce heirs, but yours." My mother told me.

I crossed my arms over my chest in a defensive gesture. This was not in accordance with the rules of etiquette, but my personal life did not fall under the rules for etiquette. "What do you mean by that, mom?"

My mother blushed slightly. I knew she was as comfortable with this conversation as I was, that is to say that I wanted this tea to end as soon as possible. Still, she looked like a woman on a mission, so she closed her eyes and said what she wanted at once: "Caroline, you are practically a woman already and the weight of an entire kingdom is on your shoulders. It would be great if you find someone who is your match, to share your burden and reign with you."

"Reign with me or reign in my place?" I asked my mother bluntly.

"What do you mean by reigning in your place?" My mother asked me irritably. "You are the Princess. Whoever marries you will be a Prince Consort, not a King. Your place is guaranteed."

“Really?" I replied. "For I have the slight impression that this idea did not come from you, and perhaps it did not even come from my father. I overheard Dad's conversation with Lord Deveraux yesterday. He thinks I should get married and step aside so that my husband reigns in my place. And apparently, the sooner this happens the better, right? So, they will have time to shape whoever this guy is in Dad's image and likeness, so nothing will change in the kingdom, even after you are no longer here."

"I do not know what you are talking about," my mom told me with a defensive posture. I had the feeling that the initiative to have this conversation with me and prepare the ground for what would come later did not come from her.

"Do not you see, mother? They say that I will have all the power in this country to do what I want, but one of the few choices that really interests me and the fact that this decision is in my hands is in danger. I know what is being said behind the scenes of this palace, that I am silly, and that I do not have the strength to be a Queen. That is why they want to replace me through my husband. For you know that in regard to what depends on me, you will not have this satisfaction. Now, if you excuse me…" I got up from the chair where I was sitting, without waiting to be formally dismissed and left the Queen's private room as quickly as I could.