Music Recommendation: The Ocean by Clinton Shorter
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Oh no, thought Lucy to herself…
She loved her aunt, but there were times when she had often got into trouble for not telling her mother or her grandmother beforehand. Her feet didn’t move from where they were, but when her aunt placed her hand on her back, Lucy could feel the tension rise in her body.
She had asked her maid Amice to get her dress ready for her to wear so that her grandmother would not see the red line that the knife had caused against her neck. That was at least her plan, but she hadn’t expected to meet her aunt on her way to the room.
“You appear to be so reluctant to spend your time with me, dear,” said Rosamund, a frown appeared on her forehead, “Did I perhaps do something that you didn’t like? I must have upset you in some way,” said the woman, passing a worried look at Lucy who shook her head.
“Of course not, Aunt Rosamund. I would never be upset with any of you,” Lucy uttered those words out of nervousness. “I just feel like I am not in my best presentable state. It would be rude to show myself in front of Queen Morganna in this state.”
“She’s your grandmother. I doubt she would take it personally,” Aunt Rosamund’s hand didn’t let go of her back, and they started to walk towards the royal court room. Even though Rosamund said it, she internally smiled, foreseeing what was going to take place soon.
Everyone addressed the King’s mother by her name and not by their relationships with the woman. It was never grandmother to Lucy, but always Queen Morganna. The reason was that Morganna didn’t want to pass the power of control to her son or her daughter-in-law’s hands. She enjoyed her position of ruling the kingdom and holding the authority to rule Devon by placing her son in the front and using him to control the land.
When Lucy and Rosamund arrived at the royal court room entrance, most of the ministers and the concerned people who had come to attend and take part in the affairs concerning the public interest slowly left the room, except for a few of them who were stayed behind.
Lucy caught sight of her grandmother who sat on the left side of her father’s throne, where her father sat. And on the right side, the seat had been left empty. It was because her mother rarely attended the court proceedings and left most of it to her father and her grandmother.
“Rosamund,” King Laurence greeted his sister.
“My King,” Rosamund deeply bowed her head and then bowed at Queen Morganna, “My Queen. Long live the reign of the King and the Queen mother,” said Rosamund before she lifted her head.
Lucy wondered if it was okay to leave the royal court room as, right now, everyone’s eyes were on her aunt.
“What brings you here, Rosa?” Queen Morganna questioned her daughter. She didn’t bother to step down from her comfortable seat to greet her daughter.
Rosamund had a pleasant smile on her lips, “I am here to personally invite you to the soiree that is going to be held in Wilmot’s mansion. I was hoping if you could spare some time, a lot of them wish to spend their time in your presence, milady,” she bowed her head again.
Queen Morganna’s blonde hair had been combed back and tied up with pins while leaving the ends of her hair to rest on one side of her shoulder. Her slightly plump body was covered in a pastel green coloured rich silk dress specially ordered and made from another land. Her red eyes stared at her daughter. The mother Queen looked somewhere pleased, yet not completely happy as she had already heard about this formal soiree by someone else’s mouth.
“I wish I could, but there are other pressing matters that need to be attended in the castle. I am sure Samara and Lucy would love to join you there. Maybe that way, we can find a good suitor for our dear child Lucy,” responded Queen Morganna, “Though I must say, I would have been more pleased if you had informed me first than keeping it until the end, Rosa. Unless you forgot to invite us,” the woman smiled, and the sides of her eyes creased to show her age.
The smile on Rosamund’s face faltered, but she tried not to change her expression. “I wanted to surprise you. Forgive me that you heard it from someone else.”
Queen Morganna’s eyes moved to look at her granddaughter, who stood behind her daughter.
“Where have you been since morning, Lucy? You weren’t there in your room,” stated Queen Morganna, waiting for Lucy’s answer, and her eyes then narrowed, “Where have your manners gone?”
Realizing her folly, Lucy quickly bowed her head to offer her grandmother and her father her greetings.
“Good morning Queen Morganna. Good morning father,” greeted Lucy with her head bowed while staring at the marble floor.
“It seems like day by day, people’s manners in the castle keep disappearing. Laurence, what happened to the senior governess who was supposed to teach the etiquettes to Lucy?” questioned Queen Morganna.
Lucy felt her cheeks turn red for the mistake she had caused in front of everyone in the room. She had always been careful when it came to following the etiquettes of the royal family, but she had been so consumed with worry that she hadn’t realized that she had forgotten to greet them.
Her father turned to her grandmother, “The governess who was assigned to teach Lucy cannot visit as she broke her leg and she will be unable to arrive at the castle for at least the next two months. Arthur is searching for another governess who can fill the position..”
“That’s a pity,” Queen Morganna clicked her tongue in distaste without looking away from Lucy. Lucy shifted her weight from one leg to another that others failed to notice because of the layers her dress consisted of. “First, it was Sophie who finds it hard to follow our words, and now it seems like Lucy is following in her footsteps. The girls are barely learning anything. Where did you go, Lucy? Your mother had no idea about where you went, and I had to ask the lowly maid to know about my granddaughter’s whereabouts. Hm?”
Lucy softly gulped, and she responded, “For a change…I thought to have some fresh air outside the castle.”
“Why?” questioned Queen Morganna, “Has the amount of air lessened in the castle or has it turned stale? Are you living in a closed matchbox space that you cannot get enough air in here? Your great grandfather built this castle that is filled with everything you need. If he was alive, he would be greatly disappointed to know that his great-granddaughter finds it insufficient.”
Lucy quickly shook her head, “Not at all, Queen Morganna. I was only looking for some-“
“That’s enough, dear,” her grandmother cut short her words. “It seems like your legs have been trying to walk faster than it is required for the girls of the royal family.”
