Episode 2

Veramonte Palace, Aora.

      Along the west corridors of the palace, the clings and clangs of an ongoing swordfight resonates off the walls and pillars, heard clearly from anywhere in the palace.

Princess Yuvah: Hai yah! Put forth your best defense, general Shan, here I come!

General Shan: Let’s see what’s the best you have to offer…

      Princess Yuvah jumps high off the ground, and as she lands, she swings her sword at general Shan, using her momentum to push him back. But general Shan raises his right hand, holding his sword, to meet her attack, using his left hand, which holds a dagger, to support his sword against hers.

General Shan: Hnng! You are good, princess, but you can do better.

      As soon as the princess’ feet touch the ground, general Shan pushes against her sword, using her momentum against her and throws her back by a few metres.

Princess Yuvah: Aghh!!

General Shan: My lady, you might want to spread your wings and flap strongly as you bring your sword down on your opponent. It will add quite some strength to your attack.

Princess Yuvah: Like this-

      Princess Yuvah’s handmaiden, Luca, comes running towards them. On reaching them, she stops and speaks while gasping for air.

Luca: Princess.. princess Yu… Yuvah…The queen asks…asks for your presence, my lady. She awaits you in the throne room.

Princess Yuvah: Oh Luca, calm down, and catch your breath. Did mother say it was urgent? Can it wait till I’m done with my classes?

Luca: My lady, the queen has an important matter to discuss with you. She has not given me any specifics and has only asked for you to come immediately.

Princess Yuvah: There, that’s better. I’m on my way there. (turns to general Shan apologetically) I’m extremely sorry for having to leave in the middle of your class, general.

General Shan: (laughingly) Princess, if I expected you to attend all my classes fully, I would have to call myself a big fool!

Princess Yuvah: (flushes) I promise I’ll make up for this class some other time, and I’ll try my best not to skip any more of my lessons. Goodbye, general.

      Princess Yuvah turns away from general Shan and walks down the corridor, towards the throne room. Maid Luca follows her, but stops outside the throne room, waiting, while the princess walks in.

      As she enters, she sees her mother, the queen, Eleanor, standing before the flight of stairs that lead to the throne that she sits on every morning during the court hours. Her mother doesn’t turn to Yuvah when she enters and is looking up at the throne with a strange look. Carefully, so as not to startle her mother, Yuvah approaches her and speaks in soft volumes.

Yuvah: Mother, I came as soon as I could. What is this urgent matter at hand?

Queen Eleanor: Here you are, Yuvah, my dear. How has your day been?

Yuvah: It was the usual. But what have you called me for, mother?

Queen Eleanor: Hmm. There’s actually important news I need to tell you, Yuvah. This might be sudden and may be surprising to you, but it’s necessary that you’re prepared.

Yuvah: Mother, you know I don’t take suspense well. Just give it to me, I’m sure it’s nothing I can’t handle.

      Eleanor turns to look at Yuvah for the first time since she entered the throne room. She stares at her daughter for a moment with a strange and somewhat surprised look in her eye.

Eleanor: You….

      For a moment, her face softens. Almost immediately, she returns to looking aloof, like before.

Eleanor: Ahem. I’ve been thinking lately.

Yuvah: And what is it that concerns mother so much?

Eleanor: You. And this throne. And me too, I suppose.

Yuvah: I’m sorry, mother, but could you be more…. specific?

Eleanor: (sighs) Yuvah, my dear. I have been on this throne… six, seven decades?

Yuvah: Seven decades this September.

Eleanor: Yes, well I realized I’ve been on the throne for a long time already. And I know that I’ve done my very best for the welfare of this kingdom and of its people. But some…. recent events had me wondering about a lot of things- the things I’ve had to do, and the things I’ve had to give up because of this throne. The many, many things that I’d forgotten as time passed and the things that I’d abandoned because of this responsibility I carry. For the sake of this land, the things that I’ve missed…

      Eleanor watches her daughter as she speaks. Yuvah’s face tightens slightly, but she maintains her composure, not giving away any emotion.

Eleanor: And when I realized just how much of my life had to throw away or hidden away for this throne I sit on, I realized I’d done enough. Enough to get me away from it for the remaining few years of my life.

      Yuvah’s eyes widen as she slowly comes to understand what her mother is trying to imply through her words.

Yuvah: Mother, you-

Eleanor: I’ve decided to retire.

Yuvah: But mother-

Eleanor: I want to live out my remaining life as an ordinary woman, as just another angel, not the queen, not the one everyone relies on, not the warrior that puts on a brave face even when things are grave. I want to be able to say that I’m scared, that I’m worried too, without having to worry about the consequences of every action I take.

      As she says her next words, Eleanor’s voice softens, and her eyes look fondly at her daughter.

Eleanor: (softly) And I want to be able to rely on someone too.

Yuvah: You can’t-

Eleanor: (firmly) Yes, I can. I just did. As the princess, Yuvah, you will be the one to sit on that throne, the one to become the Queen of Aora.

      Yuvah’s mouth opens in dumb shock as her mother finally says these words. It doesn’t last long though. Her shock turns to anger and unable to hold it in, she addresses her mother in a calm and controlled, but steady, voice, cutting off Eleanor before she can say anything further.

Eleanor: Yuvah-

Yuvah: Mother. Stop talking for a minute and listen to me.

      Eleanor is surprised by the sudden force in her daughter’s words, but she doesn’t say anything.

Yuvah: You’ve always been like this. You just make your own decisions, without consulting anyone else, without thinking about others. You seem to think that the decisions you make are the decisions that are the best for everyone, but have you ever stopped to wonder that maybe it isn’t? Have you ever stopped to actually notice that every choice that you make for others, every decision that you choose to enforce, every… every goddamned thing you do, is not what everyone else wants too? Will you ever understand that you’re just selfish, and want what only you want?

Eleanor: You don’t understand, Yuvah-

Yuvah: This. This is exactly what I’m talking about. You always say that I don’t understand, but how do you know that, mother? Have you ever actually tried to explain things to me? Have you ever tried to sit down and listen to what I have to say? No. You haven’t. You don’t even know me anymore. You don’t know what I want or even who I’ve become. You had no right to make my decision for me, yet you still did. And did you think what I would feel like when such a huge responsibility is just dumped onto me?

I’ve always known the day would come when I would have to step up and do what I have to, but I refuse to accept this absolutely selfish decision that you’ve made. I’ll become queen when I’m ready for it, not when you’re tired by it.

Eleanor: (voice hardens) Yuvah. You can say what you like, but you can’t change this, and whether you like it or not, it is not your decision to make. I’m still the queen and my decision stands. I will retire and you will become queen.

Yuvah: You can’t force me to do something I’m not prepared for, mother! I won’t do it!

Eleanor: Oh! You won’t do it? But I think we both know what your decision will be.

      Eleanor turns away from her daughter, and facing the throne, she speaks her next words with extreme firmness.

Eleanor: (very firmly)I will be announcing this decision in court tomorrow. The coronation will be held on the 21st of December, the day you turn eighteen. By then, you can either choose to make your peace with it and learn to live with it and even love it.... or you can be stubborn as you want and be forced into it, making your own life miserable. I trust you know which choice is best for you. You may leave now.

      As Queen Eleanor dismisses Yuvah, the queen's handmaiden, Irene, escorts the shocked princess out of the throne room, where maid Luca stands waiting for the princess.

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