A Mother's Sacrifice

A wretched thing he was. But he gave me my daughter, I can thank him for that. Listen to those people cheering. His soft smile and blonde side-swept hair swooned over the peasants. Clarissa stands in front of him, in front of her father, his non-waving hand on her shoulder.

Her soft curls were gently placed down her back, she looked so innocent. One day she would be Queen. This kingdom has not seen a Queen as the sole ruler in a thousand years.

I couldn't give him the son he desired, and we could not have any more children. So, these common folk would simply have to accept a Queen as their ruler.

After hours of senseless waving and smiling, my little royal family retreated for dinner. The table was small, A private dinner for tonight per the king's request. The scent of savory duck mingled with the earthy aroma of asparagus, filling the air as we sat, hungry, at the table, our eyes locked on the king as he prepared to take the first bite.

So he did, and we began to eat.

"I may have found a potential suitor for our Clarissa." The king began after swallowing a bite of roasted duck.

"Excuse me?"

"Clarissa will need to wed, if so for our kingdom to continue thriving."

"Clarissa doesn't need to do anything."

"A queen hasn't ruled in a thousand years, you know that. Now, the suitor will be here tomorrow, he is third in line to his throne so if all goes well, Clarissa will not need to move, and the future of our kingdom will be secured."

"You were going to tell me this when?" Anger coursed through my veins.

"I'm telling you now." The king seemed so nonchalant. Willing to sell off his fourteen-year-old daughter to some stranger because of his idiotic beliefs that a woman can not rule.

My knuckles turned white as they gripped the fork tightly, the veins in my hand and forearm standing out in anger. My jaw was clenched and my eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

The rest of the dinner was had in silence.

Later that night, as I sat brushing my daughter's golden blonde hair, I saw a tear reflecting off the mirror. My little girl was crying. I caught my breath, as seeing her this way tore me to pieces.

"Mom, what if he is cruel?"

I set the brush down. Taking my finger and lifting her chin so she could see herself better in the mirror.

"It does not matter what he is like. It only matters what you are like."

"I don't understand?"

"Yes, you are beautiful. But you are also smart."

A smile began to creep onto my daughter's porcelain skin. She was so many things and she did not even know it yet. I continued with my affirmative speech.

“Your understanding of this land sets you apart from those who come from outside. You should draw confidence from this.”

"Beautiful, smart, confident. Thank you, Mother, I do feel better, but how will this help against a man if he is cruel?" Clarissa wiped away her tears as her smile and laughter grew.

"Do not worry about any man, for it is you who will reign, Queen," I whispered in her ear as I tucked her into bed.

The following morning, I awoke with determination to spend the entire day focused on my daughter and her accomplishments. The arrival of the prince was imminent, and I vowed to never leave my daughter's side.

I dismissed the servants that morning and handled all her affairs myself. I brought her tea, talked with her, dressed her in an elegant turquoise gown, and framed her loose curls perfectly around her opal-shaped face. Carefully, I lifted the tiara off the satin turquoise pillow and placed it on her head.

"One day, a crown" I whispered in her ear. My daughter looked at me, her eyes pleading.

"Promise you won't leave me?" She spoke and my heart melted, she would be a kind, just Queen. She may not have strength, but I will be her strength. I'll be the villain so she can be the hero.

"I will be with you all day," I responded to her as the bells chimed three times, signaling the arrival of the prince.

A walk in the garden, a suggestion of the king. I walked behind the prince, my eyes stuck to his every move. And besides the King, who seemed pleased by his every interaction.

We walked past flowers of brilliant white, their petals glistening with the morning dew. The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of jasmine and lavender, wafting around us like a gentle caress. As the prince and Clarissa strolled past the flowers, Prince Charming placed his hand among her lower back. Clarissa's body stiffened, seemingly uncomfortable.

The king seemed oblivious to his own daughter's discomfort, lost in his own thoughts. However, my gaze did not miss a beat. I quickly formulated a plan in my head to get my daughter away from Prince Charming.

"Come, Clarissa, the day has grown long. Why don't we all freshen up for dinner?" I reached my hand out as both the prince and my daughter turned their heads, his hand still on her back. I nodded my head and reached my hand out further, Clarissa walking towards me now.

I embraced my daughter in a side hug and gave her a squeeze to remind her that I would not leave her side. The King left the garden with the prince, to discuss details of a marriage I am sure of, a discussion noblemen and royals tend to leave women out of, as if we are pawns in their game.

After dinner, the prince seemed eager to present Clarissa with his gifts. He gestured for a servant who appeared with a beautifully adorned tray, carrying an assortment of intricately wrapped packages in silver lining. As the servant placed the tray before her, Clarissa's eyes widened in surprise and curiosity.

The first gift she unwrapped revealed a delicate necklace, crafted from shimmering sapphires that glowed like the depths of the ocean. The blue stones seemed to dance with a mesmerizing allure as they caught the light. Clarissa held it up, her fingers trembling in awe.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. The prince's smile widened at her reaction, clearly pleased with himself.

Next, she opened a small velvet box to find a pair of earrings that matched the necklace perfectly. They were adorned with tiny diamonds that sparkled like stars against the dark night sky.

The prince may have adorned her with gifts, but none would please her as mine would. That night, after I brushed her hair as I did every night, I presented the heirloom. Worth more than a thousand sapphires, a bracelet made from an ancient tree bark. Its magic held dormant until a rightful Queen came to rule the land. After a thousand years of Kings, I would be sure of my daughter's Queendom.

As I tied the bracelet around her wrist, I could see a faint glow emanating from it, spreading through her body and lighting up her features. Her eyes shone with a new confidence, hinting at the power that would one day course through her veins. At that moment, I knew I was doing the right thing for my daughter.

That night, after tucking Clarissa into bed, I went to my own sleeping chambers and dressed in a servant's rag. The prince had requested chamomile to help him sleep. He would be getting his chamomile.

He may be my first, but surely he won't be my last, for my daughter needs no man. I would burn the kingdom down for my daughter, and rebuild a Queendom in her name.

I walked into his guest chambers holding a silver tray. I set it down at his bedside and poured a cup of steaming chamomile and lavender tea. Sitting up in his bed, he took the cup from my hands and sipped it slowly.

"My thanks," He said. Poor boy, I thought. I'm sure he wasn't that terrible of a person, but for my daughter to become the Queen, all suitors must disappear.

As I turned around, he began to cough. A slight smile crept up my lips.

I slept peacefully that night, knowing that the journey to my daughter's Queendom had only just begun.