Page 6 of The Queen's Crown
“Shall we go and have a refreshment?” Alina asked.
The next song started. “No,” Sabine said, taking her sister’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
“But we’re both women,” Alina said with a laugh.
Sabine winked. “It’ll be like old times.” Like when Alina was twelve and Sabine six and the two of them would dance around the sitting room trying to hone their footwork. They’d imagine the day when they’d both be old enough to dance with men and marry. It seemed that day had finally come. “I’ll lead.” She knew all the male parts of the dances since Alina had always insisted Sabine play the part of the man when they danced.
The music sped up and Sabine took off, doing a basic three step, leading Alina around the dance floor. When Sabine went to turn, she almost spun Alina the wrong way, and she started laughing. Though they stumbled a few times, they both remained upright as they made their way across the dance floor, spinning as they went.
Alina bent her head back, laughing. “I haven’t had this much fun in ages!”
Sabine started twirling her sister faster. The music came to an end, and everyone burst into thunderous applause. She hadn’t realized everyone had stopped dancing to watch them. They each curtseyed.
“Thank you,” Alina said, squeezing her sister’s hand. “I’m going to miss you.”
Sabine wrapped her sister in a hug. “It’s not going to be the same without you.”
“Wake up,” Alina said, shaking Sabine.
Sabine reluctantly opened her eyes to find herself still in her party dress from the night before. She was sprawled on the sofa in the royal family’s personal sitting room. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. “I thought we were talking,” Sabine mumbled. The last thing she remembered was her sister sitting on the sofa across from her.
Alina now stood before her dressed in a traveling cloak, looking put-together as always. “We did. You dozed off about an hour ago. I went and changed while you slept.” She clutched a small satchel while shifting her weight from foot to foot.
Sabine didn’t know how her sister could look so pretty, having not slept in the past twenty-four hours. “Where is everyone?” She stood and stretched, eyeing her sister’s tight grip on her bag.
“Out front by the carriage. My things are being loaded.”
The day Sabine had been dreading was finally here. Her sister was leaving. And by the looks of it, Alina was struggling to hold it together. “I don’t want you to go,” Sabine whispered, uttering the words she’d promised herself she wouldn’t say.
“I know.” Alina blinked several times as if trying to prevent herself from crying. “I never thought I’d leave our kingdom.” She smiled, the action forced and not meeting her eyes. “But these are troubling times, and we must put others’ needs before our own. That’s what being a member of the royal family means. You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Sabine said, surprised by the turn of the conversation. Last night they’d spoken of secret crushes, dreams, and what they wanted for the future. Sabine wrapped her arms around her sister, not wanting to let go. “I understand that you have to do what’s best for our kingdom.” Alina always put others first.
“I knew you’d understand.” Alina held on to her tightly. “And now that I’m leaving, promise me you’ll be there for Mother.”
“I promise.”
“There is a tremendous amount of pressure on her,” Alina whispered. “She is very stressed from the current state of affairs. I need you to help by doing what’s best for our kingdom. You’ll be its only princess. Promise me.”
“I will. I promise.” Sabine tried not to roll her eyes. With a king, queen, and four princes all older than Sabine, she didn’t think there was anything she had to worry about.
“It’s time for me to go.” Alina pulled away and headed to the door.
Sabine reluctantly followed her. At the front of the castle, the entire family stood waiting to see Alina off. Alina went over to Viktor, giving him a hug and mumbling something in his ear. He nodded. Then she moved to Otto, hugging him tightly. Next was Rolf who wrapped Alina in a hug while his pregnant wife waited demurely behind him. The last sibling to bid her farewell was Karl. The two of them spoke in hushed whispers a minute before Alina bid farewell to Karl’s wife and two small children. Finally, the king and queen each gave Alina a kiss.
Alina wiped the tears from her cheeks before climbing into the carriage, not looking out the window at her family.
Tears filled Sabine’s eyes. This would probably be the last time she saw her sister for at least a year or two. The castle would be so lonely without her.
The carriage pulled away with a jerk. A handful of mounted soldiers followed behind as the carriage headed away from the castle. It felt as if a part of Sabine were being pulled away from her body. Once the carriage was no longer in sight, emptiness filled her. Things would never be the same.
Sabine knocked on the door to Karl’s wing with more force than necessary. She hoped to catch him before he went to the throne room to meet with some of the dukes from the kingdom. She was just about to knock again when the door swung open, revealing a disheveled Karl.
“I hope I’m not interrupting something,” Sabine said, horrified that her brother might have been otherwise engaged with his wife, Jesamine.
He chuckled. “Just a lively game of tickle monster.” He ushered her into his private sitting room where his two young boys, Haron and Beck, were running around squealing in delight. Karl dropped to his hands and knees, then roared and began chasing the boys.
“Honey,” Jesamine said as she came into the room. “You’re supposed to be meeting with your father and the dukes.”
