Jealousy in the Royal Night

Anrui… Twinkle Star vaguely remembered the name. Maybe it was mentioned around her once or twice in the past. But she didn’t know anyone with that name, and she never bothered to wonder who that name belonged to. After all, so many names were mentioned daily in the old Royal Castle, she didn’t have time to ask to which each of them belonged to. She wished she had now, of course, but she probably wouldn’t have gotten an answer. She looked at her mother, sitting in front of the large old tree. Her mother was drinking some water, so she could continue to tell the story soon.

Once again she wondered why her mother had picked this place. Why out here on the hard ground, why not inside where they could sit comfortably on the sofa or something? Maybe her mother didn’t want to be inside when she told this story. So far, the story wasn’t scary or about harmful things. It was so hard to imagine something horrible had happened with these ponies. But the look in her mothers eyed revealed it was only the calm before the storm.

“I didn’t see Taishi, Anrui or any of the others anymore that afternoon. I simply did my things; I studied a bit, I played some, talked with Damina… I was wondering if there would be another wedding, of course, but I knew I shouldn’t talk to anyone about what I had seen. It would have been highly inappropriate and besides, I didn’t want to spoil things for Taishi.” Regina continued, after she had finished drinking some water. Twinkle Star glanced at Regala and Damina, and she wondered when they were going to tell something. It wouldn’t be much, probably, because they were both really young back then, which meant they were kept away from important events as these.

That night, we had the big banquet in the castle, to which I was invited. I was quite excited about this as well, because this would be my first banquet with the adults. Before this, I would always eat with the children of visitors, but my mother considered me old enough to be with her now. I remember walking into the big dining room. It was beautifully done, I have to say that. Nice flowers were on the table, the walls were decorated with the banners of our kingdom and those of Madash. My mother sat at the head of the largest table in the biggest chair, the one that was reserved for the queen and the queen alone. She of course was wearing the beautiful crown of the queen of the Friendship Lands, which was a beautiful crown, truly amazing. It was red, and a beautiful blue stone was in the centre. She was of course wearing her royal cape as well. My mother was the queen back then, and she was showing it. I remember feeling proud because that beautiful woman was my mother.

On her right sat the queen of Madash, on her left was my sister Reine. I was amazed with her. She was wearing the heir’s crown, which I think all of you know, it is the crown I use now, as  was wearing it when we left the Friendship Lands that dreadful day, and I use it now as the queen’s crown. But I have to say it has lost it’s beauty. It was so beautiful on my sister that day. She looked gorgeous, wearing her crown and matching necklace.

Matoe and Daryia were sitting next to each other, and I was happy to see they got along well. They were talking, laughing, and I was sure they would marry soon when I saw them. Taishi sat on the same table, but Anrui was sitting close to me together with other ponies like Campestre and ponies from Madash. Of course dinner was delicious, and I enjoyed being there so much, even though everybody was ignoring me.

I noticed Taishi was talking with Reine, and apparently they were enjoying themselves as well. My sister was laughing, and Taishi looked like he was having fun as well. But of course I noticed his glares in Anrui’s direction, and I noticed Anrui was looking back at him once in a while. I giggled at this of course, and I enjoyed the fact that I was the only one who knew, except for some of the Madash visitors of course, but hey, I was the only one of the family who knew.

Nothing much happened at the banquet, or I thought it didn’t, but Reine had net Taishi, and later I would learn that that would change my life forever.

That night, I found it very hard to fall asleep. I was way to excited over everything that had happened today. I didn’t want to bother anyone with that I couldn’t sleep, after all, I was a big girl, I could take care of myself. So I sneaked out of my bedroom and walked downstairs to the little kitchen, to get myself some milk to drink before I went back to bed. The little kitchen, mind we had three, but the little one was the only one used by family members, had a window that watched over the garden towards the guest house. As I sipped on my hot milk I watched outside through that window, and I was surprised to see someone moving. It was late, why would anyone still be out? It had to be someone from the inside, the garden and the castle were prohibited for others after certain hours. I was more than curious who it could be, so I put down my cup and I walked towards the door, which wasn’t closed that night so the visitors could enter the castle if they wished.

It was quite a cold night that night. The flowers had closed, and there was a slight breeze that made it even more chilly outside. I didn’t like the mood to be honest, it made me feel if something bad was going on. I looked around me for the pony I saw moving earlier, but first I noticed something else. There was a movement in front of the guesthouse. I sneaked closer, and hid myself behind the flowers. I wasn’t big back then, and when I crawled I could get close without anyone noticing. When I got closer I heard some soft voices. I recognised one of them immediately, because there was no one else with a dreamy voice like that. I stopped a few yards away from them, where I could see them through the flowers and hear what they were saying. I knew I was wrong of course, but I was way too curious.

‘I’m glad you came.’ I heard Taishi say.
‘There was no doubt in my heart when I read your little message. I wanted to see you, Taishi.’ Anrui’s dreamy voice said. I loved the way she talked, as if she only said what she was truly feeling.
‘Please, I am sorry for being so direct at you, my lady. But when I saw you, I felt as if I finally found the truth that I had been looking for, for so long. That is why I send you the message later. I wanted to talk to you, be alone with you.’
I noticed Anrui shook her head. ‘Please, do not feel sorry. I know what it is you feel. I can read it in your eyes. Your feelings are pure, and I know those feelings, for I felt them too the moment I saw you. I never even been close to feelings like this, and it is unknown to me…’
‘But it feels right.’ Taishi finished her sentence. Anrui nodded slightly.

Of course you can understand I was pretty excited at this point. Taishi and Anrui really were in love! I was even sure they were more in love than Matoe and Daryia.

‘But I do not know what my mother will say… and my brother.’ Anrui said doubtful, while she looked at the ground.
‘My lady,’ Taishi answered, ‘Do they not love you? Do they not care for you, or your feelings?’
‘Oh, they do, but sometimes I am afraid they care for me too much. They want to protect me from things they think I cannot handle.’ ‘And is this such a thing?’ Taishi asked his beloved, while I realised his voice sounded a bit scared. Surely Medava and Matoe would agree?
Thankfully, Anrui shook her head. ‘Oh no, it is not. I can handle this, and I want to. This is something I want to fight for, and I am sure they will understand.’

Taishi smiled at her. Anrui softly placed her head in his neck and they softly hugged each other, while some night birds sang a little song for them, and while the wind made the sleeping flowers dance a little. Everything was dark except the bright stars in the sky. There were no clouds, and the moon was new. Even though it was still cold and chilly, my heart felt warm when I saw this. They really were in love, even though they only met such a short time ago. I guess it was true love, something I had never seen in my life, and I was the first to see it, the first to know. I really felt special at that moment, like I held the most beautiful secret of that time, so pure their love appeared.

After a few minutes I decided to go back inside the castle. After all, it wasn’t my business, and it was cold. So slowly I crawled back towards the little door of the castle, looking behind me once in a while to look at Anrui and Taishi. They were still there when I noticed something on my right. A slight movement in the corner of my eye, that’s all it was, but it was enough for me to notice. Someone was there, someone else was also seeing what I had seen, and maybe heard what I had heard. I really wanted to know who it was, but I couldn’t see it in the dark. I wanted to sneak towards whoever it was to find out, but I was too scared that they would see me, too. After all, I wasn’t allowed to be there either. So I crawled towards the door and slowly entered the castle again. I ran towards my room and locked myself inside, still wondering who the pony was.

The next morning, everything was still calm when I woke up. I slowly got out of my bed, refreshed myself and headed towards my mother’s room, as she had requested the night before, so we could discuss what we were going to do that day. After all, I was a big girl and I had to help my mother now, just as Campestre had to. Reine not, of course, she was the heir, all she had to do was to be herself and act like it. When I approached the door I heard some voices coming out of it. I thought it was my mother having another discussion with Campestre, as usual, as she didn’t really accept her and for that matter never listened to her. But when I got closer to the door I realised the voice did not belong to Campestre. It was Reine’s voice. I didn’t want to disturb their talking, so I waited by the door, and I couldn’t help overhearing what they were saying when I heard them mention Taishi’s name.
‘Do you not think it is a little too early for you, Reine? After all…’
‘No, mother. I do not think it is too early. I am only two years younger than you were. Why would it be early?’
‘But still… Even if it is not early for you, why him? He is the only person you met so far. You do realise his position is very important. You have to choose wisely, Reine. I had met over five boys before I met your father.’
A short silence fell and I could feel my heart beating faster. Surely this couldn’t be true? Did my sister really like Taishi? But he liked Anrui, right?

‘Could you please give it a chance, mother? Give me a chance to get to know him better. Discuss it with queen Tafide. Surely she has an opinion about this matter too. I really like him, mother, and I want to get a chance to meet him and find out if I am right.’
I could hear my mother sigh deeply. ‘Alright, Reine. I will discuss it with queen Tafide, and I will see if I can arrange something so you two can be alone for a while, do something together, so you can find out if you are right. But I will not promise you anything. Taishi has to like you too, you know that. Now please, go get yourself ready for breakfast.’

I heard hoofsteps approaching the door and I instinctly walked a few steps backward. The door opened, and my sister Reine stepped out.
‘Oh hello Regina.’ She said, when she noticed me.
‘H…hi.’ I stammered back.
‘You been here long?’ Reine asked, looking at me suspiciously.
‘I… no, I just came here. Mother asked me to come over this morning and…’
‘Yes yes, whatever. I got to go now.’
She walked away from me, towards her own room. Slowly I entered my mothers room, wondering what on earth was going to happen next. Taishi loved Anrui, and I, together with the mystery pony, were the only ones who knew that. But now my older sister wanted to marry him. I was confused and I didn’t know what to do. But I wasn’t supposed to know either things, so there was no one I could discuss it with. So I entered my mothers room, and we discussed the plans for that day, while I was wondering what was going to happen with Taishi and Anrui if Reine would get what she wanted."