Royal Desire
Chapter One
Masterlist
A gentle bunny.
That’s what your mom used to call you when you were younger. A bunny because you often scrunched up your nose when faced with a situation you didn’t like. Gentle because whenever your dad asked you to help with the farm, you were always gentle with the plants, never pulling or tugging on them unlike your younger siblings.
Perhaps it was fate that you ended up being the oldest of a total of six children. You were gentle enough to handle the tantrums and the tears, the most harm you could do to your siblings was scrunch up your nose when they did something you disliked.
You were definitely a stark contrast to your mother, a headstrong woman who whacked naughty children with her spoon. She never once let anyone walk over, even when your dad warned her about watching her mouth, and it was understandable. You remember hearing through word of mouth about a young woman, a few villages over, that was tortured for talking back. But it didn’t scare your mom, she never backed down, and she made this especially clear when the tax collectors came by to collect their money.
“How much more does this bloody king need?!”
This was something you often heard come out of your mother’s mouth, and every time she and the collectors would argue. Your siblings would joke around and say that even the neighboring village could hear her shout. It became a common thing to expect every time you saw the tax collectors carriage coming into the village, but just recently you’re not sure what was said the day that the collectors came with the royal guards, but you know that after that your father was the one handing over the money.
If you were a stark contrast to your mom, you were definitely more like your dad. A gentle, but intelligent man by nature. Always willing to lend a helping hand to the rest of the villagers, you were sure that if this villager had a leader, he would’ve been it. He was definitely the man that everyone in this village relied on for help, but it was exhausting having to share him with other people.
The village people always flocked to him for help. If he couldn’t fix it then it was considered unfixable, but he was also a man that never gave up, always staying for hours on end trying to fix anything and everything they brought to his attention. While it didn’t bother you and your siblings, it most definitely bothered your mother who would always complain every time he was gone and only returning home for dinner. Your mom was a woman who always repeated certain phrases and she repeated a certain one to your dad with him providing the same answer every time:
“Why be gone for such a long period of time?”
“If I don’t help them who will?”
You understood why he helped, in a village where nobody was rich including your family. Anything that is broken can’t be replaced easily, to replace something means risking losing a meal for the day or even a week if it costs a lot. That’s why the villagers flocked to him because he’d always find a way, and that’s why you looked up to him so much. You wanted to be like your dad and try to help out whenever you can.
—
It must be another tax collecting day
You thought to yourself as you hung up the wet clothes on the clothesline, hearing the horses gallop. Looking up from the clothesline, you were right as you could recognize that carriage from anywhere, but it’s when you see them come closer to the village that you notice another carriage coming right behind them. The carriage was different unlike the tax collectors carriage, this one sported a golden trim instead of the normal brown.
You’re not sure why you felt compelled to investigate further.
No good comes out of being nosy.
That was what your mom used to say, but something about that carriage made you wonder what it was doing here. Maybe a noble family was coming to rule over this village? Or maybe the tax collectors got so fed up with your mom that they finally told the royal guards to take her away? Whatever the reason may be, you needed to know.
You took quick steps before reaching the village square, you arrived there just in time as you saw that the carriages had barely arrived there as well. You weren’t the only one curious about the new carriage as you spotted other villagers also gathering around, talking amongst each other about what that unknown carriage meant.
“I bet it’s the King coming to announce he’s raising the taxes.”
“No it can’t be. The King hasn’t even raised taxes since he took over.”
“I bet it’s someone who’s going to ‘rule over us’”
“Ha! Yeah right like we’re going to listen to him! They could bring the King here and I wouldn’t bow!”
Nobody paid any mind to the tax collectors coming out of their carriage, especially not the workers that followed after them. But all conversations ceased the moment that mystery carriage opened and out came a frail old man, clutching onto a sheet of paper, he was definitely someone important to the kingdom as his clothes was enough to pay for at least two years worth of food, and you’re positive that his monocle could pay for at least five months of food. Everyone must’ve been thinking the same thing as the new figure shifted uncomfortably under the villagers gaze.
The old man took a few small steps towards the center where he could address everyone, he fumbled slightly with the paper, reading what was on it before clearing his throat.
“Hear ye hear ye! The King and Queen are pleased to announce that they are looking for more workers to work for the castle! You’ll receive a great payment, housing, and an even greater honor working under our esteemed rulers!”
The old man ignored the slight chatter about the news and continued speaking.
“For any who are interested! You are to report to the castle by sunrise tomorrow! Just go straight from the village statue and you shall reach the castle!”
He didn’t even give a goodbye as he quickly got back into the carriage and the collectors took over, telling everyone it was time to collect the taxes.
While everyone scattered back home, perhaps to get the money ready; you stood alone in the village square, thinking over the announcement. It seemed like a good idea to take a job there, your family could use the money for the taxes and to survive.
Your mom would have a heart attack if she found out you were considering leaving your home to head to the castle.
Why leave somewhere that’s safe to head to the unknown?
It was a valid concern. Why would you leave your home that you grew up in and most likely would die in for somewhere where you’ll be surrounded by people who act differently. Where one wrong move could land you on the chopping block. Where you’ll be beneath the nobles who live in the Kingdom square, anything could happen and you’ll have no one to protect you but yourself.
However, it’s your dad’s phrase that makes you think about taking this job. You’re thinking of younger siblings, who are growing by the day and need more food and better clothing. You’re thinking of your parents, who are getting older and soon won’t be able to help out as much as they used to.
If I don’t help them, who will?
You just hope you’re not making a bad choice taking the job.
Authors Note: I wanted to clarify something in the story. Where it says that readers dad warned her mom about watching her mouth, it’s not meant to be like a threatening manner. The parents have a great relationship; it’s meant more like the dad was worried about the mom losing her head because of her mouth so he wants her to be polite to the tax collectors even if she doesn’t want to.