Poppy

The carriage stopped in front of the huge castle with its high, darkened windows. Strong and magnificent, it defied the two mountains between which it stood. In the light of the full moon, it looked like a haunted castle made of glass. Overwhelmed, Poppy got out of the carriage after a servant opened the door for her. The coachman had to announce Poppy at the gate of the castle so that the carriage would be let through. Poppy had shown the letter with which she had been invited. But the guards at the gate knew that her arrival was expected. An invitation from the royal family was tantamount to a summons.

Poppy couldn't believe her luck. Was she really here? At the castle? She would get to know the queen. Maybe the king, too? Was she really allowed to sew ball gowns? Here?

Far away from her family? The air smelled of freedom. What adventures awaited them here? Here, where Poppy was able to define herself new?

Or was she just dreaming?

Kevina

Kevina laughed amused as she and Telman walked from painting to painting. Her husband mimicked every painted pose and facial expression. He was particularly well at imitating the King's sublime gaze, in a small portrait showing him sitting on a horse.

The two were visiting the castle and her husband had nothing better to do than make fun of the paintings of past and present members of the royal family. Now, they passed a picture in which Kevina could be seen. Her seven-year-old self looked cheekily at them as she half-hid behind one of the many dark curtains. The black curtain fell around her small body like a gloomy shadow. Kevina could still remember the day it was painted. She had insisted on being painted like that. Eventually, the King gave in to her pleas and she got her way.

"How cute!", announced Telman, aping her painting as well.

"Oh, stop! What if the Queen and the King see you? How embarrassing."

"You are welcome to participate. What shall I do next? Ah! A picture of your adorable stepsisters!" He pointed to one of the larger paintings, which hung almost directly next to Kevina's. It had been painted a few months after Prince Tenner had remarried. In the painting, the two girls were seen dancing through the ballroom with their new grandfather. Von King turned his back on the viewer of the picture. The focus of the picture was on the two children, whose faces beamed with happiness.

"May I ask for this dance?" Telman winked at her.

Kevina rolled her eyes. "No thanks. Shouldn't this seamstress arrive soon? The one that the Queen is so enthusiastic about? Grandmother expects her to come soon."

"Grandmother?" Telman kissed her cheek. "You rarely call Her Highness that... A girl from a tiny town on the border. Either the Queen has lost her mind, or her talent is overwhelming!"

"Telman!" Giggling, she pushed him. The two had now arrived at the grand staircase to the entrance of the castle. Just in time to see a servant escort a young girl into the castle. Another servant carried a modest suitcase made of good leather. The girl was pretty, with long orange hair. She looked around excitedly.

Telman put his arm around Kevina's shoulders and looked at the seamstress with interest. "What a cute little thing, isn't she, my darling?"

"Very cute, yes", Kevina confirmed. "I wonder if she's very talented? For someone from the edge of the world?"

"At Sewing or something else?" Telman whispered in her ear and nibbled at her earlobe. Giggling, she lashed out at him.

"Don't! We're not at home!"

"I know!" Telman grinned. "But I knew you liked such a cute thing too. I also saw a very cute servant earlier who you might like."

The girl now spotted the two at the top of the stairs and bowed quickly. The servant, however, shook his head and told her to hurry. The queen would not like to wait.

"Delightful", Kevina murmured.

"We think the same thing, my dearest!", Telman replied. "And? Do you want her to make a dress for you?"

Immediately, Kevina's good mood vanished. "So far, the Queen has only spoken of Franka and Coletta. Franka this, Coletta that..."

"Are you jealous? My sweetheart? My piece of gold? My jewel?"

"Do you want to flatter me? My hero?" Kevina stroked his cheek. "What for? To cheer up poor Kevina? Because the Queen prefers her pesky stepsisters?"

"Annoying?" Telman held out his hand to her and the two danced past the stairs. "But it didn't sound like that when Franka and Coletta visited. Or at our wedding. You are a hypocrite, my dear!"

"And you only spoke to me because of the throne, Monsieur!" She stuck her tongue out at him.

Telman pulled her closer to him as they danced. "And then I fell in love! I don't regret anything, my beauty!"

"I'd resent you for that!" Now, it was Kevina who winked. "My dear, let's see if I can get a dress too, okay?"

"My Queen should get the most beautiful dress of all!", Telman announced. "Or directly the throne!"

"Both!", she whispered in his ear. "I love dancing! And balls!"

"I know, my queen!" On the top step of the magnificent staircase, they kissed.

For this, I need to pass Franka and Coletta...  Inwardly, Kevina rumbled with anger. Ever since her two stepsisters came into her life, they were favored by her grandparents. Was this fair?

Certainly not.

Even though Kevina was an adult, this had hurt her more than she had suspected at the time.

When her father announced that he wanted to remarry, she was delighted. He looked so happy. But he didn't just get married. No. Just like her mother, he immediately brought even more children into the house. Children who endangered her position. Her father had always said that he didn't want anymore biological children. He had too little time to be a good father to them. And his future wife didn't want any (more!) Children, he had told her. But then, he brought two stepdaughters into the house.

And her mother?

Kevina hadn't seen her in years. When she eloped with the servant, Kevina was only four years old. She knew she had three brothers. She had met her mother and her new family once when she was looking at the new university.

It was in the same city where her unfaithful mother lived. And she pretended she didn't even know Kevina! No. After that, she didn't want to study anymore.

Kevina wanted security.

And what was safer than the throne?

And as the eldest grandchild, her chances were good. If the choice fell on her father, wouldn’t he surely want to see his eldest daughter on the throne after him? And her grandparents had to see it the same way. She was a better choice than her elderly father, who would only rule for a few years. Unless Her Highnesses directly appointed Kevina as heir to the throne.

Telman was a real stroke of luck. Well, she had to get used to his taste in decoration, but they shared some interests. And one of these interests had just come through the doors of the castle.

Yes, Kevina's marriage was safe. And if she became queen, then her future would be even more secure!

Kevina and Telman.