THE RETURN

THE SOUND OF HEELS CLACKING AND SLOW JAZZ MUSIC CONSUMED THE EVER-SO LARGE BALLROOM. WATCHING FROM THE BALCONY VIEW I COULD SEE YOUNG MEN HAD BEGUN OFFERING THEIR HANDS WHILST THE RECEIVING END WOULD REPLY WITH A CURTSEY. IN THE MIDST OF WATCHING THE YOUNGER GENERATION, THE CALCULATING FACES OF THE MADAMS WOULD BE GRACED WITH A SMILE THAT HELD ONLY ONES DEEPEST SECRETS.

WHILST BASKING UNDER THE MOONLIGHT, MY GAZE SLOWLY DRIFTED INTO THE BALLROOM WATCHING THE FACES OF EVERYONE I REMEMBERED. TAKING A SIP OF MY DOMAINE LEROY MUSIGNY CRU WINE, I WAITED IN SILENCE. THE JAZZ MUSIC HAD FINALLY STOPPED, THE TRUMPETS PLAYED, IT WAS TIME. HIS HIGHNESS, KING GEORGE MIDDLETON THE THIRD HAD STEPPED INTO THE ROOM WITH THE OTHER ROYALS BEHIND HIM.

EVERY NOBLEMAN AND WOMEN IN THE UPPER ARISTOCRACY STEPPED UP AND PAID THEIR RESPECTED BOW. AS I WATCHED THE ROYAL FAMILY IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE GLORY OF FLATTERY, A LIGHT LAUGH ESCAPED FROM MY LIPS, CATCHING THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE IN THE ROOM.

HEADS BEGAN TO TURN, MURMURS AND DELIGHTED WHISPERS WERE SHARED AMONGST THOSE WHO WERE SPECTATING. WOMEN SOON BEGAN COVERING THEIR FACE WITH A FAN WHILST GOSSIPING AMONG THEMSELVES, WHEREAS THE MEN BEGAN OBSERVING THE SCENE IN HOPES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

“STEP OUT OF THE ROOM,” THE KING DEMANDED WHILE SIGNALLING FOR THE GUARDS TO STEP FORWARD.

SUDDENLY THE SOUND OF HEELS TAPPING AGAINST THE BALCONY FLOOR DROWNED OUT THE SOUND OF MURMURS. A SMIRK ADORNED MY FACE. IT WAS A TIME FOR A NEW ERA.

THE CURTAIN FLUTTERED GENTLY TO THE SIDE AS THE DOORS OPENS.

THE SIGHT OF ME HAD EVERYONE IN A CHOKEHOLD. NO ONE COULD BELIEVE THEIR EYES, THE MERE THOUGHT OF ME, A ROYAL CONCUBINE’S DAUGHTER OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME, ALIVE, IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE.

“ANNALIESE YOU, YOU ARE ALIVE?”

“OLDER BROTHER AREN’T YOU GLAD TO SEE ME?”

“WHY OF COURSE ANNALIESE, YOU CAN’T IMAGINE HOW MANY TEARS I'VE SHED FOR YOU”

WITH THAT SAID THE GUARDS LOWERED THEIR GUNS

“HOW UNFORTUNATE I DON’T SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT, I SIMPLY CAME TO GIVE MY DEAR OLDER BROTHER JUST A PIECE OF ADVICE, THERE’S A REASON SOLDIERS SHOOT TWICE”