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Vesterian Palace - Royal bedchambers, 1721
One week after the royal wedding
Dearest Mother,
I know you are no longer with me, and I know you cannot hear or see these words which I write to you, and I mourn the fact that your physical presence is absent. Yet, I am writing this journal in your honor, because I know you are alive in my heart, and these are the words I would say if you were still with me.
Since you’ve died, so many things have happened. Father has passed on, and I wish I could say I miss him, and it sounds cruel to say that it’s a relief to see him gone. I am telling the truth: his absence in my life feels like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I know you loved him, but I cannot say the same for myself. He’s gone, and I’ve moved on.
Vesteria, your beloved kingdom, is being rebuilt. You would love to see it — flowers blooming at the end of winter, the sunsets in the morning, and the village waking up — it’s so beautiful. I just know you would adore it. Vesteria is more beautiful than ever.
I’ve made good friends with some people here. They are kind, warm, loving, and so gentle. Some claim they knew you, before Astria rose to power and the kingdom was divided by the Order. They all honored you by a proper memorial, and we — especially I — miss you terribly.
I’ve been married to the most wonderful man I could ever know — I kept my promise to you to find someone who loves me and will care for me forever. He is the love of my life and I could not ask for more. He is the lost king of Vesteria, and he’s reclaiming his throne and rebuilding his kingdom.
I am his queen now, and I am proud to see him rise to power and prosperity. I hope it does not get to his head, though, I doubt it will. He is so kind, gentle, and a graceful leader. He is perfect. You would have loved him, Mama, and I wish you would have had the chance to meet.
I could not and will not ask for someone more. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I love him with all my heart.
“What are you writing?”
Purple quickly covered the journal with her hands, jumping a little. She started giggling when she saw Green inquisitively peeking at what she was writing.
“Nothing that concerns you,” she said, laughing softly. She nudged him to push him away, but his strong form didn’t move.
“Then it’s about me,” he said, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. She sighed and leaned back in her seat, enjoying the attention. He’d been busy all day with his kingly duties, too busy to even spend time with her. She grew to look forward to the evenings, when they were able to spend time alone together.
“Can I read it?” Green asked.
“No,” Purple said sweetly. “Maybe I will let you when I’m old and grey.”
“Aww…” Green smiled and pressed a kiss to the spot behind her ear, and she squirmed at the ticklish feeling. “It’s alright. I’ll still love you when you’re old and grey.”
Purple giggled, and Green stepped backwards after a moment. She mourned the loss of his warm hands giving her shoulders a massage. She rather liked those massages.
“Come to bed, my love,” he said, and she could hear the ruffle of the sheets as he climbed into the massive bed they shared. “It’s getting late.”
“Give me a moment,” Purple replied, dipping her pen in the ink once more.
I will love him till I’m old and grey, and even after death parts us, I will still love him. I love him more than what anyone or anything has to offer — more than life itself.
He is my everything.
Green sighed impatiently. “Purple, it’s been more than a moment.”
She giggled and closed her journal, tucking it away in a nearby shelf. She took her time making her way over to the bed, kicking off her slippers and blowing out the candle. When she laid back across the bed, Green huffed and pulled her closer with one swift, strong movement. He asserted his dominance by wrapping her in his arms and trapping her so she wouldn’t go anywhere.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Purple said.
“Mmph. Last night you ended up on the divan.”
“Because you kept kicking me!”
“What? I was not!”
“Then you were running a race in your sleep.”
He glared.
“Regardless, I couldn’t sleep, so I moved.”
“Mm. I’m sorry, my angel.”
She touched his nose with hers. “You are forgiven.”
Green gave a satisfied nod. Then he yawned and buried his face into the crook of her neck, placing low effort kisses here and there. Purple cuddled against him, sighing deeply. He was unusually quiet tonight; normally he liked to stay up and read or talk.
Purple giggled. “Hard day?”
“Very,” he replied, muffled by her close presence. “Did you know kings have to check how many cattle farmers have?”
“Mmm, really?”
“It’s ridiculous,” he pouted. “And I was never good at arithmetic.”
“Never good, or just didn’t want to?”
“Oh shut up.”
She laughed softly. “I’m sorry you had to suffer through that.” She stroked his hair soothingly, and he seemed to like it. “How are the boys? I feel as though I haven’t seen them in ages.”
“They’re all crazy as usual,” Green sighed, shifting slightly so he wasn’t as muffled. “Yellow seems to be consumed by this new project… ‘electricity,’ he called it. Powerful things and whatnot. And Blue spends all his time outdoors. I think the duties of being head chamberlain is stressing him out.”
Purple laughed softly. Her hand moved from his hair to the back of his neck, rubbing it soothingly. He winced slightly when she rubbed over a sore spot. “And what of Orange and Red?”
“They’re both well,” Green replied. “Orange is tired, I can tell. He always is. And Red is the polar opposite — bouncing around, making sure things get done. I’m grateful for his help.”
“Orange needs a vacation.”
“He certainly does.” He peeked up at her with the gorgeous emerald eyes Purple would never get tired of staring at. “How are you, my love?”
“Well,” she said. “Very well. I have selected my ladies in waiting.” She paused. “My lady in waiting.”
“Rose?”
She smiled in agreement. “Yes. She was ecstatic.”
“I’m sure Red will be, as well.”
“Oh, yes, he’d throw a party for her if he could.”
They both laughed.
Green’s demeanor slowly changed from goofy to exhausted. He gazed sleepily at his queen for a moment before burying his face into her neck again. She gave a look of concern and the deepest love before planting a gentle kiss on his temple.
“Being a king is hard,” he mumbled after a moment of silence.
“Hmm…”
“There’s so many responsibilities and duties and people to care for,” he vented, and his embrace around her waist grew tighter. “No one said it would be this difficult.”
“No one said it would be easy,” Purple intervened gently.
“My father was a good king,” Green continued. “He was kind and generous and strong.”
“You’re kind and generous and strong,” Purple said.
“My mother was equally amazing.” Green sniffed. “Beautiful, and graceful, and so loving.”
“You are all those things.”
“They were good parents. Good rulers…” Green’s voice trailed off, and Purple felt his grip release a little. “If only I could talk to them. Get some advice. At least that’d give me more confidence...”
“Green…” Purple shifted a little to see his face. His cheeks were red and warm, and his hair was messy. His eyes had gathered sparkling tears, but they hadn’t fallen. “My love, you are a good ruler.”
He sniffled. “I don’t know, Purple. It’s harder than I thought. Everyone I’ve read about and heard of makes it seem so easy… Why can’t it be easy for me?”
“It will never be easy,” she said. “Life will never be easy. Especially if you’re a king. Why, being a king is one of the hardest things in the world.”
“I wish it wasn’t.” Green’s embrace grew tighter again. “I’m tired, Purple. So tired.”
“I know you are.”
Purple sat up so that she was looking down at him, love and the deepest concern in her eyes. She caressed his cheek, and he kissed her palm, a small tear escaping his eye when he closed them.
“Green, I understand it may be difficult and stressful,” she said, gently as she could. “But there are people who need you to be the best ruler you can be. They are a broken people, and they need someone to unite and mend them.”
“I can’t do it,” he mumbled, another tear slipping down. “I can’t do it, Purple.” Another tear. “It’s too hard.” And another.
She wiped them all away with her thumb, and he took in a shuddering breath. “You are strong,” she murmured. “You are generous. You are kind. You are loving. You are capable.” She leaned down to press a lingering kiss to his brow. “I know you can do this, Green,” she said softly. “And I will be right there beside you.”
He laughed, mostly to hide the sobs that he wanted so hard to let out. He took her face in his hands and just gazed, smiling with a confidence she’d helped him unlock. “I could never do this without you.”
She smiled.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
Green pulled Purple closer to his face and kissed her, eliciting a soft giggle from his beautiful bride as she reciprocated. It felt wonderful — like a breath of fresh air. Her lips were so soft and perfect against his. He was disappointed when she drew back, and felt as though it was too soon. Despite being exhausted, he felt as though he could kiss her for hours.
“It’s late,” she said, lying back down. Green pouted, and she giggled. “Go to sleep, my love.”
She pulled the duvet over herself until it reached her ears, but allowed him to replace the blankets with his arms draped over her again. He pressed one last kiss onto the spot behind her ear, the one that made her giggle every time.
“Goodnight, Green,” she mumbled, already drifting off.
He closed his eyes. “Goodnight, my angel.”
Purple couldn’t help but wonder why Green insisted on calling her his “angel.” It was a sweet nickname, but she had never asked for its origins.
“Angel, hm? You’ve been calling me that ever since your recovery.”
Green opened his eyes again and smiled at her sheepishly. “And…?”
“Did you just think of it?”
Green kept smiling that silly, lovesick smile he always had. “No. After our first meeting, I think at that ball, I saw an angel outside the window, but by the time I got there, she was gone. And… I kept seeing her, but I never knew who she was.”
Purple gazed at him fondly as he continued.
“After I recovered, the first time I walked outside my room, I saw the angel again. That time, finally, I got close enough to see that she was you.”
She blushed deeply.
Her face got even redder when he cupped her cheek. “You were so gorgeous, my love…”
Purple wanted to melt. Green was so sweet.
And sleep deprived.
“You’re tired, Green,” was all she said. “Get some rest.”
“Hm,” Green let his eyes flutter shut. “Said the one who woke me up asking about angels.”
“Sleep.”
“Fine, m’angel.”