The man Nar called uncle looked up at him and cracked a smile. To Simina, it looked more like a sneer.
“Nephew!” he bellowed, spreading his arms out wide. Simina took that to mean that he really was Nar's uncle.
“You're here early. I thought you'd be here a few days later,” Nar said. His uncle laughed.
“Wanted to get here as soon as possible, my nephew. It's great to see ya!” he drawled. Simina got a very awkward feeling. She felt out of place suddenly.
“I'll see you later, Nar,” Simina whispered. She didn't want to talk to his uncle, she didn't want to be noticed. Nar looked at her.
“Goodbye, my Lady.” Nar bowed his head. Simina hurried off on her horse, galloping away, riding like the wind.
* * *
Nar was not expecting his uncle to arrive so soon. This slightly unnerved him. He was not prepared for this. He knew his uncle was up to something. Nar hadn't heard from his uncle for years, until now, after he's had an accident. After all of these years, he hasn't bothered to contact him. Now, all of a sudden, he wanted to “visit.” He didn't trust his uncle one bit. Nar dismounted his horse and approached his uncle.
“It's good to see you, uncle,” Nar said blandly. “It's been a while.” Of course, he didn't mean that.
“Give your old Uncle Julian a hug!” He pulled Nar into a bear hug and slapped his back. Nar did not hug back. He pulled away and straightened his jacket. He cleared his throat and put his hands behind his back.
“To business, uncle. Why have you come here?” Nar asked, getting straight to the point. Julian scowled.
“Damn, you're such a stiff! Just like your old man! How is the old man doing anyway?” Julian stroked the rough, scratchy beard on his face. Nar ignored his comment.
“He is not well. My father is dying, in fact,” Nar stated plainly. Julian's eyes narrowed and he sneered.
“Oh, I'm sorry to hear about that...misfortune. I heard about your accident too, by the way. What happened there?” Nar pursed his lips. His uncle didn't sound sorry at all about his father's illness.
“Yes, that was quite...unfortunate,” Nar mused dryly. He tilted his chin up, insinuating dominance.
“You see...the King of Azria challenged my throne. We fought. He left me wounded and I killed him,” Nar told Julian, voice calm but scary and intense.
“It's a good thing you didn't die...who would have taken over the throne after your father if you had died?” Uncle Julian asked rhetorically, seeming to insinuate something. His insinuation, whatever it may be, did not amuse Nar.
“Yes...it's a good thing I am alive.” Nar cursed internally to himself. He wanted nothing to do with his uncle. He hadn't even been there long, and Nar already wanted to be rid of him.
* * *
When Simina arrived home, she went to her room and came to find Olivia rustling and snooping around in her top dresser drawer. Simina's skin prickled and her eyes widened. It's a good thing she moved her rose because she figured that's what Olivia was looking for. Simina hid her rose underneath of some loose wooden planks in the floorboard. She knew something like this would happen.
“What are you doing!?” Simina screeched at her. Olivia turned around with a startled jump. Her face was surprised. Simina entered the room, approaching Olivia in a very dangerous way. Olivia twiddled her thumbs nervously.
“I was...um...” she stuttered. Simina clenched her hands into fists, coming to a firm halt, feet rooted to the floor.
“What were you doing in my stuff?” All Olivia could do was stutter. “Answer me!!” Simina shouted. Olivia flinched from Simina's shout.
“I was looking for your rose,” Olivia answered quietly, eyes downcast, not meeting Simina's eye. Simina thought as much. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, containing her anger.
“Why?” Simina asked, snappy. Olivia shook.
“It wasn't my fault. Gloria made me do it,” she told Simina. Simina's brow drew.
“What?” Simina didn't understand. She toned the harshness of her voice down.
“Gloria told me to do it, she wanted me to find the rose Nar gave to you,” Olivia explained. Simina shook her head.
“Gloria...” she mumbled distastefully. Simina sucked her teeth with her tongue. She looked back up at Olivia.
“Why do you listen to her?” Simina squinted her eyes at Olivia. She shrugged.
“I don't know,” Olivia mumbled, rubbing her arm. Simina put her hands on her hips.
“Olivia, you need to stand up for yourself. You let Gloria boss you around too much,” Simina told her. Olivia shrugged again.
“I don't know how,” Olivia whined. Simina sighed.
“Of course you do. The next time she tells you to do something, say no. It's that easy,” Simina said. Olivia nodded.
“I'll try. I'm sorry about going through your stuff,” she apologized. Simina breathed heavily.
“Yeah, just don't do it again,” Simina warned her. With a shy nod, and the expression of a kicked puppy, Olivia skittered out of the room like a nervous spider.
A nerve frazzled Simina walked to the middle of the floor in her room, leaned down, uplifted the floorboards, and took out Nar's rose that stayed hidden and safely tucked away out of harm. She held it delicately in her hands as she plopped down on her bed and thought about Nar.
* * *
At least another week later, Simina was preparing the dinner table with Olivia when Gloria rushed in, excited about something. She busted through the door and started yelling about something. Simina saw that Gloria was actually smiling and Simina had never seen Gloria smile before with genuine happiness. She'd returned from cleaning at Nar's castle.
“Guess what, guess what?” Gloria shouted, jumping up and down. Aunt Lyda turned to look at Gloria from where she stood at the stove.
“Gloria, won't you please pipe down? And shut the door, you're letting in quite a draft,” Aunt Lyda said, pointing a finger. Gloria shut the door.
“Well, what is it?” Olivia asked, curious. Simina was pretty curious too, but didn't say anything. She set a plate down on the table and the silverware next to it.
“The Prince is going to be hosting a Royal Ball soon!” Gloria squealed. Simina raised her eyebrows in interest. Really, she thought. Olivia squinted her eyes.
“How do you know?” Olivia didn't believe Gloria. She thought Gloria was telling one of her usual lies.
“I heard the Prince talking to his uncle about it. He's hosting it to welcome his uncle to town and so he can choose a suitable wife.” At the last part, her voice became dreamy as did her eyes. Simina snorted. Gloria scowled at Simina, but didn't say anything.
Aunt Lyda approached the table and placed a dish on its surface that had steam rising from the top.
“Gloria, let's not talk about this now. It's dinner time. Go wash up, then help us set the table,” Aunt Lyda told Gloria, ending the topic. Aunt Lyda didn't care to hear about such matters. There were other things that were more important.
Huffing, Gloria stomped upstairs, ignoring Aunt Lyda's order to help set up dinner. Simina, however, was intrigued by this news. It excited her, but Simina kept her excitement contained. She wanted to go, just to get a chance to see Nar. Simina wondered when the ball was. That way, if she knew ahead of time, she'd have plenty of time to prepare for it. If she was able to go.
* * *
The next day, Gloria was cleaning the castle, mopping up the hallways. She noticed that the door to the King's study was slightly ajar. Gloria heard some rustling about in there. Confused and curious, she wanted to go check it out. Still holding the mop, she approached the door. Gloria peeked in through the crack. She saw a person shuffling around inside, messing and looking through things.
Gloria gently pushed the door open. It didn't creak when she pushed it. The person in the room didn't hear her. She quietly padded into the room and saw who it was. It was Prince Nar's Uncle Julian. He was rummaging through the King's personal spell books on the bookshelves. He rummaged through little bottles of strange liquid on the shelves and through the drawers in his desk. Gloria spoke.
“What are you doing?” she asked him, wondering why he was going through the King's stuff. Julian jumped, startled and tried to act like he wasn't doing anything. He whirled around, eyes bug-eyed and wide.
“N-nothing,” he stuttered, and scratched his head nervously. Gloria put a hand on her hip.
“Why are you going through the King's stuff?” Gloria snapped. Julian grimaced.
“You don't understand.” He shook his head. Gloria blinked in confusion.
“Understand what?” Her hip cocked to the side. Julian sighed.
“Do you know what it's like...to walk in someone's shadow?” He spoke very slowly and clearly. Gloria actually knew what he meant. She thought of Simina.
“Yeah,” Gloria replied.
“No matter what you do, you're never as important as someone else, you never get recognized. You never get the attention, the recognition, you deserve. Just because you're not as “special.” Someone's always better or prettier and gets everything you want. They take it from you when you know that it's supposed to belong to you. Not them. You get that?” Uncle Julian ranted. Gloria nodded, completely understanding.
“Yes. I feel that way about my cousin Simina,” Gloria spat, dislike filling her eyes.
“I hate her. Ever since she came here, she's gotten everything she's wanted. She's prettier, she's so deceitful, and she gets the Prince's attention. She gets everything I want,” Gloria complained, jealous.
“I want the Prince. I want to be rich,” she continued. She only wanted the Prince just so she could be rich, and she liked him. Not like Simina did, of course. Simina truly loved Nar and wanted to be with him. Gloria didn't care about all of that. The Uncle smiled.
“Do you wish to rule?” he asked her. Gloria nodded vigorously.
“Yes,” she answered.
“So do I.” Uncle Julian looked malicious.
“But you can't. Prince Nar is the heir to the throne and he's taken quite an interest in my cousin Simina. He probably wants to marry her.” Uncle Julian narrowed his eyes.
“I won't let that happen. The throne should rightfully be mine.” He wanted the throne for himself when it rightfully belonged to Nar and whoever Nar chose to marry.
“Nar can't marry her. I don't want Simina on the throne. I must stop her from marrying him,” Gloria said, determined. Julian started to formulate a plan.
“Or...” He stroked his bearded chin. Julian looked at Gloria. “We can work together,” he suggested, eyes blazing.
“Work together to do what?” She didn't know what he meant.
“Take the throne!” Julian exclaimed. Gloria's eyes widened. He continued.
“We both want the same thing! We both want to rule, to gain what we rightfully deserve! You don't want to let your cousin get what she wants, do you?” Julian knew he had her under his wing.
“No. I won't let it happen,” Gloria vowed. Julian spread his arms.
“Then help me,” he offered.
Gloria agreed. “What do you have in mind?”
Julian thought for a moment. “The King, my brother, is dying so he won't be a problem. But then there's Nar, my nephew, heir to the throne.”
Gloria racked her brain. “How do we take it?”
“We have to find a way to get Nar out of the way,” Julian said. “That's step one.”
“Wait...” Gloria narrowed her eyes. Julian looked up at her.
“What?” Gloria shifted.
“How do I know you won't try to get rid of me when all is said and done?” She was reluctant to trust him.
“Once it's all over, I'll ask for your hand in marriage. You will become my wife, and therefore my Queen,” Julian promised to Gloria. “I swear to it.” He placed a hand over his heart. Satisfied, Gloria nodded and agreed.
“Okay. Continue,” she said.
“But that's after the fact, if we succeed,” Julian said. Gloria held up a finger.
“There is going to be a ball soon. That could work to our advantage,” she suggested. Julian nodded.
“Yes, that could work.” He thought long and hard. Gloria thought too.
“We have to keep this quiet.” Julian lowered his voice to a whisper. He pointed behind Gloria to the door.
“Close the door.” Gloria listened and shut the door quietly.
“If someone hears of this...we'll be thrown in the dungeon,” she said. Her stomach twirled nervously at the thought of the dungeon. She did not want to go there.
“Or worse, executed for treason against the Prince,” Julian added. Gloria felt a pit form in her stomach. She felt queasy.
“You mustn’t speak of this, to anyone,” Julian spoke urgently, seriousness in his voice. Gloria's nerves felt like they were on fire.
“I swear, I will not speak a word of this. I promise,” Gloria swore.
“Good.” Gloria felt antsy.
“How are we going to do it? We have to get rid of the Prince,” Gloria whispered sharply. Julian groaned.
“I know, I know.” He felt irritated. He thought long and hard. Gloria saw a light bulb literally cut on above his head. He snapped his fingers.
“I've got it!” Julian exclaimed. Gloria jumped.
“What is it? Tell me!” Julian looked devious.
“We kill him and make it look like an accident,” Julian hissed. Gloria agreed.
So, they both conspired to overtake the throne by also conspiring to kill Nar and Simina and make it look like an accident.