introducing you to my favorite place

Madeline

I sighed, increasing my pace, turning onto the trail that would take me to my favorite place in the whole world. It wasn't long before I emerged from between the trees, where a large lavender field opened up before me.

Unlike the other fields throughout the country, this one was not visited by tourists. This was the palace's private field, and I knew that outside the harvest season, it was only busy during the days and times when the field was watered twice a week.

A few lilac branches were beginning to appear among the green bushes, making me long to see them in full bloom. In the background you could see the hut that served as a rest area for the workers during the harvest season.

I ran between the rows of bushes, taking a deep breath to absorb the soft scent of lavender that would become intense in a few weeks when everything was in bloom.

After running for a few minutes between the rows of lavender, I sat down on a bench at the edge of the field, taking a deep breath before drinking some from the bottle of water I was carrying. The song, by a Swedish band I met at a festival I went to in Munich with Fred a few years ago, started to play on my headset, and that song should definitely not be on my running playlist.

I couldn't resist the tranquillity of the melody, lying back on the bench as I closed my eyes, letting the sun bathe my skin as I hummed along to Björn Dixgård.

"And I'm dreaming of times, times that have passed, times when I lived alone in my own land called Ochrasy. That place was everything to me, the world I invented, you see. It's all in my fantasy and I believe in it.”

That was my reality, when I was in the lavender field I didn't have to worry about being perfect, I wasn't seen by anyone, that place was my private universe, there was no one to judge me there.

At least that's what I thought. I opened my eyes quickly as I felt myself being watched, and found Matteo standing there, waiting patiently for me to notice him. 

"You're upside down," I joked, pausing the music.

He came around the bench and stopped next to me, offering me his hand to get up.

"My apologies for that, Ms. Lechner, I didn't mean to interrupt.”

"You can confess that you were enjoying watching me, we're childhood friends now. We have no secrets from each other "I teased him, still holding his hand, even though I had already stood up.

"I thought we'd cleared the air about being childhood friends, Ms. Lechner," Matteo said, looking into my eyes.

My heart raced at his look, making me feel dizzy for a second. Or maybe that was due to the strong sun shining down on our heads.

"I know the age at which you had your first girlfriend and you discovered my secret hiding place, "I pointed to the field that surrounded us "You're my childhood friend, whether you like it or not.”

Once again the shadow of a smile flashed across his face, but he didn't reply.

"Besides, the rule is clear, we've been holding hands for more than thirty seconds, in some countries, we'd be married by now." I indicated with my gaze my hand that was still under his.

Matteo let go of me quickly, seeming only to have realized his slip-up at that moment, and resumed his professional posture.

"Forgive my indiscretion, miss. I didn't mean to interrupt, I was assigned to meet you. The queen requests your presence," he warned.

I groaned audibly in disgust. Why does she want to see me now? I'm doing everything right!

I started walking alongside the man, heading back to the palace. We returned to the woods together along the path as I went over the last few hours in my mind, trying to understand what I had done wrong. 

"I found her, she was running in the woods, she's on her way." Matteo announced into a small communicator on the collar of his uniform.

I gave him a questioning look at his words, which didn't go unnoticed by the man, who then explained.

"We'll keep your hiding place a secret," he assured me, making me smile.

"Do you know what I've done? I like to practice my justifications on the way.”

"I don't know anything, I'm sorry.”

"That's good, usually when I'm in trouble you're the first to know "I pondered.

"Are we? " Matteo seemed surprised by this information.

I gave him a sideways glance, offering him a mischievous smile.

"Of course, you need time to organize the rescue operation and, I don't know, get the head of whoever let us escape.”

"That's good to know " Matteo gave me an amused look.

We were coming to the end of the woods, soon we'd have to go back the way we'd come and ignore all the progress we'd made.

"Well, I'd better hurry. I don't intend to talk to the queen dressed like that " I stopped walking, turning to face him.

"Sorry to interrupt your run" the man asked once again.

"Thank you for looking for me and keeping my hiding place a secret, you've proved to be a good friend over the last hour," I teased him.

"We won't... you won't give up, will you? "he sighed.

"See you later, Matteo " I said goodbye before turning to run.

I couldn't help the satisfied smile that appeared on my face as I ran back home, I didn't know why I felt that way, but I wanted to be close to him, and I could be close to him.

I dressed quickly to go to the queen, and in a few minutes I was walking towards her private room where she had scolded me so many times over the last few years.

What had I done? That was the question on my mind, I'm sure I was trying hard to keep in line, I hadn't been to any more parties, I hadn't seen Fred for a few days, and the only times I went out were with Alexander, who also seemed to be trying hard not to make any mistakes, since after our last stunt in Zurich, her grandfather threatened to send her to live with his parents in the United States. 

And that was quite a threat, since he hadn't heard from his parents since they left.

Tobias Bauer, one of the palace guards, opened the doors for me to enter and then closed them, leaving only the queen and me alone in the room.

"Your Majesty "I bowed slightly as I approached the woman.

"Miss Lechner, please sit down "she indicated an empty armchair in front of her.

I walked over with a suspicious expression, following her instructions.

"You asked to see me? "I asked suspiciously.

"Yes, I have a problem, Miss Lechner, your father convinced me that you would be the right person to help me, and observing your change of attitude over the last few days, I began to agree with him "she explained naturally to my amazement.

"My help?”

"Yes, I'm having trouble dealing with Lady Brenner.”

I hated my friend's living situation, but I knew there wasn't much I could do to help her, given that she subjected herself to everything without question.

"Anna, you know that since the tragedy with the Brenners, I've personally taken on the mission of fulfilling what Willian and I dreamed of for Louise," the queen took on an intimate tone that almost made me grimace.

Louise was always brought up with the aim of marrying Fred and assuming the throne alongside him when the time came. Both her parents and the Queen never bothered to find out what she wanted, and for years she resisted this plan with resilience, following her heart and maintaining a relationship with Alexander Weisman. I believed that in time she would be able to convince them to forget this absurd idea and marry my friend.

 But when her parents died in an accident, Johannah gained a new weapon to use in her favor, saying how disappointed her parents would be with her attitudes.

Louise still tried to resist, but she wasn't prepared for the psychological warfare the queen waged, and about two years ago she broke up with Alex, leaving him heartbroken. 

The only reason my friend wasn't married at the moment was the total lack of interest on Fred's part, who had already made it clear that he wouldn't comply with his aunt's wishes, but she still hoped to beat him through exhaustion at some point.

"Yes, I know," I said with difficulty, trying not to show how much the subject irritated me.

Johannah stared at me for a few seconds, daring me to contradict her about her previous statements.

"I don't know what to do anymore, even with all my efforts she's been less and less willing, she no longer looks like the captivating future princess that all our people loved.”

I kept myself from rolling my eyes at that sentence. Of course she wasn't in the mood anymore, she was unhappy.

"Your Majesty, can I be honest? You know, without risking being thrown into the dungeons.” 

"We don't have dungeons here, Anna.”

"But there's the convent, it would be the same for me!”

"Just say what you have to say "I got a tired look in return.

I took a moment to organize the ideas in my mind, I needed to be as clear as possible to be able to help my friend.

"Your Majesty, you know that Louise and I have always been friends. I know her like no one else, and I know that she's been striving to be perfect, but she's only twenty-four. We don't know how to be perfect all the time.”

"What do you mean? That she should be more like you? Anna, you don't know how much work it is to cover up every indiscretion you and your friends make. The people of this country would be disappointed to see the future queen behaving so inconsequentially," Johannah explained.

"But you're forgetting an important point: she's not like us. Don't you think it would be important for the young people of this country to see that it is possible to have fun without being a bad example like me?” 

A surprised look came over the Queen's face at my audacious phrase, and at first I thought she was going to scold me for this foolishness, but instead she looked thoughtful.

"What do you suggest?” 

I was surprised by her answer, but recovered quickly, thinking of what I could ask next.

"Let us go to an event, just the two of us, without you or anyone under your command keeping an eye on us" I looked into her eyes, trying to give her confidence "trust us and find out everything through the newspapers afterwards, if there's anything but praise for Louise, you'll know I'm wrong.”

She took a few more moments to think about my proposal, and I wasn't so confident that she would accept, but to my surprise she did.

"In two days' time, Miss Augustine's birthday party will take place. If you do well, I can think more about everything you've told me.”

All right, that party would certainly be the most boring thing I'd ever do, but I was excited about the opportunity. If I had to endure a boring party to get my friend's company back, I'd do it without thinking.

"Your Majesty, you…”

"Our conversation is over, Anna. " the woman declared, picking up a book from a sideboard next to her armchair and ignoring me.

That attitude reminded me why I hated every minute in her presence. I stood up and, after bowing briefly, left the room, thinking about everything I would do if I really managed to get Louise out of that prison.