The king is dead!
The flag that bore the edelweiss in the centre of the deep royal blue fabric and two eagles on each side was lowered, signifying that the kingdom's ruler was no more.
It was surprising news for everyone, though inevitable. A plague had loomed over the kingdom of Erdestea for the past few months, and almost half of the population dreaded seeing death. Perhaps King Arnulf was not exempted from the scythe of death. He succumbed to the plague that ravaged his lungs, along with his never-ending grief over his wife's death—this is what Countess Gertrude announced to the public.
The kingdom mourned once more for a monarch. However, several subjects shed no tears for the king became cruel, cold, and unpredictable. Yet, with their remaining respect, they still prayed for him during the mass held in their churches.
After receiving the news, the little Princess Maria Blanca cried a liter of tears. Her father might not be kind to her, so distant that he did not want to talk to her; still, the little pale princess had so much love for her father that upon his death, she was the one who sincerely had her heart for him.
She stayed in her room and cried on her bed. She did not eat and could not even pick up her favourite book like she used to. She no longer sang on that morning like every waking hour. She cried and cried every minute until her pretty gold eyes turned puffy and red. "Why did Father leave? I did not even get to say goodbye!" She wailed, covering her face as she remained on her bed.
Her bedsheet was soaked with the unending tears that rolled from her eyes. Her two nursemaids could not even console her. Little Maria Blanca cried more until she fell asleep. The little princess only opened her eyes when the birds, her darling friends, perched on her window and sang her a song. Maria Blanca rose, walked towards her bird friends, and told them of her father's death. There was still no smile on her lips, and her little companions noticed, prompting them to invite themselves to her room, stand her headboard and begin to sing her a song that seemed to be forgotten by time.
"Come, little one
Whose face was ever-beautiful,
Ever-pale,
And reflects the wonders of the snow mountain's flower—
Come and rest thy head
Come towards this song,
that lulled you to bed.
Let not sorrows now condemn your soul
And let not those pain scourged you."
Upon hearing their song, little Maria Blanca returned to her bed, lay down, and contemplated what would happen to her now that her papa was gone. She pouted, knowing that she was alone with no mother and father. The princess was an orphan, only having the reliance on her servants, and a palace loomed with gloominess and bitter tears.
Yet she remembered her—Aunt Gertrude.
Oh, how the little pale girl shivered knowing she was still there. She crouched to her side when she recalled the pains she had to endure under her aunt's command. Not everyone knew how she would cry herself to sleep after finishing her chores for the day.
Alone, she shivered as her bird friends continued to sing,
"Pretty pale face,
Please, wept no more.
The sun is about to come,
To smile upon you,
And to crown you with his
Golden fingers."
However, as she slowly closed those lovely golden eyes, whispers hovered over her, reminding her about kindness. "God blesses a heart filled with kindness, love, and courage." Something sparked inside Maria Blanca, vowing to be kind, to never let her smile fade, and to share love with others. She also promised herself to be brave and not be the cause of everyone's distress, especially her Aunt Gertrude.
The little princess's tears ceased as the birds' lullaby went on. She might be alone now, but never lonely. She then curved a faint smile and soon drifted to her magical dreamland.