Side-Story – Brandy – Prologue – Burden of a Princess

Slowly opening the door to father's study, I tried keep my breathing controlled. I gulped ever so lightly, as I shifted the bundle of papers I'd spent the last several days meticulously preparing.

The door opened quietly, being well made even if old, and for a moment all I saw were there shelves and tables. Then I finally saw the desk. The huge desk, so big one couldn't reach all its corners even if you lay upon it.

Father was alone. He sat at his desk, leaning over it with his head in his hand.

He looked tired. Angry.

Thin.

I gathered my nerve as I stepped into his study, making sure to tap lightly on the door as I did. Father slowly glanced up at me, and upon our eyes meeting all of his exhaustion disappeared.

"Brandy, why are you still up?" he asked, sounding upset.

I didn't let his tone, or the disappointed frown on his face, stop me. I continued deeper into his study, and lifted the bundle of papers a bit as to show him.

"Father…! I think I have a solution!" I said excitedly, my voice cracking and making noises as if I'd not drank anything in days.

My father noticeably sighed as he sat up a little as I went to put the papers onto his desk. I had to stretch a bit to do so, since I wasn't tall enough.

"Brandy…" father said my name, sounding annoyed. I tried not to hear the exhaustion creeping back into his voice, or see it show on his face either.

"Look, father! The eastern shipping lane is still open, and recently the nation of…" I quickly went to try and explain, shuffling the papers as well as I could to find the main document that showed my findings. It was hard to find it when not able to fully see over the edge of the desk; maybe I should have sorted them first before coming.

"Brandy!"

I flinched, even though he hadn't shouted too loudly.

He had leaned forward a bit, as to look down at me from over his desk. I tried not to shrink down and hide as he glowered at me.

"This is no time for games, Brandy. Please. Go to sleep. You and your siblings have an important task tomorrow, you will need your rest," father said, speaking calmly again.

Now instead of exhausted or annoyed, he simply looked hurt.

Which only made me feel even more terrible.

"But…" I started to say, about to point again at the papers, but father wasn't listening. He didn't want to listen.

He stood, rather briskly, and rounded his desk. I felt the tears come as he stepped over to me, and started gathering up the papers I had just placed onto his desk.

"Please, child. I have lots to do, and little time to do it. If you won't sleep, at least go bother someone else," he said as he got all my papers together. He then gently grabbed me by the shoulder and back, and turned me as to lead me back to the door.

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I tried to resist for a moment, but gave up. He was pushing rather firmly, and…

"But father, I have an idea," I tried to say as we reached the door.

If he had heard me, he didn't show it. He instead just handed me my papers, pushed me a little bit so that I would backstep out of his room… and then sighed and nodded down at me.

"I'll spend time with you later, Brandy. Once this is all over. I promise. For now, please, give me time," he said… and then shut the door.

Squeezing the bundle of papers to my chest, I heard the sound of the lock being latched. Through the thick door I heard father then sigh, mumble something I couldn't make out… and then I heard only silence.

Blinking tear-filled eyes… I glanced around the dark hallway. It was deep in the night. No one else was awake. Father and I were likely the only ones up at this hour, especially thanks to how hectic the world has been lately.

Taking a few deep breaths, I decided to just… place the papers down by the door. In front of it, so he'd notice them upon leaving. His door opened inward, so they'd not get stuck or ruined, but he'd have no choice but to see them again when he stepped upon them while leaving.

Gathering them into a nice little pile, I did my best to ignore the tears that fell upon a few of the papers.

I wasn't going to cry. Not really. I wouldn't let myself do so.

I knew why father had become so brunt and rude. I understood it. Even if the rest of my family, and our retainers, didn't.

Our kingdom was bankrupt. Broke. We couldn't even afford to pay salaries, let alone buy the necessary supplies and resources that kept our country running. Not only would we not be able to pay even our guards and servants here within a moon, we'd not be able to ensure the stores of food for winter would be full once he weather became harsh.

Thus my plan. My little idea, one that although might not work completely… it would at least alleviate the struggle. We'd not be able to fully restock our treasury with it, but at the least it'd pay the salaries and bills. It'd let us buy stock and food, and…

Some loud sounds startled me. I stood up quickly, and backed away from the door… as I heard things clatter and break. Things fell to the ground, and what sounded like a cup clanged and bounced along the floor inside father's study.

A loud, low, groan then followed… and I began to tremble as I realized what had happened.

Father had just acted out violently. Rashly. Either he had hit stuff off his desk in a fit of a rage, or knocked over one of the many tables and shelves.

Further proof of how bad it had gotten.

Father never acted with such anger. Even though he, like most men in this era, was something of misogynist… he was not cruel. Not mean. It was why so many people, family and servants alike, have begun to spread terrible rumors of him. That he'd been cursed, or fallen prey to some weird disease or disorder… since he was acting so uncharacteristically for a man such as him.

He was a wise, gentle, king. Not one to succumb to wrath or fury.

Taking a deep breath I decided to leave.

Maybe I was too late.

Maybe I had waited too long to try something. I should have put in effort, more effort, and helped him and our people find a solution a long time ago. Months, maybe even years, ago. Before the situation got this bad.

Maybe it was too late for him to see or hear reason.

But if that was the case… what do we do? What do I do?

No one would go against him on his court, or amongst his advisors. Not with him acting so emotional lately. Not since he had banished and threatened to hang poor Davidli.

I sniffed at the memory of that gentle old man, with the silly beard. He had looked so utterly lost and confused when father had banished him, just as we all had.

"Maybe they're all right… maybe father has been cursed…" I whispered as I rounded a corner… right as more shouts of anger echoed from down the hall. Coming from his study.

Maybe mother would have a better idea of what to do now. I'd not really talked with her about it yet.

Hopefully she'd be willing to speak of it. Especially since all of our lives, our kingdom and more might be dependent on us finding a solution.

Since he obviously wasn't able to.

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