The Start of a Long Day

Anastasia had not been able to sleep save for a few moments right as the sun began to kiss the sky this morning. Now she sat heavy eyed at her outdoor table, hoping the sun may awaken her enough to start her daily functions. The coffee that tasted bitter compared to her normal teas and honey helped some, but in the end she was fighting a losing battle. She was tired with only the first day of the spring season behind her. What was she going to do?

Despite the Duke's letter explaining the course of events that took place and Prince Taren's request of her, Anastasia felt she knew little more than she did in the days prior. In fact, she felt as if she knew infinitely less. So much so she felt nearly sick this morning but knew that it would do no good to lay in bed sick when there was a potential war laying at their door step.

How she wished she could have a sick day, one where no one could come and intrude and she could just lie about in complete peace for the entirety of the day. Even if she did have a sick day, she knew herself to well and knew she wouldn't use it unless actually sick. In which case, she would have little fun or peace on such a day. Besides, the royal physician would be oh to quick to diagnose the problem and fix it, and she probably wouldn't even get until lunch before dying of boredom or a problem came knocking on her door. No, it was better she not be sick and simply wait out the headache. She could survive, as she always did, she just had to get through today.

Today was shaping up to be just as busy, if not more so, than the days prior. It began at 9 o'clock with a meeting of the advisors and Duke Algear. She had a records meeting at 10:30, a luncheon with the ladies of the court at noon, at 2 she had a fitting with the royal tailor so that they may begin work on her dress for the final day of the Spring Season (which was still three months away,) a flower planting ceremony in celebration of the second day of the Spring Season at 5, dinner directly after at 6, a musical recital at 8 and finally she could retire after refreshments and socialization at 10. In addition, she still had to maintain her normal responsibilities of maintaining the court, going over reports, signing wills and decrees, and trying to find time to meet the gentlemen elect of the season.

Unfortunately, all of this first week of spring would be this way. Hopefully, next week would be calmer. She could do this. She had managed in the past and she would manage now. She simply had to do one thing at a time, and then she would find she had done everything.

....

She had laid her head upon the cool top of her desk and willed the headache to go away, but it was no use. It nagged and pestered just a badly as the scenes of plaugued her mind. She had sat in the meeting with her advisors and Duke Algear for as long as she could bare, but it felt like he dragged on and on. At a certain point she could not sit still anymore and was reduced to fidgeting with her rings and dress.

Since Prince Taren had yet to make any severe threat, there was nothing to be done. However, Anastasia though a request for marriage was a plenty severe threat, but that boiled down to three point. One, he was in Karthia as one of her elects, so it was only natural that he should be trying to gain her hand in marriage. Secondarily, no one had yet to know of Prince Taren's proposal as she was set not to tell anyone at the moment. It seemed foolish to give Prince Taren the pride of being the talk of the court anymore than he already was or cause anyone in the court to prepare for things she was yet prepared to do. Thirdly, she was yet to decide on her stance of marriage, and her desire or obstinance was based on who the person beside her was.

Anastasia's headache continued to pound even though the meeting with the advisors was over with, as well as the records meeting. In fact, she was a bit ahead of schedule which was why she sat in her office alone and surrounded by mounds of paperwork that needed doing, but she had yet to be able to get to. Even though she had tried to pluck away at work for a little while, the herbs she had taken to try and help the pain subside had long since lost their effects. She had called several minuets ago for some more tea, but that takes time.

Everything takes time, and Anastasia unfortunately had much to little of it. Even if she were able to get to all of her paperwork in addition to everything else today, she would still have to face the same thing tomorrow, and the days following that. Anastasia wished she had someone who might understand and help her on days like today, when there was no feasible way she would be able to accomplish everything by herself. In some ways, she had her advisors and sisters to help her, but there was always politics involved. If for a single moment the court saw that she was weak, she would be replaced.

That was why she had excepted the idea of the pairing season this Spring. Maybe she could find someone who could help her as a counterpart and allow her to have a day when she could simply be sick. Instead, she was faced with a potential war, even less personal time, and a headache not likely to be soothed away by tea. A gentle knock sounded on the door, forcing Anastasia to raise her head and meekly whisper, "Come in."

She looked at her Lady-in-waiting who carried the tea tray to her desk and served the queen her tea. Anastasia's eyes hurt to concentrate on the action themselves, so she quickly moved to look at the mountains of paper work no her desk and tried to sort one out that did not look to complicated and could be accomplished relatively shortly.

Fortunately for her, her advisors always processed the work she had to do and sorted it in stacks of quick, urgent, and complicated task. However, before she could make ends meet out of her foggy head and recall which stack was which in the heaps of piles on her desk, her eyes fluttered over a small stack of letters that remained sealed and right in front of the other stacks around her.

They had obviously been unread, as the seal remained unbroken on all three of the letters. This seemed extremely unusual as her advisors read nearly every letter that was addressed to the kingdom or ever herself personally. Unless she specifically requested letters from certain senders. None of the letters were from those she recognized as being from senders upon which she had made that request. She turned towards the lady-in-waiting who finished pouring her tea and asked, "Do you know what these letters are?"

"Those are from your suitors your highness." The lady said with a slight nod, "I have no doubt that more will be coming in as the day goes on." she added.

"Ah" Anastasia said simply before shuffling the three cards in her hand. Her heart fluttered for a moment, as she had never received a card from someone that was serving a non-political function. Furthermore, this may be the first letter she ever receives from her future husband.

She waited until the maid had finished serving the tea, and left, before selecting one of the letters and gingerly opening it with the slightest of blushes sweeping over her being.