"I don't know, Cierra, he doesn't seem like the right guy for this."

"Who's the queen here, you or me?"

Gilberto sighed, raising his hands in defeat, "Fine. I said I would stand by you and I will, but please think about it."

Cierra opened the door to her bedroom, leaning against the mahogany door frame. "What do you have against him anyways? He seems perfect for the job."

"You've known him for, what, two hours? He just seems like he's in it for his own personal gain and not for, you know, your people."

"Isn't that why everyone gets involved in such things? For their own personal gain?"

Gilberto's voice softened. "That's not why you're queen, I hope."

Cierra rolled her eyes dramatically. "Of course not. Now, shoo. I need to get changed."

"What do you need to get changed for?"

"Well, now that I have— what was his name again?"

"Nicolás Santiago."

"Si, now that I have him to manage some of my workload, I thought I would take a... stroll in the woods."

"To visit your dear mother's grave?"

"Oh, shut up. Get out of my room."

"I'm not even in—"

Cierra shut the door in his face. In a matter of moments she was changed out of her wrinkled gown and into her most comfortable, black one. After slipping on her boots, she grabbed her quiver and bow from under the bed. Frowning, Cierra realised there were no arrows in her quiver. She stalked into the hallway, bumping into Gilberto at full speed. "Why are you still here?"

Gilberto smirked, pulling his hand out from behind his back. In his fist was a set of arrows.

"How did you know I needed them?"

"My job is to know everything you need and do."

"And gracias a Dios for that. Now move out of my way."

Cierra darted around him, seizing the arrows from his hand. He grabbed her arm as she passed, halting her. "I have a request."

"And I'm no maid. Deliver your request to Laura or Carlota."

"But they cannot give me what I want."

Cierra rolled her eyes, impatient. "And what is it that you want, exactly?"

"Allow me to accompany you to the woods, for just today."

"No."

"And why not? I will be no bother."

"I go to be alone. Having someone accompany me defeats that purpose."

Gilberto sighed. "I suppose it does. I just thought—"

"You thought wrong. I'll see you later." Cierra freed herself from his grip and hurried down the hallway. Gilberto bit his lower lip thoughtfully, turning around. His expression was layered with confusion and sadness.

Gilberto watched from the window of Cierra's room as her figure retreated, flanked by four guards, into the woods. He made his way out of Cierra's quarters and to the kitchen. Laura was standing at the door, prepared for his visit, a plate of biscuits sitting on silver tray in her hands. She smiled sadly at him.

"Gilberto," she said quietly, "You are thinking about her, I can see it. You chase after something you cannot catch. Cuando dejas de perseguir las cosas equivocadas, las correctas te atraparán. That is something my mother told me once. Do you know what it means?"

Gilberto chuckled drily, "You know I do not speak the forgotten language."

Rolling her eyes, Laura pushed back her graying hair and said, "It means: once you stop chasing after the wrong things, the right ones will catch you."

Silently, Gilberto took the plate of biscuits from her and turned his back on the aging woman. Her eyes were full of regret. Why should he take life advice from someone who was clearly remorseful about her own life? What did she know of...love?

"It's alright to love something you cannot have, dear, but do not try to hang on to it. It will bring you pain above all else," Laura's voice echoed down the hallway softly as Gilberto made his way back to Cierra's chambers.

In some part of Gilberto's mind, possibly the logical part, he knew she was right. Cierra was the queen, and because of that he would never be allowed to love her freely. He could never have her. Gilberto could only pretend. Deep down, he knew their relationship was not as deep as he hoped.

After Gilberto left the biscuits on Cierra's bedside table and wandered down the halls, waiting for her return. He found himself walking to the library, where he spent a lot of his time. Unconsciously, Gilberto had pulled out a book titled "Deceivers of the Slaying Star". It was about the most terrible queens— and kings— of Escozor. It was Gilberto's favourite book.

The book was almost full. Although Escozor was a rather young kingdom, there was no denying that a good majority of its rulers had done nothing good for the kingdom. Only a few blank pages remained, waiting to be filled with names and stories of terrible people. Gilberto shuddered, when suddenly a flitting image of Cierra's name scribbled across the yellowing pages crossed his mind. He breathed in deeply and slowly, reassuring himself that Cierra was nothing at all like the monarchs before her. As he went to close the book, he noticed the last name was written in darker ink. It was a new addition. Beneath it was a single sentence. Squinting, Gilberto leaned closer to read the tiny writing.

"Queen Berezi Velazquez—

A queen unworthy of her title, her name, and her people."

He would recognize the careless handwriting anywhere, and he knew of only one person who thought so strongly about former Queen Berezi. Queen Cierra.

Cierra's hatred for her mother ran deep. Gilberto had never quite understood what had happened between them. He knew, as did most of the Crown's servants, that Cierra had never appreciated the things that her mother did as a ruler. Queen Berezi spent most of her ruling days sitting in her room trying on delicate finery with precious sapphires as the rest of the kingdom could only dream about such luxuries. Cierra, from a young age, juggled with duties meant for a queen, the weight of the kingdom's problems on her shoulder. Then one day, Cierra joined her mother in her chambers and—

The library door slammed open. At least it seemed like it to Gilberto, who had been so wrapped up in his thoughts. He shut his book, standing up. Standing in the doorway was Laura, a knowing look in her eyes.

"I thought I would find you here," she said in her soft voice, "Her Grace is looking for you. She's in her chambers."

Immediately, Gilberto took off at a fast pace, slowing down as he reached her room. Forgetting to knock, he opened her door.

Cierra was undressing. Her cloak was crumpled at her feet and the back of her dress was open, as she pulled it down her shoulders, quite ungracefully.

Beneath it was a sleeveless top, her bare shoulders on display. Gilberto stared at her back, frozen. Involuntarily, he made a low sound in his throat.

Cierra whirled around, her eyes wide. Gilberto felt blood rush up to his cheeks.

"Qué chingados!" Cierra shrieked, as she pulled her dress back up around her.

"L-Laura said you asked for me?" Gilberto stuttered.

"You could have knocked."

"You're right, I could have— should have, I mean, should have—"

Cierra rolled her eyes. "Get out."

Gilberto stumbled backwards, shutting the door meekly. When Cierra opened the door after a few long moments, Gilberto tried apologizing. "Mierda, I'm so, so, sorry, lo siento, truly—"

Fully clothed, Cierra said, "Shut up. I need to talk to you."

Wrapping his trembling hands around himself, Gilberto followed Cierra into her room.

Slowly, Cierra began, "While I was alone, in the forest, I had time to think. I-I know I should not trouble you with this topic over and over but I cannot stop thinking about my mother."

Gilberto stared at her. This was not where he envisioned the conversation would lead to. "You have to let her go, Cierra."

"I know, dios I know, but today I received word that the villagers say that I ruined the kingdom my mother, and I quote, 'had so generously built with a queen's dearest love'. I know I should not believe them, but it made me realise that I have always been one to set my eyes on what I want and never what I have. Never what was given to me. My mother gave me so much, yet I did not love her the way a daughter should. Is that wrong of me?" Cierra looked up at Gilberto, her eyes wide.

"No, Cierra—"

"I know I have always been fit for royalty but had we been born lower class I believe I would have survived, given that my mother loved me. The power of a queen, the unlimited power of a monarch, it corrupted her. And, in the end, the unconditional love she could have given and that I gave to someone else, it destroyed us."

"He is gone. You know that."

"He has not left me. You know nothing of what he did to me. That day, he told me I did not deserve the crown I now wear so proudly on my head. He said I was not fit to be queen. No matter how many times I vowed to him that I would be a queen to make history, he said I was dreaming of a future that would never happen. He said he would not let me be queen. I never believed he would do it. But that day, in the courtyard—"

A knock sounded from the door, immediately followed by a pair of guards walking in. They nodded in respect as Cierra hastily wiped the tears that had gathered on her cheeks.

"Your Grace, our sincerest apologies for the interruption," said one guard.

"Well, I hope it was for good reason. I was discussing a rather important subject with Gil—my advisor."

"Apologies, Your Majesty. We would not dare interrupt if it weren't a matter of such urgency. There is a man waiting for you in the throne room. We have taken the liberty of chaining him up, as he single-handedly attacked several of the Guard members before we could detain him. We have done some questioning, but he refuses to cooperate."

The other guard interrupted, "However, Your Grace, he has mentioned a name. I believe it is not the name of a person, but rather of a group of people, or an organization of some sort."

Cierra raised an eyebrow. "And? What is it? What is the name he provided?"

"'Sparrow's Death', Your Grace."

Cierra gasped, the colour draining from her face. Though she had never before heard the name 'Sparrow's Death', she knew exactly what it meant. It had a personal meaning attached to it. How fortunate that the past she was trying so hard to avoid had landed upon her own doorsteps.

Standing up clumsily, Cierra made her way to the door, with the help of Gilberto. She barely took two steps into the hallway before collapsing to the floor, her vision going black. The past had come back to take her crown.