The Second Queen

In a kingdom mourning its queen, a controversial decree sets the stage for an unprecedented royal competition. King Edward, still grieving, is forced to seek a new bride to secure his kingdom's future. From noble houses across the land, young women arrive, each vying for the crown, but only one can become 'The Second Queen.' Will duty or desire reign in a court steeped in secrets and shadowed by the late queen's legacy?

Queen Alexandrina I lay dying, the crimson stain spreading across her white nightgown, a stark contrast to the setting sun outside her window. Lord Alfred, her loyal advisor, had warned her to "prepare for the worst." Her lady-in-waiting, Catherine Bryon, sat by her side, a silent comfort as the pain intensified.

"The only thing I require is my final confession and Blessed Sacrament," Alexandrina whispered, her voice fading. Father Peter arrived, administering the rites, his solemn words filling the room as her life ebbed away.

Meanwhile, King Edward, oblivious to his wife's final moments, found himself trapped in a meeting with the Medu Council, deliberately kept from her by the scheming Alby. He arrived only to be met by the Holy Father, who delivered the devastating news: "Your wife passed into the arms of judgement only moments ago."

Fury and grief consumed him. "Curse you Alby! I would've been here if it wasn't for you!" he seethed, clutching a letter from Alexandrina, a final testament revealing her secret illness and her poignant wish for him to find a "Second Queen."

The Second Queen

Grief Historical Fiction Duty Royal Intrigue competition