RISE OF THE RED QUEEN - A Melodrama in Four Acts

[Eryane 3629]

RISE OF THE RED QUEEN

As penned by Lady Anastasia Ruthern

 

The Alexandrine Curse Series

Inspired by the life of Milena of Adria

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Synopsis:

A fictitious retelling of the arrival of Milena of Adria ‘the Red’ at the Haeseni royal court, who brazenly seeks to carry out the unfulfilled legacy of her aunt, Valera of Adria, wife to King Marius II, who died before she ascended to queenship. It details Milena’s plot to thwart the betrothal between King Andrik III and Lady Katharina Vyronov that was set in place by the palatine, Lerald Vyronov.

 

This retelling does not precisely follow the historical occurrences, and ages have been adjusted to fit a theatrical performance. 

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Characters:

Milena of Adria 

A young lady of sixteen, who has been raised all her life with notions of legacy implanted into her head by her father. She is brazen, outspoken, and dedicated to achieve what she believes she was born only to do– become Queen of Haense. Milena is stalwart in her belief that she must succeed her aunt, Valera of Adria, in fulfilling the Carrion-Barbanov marriage arranged in the Crowsmoot of 1702.

 

King Andrik III of Haense 

The young king of sixteen who is hardened by the War of Two Emperors in which he was raised. Andrik is dedicated to his kingdom and his kingdom only, although conflicts with the weight of the responsibility that has been prematurely laid on his shoulders. Black hair, blue eyes. 

 

Palatine Lerald Vyronov 

A stalwart, strong-willed man who will do anything to ensure his family’s name is remembered in history. He is the palatine to Andrik III, yet uses his position to uplift House Vyronov first and foremost. Lerald is in his forties, with blonde hair and blue eyes. 

 

Katharina of Carnatia  

The daughter of the palatine, Lerald Vyronov, who is only sixteen. She is a quiet, submissive lady, and is deeply in love with the king (who is her childhood friend). All she desires is to spend her life with Andrik and to care for him throughout his reign. Blonde hair, blue eyes. 

 

PROPS (By order of appearance)

Milena’s Sword

Andrik’s Sword

Feathered Quill

Betrothal Document 

 

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ACT ONE

Spoiler

CURTAINS RISE on the throne room of the PRIKAZ, the royal palace and seat of House Barbanov. ANDRIK sits on the throne with his palatine, LERALD, flanked at his side with his daughter, KATHARINA. 

 

Enter MILENA. 

 

MILENA

And so here it stands, before me now, 

The palace in the stories and my dreams.

My father's telling voice rings o'er me now,

Muttering sweet tales of legacies

And a fate long since destined to me.

Does my aunt watch upon me now with pride?

Nearly had she been the queen of Marius

But the talons of death grasped her so soon.

Does she look down from the heavens content?

O, Valera, I shall honor your name.

I will become his queen, doubtless am I

Whether he is promised to another

Or not, I shall do what I am called for.

I must make it so, for 'tis what I am owed

By right and by the strings of destiny

That has called me forth to this capital.

 

MILENA continues on to the throne room, where ANDRIK and LERALD are muttering between themselves. ANDRIK sits on the throne. KATHARINA nears her father with hesitance.

 

KATHARINA

(Quietly, hushed)

Father, who is she?

 

ALL PRESENT turn and look at MILENA. MILENA approaches the throne in an elegant stride etched with pride. Silence fills the throne room as no one speaks for a moment. KATHARINA stands with polite demeanor and eyes downcast besides the occasional glance at MILENA. MILENA, however, holds her chin high with stature no short of triumphal.

 

LERALD

(To Katharina)

Nothing more than a passing petitioner! 

(To Milena)

Hail, who is it that brings themselves forth

To the presence of His Royal Majesty?

 

MILENA

(With pride)

I am Milena Ekaterina

Born of the House of Carrion-Tuvyic.

Here, to request my presence at your side,

To be your wife and queen, Your Majesty,

As such had been arranged by the Crowsmoot

That betrothed our houses heretofore.

 

As soon as the words echo through the throne room does KATHARINA further near her father’s flank, as if in hopes he may shield her.

 

ANDRIK

A lady of House Carrion, say you?

 

MILENA

Indeed I do. 

 

LERALD (cont.)

Brazenness is as dangerous as fire,

Lady Milena Ekaterina.

It does not suit a consort, this boldness,

Nor shall it be your friend.

 

MILENA

As a soldier is befitted armor,

So is intrepidity unto me. 

 

LERALD scoffs.

 

LERALD

(To Andrik)

My daughter, a sweet lady of beauty,

And pure in all that makes her demure heart,

Is much finer a choice without doubt, sire. 

 

ANDRIK taps his fingers in thought on the throne.

 

ANDRIK

This shall be deliberated at once.

 

LERALD

(To Andrik)

Majesty, deliberated?

Have you not made promise to my daughter,

Your friend from youth and love, Katharina?

The betrothal is set, announced to all.

How deeply it would wound her gentle heart

If you were to break your word now, Andrik.

 

ANDRIK

(To Lerald)

I seek a true queen to be at my side,

To raise my royal kingdom as it heals.

'Sides, does she not speak truth of the Crowsmoot?

And with a marriage to the House Carrion

Comes a solidified claim to Ruska.

 

LERALD

(Begrudgingly) 

These words are true. 

 

KATHARINA

(To Lerald)

Has something now gone amiss?

 

LERALD

(To Katharina)

You needn't worry at all, daughter of mine.

The House of Carrion has returned.

Once a grand family of old royalty

Yet worth the price of dust and dirt now.

Soon shall they vanish into thin air–

Again and again, 'tis a cycle.

 

KATHARINA says nothing more, although is unable to look at ANDRIK. LERALD turns to MILENA.

 

MILENA

Thank you, m'lord, for you honor my family

'Pon this consideration of my request.

Once our families were bound as one

By the marriage of the King Marius

And my aunt, Valera, by arrangement

As declared not long ago by the old lords.

Yet with the death of their only son

And the youthful passing of Valera

Before Marius was crowned as the king

Was pact of marriage made unfruitful.

Yet I shall not falter at your side, sire.

 

ANDRIK 

Mayhaps your promising words are true. 

 

ANDRIK rises and LERALD follows him. EXIT BOTH stage left. KATHARINA begins to trail after her father, but pauses before she departs. KATHARINA and MILENA look at each other. EXIT KATHARINA, then MILENA. CURTAINS FALL.

 

END OF ACT I. 

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ACT TWO

Spoiler

CURTAINS RISE on the throne room of the Prikaz. ENTER MILENA who carries a TRAINING SWORD.

 

MILENA

Eagerly do I await word of my request,

Yet my heart knows the future calling me

Sweetly as a bird upon early morn.

For a queen, the wife of a king, is strength

And in me lies what is needed for this land.

I see nothing of note in that meek girl–

She who calls herself Katharina.

Suitable for a wife, yet not a queen

As the crown is unbearable in weight

And its shine is surely a falsity. 

But I?

I shall not fail, for this I have been raised.

For this my father let me play no games

Nor enjoy the luxury of youth.

‘Tis all know, and all I shall ever.

 

ENTER ANDRIK.

 

ANDRIK

(in light jest)

Lo, have I intruded on a lioness

As she prowls amidst her desolate den?

 

MILENA dips her head.

 

MILENA

(a similar jesting tone)

If I be a lioness, as you say now,

Best beware my bite.

 

ANDRIK 

'Tis not I who would fear such from you, 

But the man who oft stands at my side. 

He does not have admiration for you,

As a prey does not his predator.

 

MILENA

To that I am not without sight, m'lord.

 

ANDRIK

I had not sensed you to be either,

Yet I come to you now on other grounds.

The scorn of Lerald has not brought me here,

Nay, it was my desire to commend you

And your bold expressure upon my eye 

That you paraded before my throne.

 

MILENA

Oh, ho, ho! You think me brave?

 

ANDRIK

Only a fool would argue those words.

 

BOTH share a laugh. ENTER KATHARINA, who hides and watches from afar.

 

KATHARINA

(Aside)

O, by my heart, together here they are.

And as I was only to see my love,

I find him in spar with another.

Does his love for me fade with wicked speed?

That Milena is no diff'rent than a witch.

O God, a jealousy infects my soul

And pain has sunk its claws into my heart.

 

MILENA

Join me to a spar, will you, m’lord?

 

ANDRIK

Only if it is your wish to be bested.

 

MILENA dips her head and paces away from ANDRIK. ANDRIK draws his sword.

 

MILENA

Alas, I shan't think you capable of it

'Til I see it by mine own eyes, sire.

Come hither!

 

MILENA raises her sword. BOTH spar. ANDRIK, a fine swordsman, does not go easy with his quick and precise blows. MILENA keeps up — but only in defense against ANDRIK, until she trips on her gown and tumbles to the floor. She loses her sword. BOTH laugh.

 

ANDRIK

A fine match, Lady Milena

And to that I am impressed.

Perhaps with a few lessons from me,

You may one day be a fine swordsman.

 

ANDRIK offers his hand to MILENA. He pulls her up.

 

MILENA

Might I have to take you on that offer.

Have I distracted our exchange

From what brought you here to seek me out?

 

ANDRIK

Come, come, let me tell you more elsewhere.

 

EXIT ANDRIK and MILENA. KATHARINA comes out of hiding and moves to center stage. 

 

KATHARINA

(With tears in her eyes)

What would you have of me now, my Andrik?

Still I hold all my memories with him 

As fondly as a warm summer's day.

For the years we have spent with together

Are not like to ever leave my thoughts.

I cannot have her steal this love from me

With the ease of a cloaked thief in a night.

 

EXIT KATHARINA. CURTAINS FALL.

 

END OF ACT II.

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ACT THREE

Spoiler

CURTAINS RISE on LERALD and KATHARINA in the throne room. LERALD paces.

 

LERALD

And you saw them, sparring together?

Exchanging quick witted remarks and a laugh?

(Aside) 

Bah! A wicked schemer, sent by Iblees.

 

KATHARINA

Da, papej.

I beg of you, do not let her take him! 

For all the love and memories we share! 

By the haste pass of time more do I lose

Of him, and of what we once were.

I long to be the wife at his side,

Yet am I not enough to be his queen?

 

KATHARINA runs to her father and wraps her arms around him, sobbing. LERALD embraces her.

LERALD

You are the embodiment of a queen,

Dutiful, gentle, and all loving— 

All befitting a Vyronov Queen,

One which shall ensure our legacy

For years to come in the royal bloodline. 

 

KATHARINA

Perhaps it is by God’s will that she is queen.

 

LERALD lets go of KATHARINA.

 

LERALD 

Do you think of yourself to be so low?

Might you not think this to be a test

Of who it is you shall one day become?

Speak no more of this nonsense.

 

KATHARINA

(Gently, quietly) 

Fear for the loss of my love consumes me,

And lulls me into this sorrowed state.

 

LERALD

You are his promised, dear Katharina,

And the House of Vyronov earned this

Through our diligence and work for the crown.

‘Sides, are you not the woman he loves most?

Unreasonable it would be to not

Choose you as his queen for all we have done.

(Aside)

Fickle are all monarchical things.

 

KATHARINA

By your word, father.

 

LERALD

Good, then. 

And when you are to be queen, remember 

Who it is you now call yourself by—

Katharina Vyronov. 

For that name has brought you to where you stand,

And shall be the legacy you live by.

 

KATHARINA

(Sniffling)

Da, father. I shan’t forget these words.

 

EXIT LERALD. KATHARINA collapses to the floor of the throne room in tears. ENTER ANDRIK, who does not rush to help her up.

 

ANDRIK 

Katharina, what has occurred?

 

KATHARINA

It is nothing, nothing— I swear it.

These tears are not what they seem to be.

No, they are from the flowers of the season.

 

ANDRIK

I am no fool to these false words you speak.

It is the arrival of Milena

That leaves you here to weep, is it not?

 

KATHARINA cannot meet his gaze.

 

KATHARINA

I must give you my apologies.

It is you who I shall always love,

And ‘tis you who I fear the most to lose.

O, Andrik! What would I do without you?

For you have been my dearest friend since youth.

 

ANDRIK

You will never lose me, my friend,

But friend is all you have ever been.

 

KATHARINA

But what of our betrothal?

 

ANDRIK

A betrothal is not a statement of love.

As for whether it shall remain in tact,

I cannot answer what I am yet to know.

The decision remains in the air,

Yet what I can assure you is this—

Foremost comes my kingdom in all matters. 

I think not of who shall be my wife

But who shall be the consort of this land.

At my side must be a woman to critique 

And remain courageous throughout all.

Curse me, for I am not certain you can. 

 

KATHARINA is shocked by this. She runs away from him in a hurry. EXIT KATHARINA. ANDRIK grumbles.

 

ANDRIK (cont.)

I must speak to Lord Vyronov at once.

 

EXIT ANDRIK. CURTAINS FALL.

 

END OF ACT III.

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ACT FOUR

Spoiler

CURTAINS RISE on ANDRIK, LERALD, and KATHARINA who surround a TABLE with a FEATHERED QUILL. ANDRIK carries a BETROTHAL DOCUMENT in one hand and a CARRION BLACK BOTTLE in the other. 

 

LERALD

Soon shall His Majesty arrive, Kat. 

And with him comes the awaited news.

(Aside)

Most fortunate am I for the meeting

That had taken place but moments before. 

Whilst my daughter may be filled with dread,

A ducal title awaits my family 

In compensation for what is to be lost.

 

KATHARINA looks down to the floor.

 

LERALD (cont.)

Chin up. Subtle confidence.

 

Hesitantly, KATHARINA raises her chin. ENTER MILENA. KATHARINA meets MILENA’s gaze. MILENA continues forth to the table. ANDRIK places the BETROTHAL DOCUMENT on the table. 

 

KATHARINA

(Aside)

So this is it, my fate now sealed

By a mere paper and pen before me.

 

ANDRIK

A drink, anyone?

 

NONE respond. ANDRIK takes a swig and sets it down. 

 

ANDRIK (cont.)

Gather hither and round, for here

Lies the document ending this quarrel.

 

KATHARINA and MILENA read the paper. Behind KATHARINA, ANDRIK and LERALD nod to each other once.

 

MILENA

At long last shall a promise be fulfilled.

 

KATHARINA

And another broken in its place. 

 

ANDRIK

There is no place for an affair of the heart

When the crown dictates the consciousness. 

 

KATHARINA

And so I would be that love for you

All that you’d need of me as your wife.

 

ANDRIK

I shall hear no more of these protests. 

 

KATHARINA

Andrik, please—

 

ANDRIK 

Enough! 

 

LERALD

Let us depart, Katharina,

For the moment has since passed,

And what is done is done. 

 

KATHARINA listens to her father and follows him, but she stops and turns around. Tears are in her eyes.

 

KATHARINA

Might you have the prowess of a queen,

But do you have the love of one?

 

MILENA

Even now do I hold more of such

Than you’d have ever in a reign.

 

KATHARINA

Then I shall pray the kingdom rejoices

For its new queen, Milena of Adria.

 

EXIT KATHARINA and LERALD.

 

ANDRIK

Come pen your name upon this parchment.

 

ANDRIK holds out a FEATHERED QUILL for MILENA to take. 

 

MILENA

(Aside)

‘Tis merely a pen proffered my way

Yet behind a small and simple thing

Are many hours of relentless toiling. 

A hundred choirs sing praises in my head!  

To all the world beyond myself,

Might I appear to be a madman! 

What a menial thing to rejoice for,

And here I stand, for my day has come.

I shall live and die as the Queen of Haense,

Let history stand aside and gaze 

As I imprint my mark upon this world.

 

MILENA takes the pen and signs the paper. CURTAINS FALL.

 

END OF PLAY.

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OOC:

Spoiler

Thank you to:

@Nectorist

@AndrewTech

@Emenzi

@Urahra

@Flapman

@Axelu

 

and all others who helped with suggestions or editing for this play.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARCHIE!!

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by Eryane

[Axelu 3691]

A literary aficionado somewhere reads of the play, and upon acquiring a copy of the manuscript, commends Ms. Belrose for her magnificent penmanship and penchant for creating a dynamic, enticing story out of history. 
 

Spoiler

this is the best birthday present ever I love u sweet Sierra ❤️❤️

 

[Totalitarianism_ 478]

Fyodor Tuvyic, father of the Red Queen, and the man who originally pushed her to marry the young Crown prince of Haense, laments his exclusion from the story of his daughter. From the Heavens, he curses Catherine Belrose!

[Eryane 3629]

3 hours ago, Totalitarianism_ said:

Fyodor Tuvyic, father of the Red Queen, and the man who originally pushed her to marry the young Crown prince of Haense, laments his exclusion from the story of his daughter. From the Heavens, he curses Catherine Belrose!

Catherine Belrose prays to the heavens that those left out of the play do not spite her forever, for the sake of simplicity in retelling a complicated historical event!