~A game on Christmas Eve~

Chapter 1 – to need a Queen

When King Rupert's grandfather Louis ruled, it was a tradition long established that on Christmas Eve the royal family and their servants would visit the service in the Cathedral followed by dinner in the Grand Hall of the Castle. After listening to pious words and travelling through the cold (for winters were Winters in those days), food and drinks were just what everyone needed. Food, drinks and merry conversation.

It was the social talk part of Christmas Eve that had displeased prince Louis and on his becoming King he'd replaced the hours and hours of after dinner chit-chat by an evening of games. There are not many people who are great conversationalists while playing games, something His Majesty had relied on. He'd loved playing all sorts of games and since no one was reckless enough to let the King lose, he'd enjoyed himself tremendously on the 24th of December.

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During Rupert's reign Louis's Christmas legacy was still there though not all royals joined the various card, ball and dexterity games in the Red Ballroom: Queen Clarisse disliked the idea of someone beating her and not feeling free to be happy about that as much as the idea of someone boasting about having won from the Queen.

Instead of playing games she walked around and talked to many; especially to those who hardly ever saw her. In between she observed the players. She particularly liked games where bluffing made for a winner. Some members of her staff had surprised her over the years. Count Rossano for instance, who in his days had been an excellent strategist, could never hide it when he had a good card and Mrs Danieli, who could manage an eight course dinner for 200 guests, started to get nervous as soon as she had made two good moves. Other members of her staff acted just like she expected: Charlotte was not made for bluffing and Joseph was a born poker player even without his sunglasses.

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This year was the first year princess Amelia was present. The sixteen year old girl, not being religious at all, was not at ease at the Cathedral. She was glad that her grandmother had introduced her to her friend the Archbishop a few days previous. Instead of a priest Mia saw a kind man in a weird outfit playing his part. During the service she admired the decorations and enjoyed the singing of the famous -so she was told- Pyran Choir. During the preach and prayer she stayed awake by observing the Queen and trying to decide if she looked like the statute of an angel or of a saint. Mia hoped that she had inherited her grandmother's skin and she amused herself by thinking that perhaps in fifty years time her granddaughter would look up to her the way she did to the present Queen.

Dinner wasn't too bad for she was seated between agreeable people without having to fight lobsters and the like and now she was having a great time playing games. She liked this Louis bloke who'd come up with the idea. It was such a shame that grandmother didn't play too! But hey, all she needed was a little help...

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The Queen delighted in her granddaughter's presence. The girl brought noise and laughter to the Castle and the Genovians waiting outside the Cathedral had cheered for her. She found that she didn't mind the American slang that occasionally escaped Amelia's lips. Well, it did hurt her ears, but she loved the girl and that compensated very much.

Her Majesty walked toward the Head gardener who was studying an arrangement with poinsettias.

´Can it meet your approval Mr Zebley?´

The gardener inclined his head and answered affirmatively. Whenever he met the Queen in the gardens she'd greet him and frequently she would initiate a brief conversation about their mutual passion: flowers. Though not a sentimental man he cherished those moments and he felt privileged at being addressed now. Hoping that their long acquaintance allowed him to enter another subject Mr Zebley gestured toward the poker table.

´I remember ma'am that last year someone fell of his chair there. He'd tried to glance in his neighbour's cards.´

´It made the prince roar with laughter...´ the Queen replied, understanding why the gardener had brought up the subject.

´I miss him,´ the gardener softly said.

The Queen smiled gratefully but before she could reply audibly her granddaughter dragged her away and pushed her onto a chair.

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´Common grandma, you haven't played a single game. It's fun to do you know! What are you playing here Joe?´

Joe felt for the Queen although at the same time he was intrigued at seeing her slightly flabbergasted.

´We're playing Genovian Cards princess. It is a poker game.´

Lord Radras was thrilled to have the Queen at the poker table and he eagerly tried to persuade her to give in to the princess's suggestion. Mia liked him at second sight and added her voice to his while firmly keeping a hand on her grandmother's left shoulder. The Queen wanted to leave but there were too many people watching.

Lord Radras, sensing that Her Majesty wasn't quiet convinced, mentioned that His Royal Highness had also played Genovian Cards and that she might take over the prince's account. Mr Jonas, who acted as bank, though a bank of colourful matches representing money, nodded.

´It's going to be fun!´ Mia repeated, ´Do you know the rules grandmother?´

Joe spent a minute informing his Queen about the particularities of the game. The princess took a position where she could eye both her grandmother and Joe. Baron Villand was the second person to openly watch the game and then others felt confident to follow their example although no one was daring enough to stand near Her Majesty.

Genovian Cards can take a mere two rounds or as much as over forty. This evening it didn't take more than seven rounds to have four players return their cards. They might have felt awkward about being near the Queen in this particular setting or perhaps they didn't have a good hand which was the reason the huntsman gave up after three more rounds. Her Majesty and the Head of Security were the only players left.

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Joe noticed that the Queen let her mask slip a little. He knew it was because of the game: it had nothing to do with him being her adversary. Yet he relished the small smiles she allowed herself when she got a good card as well as the hardly noticeable biting on her lower lip when a new card disappointed her. He relished it and not because it enabled him to determine his strategy. Not that he didn't use the cues her body language gave him: he had a good hand and he wanted to win. He had never lost a game to any of the silent bystanders and allowing Her Majesty to win would mean that they all knew he had done just that.

Seeing Joe glance at his pile of matches Mia said: ´You wanna raise the stakes Joe?´

The Queen looked up from her cards. The bystanders mumbled. Mia, thinking she'd said something wrong, blushed. Joe winked at her. To reassure the girl and to communicate to her lovely grandmother that he was winning, he took off his watch and said: ´I'm sure I can afford to raise.´

Everyone looked at the Queen who seemed to believe her Head of Security was acting childish. Mia smiled brightly and challenged her grandmother to continue playing.

´All right,´ the Queen said (a little annoyed perhaps) and she continued: ´a match for a match, a watch for a watch?´ and with that she removed the chain she wore, on which hang a small elegant watch.

The audience inhaled.

´Is this acceptable Joseph?´

The piece of jewellery was more than a match for his watch.

I'll give it back to her, Joe thought.

He wanted to show the Queen, who obviously didn't understand why he'd raised the stakes, that the stakes were in his favour. Looking at the princess he started: ´You see Your Highness, we now have two cards left to draw. I have a lot of valuable matches and therefore I can draw a card from a high ranked pile, the one with picture cards.´ He didn't mention that the Queen had a small number of matches and that she could only draw from a low ranked pile.

He drew a card. He needed a Queen of Diamonds. He got himself a Jack of Spades. Small wonder.

It was her turn. She reached out, took a card and didn't look at it until she placed it with her other cards. Her face was blank.

´One card to go,´ the bank announced. In accordance with the rules he asked the players whether they would like to quit now and keep what was left of their matches. Joe shook his head and waited for the Queen's response. She didn't seem to have heard Mr Jonas and she touched a silver ring on her right hand while looking at her watch on the table. Joe guessed that she was sorry that she hadn't used the ring to counter his watch.

´I would like to raise the stakes,´ Her Majesty announced.

´Grandma!´ Amelia warned. Joe suddenly realised that the Queen's confidence didn't have to do with inexperience: she didn't need the last card. And he did. She had the upper hand. There was only one thing he could do.

´I fold,´ Joseph said. Looking at the Queen he explained: ´I give in.´

The only one who didn't seem to realise it was a historical moment was Her Majesty.

´Oh,´ she said, ignoring the soft yet animated chatter around her as well as her granddaughter's exclamations. She stopped fingering her ring. He looked at the ring on his little finger, then to her, as if to say: at least you won't get this one. She, caught, gave him a charming smile.

´Lovely. So all those priceless matches are mine now.´

Something was wrong. Joe shook off the feeling. ´The matches are yours ma'am and my watch as well.´

´Indeed.´

The Queen reached out but instead of taking his watch, something everyone expected, she took her own watch from the table and hang it around her neck. She then shoved her chair backwards and Lord Radras was on his feet instantly to attend to her.

´Grandma!´

The Queen, rising and gesturing the others to remain seated, looked at the excited girl.

´What is it Amelia?´

´Show your cards! What do you have?´

Instead of answering her granddaughter the Queen looked at Joseph.

´To build dramatic tension, what do you have Joseph?´

He placed his cards on the table.

´You are a card short of a straight flush,´ Her Majesty observed.

Joe nodded without immediately realizing that she knew what a flush was. ´And you are not ma'am,´ he replied with certainty. All bystanders hummed their agreement. The Queen was not a lady to bluff her way through: everyone knew she was cautious.

´Do you really think so?´

The Queen walked around the table and stopped behind her Head of Security. She laid her cards on the table for everyone to see.

Silence.

´Is that the best hand grandma?´

Amelia had forgotten most of what Joe had revealed about the game but she thought that the highest combination consisted of more that one card with a picture on it.

The Queen looked down at the table as if to contemplate the question and then redirected her focus on Joseph who made a good imitation of a codfish. Actually, there was an entire shoal at and around the table or so the Queen noticed with amusement. Looking untouched she replied: ´This Amelia, is a rather useless card... Except when you know how to bluff.´ Also known as playing your opponents, she privately added.

´Cool!´

´I'm glad you think so,´ the Queen replied. Addressing the poker players she added: ´Gentlemen.´

´You forget my watch ma'am,´ she heard behind her.

´I insist you keep it. I don't want my Head of Security not to know what time it is.´

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The Queen entered into a conversation with the Master of Horses and the bystanders found employment elsewhere while whispering about the Queen's win. Mr Jonas took care of the matches. Mia seated herself on the table, facing Joe.

´Common, don't sulk!´ the princess said.

´I'm not sulking Your Highness.´

´Sure? She's good isn't she?´ Mia proudly giggled, ´You never saw it coming. Well, me neither, truth be told. I mean, grandma and cards? Ha! I thought you were gonna win. You have a great poker face you know.´

´Not good enough princess.´

´O common Joe, now I'm gonna feel guilty for having forced grandma to play with you.´

Joe didn't reply: he just kept staring at the red two, the black four, the black five, the red eight, the red ten and the Queen in front of him.

´Joe!´

Mia's cry made those around her look at her. The princess playfully hit Joe's leg with her foot.

´It could have been worse you know.´

Joe expected her to say something like: you could have lost your savings or your car.

But no, that wouldn't do.

´You could have played strip poker.´

...

...

Author's note: in the next and final chapter Joe will escort his Queen from the Red Ballroom to her suite. Will she be done playing games?