Minerva, favor of the gods, the blessing of the land, and the love of monarchs. Your name can never be taken from you, for it is your power, it is your right. When it is time, go forth, child of Mina, choose the ruler, one who will be the sun of Ikthar, give them the name that only Minerva can whisper.

Everyone knew Minerva, from the children of Tulsa to the elderly on their deathbeds. “As long as we have Minerva, no one can defeat the hand of Tulsa.” The mantra of the people of Tulsa. My home, my country, and my prison. 

Regardless, that’s where I was born, Tulsa. The land of the south, the birthplace of Minerva. It was a place known for its abundance and riches. All of which were brought about by the favor and blessings of Minerva.

I looked at the sky, it was beautiful, big and blue. As it always has been during the harvest season. The maids scurried about, doing their chores. 

“Minerva, it’s too hot, would you prefer to take a seat in the shade?” I turned to the person speaking to me and there stood Lala. Lala played three pivotal parts in my life, she is my personal maid, my bodyguard, and my watcher. 

I walked over to her, quietly, as I usually did, regally, as I was taught, and sat next to her. She poured me a cup of lemonade and with a smile handed it to me. I took it because that cup would never contain poison. The entire kingdom of Tulsa knew of Minerva, the entire kingdom of Tulsa would never hurt Minerva. Again, it is their mantra. Politicians would squabble, houses would fall, but nothing could touch Minerva. 

She was the sun to the Tulsa flower, the nectar to their sunbird, and as such, any harm that would fall onto her would fall onto the entire kingdom. One thing that scared the prideful Tulsan people, was ruination caused by their own hands. As such, I drank my poison-less lemonade and went back to staring at the sky.

“You seem calm today.” Lala was right, I was calm. I had calmed down after hearing the news. 

“Have you accepted it Minerva?” she asked. She was waiting for an answer, in fact, the entire Tulsan kingdom hung on this very answer. 

“More or less,” I said

“So you will accept Prince June? Marry into royalty?”

Prince June, that fucker. 

I looked at Lala, “I don’t think I have a choice.” I got up, “I’m going to have a siesta, Lala. Tell the maids not to disturb me.”

“Of course Minerva”

By the time I would wake up my answer would reach the king, the bishop, the capital butcher, and the shepherd on the outskirts of Tulsa. Some would begin preparing for the festivities. 

But thankfully, I wasn’t going to marry the Tulsan prince. I had a plan. I was going to leave Tulsa. I would be the last Minerva the Tulsan people would ever see.