Andrew Rozek “The Banquet” Short Story Contest Submission 11/3/23
The Banquet “The banquet is set to begin in fifteen minutes, your majesty,” I stared up at the queen’s towering figure. “The butterfly liaison council will be arriving shortly.” “I’m aware, but thank you, Borle,” she slid white gloves over her black claws. “Shall we start heading to the banquet hall and make sure everything is in order?” “Yes, your majesty,” holding open the door, I let the queen walk into the hall and quickly followed behind her. Her steps were made gracefully but with great purpose, and I had trouble keeping up with my short stature. “I hope they have the flowers in perfect order, I truly didn’t send out a team of thieves to take those for nothing,” the queen scowled. “I also hope they’re the correct flowers. The butterflies grow a great variety of them, but I specifically requested they take milkweed.” “If you don’t mind my asking, why milkweed?” I pulled out the notepad kept in my coat pocket, ready to write down any information on butterflies I could get. The queen and other officials in the castle often rely on me to relay quick information, and thus, I take notes on whatever I can and carry those notes on me. “It’s their favorite. A real delicacy among their people, but the royal family is especially fond of it. Using these flowers will give us the highest chance of success, and it’s quite ironic if their fondness of this delicacy is what gets them killed, is it not?” “I guess so, your majesty,” I wrote down what the queen had told me. “You sound unsure. Why’s that?” the question sent a shiver throughout my wings. “Ah, well…” I innocently raised my gaze up to the queen. “I understand that it’s far too late to cancel the event, and that is not my request by any means, but your majesty, do you truly believe that this is the best way to go about things?” “Are you questioning my authority?” the queen stopped in her tracks, menacingly staring down at me. “Not at all, your majesty!” I raised my hands defensively. “I just…it is certainly true that they’ve committed very cruel acts against our people, however, I don’t feel like retaliating with violence is the answer.” “If they killed our people, don’t they deserve to die also? How many moths have died to the hands of those wretched butterflies? How are we to avenge our dead if they don’t experience a similar level of cruelty?” her tone was cold and condescending, cutting through the silence of the hallway. “I understand where you’re coming from, Queen Anastera, I just wish-”