The Little Great Queen

Introduction: A Young Queen and a Kingdom in Mourning

Once upon a time, in a great kingdom called Caspia, trouble befell the royal family. The King and Queen had passed away, leaving behind their 10-year-old daughter, Sofia, the sole heir to the throne.

Caspia was now in sorrow, facing an uncertain future. And the wicked Prime Minister Zaran knew this.

Zaran's Evil Plan

"We will crown the little girl. And when the people of the kingdom see what a pathetic ruler she is, I will convince them to let me take over for the supreme good of Caspia. Ha ha ha!"

Sofia's Coronation and the Start of a Troubled Reign

And so, on the night of the full moon, Sofia was crowned queen of Caspia. Horns blew and drums resonated, while the little queen sat on the throne, scared, troubled, and grieving the loss of her parents.

Zaran saw the fear in her eyes and grinned with satisfaction.

"My Queen, I bow before you and pledge my support and loyalty until my last breath." "What... what was I thinking? And you, nurse, are you just as good?" "Of course, Your Highness. Nurse, please accompany the Queen to her chambers and ensure she has everything she needs."

Zaran Takes Control

Zaran's plan was unfolding quite well, and as he had expected, Sofia, being a child, did not involve herself in the kingdom's affairs. She spent most of her time with her nurse, in whose company she found comfort, and so it was.

"Triple the taxes! Tell them it is the Queen's order, and disobedience to her command will lead to capital punishment."

Troubled times fell upon Caspia. People were tortured and punished for the slightest mistake, and freedom of speech was a thing of the past. All in the Queen's name.

But the Queen knew nothing of this. She lived in ignorance that beyond her palace walls, her people suffered.

The Truth Comes Out

But one day, something happened. As she chased her little kitten, she reached the courtroom, where she saw a man in chains, kneeling before Zaran.

"Oh, what happened?" "Ah, Your Highness, nothing important for you to worry about. This man committed blasphemy, he insulted you, and we are taking care of it." "Imprison him?" "Yes, my Queen. He will be hanged." "Why?" "Uh... can you tell me your name, sir?" "Filip." "Filip. What did you do to be treated like this?" "Don't you see we are not happy under your rule? My wife and daughter are starving because I cannot put food on the table. And how could I? Whatever we earn, you take as taxes." "Enough! I will take your head!" "Zaran!" "Are you challenging me, Filip? Zaran, go and make sure he receives enough food for his whole family." "But..." "So be it." "Yes. Yes, my Queen."

Sofia Takes Action

Filip, astonished, was released. Zaran watched him leave the courtroom, clenching his teeth.

"Oh, it's nothing, Your Highness." "Nothing, Your Highness. Ordinary taxes that every citizen must pay."

Sofia nodded, stood up, and left the courtroom.

"That was close. I must do something right away."

That evening, she left the kingdom on her horse, without telling anyone. Meanwhile, Sofia could only think of Filip's distraught face and the chains that bound him. She felt troubled.

"What is it, my Queen? Are you worried?"

Sofia told her everything, and the nurse lowered her gaze.

"Do you think that, as a queen, I shouldn't let myself be led by emotions?" "As a queen, Your Highness, your most important concern is the happiness of your subjects. You did a great job today, but this is the tip of the iceberg." "What else do you know?" "Oh!"

Thus, the nurse told Sofia everything that had happened in the kingdom after her parents' death. The little queen was shocked, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I know it is difficult for someone your age to take on all this responsibility, but now only you can save the kingdom."

The next morning, Sofia and her nurse, disguised as common folk, left the kingdom and went to the market.

"50 lashes if you don't pay the tax now." "But I have no money. My crops were destroyed." "I don't care." "Wait! You can't punish him like that! You must take him to the queen." "Go away, little girl! Otherwise, I won't think twice before..." "What?" "Qu... qu... Queen?" "Not only do you collect taxes in my name, but you also have the audacity to punish my people? Soldiers!"

"Kill him, just as you promised you would!" "But..." "Now!" "We are not heartless like this man. We are ordinary people. We only want a simple and happy life. Violence is not our custom." "Do you see the difference? Are you ashamed now? The very people you torture do not want to be impolite to you." "I am sorry, Your Highness."

Reforms and Recognition

"All new tax reforms are hereby declared null and void. Taxes will be collected from those who can pay. Those whose incomes are minimal will be exempt from all taxes." "And what about us, who paid triple taxes? We have nothing left!" "All this service is false. Justice will prevail. Filip, you are hereby appointed my advisor and Minister of Finance, if, of course, you wish to take on these positions." "I... I will be honored, Queen."

Sofia and Filip returned to the palace where they summoned the treasurer and discussed tax collection at length. She learned that most of the collected taxes did not reach the royal treasury but were kept by the ministers.

"Filip, find out who these ministers are and bring them to me."

It didn't take Filip long. Some of his soldier friends told him everything. All the corrupt ministers were summoned to the town square, where they were publicly humiliated and banished from the kingdom.

Then, Sofia summoned Zaran, but he was nowhere to be found. Without waiting for him, the little queen ordered the release of all unjustly imprisoned convicts.

In the next few days, Sofia brought more reforms to the kingdom and was acclaimed as the Little Great Queen.

The Threat from Stopia

But just as things were beginning to return to normal in Caspia, the neighboring kingdom, twice the size of Caspia, was marching to attack it. And the man who helped its king was Zaran. He had gone there to persuade the king to attack Caspia, convincing him that it was the right time, as the queen was young and inexperienced.

"My Queen, Stopia has attacked us, and Zaran is supporting them." "Is that why he disappeared in recent days?" "Yes, and with him are the other corrupt ministers you banished." "What should I do, Filip?" "Leave it to me."

The People Rise Up

Filip gathered all the people of the kingdom in the town square.

"Our kingdom is threatened. Our Queen is threatened. Their army is twice the size of ours, but still, we can win." "How?" "With the participation of all of us. You will enter the battlefield for the Queen." "Yes!" "Will you fight for the honor of her crown?" "She fought for our lives. We will fight for her until our last breath. I say yes!" "Yes! Yes! Yes!" "Long live the Queen!" "Long live the Queen!"

Caspia's Victory

When the army from Stopia approached Caspia, they were taken by surprise by men and women with spears and swords, emerging from behind trees and attacking them from all sides. And as they had agreed, they shouted:

"Thank you, Zaran, for helping us capture the King of Stopia!" "Thank you, Zaran, for capturing him!" "Huh? What?"

And at that moment, from the front came Caspia's army, marching forward with elephants and horses.

"Zaran, you betrayed us!" "No! No, Your Highness!" "You will pay for this, Zaran! Soldiers, turn back! Retreat!"

The Stopian army retreated, leaving Zaran behind, who now belonged neither to Caspia nor to Stopia. Fleeing for his life. But after running a short distance, he saw Sofia waiting for him on her horse.

"Is that all you can still run?" "I... I am sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive me."

Zaran's Fate

And for the first time since her parents' death, Sofia spoke as an authoritative queen.

"Not everyone deserves forgiveness, Zaran. Some deserve punishment. Guards, take him and lock him in the dungeons!" "No! No! No!"