I am Reborn through Revenge

Eyes with fury

I looked at Vera, her eyes were burning with fury.

“Why would she sit there?” she asked interrogatively.

“It’s boring when you play the game of cards only you and—”

“And what?” she interrupted.

“Allow me to finish.” I narrowed my gaze and focused it on her. “And less boring when you are playing with two or more persons. This is one of my favourite games Princess but it becomes my worst when I play against a single opponent. I lose the taste.”

“And what if the new opponent doesn’t know how to play the game?” she asked, her face blank.

“That’s a question of what if. But if the new player doesn’t know how to play the game then I will manage. What I can’t just endure is playing against a single player and end up beating the player every single time. It makes the game uninteresting and I end up losing the taste.”

Vera's face still looked obnoxious but yet, I didn’t care. “C’mon Valerie. Come here.” I dragged the stool closer. She walked unsteadily and sat down just beside me.

“And you think I would be comfortable to play this game with a palace maid?” she asked, still looking mad. She clenched her hand into a fist. I could see the rage in her eyes.

“Why not?” I asked. I kept a steady face while shoving the cards.

“If you think that would happen, then you must be insane.”

“Excuse me?”

She stood up. “You heard me right, Prince. Have a lovely day.” She left angrily.

I could sense the burning anger in her. I wondered the type of punishment she might have given Valerie if it had been in her father's kingdom that something like this happened.

“You can go now,” I said.

“Are you not going to play the game again, your Highness?” Valerie asked

“No. Thank you. You should go. See you later.”

She nodded. Stood up and left quickly without further questions. Now both of them were gone, I wanted to think. Would Vera matter? I asked myself. I just didn't want to do something I would regret later. Kiran kingdom would be a very important ally but the loyalty of the king lies with Queen Veronica. If I should key into Vera's demand now that she doesn’t even have the power, what would she want in the future when she finally becomes the Queen Of Kiran? She said if her father dies.

Dies?

What if she dies before her father, what would then be my benefit? I didn’t remember making any promises to any woman about keeping my body unstained. Therefore, I am as free as a bird and would share my body with any woman I wish to. What I failed to understand was why I couldn’t concede to her demands. Vera is beautiful but she looks too ambitious to my liking. I was trying to remain focused and I wouldn’t want anyone or any lady to distract me in the palace— not even Vera. I had a lot of things ahead of me which I would need to take care of and Vera wasn’t one of them— not on the menu.

“Your Highness. The royal guards are here.” A voice outside my room echoed.

My mind was drifted from its vague state. What would the royal guards be doing here? What could bring them this early?

“What do you want?” I asked authoritatively.

“The Queen requires your presence.”

I tried to imagine why she requires to see me but nothing came up. “Okay, I am coming.”

I wanted to go inside the other room where I sleep sometimes to get a weapon for my side, maybe a knife which I have hidden there.

A knife? What can I possibly do with a knife? I brushed the idea aside. I changed my mind and went inside my wardrobe, I slid into a fashionable cut white shirt with cotton plain black trousers.

“Let's go.” I said to the two heavy guards standing beside the door. I followed them and they led me straight to the Queen’s quarters.

“Hello, Prince Anon," the Queen said. "Come have a seat.” she gestured with her hands and smiled.

She was sitting on a chair, facing a very long dining table where all sorts of foods was already served. She was on a purple long gown that ran down from her shoulder and covered her feet. “Good morning your Majesty.” I smiled and relaxed on a chair just opposite her. She was about to drink something from a ceramic cup, my guess was coffee.

“Good morning Anon,” she replied. She stirred the coffee with a spoon she had in one hand. “We have not seen each other for a few days. What have you been up to?” she asked.

I wanted to laugh. For the last three months, we hardly see each other and just these few days, she was already worried about me?

“Nothing serious.”

“Oh. I see. Anyway, I didn’t only call you here to show my appreciation for coming to my birthday but also wanted to thank you for having a role you played in the selection process of the maids.”

Had a role? Was I instrumental in the selection process? If I was then how?

As if she was reading my thoughts. “Yes, you were Prince Anon. You played a part and I want to thank you for it in a special way.” She paused and took a sip from her cup.

“If you don’t mind, how did I play a part that day?” I asked, still unable to discover the answer myself.

“The girl you gave your clothes? Remember her?”

That would be—Marie. The girl I helped. What might have happened to her? I was curious.

“Yes! What did she do?”

“Ha, ha. She turned out to be my most favourite of them all.”

“Favourite?”

“You heard me right Anon,” she replied, smiling.

I started to feel worried, I didn’t know why. I wondered why she would say that Marie was her favourite. For Queen Veronica to singlehandedly pick her out looked fishy to me. I wasn't sure if I was concerned about knowing what happened to the girl or if I wanted to know what the Queen was thinking. I tried to figure out a way to make her tell me more about what I needed to hear.

“Look here Anon,” She said pointing at the table. “There is plenty of food on the table. Please, eat to your fill.”

I looked at the table, the foods there were deliciously upsetting my stomach. I haven’t eaten anything but yet, I couldn’t afford to eat the food. At that moment, I wished I was never an enemy to the Queen. What sort of life was this? When was this going to end?

“That’s nice of you. But Someone had already sent down foods to my Quarters this morning.”

She arched her brows and looked directly into my eyes. She gave me a questioning look. “Someone?”

She didn’t know? “Yes. Her name's Valerie. She’s one of the brand new palace maids. She already sent down food to my room. I believe you have something to do with it of course.”

“Hmm. Did this Valerie said that I sent her to serve food to your quarters?” she asked. The crooked smile on her face was gone.

What should I say? I asked myself. It was obvious the Queen wasn’t even aware that Valerie had been bringing food every morning. If I tell her now, she might behead Valerie for lying with her name or she might cut off her tongue for fabricating something that wasn’t true, I thought. The best way to handle the situation was to lie to her as well, I concluded.

“No, she didn’t your Majesty.” I tried to smile.

“Hmm!” she hummed and sipped her coffee. “You won’t eat?”

“No, thanks. But if I may ask, why was the girl your favourite? I mean there were other girls in the room anyway. What’s so special about her that would trigger your Majesty’s interest?” I asked, smiling.

“Can you fetch water with a basket?”

“A basket?”

“Yes. A basket!”

I looked around the large room as if I was looking for something of mine missing. “No, I can’t.”

“Correct. Now, imagine yourself fetching water with a basket and you noticed that it doesn’t leak even a drop of water on the floor.”

Water? Basket? What’s the connection? I tried to relate to all she had said but nothing came up.

“Does the basket has to do with the girl?” I asked looking at her expressionless face.

“Right! She’s the basket.” She smiled.

If this Marie was a basket, why doesn’t she leak? “But she’s uneducated. Why have your Majesty chosen her as the best of all the new maids?” I asked. My stomach growled and I started losing breath.

I was feeling hungry and there was this urgent need to eat something but yet I couldn’t afford to leave the conversation I was having with the Queen. “May I take some of your coffee? Please?” I asked, gesturing with my hand to a white jug she poured in the coffee into. Even if she poisoned other foods, she wouldn’t poison her coffee, would she?

“Coffee?!”

“Hmm!”

She gave a half-laugh. “Why coffee and not food?”

“Because I need something light.”

“Of course, suit yourself!” she said and pointed at a cup on the table.

I grabbed it and hurriedly poured in some coffee inside. I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Why would your Majesty prefer someone uneducated to other girls?” I asked. I wanted the conversation to continue.

“Everyone has a purpose in life, educated or not. Or don’t you agree?”

I was halfway into finishing the coffee. “Yes, that’s correct your Majesty. I continued drinking.

“I found the illiteracy in her useful!” she smiled.

The coffee suddenly gushed out from my mouth. “I am Sorry!” I apologized.

I felt embarrassed. But I hurriedly cleaned my mouth with a piece of white clothing. I gave a thought to what she said. Why would she find Marie's illiteracy useful? Does it have anything to do with the basket? Or wait! The leak? Leak? What would an illiterate leak?

“Did I arouse your interest?”

“No-no. You didn’t but I would say your…your coffee is delicious!”

“My coffee?” she giggled. “I never make one. The maids had always made them for me. I thought you should know this?” she raised a brow.

I’m a terrible liar. I better learn how to come up with better excuses next time, I thought. “That’s true,” I said, wide-eyed.

I didn’t want to put myself in that awkward situation again. I decided to move away from the Queen’s quarters. It will save me from further embarrassment, I thought.

“I think I have to go now. There’s something I need to take care of.” I finished the coffee in one gulp.

“What could be so important?” she asked. She slightly bowed her head but arched up against her two eyes. Her look was somewhat like she doubted me.

“Personal stuff. Nothing important.” I giggled.

“The door is open.” She gestured with her hand to the door. I thought she would ask me not to go.

I gently stood up and made my way to the entrance. “Thank you for the coffee your Highness” I turned, like I suddenly remembered to say it.

She just nodded but this time, she didn’t laugh nor smile. I couldn’t read the expression on her face. She knitted her brows while her head was held in a slouch looking at me. It almost seemed like the dark spot in her eyes had disappeared.