Even After Death

Chapter 7

It had been three days since Henri arrived at the palace, and it was like what happened in Katarina’s preceding life — him not talking or even visiting her.

Previously, Katarina felt down, but she could not care less about her present lifetime. Maybe it was because she had already witnessed it before, so it did not hurt her that much.

There was only one thing she had been waiting for those last three days — for Queen Sora to summon her regarding that laceration on her face.

That was the viable way for her to escape the enthronement then. Aside from the Queen’s hating her, Henri could never twist the law of the Royal Court that no Queen should have any scar on visible parts of her body.

Katarina was impatiently waiting inside her chamber when suddenly a knight screamed in front of her door.

“Your Highness, Princess Katarina. Her Majesty the Queen has summoned you. Please be in the Queen’s court upon notice of this message.”

Katarina’s heart almost jumped out hearing the message. She had been waiting for the Queen’s summoning of her. She looked at Agnes and signaled her to tell the knight the message was well-received.

She immediately stood up from sitting on her bed and picked a plain dress to wear. In her previous life, she did everything for the Queen to like her, but she was doing the opposite presently. She wanted the Queen to hate her more than ever.

Katarina could clearly remember that Queen Sora had a significant influence on Henri. The Prince gave importance to every decision his mother made.

The Queen’s hatred for her could be her ticket to escape.

***

Katarina instantly saw Queen Sora standing inside upon entering the Queen’s court. She wore a golden dress matched with gold pieces of jewelry. She still looked as stunning as ever in her old age.

As expected, the ministers led by Chief Minister Alejandres were also there to decide her fate in enthronement.

When Queen Sora finally saw Katarina arrive, her expression became filled with hatred. She rolled her eyes as she mocked her, “As if your inability of magic is not enough, you really have to scar yourself in your face, of all places.”

On the other hand, Katarina kneeled before her. “My apologies, Your Majesty,” she expressed regret in a sad voice, yet inside her was bursting with excitement.

“We will now decide if you are still eligible for the enthronement because of that nasty wound on your cheeks,” the Queen answered, then she signaled to Chief Minister Alejandres to start the voting.

The Chief Minister let out a cough and gently stroked his throat. “To all twelve ministers in this session, you may vote out the Crown Princess from the enthronement or make her the Queen in the upcoming royal coronation.”

The Queen’s court was covered with silence at that time. No one dared to talk or even gasp. They knew that Queen Sora hated Katarina, and since the Queen could affect her son’s rule— they would all try to please her.

Looking at the expression of the old ministers, Katarina could not help but slightly curve the edge of her lips. Escaping the misfortune attached to being the Queen was within her reach. That way, she could protect herself and the people she cared for.

She would never perish in this lifetime the way she died in her previous life while being humiliated in front of the nation.

“To those ministers who want to vote out Princess Katarina, raise your hands.” Chief Minister Alejandres instructed them.

Still kneeling, Katarina looked around and saw that eleven out of twelve ministers had raised their hands.

She closed her eyes, whispering, “This is the end.”

Queen Sora suddenly said, “What is your reason for not voting Katarina Frances out, Minister Spencer? Let us hear it.”

The Queen referred to Minister Spencer, the lone minister who did not raise his hand. He was a knight before becoming a member of the Royal Council. The older man was close to Katarina’s father.

“Katarina Frances is the Crown Princess appointed by the late King Alexander Amaris. Betraying his words is betraying the Great Kingdom of Etherion.” Minister Spencer let out.

Queen Sora smirked upon hearing his words. “The Queen is the symbol of beauty and hope. That woman ruined her chance when she let that wound on her face.”

“Being a Queen is more than just being a superficial figure you make it to be,” the old minister clenched his fist, trying to counter Queen Sora.

The old Queen crossed her arms and retorted, “So, Minister Spencer, are you trying to challenge the Royal Law? It is stated that no candidates for the role of Queen should have scars and wounds on visible parts of their bodies.”

“She is not just a mere candidate! She is the appointed one!”

“Enough, Minister Spencer! She is the queen. Show your respect!” Chief Minister Alejandres stopped Minister Spencer from arguing with Queen Sora. “The Queen is right; it is stated in the royal law that no candidates for the role of the Queen should have scars.”

Katarina took a glance at Minister Spencer. He became quiet at that time, realizing that arguing with the most powerful woman in the Kingdom was disrespectful.

“My apologies, Minister Spencer,” whispered Katarina to herself. The old minister was like how she remembered him in her past — he was always fighting for her. The man was even removed from his position because of his stand regarding her.

“Now that everything is settled, I will be the one to officiate the deposition of Her Royal Highness, Princess Katarina,” Chief Minister Alejandres continued to speak.

“By the power given to me by the Royal Court, I, Chief Minister Maxwell Alejandres, proclaim that Her Royal Highness, Princess Katarina Frances, is stripped of her title and can no longer use the name of the Royal Family in the future. She is now removed as the Crown Princess and will live as an ordinary noble from now on.”

Katarina bit her lip, hearing the proclamation of the Chief Minister. It was the end; she was no longer part of the Royal Family and would never be the Queen. She finally escaped the curse of that role.

“To authenticate the proclamation, I require Katarina Frances to return the royal document given to her by the late King Alexander Amaris as proof of her appointment as the Crown Princess.”

Kneeling in front of the Chief Minister and Queen Sora, Katarina pulled the document from her sleeve and presented it to them.

Queen Sora took the royal document from her hands and whispered, “Finally, you are out of the palace.”

The Queen had desperately wanted Katarina out of the palace from the start. They could not just touch her before because the late King was on her side. But now that he was no longer alive, the Queen finally moved her fingers.

Katarina breathed a sigh of relief.

It was the end.

She was finally free.

Then suddenly, a man’s voice came out from behind her. “Give her back the royal document.”

Everyone then turned their gazes to the court entrance and was stunned to see where that voice was coming from.

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Henri!”