Louisa Hendraki

Chapter Seven: Bad omen

Roman strolled through the cloister of the palace casually when he met almost collided with Nadia who was emerging from a corner. He stopped, apologized quickly and was about to leave when she said, "May we speak, General?" He stopped and turned before saying, "Your majesty?" She raised her chin,"I know, General, that you were always loyal to Louisa...but I think you haven't been loyal to me,"she said. Roman raised a brow.

Where was this discussion heading?

Nadia moved closer to him and he stepped back. She noticed and smiled amused. "Relax General. This is a public space. I wouldn't do anything here if I wanted to." Roman was quiet and she said,"I expect I'll be seeing more of you now that Louisa is gone. You were always with her."

Then she left him confused.

Always with Louisa? That wasn't true, he thought.

As he walked away still wondering what she meant by loyalty to her, he was pulled into a dark corner from behind.

It was Tristan.

His blonde hair was covered in a black hood and he looked dangerous. Roman has not seen him like that before. He was always in bright colours. Nevertheless, he feigned annoyance,"When did you start pulling people into dark corners at night Sorcerer?"

"When did you start seeing the queen, General."

Roman frowned,"It's not what you think..."

"Of course... I know. She's young and beautiful... but it's not what it seems of course." Tristan replied sarcastically.

"What do you want?" Roman asked, knowing arguing was pointless.

"I had a dream." Tristan said. Roman raised a brow,"So?"

Tristan frowned, "You know my dreams are not always dreams. They're visions." Roman looked annoyed and ran his fingers through his hair. "What about?". Tristan looked around and said,"Louisa is in love."

For a moment, Roman blinked and then he laughed hard. Tristan was annoyed. "What's funny?",he asked frowning. "Three things are funny," Roman said completely amused.

"First, he continued, Who could Louisa possibly be in love with? Nikolai? We all know what she thinks of him."

"Look it's..."

"...Second, So you dream of Louisa now?"

"...I don't..."

"... Finally, you make it sound like a bad omen. It's a good thing, isn't it?"

"It is not!" Tristan half yelled.

Roman raised a brow. Tristan rarely raised his voice. It meant he was really serious.

"I'm confused myself because I don't see how that poses as a threat or..., he lowered his voice, causes the death of the king."

Roman widened his eyes in surprise. How was that possible? He wanted to ask but he knew Tristan didn't know the answer too.

Then he said, "I'm going to write her a letter to warn her". Roman smirked, "Well, what are you going to say? Hey Louisa don't fall in love with your husband. There will be consequences..."

"... except it's not her husband. That's it, Roman."

"That's what? You really think Louisa will find any man of Nendes attractive?."Roman asked and Tristan smirked.

"You didn't use to find Nadia attractive before now here you are",he teased and Roman frowned. "Stop it. I hate that," he said and Tristan laughed.

"Good! Now I've given you something to hate. Ain't I a good friend?"

Then he pulled his hood and walked away.

"Annoying brat!" Roman muttered. Annoying but brotherly.

****

(One week later)

Louisa had had a good time as Queen for a week. She had everything she wanted. She rarely saw Nikolai but he was good to her. She always wondered how the rumours about him spread anyways.

There was no smoke without fire surely.

She had not seen Conrad since her encounter with Juliet and was worried about him. Juliet lived at court but in a different quarters while her son lived at a different location.

She didn't know if it was normal to let a child live alone. She had asked Nikolai and he said it was to train him. The reply left Louisa unsatisfied but again why did she care? The child's mother had been rude to her.

But deep down, Louisa knew it wasn't Conrad's fault. He couldn't help his circumstances.

Louisa sighed as she closed the book she had kept open for close to an hour without reading. Then she saw a letter on her table and sighed.

Tristan's letter.

The first letter she has ever received from home since she was married and what was it's contents?

Not 'Congratulations on being queen' or 'How are you' but a rather confusing warning that she shouldn't have affairs apart from her husband. She would take it lightly had it been for anyone but Tristan? He was a goddamn sorcerer. He didn't say things without reason and he never had good omens.

The contents had confused Louisa as she didn't know what he meant by impending doom will befall them all. She had written back to him since the previous day and was still awaiting his reply.

Whatever it was, it scared her.

****

Nikolai watched as Juliet put on her dressing robe. "I always convinced myself that you were just too busy for me..but now I've seen that you hate me"

Nikolai moved from his lying position and sat on the bed confused, "Hate you? What do you mean?"

She sat beside him on the bed. "You married a princess of Ravencrest when you had the mother of your child right here," she said accusingly and he raised a brow. "Jealous?" he asked and she frowned, "Naturally." He laughed at her and pulled her into his arms.

"You know my heart belongs to you." he said and she rolled her eyes. "I know it doesn't. It's locked up somewhere in that Louisa girl."

"She's the queen. Don't speak about her like that." Juliet laughed and said, "I'm sorry, Your majesty." Then she said, "You know she tried to hurt Conrad once."

Nikolai frowned. "Conrad?" and Juliet nodded. Nikolai was angry. "How?"

"I found her force-feeding him. Poor boy almost choked. I found him on time." Nikolai didn't wait to hear anymore. He put on his clothes and stormed out of the room.

Juliet smiled mischievously.

****

"One.. two.. three.. and spin" One of Louisa's ladies said as they were all choreographing in harmony. Louisa had chosen six ladies aside Zara and they were teaching her some Nendes' dance steps that she didn't know.

Nora, who was sitting on a chair in the room, watched amused as Louisa and Zara struggled with the steps while having fun.

Louisa looked so happy and more beautiful than she looked when she first arrived.

Queenship looked good on her, she thought

Just then, Nikolai barged into the room in fury. Everywhere went quiet. They all curtsied to him,"Majesty..."

"Leave all of you!" he commanded. His blazing gaze was fixated on Louisa. Nora knew there was trouble. Zara and the other ladies scurried away before Nora left last.

Nikolai took a dangerous step towards Louisa and she backed away. "Your majesty... what have I done?"

"You dare try to hurt my son?"

Conrad? What was he talking about. She didn't... Oh Juliet. That witch! she cursed.

"What did Juliet tell you?" she asked, frightened by the pure rage in his eyes. He could kill her now and nobody would care to help her... or avenge her.

"How you force-fed him. How could you?" he said swinging in her direction and she dodge and ran towards the bathroom door. "I didn't force feed him. I only asked him to join me for breakfast and he did. Juliet came and pulled him away."

"You tried to choke him to death!" Nikolai said again as though she'd been speaking in strange languages.

Was this man deaf? she asked herself.

He rushed at her again and caught her by the neck almost choking her then she kicked him out of sheer reflex. When he released her, she screamed at him. "He came to find you and I was disappointed when I told him you were not around... I gave him food to cheer him up. It happened a week ago. If I tried to kill him, why didn't she tell you immediately you returned. Why did she tell you now?"

The anger in Nikolai calmed at Louisa's words. He had almost killed her without thinking. She coughed and looked at him in disbelief.

"Louisa I..."

"...You were about to kill me for being nice to your son. Please leave."

Then she went and lay down on her bed, leaving him standing there.