My adored queen

11

The end of summer could have been hotter, but the weather was already hinting at what to expect from autumn. Indian summer cobwebs were swirling in the air unexpectedly early, and the first migratory birds were preparing to depart. Cranes, gathering in flocks, sadly circled over their native land, bidding it farewell until next year. They faced a long and dangerous journey, with only half of them expected to reach their destination. As for the other half... well, natural selection spares no one. Only the strongest survive...

Not only.

Also those who are the most resilient, the most intelligent, the most cunning and experienced.

The queen dowager knew these truths well and remembered her path to power. She did everything possible and impossible to stay on top, but even that proved insufficient.

Love... Affection... Trust... Her late husband, King Leonard, was fixated on concepts that had long gone out of fashion. Realizing this, she resorted to all her feminine wiles to cloud his mind, but he remained cold, icy... After the wedding, he gave her separate chambers and only came to her periodically to fulfill his marital duty, but even on those days, he didn't stay with her until morning. He didn't hide that he had a favorite. Though, it depended on who was watching. The queen knew, and others... Everyone knew, but pretended not to notice. Praise be to the heavens that the woman didn't bear him a child! Though, how could she, since Clarissa had ensured the countess was barren?

Leonard didn't love her, didn't like her, didn't trust her, he wasn't even friends with her, yet he was always generous, kind, didn't offend her even when her intrigues blatantly crossed the line. And she, milady, endured it, she herself didn't cherish any of those feelings towards her husband. However, he didn't even love their only son. And this annoyed and frightened the queen quite a bit. Yes, Robert wasn't like his father. He didn't meddle in politics, but was interested in collectible wines and pretty girls. How many scandals Clarissa managed to keep secret, always protecting the crown prince from his father's wrath! But even what she couldn't hide was enough for Leonard to do something foolish. The only consolation was that the king had no more children, so after his death, the throne would definitely go to her son. And then, having full power in her hands, she would live!

The queen knew about her husband's illness. She found out quite by accident, seeing blood on the king's handkerchief after a racking cough, which was supposedly a sign of a bad cold, but she hid it from everyone except the crown prince. With him, she could share the good news. Consumption... It wasn't hard to pressure the chief physician to learn the whole truth, while playing ignorant. Realizing that the beginning of her era was already visible on the horizon, she decided to meet it. It cost her nothing to replace the monarch's herbal remedies, which maintained his condition, with regular tea, which her herbalist prepared to preserve her youthful skin. Clarissa considered it payback for everything she had to endure in her marriage, but he... As if sensing something, he ruined everything again right before his death and gave absolutely everything that should have gone to her to the possession of this girl. As if that wasn't enough, he sent their son to Logan – a remote duchy on the border, a miserable province with nothing to take from. And this upstart Ileria already felt power and showed her true face. Of course, she was about to become the mother of the queen, and Clarissa, having lost everything, would only have the title of widow and a small monthly compensation. That is, a large sum, but not enough to live royally as she was accustomed to with her husband. The husband whose death she herself hastened. A curse!

However, remembering the migratory birds, she didn't even think of giving up, knowing that life is a path of dangers and difficulties. All she needed was to persuade Annie to abdicate the throne, and then everything would be fine for her and her son again. But the crown princess was under pressure, and the only thing that could help was to show what people thought of the inexperienced ruler and send her agent, a sufficiently neutral person. Neutral in the girl's opinion, but in reality, a loyal friend of her son, who would, of course, do everything to ensure the rightful heir took the throne.

But even this flawless plan was failing before her eyes. Even when the messenger from Count Arron ordered the former marchioness to come to the square in front of the palace, Clarissa smelled the unpleasant odor of burning – her hopes were crumbling.

Dynasty members, Annie's family, advisors,, nobles, the army, servants... Everyone gathered in front of the main terrace. The queen dowager wanted to know what the princess had planned with her mother, but Ileria remained steadfastly silent, saying, "You'll find out with everyone else." And milady understood that the girl hadn't even told her parents. Daniel flashed by several times, but he was so busy with the guards that he didn't even pay attention to his best friend. And Robert, by the way, was worried, and she, as a mother, saw it. Finally, the head of security slipped into the palace, and a few minutes later, the master of ceremonies announced so solemnly, loudly:

"Attention! Her Highness Crown Princess Annie!"

And they all had to bow, at least with their heads, welcoming the main heir to the throne. Now, even before the coronation, she was already the main person in Lantonia. Clarissa tried to reassure herself that it wouldn't last long, but a knot of irritation settled deep in her throat.

Meanwhile, Annie appeared on the main terrace, proudly approaching its railing. And the queen dowager couldn't hold back the curse that escaped her lips:

"May this terrace collapse under you..."

"Quiet you," the crown prince hissed, the only one close enough to hear. "We're nobody here now."

"Everything will change soon, son. I swear, it will change..." the mother's hand squeezed her only son's hand. Clarissa smiled again, ready to hear what was already clear. Her role was friendliness and courtesy. She would calmly congratulate the new queen, calmly escort her son to Logan, then calmly overthrow the imposter and bring Robert back to the capital. Only calmly. Anger is the worst enemy, the most cruel and merciless. She wouldn't succumb to anger while planning her actions.

And yet, looking at the elegant aristocratic face of her husband's niece was unpleasant. Always and in everything better, she annoyed even when she didn't strive for power. Just like the late king, sincere and moderate. Only inexperienced. And that's what the queen bet on the most.

"Loyal subjects of the kingdom of Lantonia!" the girl said loudly, surveying the audience. Ileria and her husband Philip exchanged glances and held their breath, and another hated by Clarissa former princess Palmira squeezed her daughter Nicolina's hand. They were worried. Not without reason. Soon, when power belonged to the late king's widow again, they would all dance to her tune. But for now... for now, she would be cunning and prudent. "The death of our beloved King His Majesty Leonard Martial III was sudden. We are all in mourning together, bowing our heads before the memory and greatness of the late monarch. We were all loyal servants of our ruler, ready to fulfill all his commands. And I want to remind you and myself first of all that the king's death is not a reason to disrupt his orders. By his last decree, he bequeathed what shocked us all. He handed the kingdom into my hands, thereby changing the order of succession to the throne. Until now, I didn't want to accept my fate, until I was reminded that His Majesty's will is sacred and my duty is to do even more than I can to preserve the orders established by King Leonard and the decrees he managed to issue. Before the memory of my beloved uncle, I, Marchioness Alvinska, and now Crown Princess Annie Wilson, solemnly declare that I won't go against the will of the late monarch and accept his throne and kingdom. Therefore, I order to prepare the coronation, to hold it without delay, within the terms specified in the law of Lantonia. I want my decision to be announced in all cities and villages of the kingdom: all subjects are invited to the coronation; they will be welcomed in the capital. Now you can return to your affairs.

Smiles bloomed on the faces of the future queen's relatives, exchanging satisfied glances. The servants began to disperse, whispering quietly. The military returned to their barracks in an orderly fashion. Some were happy, some were bewildered. And only Clarissa and her son still stood in front of the terrace, even though the princess's shadow had disappeared into the palace. Having suppressed her feelings, milady approached the parents whose daughter was about to be crowned. She smiled a forced smile, offering Ileria her hand:

"Congratulations to your family. Annie is a brave girl; let's hope she won't regret her courage."

"Don't doubt it," the eldest princess of the blood nodded, shaking hands with her opponent. Duke Philip also accepted the congratulations, kissing the fingers of the now former queen.

Robert, on the contrary, didn't even force himself to pretend to be happy for his cousin. Deciding that it wouldn't be believable anyway, he rushed into the palace with quick steps.

"No one in this life has disappointed me as much as you," the voice of his father, amplified by anger, pain, and hatred, echoed in the man's memory. Every word pierced his heart like a shard of glass.

"I have done many good and bad things in my life, but the worst that could have happened to me and the kingdom is you. You are not worthy to be a prince! You are entangled in darkness, living in a web of vile intrigues, and for the sake of satisfying your base desires. You are harming not me, not your mother, but only yourself. You are killing yourself, Robert. I am very ashamed; you have disgraced the dynasty and the kingdom again... Find the strength to accept the punishment that will find you. And don't cross my path..." the father's voice screamed again and again in his head, refusing to leave his consciousness. It was their last conversation. A conversation that would forever remain in his memory. He knew about his father's illness, waited for his death, and yet, instead of sorrow and bitterness, he was torn by hatred and irritation. Addressed to him... Addressed to himself... He would like to be the monarch's pride, but who is to blame that their views on life were so different? Power and wealth are only needed for pleasure, because what is the point of being unhappy? Leonard Martial thought otherwise, wanting to be a servant to his own servants. And what is the point of that? Why then the crown? To be the pride of his father, he had to bow before the nobles and meet the unworthy slaves. It was too low for a true prince of the blood.

There was nothing in common between their completely different worlds. Robert tried to reason with his father, but he didn't understand and even, on his deathbed, despised his son, taking away what should have belonged to him. And to whom did he give it? Annie, his eternal favorite. Another person whom the crown prince never could and never tried to understand.