Queen's Reign

Chapter 2

The royal orchestra played a sweet melody while guests arrived in the dining hall, which was set up with a long oak table, laid with boughs of Oak Leaf Hydrangeas and Chrysanthemums. Servants were rushing up and down, escorting the guests in their respective seats. The lords and ladies of higher rank would sit on the right side of the table, and the left to the ones of lower social status. They chattered away, filling the hall with hushed chatter. 

When Queen Myranda entered the hall, on her left Princess Ethelina and Adelyn following a bit behind, the occupants in the hall stood until she sat at the head of the table, and the rest followed. Adelyn fidgeted slightly in her highbacked chair beside the Queen, biting her lower lip as she wasn’t accustomed to sitting beside her at events as such. Her mentor noticed, and whispered to her: “Adelyn, don’t be afraid. One day, you will be sitting at my place, and you will be Queen.” Adelyn smiled nervously at her words. 

Unfortunately, Princess Ethelina overheard her sister. She gripped her fork tightly till her knuckles turned white. Wait, that impostor will be gone for good. I needn’t wait for long till her death. Thoughts of her conversation with the woman in the orb ran through her mind, and a grimace slowly formed on her lips and she leaned back in her chair, loosened her grip on the fork.

Suddenly, several servants and maids entered the hall, carefully holding platters of food. The first round of meals started, and the servants walked up to the Queen and she helped herself to a generous serving of the starter- nectarine and persimmon parcels. After the Princess and Adelyn took some, they passed the plate around the table, starting from the right side of the table, a tradition adhered to every feast. The lords and ladies present at the table chatted away between bites, but the Queen and Adelyn remained silent, slowly chewing on their food in a ladylike manner. A few of the ladies noticed Adelyn’s crystal hairpiece, their gazes tracing her hair, gossiping among themselves.

Next, the main course was served in clay pots. As usual, the servants went forward to ladle the pumpkin and mutton stew into Myranda’s bowl before passing it on to the rest. The aroma wafted around the vast room, page boys trying to silence their rumbling stomachs. The servants’ dinners will be served after their mistresses have settled down for sleep, which was usually around half-past nine. But tonight, it seemed unlikely that they would get their dinner without staying up past their usual bedtime. 

During dessert, which consisted of delicious vanilla scones with mulberry jam, Adelyn saw one of the maids staring at her plate, eyes glistening at the sight. It would have normally been a crime for staring at a lady of high rank such as herself, but she pitied the maid. Glancing hastily to her left and right to make sure nobody noticed her, she gestured for the maid to come beside her and she thrust two scones wrapped in a serviette from the table. The maid secretly opened the serviette and looked at Adelyn, placing her hand on her heart and slightly curtsying to show her gratitude, earnest eyes glistening with tears. Adelyn acknowledged her with a smile and immediately turned back in her seat, hoping nobody noticed her actions.

When the wine was served, the Queen clinked her wine glass with her spoon, the stem covered with rubies, and everyone turned their attention to her. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am overjoyed that you have joined me for this Autumn’s feast. And for that, you have my thanks,” she took a deep breath and continued. “I have an important announcement to make, one that I will make public to the people in due time. Lady Adelyn,” she gestured to her right, and Adelyn stood quietly. “She will be the next Queen of Aeviria.”

The hall suddenly fell silent, even a pin drop could be heard echoing throughout. Adelyn bit her lower lip again and nervously proceeded to sit down. Ethelina tried to hide a smile behind her goblet, pretending to drink it. But there came one applause, then another until all the nobles in the hall were cheering for her, including the servants. Adelyn stood from her seat again to curtsy, her gait graceful and elegant. Myranda spoke: “A great Queen to lead Aeviria’s future, your sons and daughters and many more generations to come. A toast to the future Queen!” she exclaimed, standing up and lifting her wine glass to Adelyn. Her apprentice did the same, followed by all the nobles gathered in the room and they drank to Adelyn.

Ethelina shot up angrily, bewildered by her sister’s announcement. She hatefully stared at the hairpiece in Adelyn’s hair and the crown on Myranda’s. This should have been all mine! The applause and cheering, the crown, the honour and glory should have been all mine! She stared at Adelyn’s face, hoping the poison would have taken its effect now…

Instead of her, Myranda’s view gradually blurred. From her eyes, the world spun, making her sway on her feet. Her vision was suddenly an explosion of colour, and her head felt like there were spears impaling it. Adelyn noticed it out of the corner of her eye and rushed forward to hold her up before she fell to the ground and all the guests were shocked. Ethelinda stiffened. Did I poison the wrong glass? She took advantage of the chaos in the room and swiftly exited the hall. 

The Queen was gradually losing consciousness, sickly purple streaks were showing on her forehead and arms. Adelyn quickly called for the maids to bring Myranda into her own chambers while the servants frantically searched for the palace healer. She inspected her wine glass, focusing on the swirling red liquid in the ornate glass. Twinkling purple dust was floating around in it, an unusual sign. Starnight Thistle. The many types of poisons Myranda taught her to differentiate and recognise when she was still a girl. But who would have got it? Adelyn immediately looked around and moved her gaze to and fro from the wine in her hands to the chaos unfolding in the hall to the hall doors, which were wide open. A figure was running from the entrance to the stone stairwell, a figure with a black gown. Who could that be?

*********

Ethelina quickly locked the door to her room as soon as she entered it. She took the vial out of her pocket, looking at its swirling purple liquid. “I accidentally poisoned my sister. She’s going to die as Mother did. I’ve killed both of them.” she said aloud to herself. The Princess took up a teacup on her table and smashed it on the ground, sending the pieces flying everywhere. 

“Ethelina, did you use that Starnight Thistle?” the crystal orb glowed brightly on her desk, the woman’s voice clear in the silent atmosphere of her room.  

“I did, but I poisoned my sister!” The Princess slowly sank on to the floor, cradling her knees to her chest. “I killed my Mother with the same poison, and now she’s going to die the same way!” 

“Princess Ethelina, your sister is nothing but an old queen, who just needs to wear her dainty crowns and live the remaining of her life. You need not regret doing that.” The woman said in a relaxed and casual tone. “After all, what did she think of you? Just a pawn to play alliances with other kingdoms, nothing more. She was planning to engage you with a prince from the That Empire, is she not?” Princess Ethelina gave a nonchalant shrug. 

“And that proves it. She did not even see you as her sister since the day you killed your mother.” 

The words sent a shiver down Ethelina’s spine, but it turned into hatred for Myranda, which was buried deep in her heart. She looked at the orb, defiance in her eyes. “I don’t want to be married. Tell me what to do, Ravenna.”

Ravenna smiled maliciously. “Come with me, and I will take you in. No kingdom wants an outcast princess right?” 

“I am betrothed to Prince Khan of the Thatis Empire. There’s no way I can escape that.”

“I have a plan, Princess. One that I think you will adore very much. Everybody knows Prince Khan has come of age, but he will fail to consummate the marriage for a couple of years.” She chuckled lightly. 

“Tell me, Ravenna.” Ethelina proceeded to sit down on the chair in front of her desk, beautifully polished nails rapping on the surface.

“Alright then, listen very carefully…”

*********

Adelyn paced back and forth in front of the Queen’s chambers, biting her lip nervously. She was still dressed in her evening refinery, the crystal headpiece glinting on her head. Starnight Thistle? This poison was banned from the kingdom and the neighbouring realms altogether. Who could still have it?  “Milady, the healer wants to see you.” A maid popped her head out of the double doors, calling for Adelyn. She nodded and entered the room.

She dragged her steps behind her, they felt heavy and the way to the Queen’s bed chambers seemed like it could go on for eternity. It was dark, the curtains down to hide the sunset, only candles and the fire in the fireplace could guide her way. Approaching the large bed, she saw the healers huddled in a corner, keeping their voices low as they discussed. They did not notice her entry. Myranda laid on her bed, covered with multiple duvets and silk coverlets, but she was still shivering. “A-Adel-lyn…” she reached out to grab Adelyn’s wrist. 

At that point, tears rolled down her cheeks in straight lines. She immediately knelt down beside her bed, reached for her hands and rubbed them, trying frantically to warm her. She also touched the blankets and used her powers to warm them. It was hard to control them and not set the blankets aflame.

“My Queen, are you well?” Adelyn asked, trying to keep the shaking from her voice. Myranda weakly smiled, the purple streaks on her arms and forehead glowing a sickly purple. “My A-Adelyn-n, I-I am w-well. N-no need t-to w-worry o-over me." The mere sentence seemed to strain the life out of her. "Rest, my Queen. I do not worry, because I know you are strong." Adelyn did her best to give a reassuring smile, hoping it did not betray the exploding feeling inside her. 

Myranda looked at her apprentice, tear streaks visible on her face, the very same face she saw every day when she first took her in, and the very face of a future Queen. She outstretched a wobbly hand to smooth the hair on Adelyn's forehead, a gesture her mother used to do for her. The crystal hairpiece glistened in the candlelight on her head, proclaiming proudly who she was to become. Myranda suddenly felt proud, her apprentice had not let her down, she will be the greatest Queen the realm of Cannia has ever seen.

“Milady,” the healers approached Adelyn, bowing their heads in respect. Adelyn acknowledged them with a slight nod of her head. One of them with a long, white beard escorted her out of the room, closing the doors behind him as they filed into the dark hallway, Adelyn’s gown trailing behind her heavily. 

The healer bowed before speaking, his solemn tone echoing in the silent hallway. “Lady Adelyn. I’m afraid the Queen will not last long. From the wine she drank earlier, my fellow healers have found traces of Starnight Thistle in it. Normally, a drop would have caused immediate death, but the wine must have diluted it a little.” 

Adelyn demurely nodded. “I think this means that someone in the castle harbours the poison. Trading goods and supplies would have been checked multiple times before it could even reach the town. Most likely right before the feast. But, who?”

“I wouldn’t like to guess, Milady. Murdering with poison has been a popular choice of killing in Aeviria. Or at least it had.”

Adelyn inhaled sharply. “I will lead an investigation on the poison harbourer. As to Her Majesty, is there really no antidote?” She pleaded. “Please, try your best to save her, healer. Aeviria really cannot bear to lose her.” 

The healer looked crestfallen as if Adelyn was asking for an impossible task to be completed. “Starnight Thistle has no antidote that we know of. We healers have been trying to find one since Queen Carolina died of it. But I’m sad to say Milady, that we have not found anything, not even after 15 whole years of research.” He shook his head with great sadness, which filled Adelyn with grief. 

“Thank you, doctor. Your help is much appreciated.” Adelyn thanked the healer, her eyes meeting his before darting down to her hands again.

“Lady, you have been the Queen’s apprentice since you were 10. You have received the education of the royalty, I’d reckon you have acquired the level of our knowledge and of many other fields,” he asked. “Why not take matters in your own hands?”

She knew what the old healer implied. Being chosen as the Queen’s apprentice is the highest honour that could be given to commoners like herself, why not take that advantage to promote oneself? “Sir, even if I could do so, letting the experienced work things out would be best for everyone. I might be what you have said earlier, but I know I’m not enough. I guess for me, sticking to the shadows would be better.”

“Aeviria is lucky to have a queen like you, Lady Adelyn.” The healer bowed and left Adelyn standing alone in the hallway among the shadows.

*********

The heavy rain slashed on the windows, thunder rumbling in an interval of a few seconds. Ravenna stood with her back to the ladies sitting behind her. One of them played a mystical piece on her flute, making Ravenna smile deviously despite the rain. Hand on the stem of the wineglass, she swirled her drink around, taking another sip. The bright red liquid stained her thin lips, which were covered in bright red lipstick. 

“Duchess Ravenna, when is that fool of a princess coming to join us?” Crescentia asked, putting down her flute. The young woman reached for her drink on the table, leaning back in her seat. “Oh please, Crescentia. Are you that impatient?” Laila scoffed, making a face at her friend.

“Silence! The duchess needs to think. And with the lot of you squabbling around, I will skewer you for food!” Aldare set her foot on the table, sending some wine flying around. Isanta and Norwine huddled close, trying to not make any noise while sipping their tea. 

“If they want me to have a princess on my side to let me ascend the throne, so be it,” Ravenna said, a hint of distaste on her tongue. “I already have one at the tips of my fingers, ready to be hauled in. We just need some time.”

“And wait for another couple of weeks? I can’t take it anymore.” Aldare grumbled. The general was feeling bloodthirsty to wage war, her mistress making her keep her weapons sheathed. “Just let me go and I’ll-”

“Patience, Aldare,” Ravenna took another sip of her wine and left the glass on the nearest table, turning to face them. “Aeviria hasn’t faced a war in quite some time, and when I am Queen of the Hart by luring Ethelina in,” she said, glancing at the crystal orb in the centre of the room, suspended in the air with black smoke cradling it. “I will take them down.”

Isanta’s gaze went to Norwine as they both listened to the Duchess’s menacing laugh. “Oh no…” whispered Norwine.