Queen's Reign

Chapter 3

The days went past in a blur since Myranda was poisoned. It was confirmed by the healers who have packed up their bags to leave, that the Queen was going to die. There was no hope for this poison, it would just be a matter of time before she died. Adelyn gloomily trudged to the palace kitchen to make Myranda a bowl of stew and brought it to her chambers on a silver tea tray. She almost tripped on her ankle-length skirts at the stairs if not for an arm, which reached out to balance her.

“Milady, are you alright?” She hastily looked up and saw the concerned face of the general, Desiric. Feeling a little faint, Adelyn grasped the staircase handle with one hand, stabilising the tray with the other. 

“I’m fine, General.” She waved him off with her free hand. “I need to get this to the Queen.”

The servant by his side immediately took the tray from her hands and darted off to the Royal Quarters as Desiric slowly guided her to sit on the steps of the staircase. As Adelyn pressed her forehead to the bars of the staircase, he looked at her miserably as she tried to stifle a yawn. “How long had you last slept, Adelyn?”

“That is an incredulous question, Desiric. I hadn’t slept a wink since the night Queen Myranda was poisoned, but I’m fine. So, please just let me get up-”

“No, until you promise me that after I let you go, you will return to your bed and have a decent rest. Promise me that, and I will let you go.”

Adelyn snorted in disbelief at the general. He clearly didn’t know about the Queen’s condition, he just returned from the village at dawn. “Excuse me, General Desiric, but I’m not going to stick around here and do absolutely nothing.” She hitched up her skirts and prepared to walk away, only to stumble and fall to the floor, banging her forehead in the process. Thankfully, there wasn’t anybody except for Desiric around, so she slowly collected herself and walked up the remaining of the spiral staircase. 

“Wait, Milady!” Desiric’s voice stopped her in her tracks, she clutched her forehead as she turned around to face him. “I know you are loyal to Her Majesty, but you are essentially the future Queen of Aeviria,” he walked up to her, taking her hands in his. “So don’t make that ember in you burn out before you have even started.” He smiled at her, the look in his face reassuring her to stay strong.  Adelyn returned the smile, released her hands from Desiric’s grip and headed to Myranda’s room.

When she grasped the gold handles of the doors and pushed them open, the queen was lying on the couch in front of the fireplace, a yarn shawl wrapped about her for warmth. Before the healers left, they gave her some herbs to provide her with a little strength so she could meander about in the palace. She must have got out of bed and decided to sit in front of the fireplace, her bowl of stew steaming on the table. 

“My Queen, are you well?” Adelyn asked, making Myranda look at her. She curtsied before approaching Myranda. “Adelyn, I’m fine,” she said, coughing a little. “I haven’t had the palace messenger scribe the announcement of your crowning, let me get him-” 

“There’s no need for that, Your Majesty. Just rest,” she gave a reassuring smile and hoped it didn’t show her grief for the Queen, she picked up a soft coverlet and gently sitting beside Myranda, she covered her slightly shivering frame. 

“Adelyn… I honestly can’t imagine Aeviria without you,” she took Adelyn’s hand gently, smiling weakly at her apprentice. She felt proud of the woman whom she tutored every day in the past, watching her grow from the curious and guileless girl into a mature and grown young woman. 

The doors of the chambers flew open and the palace messenger barged in with a scroll in his hands. The sound startled both Myranda and Adelyn, which she sat up on the couch, helping the Queen to sit up. 

“Your Majesty, Milady,” he bowed before continuing. “ Their Majesties, the King and Queen consort of the Thatis Empire has arrived.” 

Myranda looked at the messenger, asking: “So soon? I expected them in the evening.” She slowly stood with Adelyn and her maid’s help. “Adelyn, you’ll go meet them first. I might need some time to prepare.”

The lady curtsied and motioned for the messenger to follow, heading for the door. A sudden voice halted her steps. “Wait, Milady!” She turned around to find a young maid holding the crystal hairpiece carefully with both hands. “You forgot this.”

Adelyn took it and slowly inserted it in her hair, weaving the string of pearls into her braid which hung down her back. “Thank you,” she thanked the maid and ran towards the spiral staircase which led to the throne room.

*********

A group of maids knocked on the door to the princess’s room. Ethelina quickly covered the crystal orb with a velvet cloth when she heard the knock. “Come in!” she called out. The maids walked into the room, curtsying at the sight of her. “Your Highness, we are sent to ready you before you meet with Their Majesties of the Thatis Empire,” one of them said as the others went around the room. They emptied the baskets containing powders and vials of scented oil, one opened the door to let page boys enter the room, carrying buckets and buckets of hot water and poured them into the tub. They added some lavender and chamomile oils into the bath, the fragrant scents wafting about the whole room. Ethelina was speechless. “Y-you… T-they’re here?” 

“Yes, Your Highness. Please enter the bath." A maid in a lavender dress said as she proceeded to undress Ethelina, unhooking the little hooks behind her dress. She stood amidst the flurry of maids, letting them comb out her hair and usher her into the bath.

She sat in the hot, steaming water as the maids rushed around. They pulled gowns out of her wardrobe, the head maid looking through each one. The one in the lavender dress came up behind her and rinsed her hair, scrubbing her straight locks with scented oil. She took up a sponge and scrubbed Ethelina's nails. 

After her bath, the princess was ushered from the tub and they wrapped her in a towel.

As she dressed, the head maid walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

*********

"Thank you for coming, Your Majesties." Adelyn politely said as she stood below the dais steps, the king and queen of the Thatis Empire sitting in ornate high backed chairs facing the throne. Prince Khan stood to the side of his parents, folding his hands behind his back, looking at his feet more often instead of his surroundings.

The king spoke up. "Where is Queen Myranda? Is she still preparing?" He glanced at the throne as Adelyn slightly bit her lower lip. "Don't worry, Your Majesties. She is on the way here."

"How big is your palace that the Queen herself could get lost wandering it?" the queen insulted with a turn of her head, placing her hands in the fold of her dress. 

Adelyn deftly replied, seamlessly turning down the insult. "Our palace is not quite big, but we were planning to enlarge the palace gardens, but the royal architect was quite busy these days."

The queen fidgeted in her seat, but managed to muster a fake smile. "Oh, I see." 

General Desiric stood to the left of Adelyn, lightly nudging her, mouthing: "Where is the Queen?"

Just at the moment, Myranda entered the room, a maid steadying her, guiding her to sit on the throne. She wore a light yellow gown which billowed about her frame. A gold belt tied around to accentuate the curve of her waist and a gold crown inlaid with emeralds rested atop her head.

Behind her followed Princess Ethelina, wearing a dark blue gown with pearls in her hair. She walked gracefully behind her sister, heeled slippers clacking against the marble floor as she made her way beside the throne. Prince Khan looked at her in awe, more at her neckline and tiny waist than at her face.

You're a fool, Prince Khan. When you bring me back, you will regret your parents ever made that choice. Ethelina cast her eyes downwards, making her seem like a docile wife-to-be.

"Greetings, King George and Queen consort Rania of the Thatis Empire." Myranda's voice reiterated across the vast hall, her herbs definitely taking effect. "This is Princess Ethelina of Aeviria, betrothed of Prince Khan."

The princess stepped down from the dais and took a few steps towards the prince, curtsying before approaching them. 

"Your Majesties, Prince Khan, good day," she greeted. The prince continued ogling her after bowing in greeting as his parents waved their hand dismissively to acknowledge her. 

Desiric slowly inched closer to Adelyn, lightly giving her a nudge. She looked at him, annoyed. As he was about to open his mouth to say something, the queen suddenly spoke. "Queen Myranda, she's a decent maiden. She must have a fine dowry on the way."

"She will bring your son great pleasures, as she is the best princesses that any prince could ask for. But, if you will excuse me, I need to get going." she said while standing up from the wooden throne, carved and edged with gold leaf and a few gems.

Ethelina glanced up at her sister for a brief while, furrowing her brows in disbelief. The messenger announced from the far corner of the room. "Her Royal Majesty, the Revered Queen Myranda invites Their Majesties, King George and Queen consort Rania, alongside with His Royal Highness, Prince Khan for tea in the palace pavilion with Her Royal Highness, Princess Ethelina and Lord and Lady Antebellum." 

Prince Khan offered her his arm, to which Ethelina politely accepted, following him to the pavilion. 

*******

Isanta walked along the dark hallways of the Hart castle, holding her dress up as she walked. She agreed to meet with Duchess Ravenna this afternoon in her study. 

As she neared the study, she pulled out her lace fan and covered half of her face with it, rapping on the oak doors. "Duchess Ravenna? Are you in there?"

Only a "come in" was heard, and she opened the door a sliver to let herself in. The duchess sat in front of the fireplace, swirling another goblet of wine and took a sip. 

"Isanta, you're on time. No new findings I believe." She leaned back on the plush pillows, barely looking at Isanta in the eye. She continued to hide her face behind the white lace fan, making a show of fanning herself.

Ravenna smiled. "You're avoiding me, child. Tell me, what made you do that?"

"Do what, my lady?"

The duchess stood up, setting her goblet on the table. She inched forward on Isanta, making her lean against the door.

"Isanta, you do know what punishments I give my ladies if they disobey me. This will be the first and the last time I will ever forgive you. Next time, I will make it clear that you and your best friend Norwine suffer the days at my court. And don't worry, I will not kill you. I will rather t*****e you every day." Ravenna released her, making Isanta's hands frantically find the doorknob.

"Yes, my lady." She ran out of the room, dropping her lace fan right outside of the study.