[Music Recommendation:True Blue ~ BadKarama]
"That little weasel!" Gwen pushed everything roughly off her table, kicking the chair in the process. She ran straight to her bed. "I should have taken care of this thorn when her family abandoned her! I should have just..." The woman squeezed her palms together, exhaling sharply.
Jasmine got down on her knees, picking up the things that had fallen. She was surprised to see her mother reacting this way. After her punishment was announced, the Queen cried her eyes out, and everyone felt nothing but pity for her. But the moment they had left the living room, everything changed.
"She dares exile me? Fidelis used that little rat to send me out of the palace. He thinks I’m stupid, I see." Gwen chuckled, pacing back and forth in the room.
Jasmine dropped the items she had picked up. "Mother, you need to calm down," she paused, looking at her sister. "Won’t you say something? Try to calm her down, or are you just going to stand there and watch?"
Adelaide scoffed, pushing herself away from the wall she had been leaning against. "I have nothing to say. Mother had every right to be angry; she was humiliated in front of everyone."
"Ahh!" Gwen screamed, dragging her hair in the process.
Jasmine ran to her sister, nudging her gently. "You’re not helping. You might as well shut up!"
"You asked me to say something," Adelaide replied. Her eyes followed her mother’s movements. A faint smirk played on her lips. Initially, when Oriana had talked about her mother’s infidelity, it had come as a shock to Adelaide, just like everyone else. But upon reflection, she realized how much it could benefit her to have her mother out of the picture.
They were alike, mother and daughter. For the throne, Gwen wouldn’t want to be controlled by anyone, and neither would Adelaide. Even if it wasn’t to take the throne, Adelaide wanted to be in control of everything that happened in the palace. She wanted everyone to depend on her and acknowledge her brilliance.
That was precisely why she despised Oriana. The princess never sought help from her or even acknowledged her existence. It was something Adelaide couldn’t tolerate. Making someone like Oriana queen would be of no advantage to her. But now that her mother was out of the picture, the next to leave will be Oriana. Then she will calmly wrap everyone else around her finger. The mere thought thrilled Adelaide to the bones.
"Oriana..." Gwen muttered, hitting her hand against the wall. "This won’t be over soon."
Adelaide walked towards her mother, holding her hands. "Leave her to me. I’ll make sure she pays for everything she did to you today. The humiliation you felt, I promise you, she will face it times two."
Gwen shook her head. "Mhm," she smiled, a smile filled with malevolence. "I was going to do just that to her, but then she crossed the line. I want her dead. For good. I don’t want to breathe the same air as her."
Jasmine gasped. "Mother! We can’t kill someone just because of this. That’s... too extreme."
"Too extreme, you say? Do you know how I felt while standing out there?" Gwen walked forward, pointing at her daughter with unquenchable anger.
Adelaide stepped in. "Don’t worry, Mother. Let Jasmine be. You know how hypocritical she can be. Trust me, I’ll bring you back to the main palace. Leave it to me."
Gwen nodded, giving Jasmine a sidelong glance. She turned to Adelaide. "I have all my hopes pinned on you now. I’ll send letters to the few ministers on my side. They’ll give you any help you might need."
Jasmine pressed her lips, looking at her mother and sister. All she wanted was for Oriana to face the same humiliation, but getting her killed was something she wasn’t up for. She didn’t say anything else to avoid provoking her already angered mother.
Helping her pack her clothes in a bag, they left her room ready to move to the old palace. Outside the room, Sophie stood lurking, nervously chewing her fingers with her maid Bessie standing calmly behind her. When she saw the Queen, she ran to the woman.
"Your Majesty," Sophie tried to touch her, but she was roughly pushed away, landing with her bottom on the marble floor.
"Your Majesty? Really? Have you come to mock me? You and your sister must be enjoying my plight so much," Gwen scowled.
Sophie pushed herself up from the ground, dusting off her dress. "No, I’m not like my sister. You know I’m always by your side."
"As if," Gwen sneered. "I don’t want to see you in front of me again, walking around with your dirty Orion blood, pfft!" She spat. Without looking at Sophie, Gwen walked away, with Adelaide closely behind her.
Jasmine, who was behind them, stared at Sophie as if she wanted to say something. Shaking her head slightly, she followed her mother.
Sophie felt a tear slip down her face before she quickly wiped it away. "But I didn’t do anything," she said to Bessie in a low tone.
"I think this is a sign. The Queen wants you to prove your loyalty," Bessie remarked.
Sophie touched her neck gently, bringing her hand down. She nodded. "Wait for me, Your Majesty. I’ll prove my loyalty to you," she muttered, leaving the passage.
At the same time, Freya passed, walking towards her room, deep in thought, tapping her fingers gently on her lips. Then she stopped abruptly. Instead of going to her room, Freya walked in the direction of her father’s room, which was close to the kitchen.
Louis furrowed his eyebrows when he saw his daughter. "You’re back early. Did you meet the princess?" But Freya ignored him and went straight to his bag.
"Pa, are my books still in your bag?" Freya asked with seriousness.
Louis sighed. "They’re all there. I thought you had finally given up reading after arriving at the palace. I’m glad I didn’t throw them all away, or I’d have my ear ripped off," the man tutted. But he noticed his daughter wasn’t listening to him.
"I know I’ve seen that somewhere," Freya muttered, flipping through the pages of the books.
Louis walked closer to his daughter, craning his neck. "Seen what? Where? Which book are you looking for?"
Freya paused, seeing a book that was now all crumpled. She raised it. "More Than Just a Bird!" She hugged the book closely.
"Ah, that’s your favorite book. Are you planning to read it again, for the umpteenth time?" Louis chuckled.
Freya flipped to the Chapter she was looking for, and the smile on her lips widened. "The Queen’s Army is led by one who is more than just a bird... Pa, where did you get this book? The person would know about the Queen’s army."
"Shh! Where did you hear that from?" Louis asked, taking the book away from his daughter and looking around to be sure it was just them.
Freya shrugged. "The princess. She needs someone who knows about the Queen’s army to help the Crown Prince. You said someone important gave you this book. Who could it be? Tell me."
Louis gripped the book tightly. "Freya, listen to me closely. What you just said to me, who else knows about it... No, don’t tell me. Do not say what you know or read to anyone. I’ll go talk to the princess myself. Okay?"
"Why are you acting like there’s a secret mission, Pa? It’s just a book," Freya chuckled, trying to take the book from her father, but he hissed.
"This is no time for jokes, Freya! Listen to me and stay away from any of this" Louis stomped his foot on the ground, showing his seriousness. Folding the book properly, he slipped it into his pocket, his eyes staring blankly into space he muttered,
"Mother Queen, I think it is time."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
