[Music Recommendation: Western Nights ~ Ethel Cain]
Oriana raised her hand when she felt a strange goosebump that disappeared quickly. She rubbed them gently on her dress, trying to shake off the feeling she just had.
Turning her head to look at Freya who was attending to her, she asked, "Freya, all the books you have read about war. Have you ever read one where a king doesn’t return?"
Freya dropped the comb she was using to style the queen’s hair. "No! If a king doesn’t return, it means the kingdom has lost, but in all the books I’ve read, the king always returns because the soldiers save him with the last blood in them."
The young girl knew why the young queen was asking and she hoped that her words would bring even if a little comfort to her.
Oriana nodded with a small hum. "I see," she whispered, looking at the reflection of her face in the mirror. Oriana didn’t need to be told, but her skin looked pale at the moment, with dark circles around her tired eyes.
A soft knock was heard on the door, and Freya quickly ran to get it. When she opened it, she was surprised to see the Prime Minister standing in front of the door.
"Your Majesty," Nicholas bowed deeply.
Taking a powder from the table, Oriana dabbed it gently on her face, trying to add color to her face and remove the eye bags. She didn’t want anyone to look down on her or even pity her because she was alone. She needed to stay strong for Adric’s sake.
"Lord Nicholas, to what do I owe this visit?" Oriana asked, walking towards the door. She stepped out of the room, closing her door.
Nicholas raised his face, looking at the woman in front of him, and she looked beautiful no matter what time of the day it was. "Greetings, Your Majesty. The loyal ministers of the court have asked for an audience with you."
"And why is that?" Oriana asked with a heightened sense of elegance, keeping her words short.
Nicholas opened his mouth to talk, then closed it. "It is something you need to see, Your Majesty."
Oriana nodded. "Go ahead, I will be there soon." She waved at the prime minister, then turned her back to enter her room again.
Nicholas pulled up the corner of his lips when Oriana entered her room. "It’s only a matter of time, Princess. Soon you’ll be submissive, and I’ll make sure of that." He grinned, exiting the passage.
Inside Oriana’s room, she held her chest that was now beating fast. She didn’t know why everything and everyone made her feel uneasy.
"Is everything okay, Your Majesty?" Freya asked, worry etched on her face.
Oriana turned to the girl, holding her shoulders firmly, her voice laced with urgency. "Go to your father now! And ask him if Madame Rosalie has sent any letter. Run!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Freya bowed. Without wasting time, she ran out of the room.
Oriana touched the pearl on her neck, inhaling deeply as she muttered, "Adric, I need your strength."
Finally, Oriana entered the royal courtroom. And on her arrival, the ministers bowed in respect.
"Your Majesty," they greeted in unison.
Oriana nodded in acknowledgment of their greetings. "Rise," she ordered, her voice firm. She noticed a faint look of pity in the eyes of some ministers, but she paid no mind to it.
Getting to her throne, Oriana raised her gown slightly before sitting down comfortably. "Why have you asked to see me?" she spoke with authority that surprised the ministers.
"This is one of the soldiers that left with Adric," Nicholas pointed at the young lean soldier who was covered with blood.
"Your Majesty,"
Oriana calmly listened to the soldier, trying not to think of the worst.
"We were on our way when-" The soldier trembled, wiping his tears. "We got attacked and then His Majesty tried to-he fought with his life until the end. He tried to save me."
The ministers gasped, looking at the queen with pity. Yet Oriana sat calmly on the throne, believing not a word the soldier was saying.
Nicholas was surprised to see the calm composure with which Oriana carried herself. It made him love her even more, but now wasn’t the time to ogle her as he needed to be in power in order to have her. He gave a signal to the soldier.
"This!" The soldier raised a piece of cloth. "Was the only thing found which belonged to the king. He was wearing this jacket."
Oriana’s eyes widened, recognizing the furry jacket she got for Adric at the market a day before he had left for war. Slowly stepping down from her throne, she walked towards the soldier.
Getting to him, she took the piece of jacket that now looked shredded and covered with blood.
"Where did you get this?"
The soldier got down on his knees with his head bowed. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, for not protecting the king!"
Oriana shook her head in disbelief, all the facades of strength she tried to put up came crashing down, her hand gripping the jacket tightly. She shoved the soldier to the side, making her way outside the courtroom, her eyes looking dazed.
"Where is Adric?" Oriana muttered. "He promised to come back! Why is he not wearing this? I bought it for him. He should be wearing it. Why is my husband’s jacket covered with blood?" As she spoke, she felt something churn her stomach, making her sick.
The ministers, including Nicholas, ran after Oriana, trying to stop her.
"Adric! I hate hide and seek games. You know I’m bad at it. Please come out!" Oriana shouted. When she felt the sickness worsen in her stomach, she bent down to take a deep breath. That was when Oriana remembered the last words her grandmother said to her;
"See you tomorrow."
It was similar to the words Adric had said to her before leaving. As tears welled in Oriana’s eyes, she shook her head vigorously, trying to disregard the negative thoughts that now filled her mind.
"No... no, Adric. You won’t leave me, at least not you-" Her words hung in her throat as she bent her face down, throwing up. When Oriana stood up again, she felt her head spin, and darkness engulfed her. With a soft thud, the young Queen fell and lost consciousness.
"Your Majesty!!" Everyone shouted.
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