While King Armen was worried for Seren and King Drayce was curious about her; on the other hand, there was someone who didn't have good intentions towards the Third Princess of Abetha.
That same night, Queen Niobe was in her chamber with both of her daughters accompanying her.
The blond, middle-aged woman had fair and radiant skin despite her age. As she sat on a finely crafted wooden chair trying to relax, her poise remained as regal as it was when she was meeting nobility in the throne room. Her expensive off-white gown with a long heavy skirt, designed with silver and gold thread embroidery, was settled nicely around the chair, adding to her imposing aura.
Her amber-colored eyes showed she was currently infuriated.
Her hands rested on the cushioned handrest as she tapped her fingers lightly on it. Her sharp features looked ferocious as she stared at the middle-aged man standing in front of her, who had his head lowered. The man was wearing the light blue-colored silk robe of the high-ranking officials working in the royal court.
"Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs!" Queen Niobe chuckled coldly, "I think this title no longer suits you, Lord Darus Count."
"Mother looks really angry this time," First Princess Giselle quietly murmured to her younger sister, Second Princess Meira, as they played bystander to the situation.
The two princesses took after their mother. They had the same long blond hair, amber eyes, and fair soft, and radiant skin. With delicate features and petite figures, they looked as pretty as their mother, if not prettier. However, their appearance wasn't the only thing they got from the queen. At the moment, they were visibly enjoying the discomfort of the noble in front of them.
The high-ranking official flinched in fear. "Apologies, Your Majesty. Next time—"
"There won't be a next time," the Queen interrupted him, her tone resentful. "It was a good opportunity to trap that Third Princess and throw her out of the palace, but you couldn't even do such a simple task."
"I will find another way—"
"Another way?" she scoffed. "I gave you two opportunities, and not even one of them was successful."
"We didn't know the King of Megaris would successfully dodge our attack and even recognize that the attackers were not Abethan soldiers." Minister Darus was sweating as he explained.
"Haven't you heard about him being a devil's son? Did you take him so lightly?" the Queen raised her voice.
"He is still here, and we can plan something else," the minister suggested.
However, to this, the Second Princess reacted. "Mother, he is Prince Arlan's friend. How could you?"
Princess Meira didn't look happy about the suggestion as she would be a part of the Royal Family of Griven soon, and the King of Megaris was her future husband's elder brother's best friend. After all, Crown Prince Arlan would be the King of Griven; she surely didn't wish to upset him.
"It's good that he is Prince Arlan's friend, so we got the opportunity to bring him here and get rid of that witch," Queen Niobe responded, not affected by her daughter's displeasure.
"And how is mother planning to do it?" Second Princess Miera asked.
Queen Niobe looked at Lord Darus Count as if instructing him to explain.
The minister turned to the princess. "Your Highness Princess Meira, given the incident at your engagement ceremony, the delegates from Griven would have shown their unhappiness to His Majesty and demand that he resolve the issue by punishing the Third Princess. In addition to the pressure from Griven, there are the people on our side in the royal court fanning the flames."
Realization dawned on Princess Meira's face.
The queen continued to tap her fingers lightly on the hand rest as she asked, "What do you think would have happened if we stirred more trouble during such a delicate time? Trouble such as... angering the King of Megaris by having masked men cause him injuries? It's his first time coming to Abetha, but he was welcomed with aggression by Abethan soldiers."
"Prince Arlan wouldn't be silent if his friend was injured when he was the one to invite him to Abetha," Princess Giselle concluded.
Queen Niobe nodded. "Right."
Lord Darus Count continued, "Adding the threat from the King of Megaris and the Crown Prince of Griven; King Armen would be too busy pacifying them to pay attention to us, giving our people the opportunity to execute more of our schemes against the Third Princess. While His Majesty was busy taking care of the serious matters between the three kingdoms, he wouldn't be able to spare time to protect her."
Queen Niobe then looked at Minister Darus. "Isn't it a shame? If only you had perfectly done the tasks I've assigned to you in the first place, then more of my plans would have been executed already. Either my husband would have thrown her out, or we would have offered her to the devil to calm him."
Minister Darus lowered his head once more because of the admonishment.
"But mother, I'm confused by one thing. How could you make father blame her for it?" the First Princess asked. "Father would have forgiven her like always, saying it was not because of her."
"When the witch is around, only misfortune awaits for you—this is a common saying in the kingdom, so it's easy to blame everything on her, giving it a name of misfortune for the kingdom, even if it's just her mere presence," the Queen answered, but the two princesses didn't seem satisfied with only this much.
Lord Darus Count explained further, "For the people, the easiest solution for any misfortune is to get rid of anything which is wicked, or it will harm everyone in the kingdom. Even if King Armen is against banishing her, with the pressure from our people and the threat from the powerful and merciless King of Megaris, the King won't have time to breathe, much less think about the Third Princess."
However, her daughters still didn't look completely convinced. Princess Meira opened her mouth to protest, "Mother, don't ever let Prince Lenard know your scheme, or else, he might tell his brother…."
"No one will know," Queen Niobe interrupted her naive daughter. She then gestured for the minister to lift his head.
"I heard King Drayce went to that tower," the Queen smiled, looking at Lord Darus Count with renewed interest.
The minister nodded, happy to redirect the topic of conversation. "The King of Megaris is widely known for his interests in the things that are forbidden."
"Then we should show him the best way to know more about his newly found interest," the Queen commented as a sly smile painted on her beautiful face.
"Your Majesty, we have a way to trap the witch again," Minister Darus said, trying to get back in his superior's good books.
Queen Niobe raised a brow, waiting for him to continue.
"I heard the Third Princess had stepped out of the palace today and caused harm to people in the central business district." The minister roughly narrated the incident from the marketplace.
"No wonder the flowers in my garden bloomed. That witch must be happy after burning our people," First Princess Giselle commented, her eyes resentful after hearing the brief account from the official.
First Princess Giselle was once a victim of Seren's anger, and her clothes were put on fire. She could never forget that day as it scared her to the bones. Though she was not hurt, it didn't fail to give her nightmares to date.
Seeing her daughter remembering those horrific memories, the Queen spoke, "Don't worry, my dear. She won't be here anymore to harm anyone." The queen's eyes turned indignant. "Because of her and her witch mother, we have been through a lot. Now, it's her time to pay for all our years of suffering."
"Mother, was her mother as scary as everyone says?" the Second Princess asked.
Queen Niobe stayed quiet as she didn't wish to talk about the woman she hated the most.
"Your Highness," Minister Darus answered in the queen's stead, "Many of the older servants in the palace saw her that night, and they all said she was an awful sight to see."
Princess Giselle spoke, looking as aggrieved as her mother. "How can Father—"
"Be careful when you talk about your father," the Queen interrupted her daughter with a matching glare.
"Apologies, Mother. I-I just can't stand that witch's daughter." Princess Giselle gritted her teeth as she recalled the fear and humiliation from years ago. "I hate her. I truly hate her!"
Second Princess Meira held her elder sister's hand to console her.
"You will be returning to Mivesea in a few days. Don't waste your time thinking about it," the Queen instructed.
The First Princess of Abetha had long been married to one of the princes from Mievesea, one of the kingdoms in the south rich in water resources. Princess Giselle only came to Abetha to attend her younger sister's engagement ceremony as one of the representatives of the royal family of Mivesea.
Queen Niobe returned her attention to Lord Darus Count. "Till when will the King of Megaris be here?"
"Not sure, Your Majesty, but maybe a day more," the minister replied.
"Then plan something to lead him to that tower," the Queen instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Anything else?" the Queen asked.
"Crown Prince Cian had sent a missive, asking for permission to return from the northern border, but King Armen did not allow him again," the minister informed her.
"It's good. If he returns, he will try to get that witch out of the tower. Let him stay away," said the Queen as she huffed, "Like father, like son. Both are enchanted by that witch."
"But Prince Cian always listens to you, Your Majesty, so…."
"He and his father forgot that after the death of the previous queen, I was the one who took care of them."
"That we all know, Your Majesty. That's why Prince Cian is always grateful and listens to you as if you are his birth mother, not just a stepmother."
"When it comes to that witch, he is like his father," the Queen countered in displeasure.
"But…"
"You can leave," Queen Niobe instructed, dismissing the minister.
With a respectful bow, Minister Darus quietly left her chamber, leaving the Queen alone with her daughters.
"Mother, why do you want the King of Megaris to go after her?" Princess Meira asked a few seconds after the minister left.
"If that witch catches his interest, Armen will have no other option but to give her away," the Queen replied. She stood up from her seat and walked towards her bed, her expression a little tired.
The two princesses didn't like this idea. Princess Meira shook her head. "Then she will become the Queen of Megaris. How can Mother let her—"
"She won't even be alive to be one," the Queen interrupted.
Her reply surprised the two.
"Haven't you heard? All women who caught his interest ended up brutally killed inside King Drayce's chamber," the Queen replied, and when she turned around, all traces of exhaustion were gone from her beautiful face.
The princesses understood, and excitement could be seen in both of their eyes.
========
(Seren's POV)
Standing by my bedchamber's window, I checked for any movement outside from time to time, waiting for Martha to return. She went to see my father because of the trouble I caused this afternoon, and every passing moment was making me anxious if I could ever see Martha again. If not, I was the one to blame.
After a long wait of what felt like an eternity, the door of my bedchamber opened, and my nanny entered the room with no sign that she was punished. Seeing Martha safe, my happiness and relief made me nearly sob. I couldn't help myself from going to her in a hurry to ask her if she was allowed to continue staying by my side.
"What did the King say? Is he sending you away?"
"No, my lady," Martha replied.
I gave out a sigh of relief, only to realize it was a tad too early because of her next words.
"His Majesty knows, other than me, no one can handle such a troublesome kid like you. He has no other option but to keep me."
Martha was back to her annoying self; that meant everything was fine and I didn't have to worry, but that didn't mean I would let her sarcastic words slide. I frowned, "I'm not a kid. I'm a grown-up lady now."
"Then my lady should behave like one," Martha commented.
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