Chapter 3: ACT III: “They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.“
Right after that day. The kingdom of Dewyth declared war against the Xenians, the moment the queen's son Prince Aldr had been the one who declared the war. Albeit being at a young age, he had sent a spear flying across the army killing one or two men.
And so forth, the war continued on. One region at the time, Queen Adna managed to reign every single one of them without fail. Those who had surrendered decided to peacefully accept their defeat, as they paid their tribute to the Dewyth.
The surviving Xenians could only run away and sought refuge in their capital city Xoybury. After losing half of their people, the Xenians were living in despair but still tried to defend their capital city.
Many times Queen Adna and her army tried to take over the city, but the Xenians constantly repelled their attacks. For it is their only chance of survival, so the Xenians resisted, and would do so until the end.
"Mother, why are they so reluctant to give up the capital city? What is the use of this war when other regions are finally at peace?" Aldr questioned his mother one day.
"I do not have the faintest idea son." Queen Adna answered. "Is it pride? Is it fear? For them to be still alive until now is still quite the shock."
"Then what will you do now mother? The war has been going on for a year." Aldr frowned at the prospect of having to continue onto war. "Didn't you and father agree on neutrality?"
"If our people do not violate our general law and tribute. This would not happen in the first place." The Queen sighs, "and the Xenians just happened to break the highest law ever."
Aldr gulped, still not used to talking about his father's death so nonchalantly. Silence sieged the room as both mother and son continued their afternoon tea time.
"Do not worry Aldr." The prince turned to his mother, who had given a warm smile, "This will end soon. "
"How would you know that?"
Yet, Queen Adna gave no indication of answering his question. The following afternoon they both spent time discussing the kingdom's economic state and their defense, and soon Prince Aldr bid goodbye to his mother leaving the queen's chamber.
The Queen waved and smiled at her son leaving. As soon as the door went shut, she dropped her arm as the air seemed to be still.
"Calliope, enter and report." At that moment, the queen's courtier entered the chambers with a letter in hand.
"Your Majesty, they have answered your previous message." Calliope bowed curtly and reported to the queen.
"And what of it? Are they still persistent on surviving?" Queen Adna said as she stirred another cup of tea.
"Quite the opposite, My Queen." Calliope handed the letter to the queen, "The current leader agrees on making peace, and paying tribute. But they are completely born-dry out of their money, and not able to pay even a quarter of the tribute."
Calliope flinched when Queen Adna suddenly laughed. Her laughs were never this boisterous, nor has the Queen ever laughed this loud. It was not filled with joy, nor happiness. The Queen was laughing at how pitiful the Xenian people were.
"This is wonderful news Calliope. Hurry! Bring me paper and a quill immediately!" Calliope rushed out of the queen's chambers. Not thinking twice of hesitating, leaving the elevated Queen.
It had gone on just like this. Soon after, the Queen's courtier brought the paper and quill. The Queen wrote a letter. Stating that she would like to negotiate with how the Xenians will pay their tribute. From every family, 3 pigeons shall be sent as tribute, and nothing more. The people of Xoybury were delighted to hear the good news and rounded up 3 pigeons of each family immediately.
All of the birds were carried back to Dewyth. One of the Queen's advisers had questioned Queen Adna on what to do with the pigeons.
"Tie a cloth of sulfur onto each pigeon leg, and release them as they go back to their homeland." The Queen had commanded. Everybody in the palace had gotten to work, carefully handling the flammable powder.
It had been in the middle of the afternoon when the huge flock of pigeons was sent free onto the sky. The people of Dewyth saw every pigeon flying in the direction back to Xoybury, confused as to why there was a large flock of pigeons in the sky.
The people of Xoybury were not expecting the sudden crowd in the sky. One guard who was posted in the highest tower had signaled a horn, warning the people of an unexpected threat. The people marched up with armors ready expecting to see the army of men. Yet, there was nothing on sight on their borders. All of a sudden, they heard a shrill scream.
The blazing hues of orange and red sieged the city, lighting it up ablaze. There was no chance of survival, had they tried to water down the flames but it was futile to even stop it when it had begun. Queen Adna once again led her plan out perfectly as the city and the people who killed her husband were finally turned into dust and ashes. For she has finally avenged her husband.
Since that day. The Kingdom of Dewyth was known for its power and its great ruler. Rumors have it that even the neighboring empire tried to seduce the Queen. Yet, again Queen Adna manages to shock the people another time.
"His Imperial Majesty, The Emperor of Slyphix. I beg your pardon." The Queen said sharply at what her guest had suddenly proclaimed.
"I am not." Emperor Allich said proudly, "Why don't you come and join me. Rule this empire with me. We will have the world in the palms of our hands!"
Not only did the Emperor claim that Queen Adna should marry him. He had said it right in front of a court meeting, where almost all politicians, nobles, and advisers were. This only showed discrimination to the Queen, as if she was a lower being than the Emperor.
Prince Aldr had glared at Emperor Allich, his hand reaching to the sheath of his sword. But was stopped by his mother.
"Emperor Allich, we might have a misunderstanding here." The Queen chuckled, "would you mind negotiating it over a cup of tea perhaps. Without an audience would be preferable."
The Emperor of Slyphix agreed and decided to come back much later in the day. As soon as the emperor left court, everybody burst into a rage.
"Your Majesty, what shall you do?" Calliope asked, worrying at the fact this was not something light to handle with. While they had annihilated a region, an empire was a much bigger foot.
"Do not fret Calliope." The Queen smiled wryly. "I have burned cities and regions to the ground. What makes you think a man like him knows what I know?"
As the evening started to set, The Queen invited the Emperor for dinner. The Emperor of Slyphix was delighted and attended early. Their conversation had been all small talk. The servants picked up the fact that both the Queen and the Emperor were able to uphold their conversation long till the night.
Then all of a sudden the Emperor decided to leave abruptly, saying that there was trouble back in the palace. Nevertheless, the Emperor never stepped back into the palace. The people in the palace were confused as to why the Emperor who tried to pursue the Queen stopped so abruptly.
"It is nothing. I found something interesting in my father's chamber. Nothing big to fret about." Queen Adna had reassured her son, but Aldr knew from the smile it meant to not push it through. For there is stuff that doesn't need to be known to the people.
Queen Adna of Dewyth's popularity skyrocketed across the world. Became the number one bachelorette amongst the women, and had gotten the title directly by the holy priest themselves. Let it be known that Queen Adna's ruling period had been the most peaceful and cultivating era.
---
"Calliope, have I done well?" The question had stunned the courtier, speechless at the sudden question.
The Queen had asked Calliope to join along for tea time near the castle's lake. They both settled down at the side watching the sun slowly setting. Calliope slightly glanced at Queen Adna before sighing fondly.
"My Queen, you've done everything perfectly."
"Do you think Jona would finally be at peace?" Queen Adna slowly closes her eyes, feeling the winds coming from the north. There was an eerie quiet, the leaves were slowly falling to the ground, as the crickets sang their songs into the evening.
"He is, My Queen."
"Right," The Queen sighed, "Tomorrow prepare my sword and polish my armor Calliope, I would like to spar with Sir Kon next morning. Remind me of my duties later, Aldr can handle all of my duties."
Queen Adna soon began walking, as Calliope walked behind her. Calliope begins to see why the Queen has her nickname. Even with the black luscious hair, and ebony black eyes. She dons the outstanding red dress perfectly. Everybody in Dewyth remembers the time Queen Adna came back from Xenian. It had been in the newspaper headlines, and everybody even outside of Dewyth had known about it.
"Calliope? Are you coming?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
What's left on the table by the river had been a newspaper. Writings about how the latest trend has been or the business world. The pages were slowly flipped by the wind, as it came to the front page.
'Long Live the Queen in Burgundy Red'
~𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕕~
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