Chapter 21: Vianka 1
"He refused to eat anything today, Your highness." Mary walked in with another report for the umpteenth time that afternoon.
"Okay." Lily replied with the same nonchalance, flipping through the pages of homework in her hands, assigned by Lady Lilian earlier. It's not the first time that she had heard this report since the day the barbarian child was brought here.
"Who's that?" Queen Hannah who had arrived a few minutes earlier tilted her head in question.
"A gift from Perez."
"Seems like something that sick prince would do. Like father like son." She shook her head.
Lily laughed at the third queen's response, "Did his Majesty ever gift you a person?"
"No, but I heard he gifted the second queen a head, a person's head." She added, still shaking her head in disgust.
Lily nodded slowly. It was possible since the king was just as sick as his son, however, she never heard of such rumour in both of her lives.
"Can your majesty tell me about the Eastern Duchy?" She suddenly asked out of the blue, causing Queen Hannah to clumsily drop the teacup back on the table.
"Why do you want to know about the Dukedom?" She questioned, her eyes slanting as she squinted.
"Nothing really, I'm just curious I guess."
"Hmm... Okay." She pouted with her fingers on her lips before answering, "The Eastern region is not as scary as you think, of course, poisonous flowers are grown there but it's also a place with beautiful medicinal plants and edible plants too..." She blabbered on and on, probably trying to convince Lily with all the positive things the Eastern region had.
"I would love to visit the Eastern region one day." Lily smiled, her red lashes fluttered as she closed her eyelids slightly in response to the third queen's unexpected reaction.
"Right." Queen Hannah nodded, than as of sudden realization hit her, her eyes lit up, The langsher land, have you heard of the rumours?"
"What rumours?" Lily's brows arched slightly as she frowned.
"It has been going on and around for a while, I do not know from whence it started from, however, since you asked for the langsher land, people have been talking about a certain curse."
"What curse?"
"They claim that you have been cursed, or rather still, you were born with a curse
"What does that even mean?" Lily squinted, perplexed by the sudden rumour.
"Didn't you know?" Queen Hannah asked, trailing her words, "Since Baron Langsher and his family died, the land was filled with red-spider lilies. Someone purposely started a rumour to incite your rage."
"How would something of that manner incite me?"
"It would incite any normal pompous nine years old princess." She explained with a sigh before adding, "The rumour was further solidified after people caught sight of the red-eyed child in your palace. I can only assume that he is your first brother's supposed gift to you."
"Then, does that-"
"No." Queen Hannah interjected, "Whosoever is doing this does is not trying to jeopardize your journey to the throne, after all, such small rumour wouldn't even hurt a fly, hence, what they want is for the young naive first princess to give up the langsher land."
"Ha!" Lily scoffed. Everything the third queen said made absolute sense.
"But it could just be another random basic rumour." Queen Hannah added with an all-knowing smile.
"Well." Lily smiled back in return, "It could very much be."
* ~ *
"My lady, you can't just walk into her highness's room. My lady!"
Lily frowned at the sound of commotion outside her door.
"My lady! You can't go in!"
"Who is it?" Lily frowned, asking Mary who peeped outside.
"It is I." The door was pushed open before Mary could answer, causing the young nanny to fall to the ground, "Vianka." A purple haired woman barged in and bowed slightly, "I was in such a hurry, hence I couldn't knock properly, forgive me."
Lily stared wordlessly at the woman who claimed to be Vianka - The only Vianka she knew of was the king's most loved mistress. Her long wavy purple hair cascaded down her back, and her purple eyes lined with dark makeup gave her an unearthly dark charm.
Lily's eyelids fluttered as she glanced at Mary who was picking herself up, "Mary, it seems Lady Vianka is speaking to you." She said, before turning her eyes back to the book in her hand.
"What?" Vianka's brow arched but she still managed to leave a smile on her face, "I was to you, Your highness." She clarified.
"It didn't seem like it, since I heard no greeting from you." Lily answered without sparing the woman a glance. She once thought of walking with the King's mistress, however, this woman didn't have the qualities of a righteous person and Lily could tell with a glance.
"Vianka greets your highness, the first princess." She bowed again, greeting properly this time.
"Have a sit, Miss Vianka." Lily gestured. The woman didn't mention a last name which means she was a commoner, hence she didn't bother to address her as 'Lady' like every body else.
"I brought a special tea for you, Your highness." Vianka clapped and a few maids trouped in, carrying trays in their hands.
"Thank you, Miss, however, I drank a lot of tea today, any more would curse my stomach to burst." Lily smiled. Her words were true though, she already drank a lot of tea with the third queen and she couldn't take anymore.
Vianka's smile widened, probably in a bid to keep her mind cool and her temper down, "Then, I'll just let you have a someday."
"I brought the princess a gift." She said after a short pause. A maid carrying a box kept in on the table and Vianka opened it.
"It's a pink diamond, one of its kind."
How many gifts have she gotten so far in less than one month.
"I abhore the colour pink."
"..."
"It reminds me of my younger sister." Lily spared no effort in hiding her dislike for her family.
"Ah, I see." Vianka's eyes widened, "Then I can find you a blue or red gem. What do you think? Sapphire or ruby?"
Lily smiled at the woman's expected reaction.
"You should know, My princess. Even if the second queen and the second princess treats you bad. I will always treat you well, My princess."
Lily's smile widened. The woman really wasted no time in her business; she wanted to clutch the little child in her arms using the excuse of love and trust.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone