บท 25: Queen Annabelle

Travelling from Kingdom of Harte to Kingdom of Fyemir would take them three days and Lynn just couldn't wait for them to arrive. She was currently walking the horse with her prince and the princess on it. She felt her lips thinned when she heard the light laughter of the princess from anything Garret said, as if this was her allergic reaction.

"Prince Garret, you are amazing and so beautiful," the princess awed and snuggled closer to the prince.

"I thank you Princess Arora," Garret let out an awkward laugh, "Don't forget we are on the horse. Wouldn't want you to fall."

"If I do, you will catch me," the princess giggled, and Lynn did everything in her not to gag.

Doing her best to ignore the incessant flirting from the princess, she looked over at her father who was looking at the queen. Queen Annabelle was seated next to the coachman instead of inside with her husband. The one in there with the king is Hilda.

"Child," The king's head popped out of the flaps, "How long do we have still?"

"We will arrive tomorrow before the sun sets, King Valor," Lynn replied as her hold on the reins tightened.

"Oh already!" the princess chimed in, "I cannot wait to see your kingdom Garret. I am sure it is as wonderful as you."

Her knuckles were white as she squeezed the reins tight hoping to the heavens that she would get through this.

"It is quite a beautiful sight," Garret agreed nonchalantly, "Our flowers bloom quite well and my people are very kind," the prince paused with a slow coy smile, "We also have beautiful women as well."

"Wha?!" The princess screeched and Lynn thanked the mask she wore for hiding her snicker.

"Prince Garret! You will not be looking for other women to bed when we are married, are you?" Arora shouted shaking the prince from behind.

"Princess," Garret tried to grab her arms from behind him, "Stop shaking or we'd fall."

"I don't care!" Arora continued her shaking and Lynn stopped the horse as it was disrupting the animal.

"Princess," she tried to receive a heated glare, "Prince Garret is known for his loyalty. Do not feel ire when he jokes. I am sure you will get used to it," she bowed.

"That wasn't funny," the princess pouted with her bottom lips jutted out, "Promise you won't do it Garret."

Lynn looked over at the prince who smiled at her and said, "I will be loyal to the one I love."

Turning away quickly to hide the flush on her face, she ignored the gushing of the princess.

'Focus on the plan first,' she told herself as she continued to walk her calm stallion, 'Then… then Garret and her could be happy.'

Lynn glanced at her father to see him offering the queen his mane. Smiling with a nod, the queen asked the coachman to stop, but her father shook his head.

"If we stop, it would take longer to reach our destination," Constantine smiled.

"Then how will I ride your stallion? Was it a farce?" Queen Annabelle questioned with a slight frown.

"Of course not," he let out a short laugh and stopped his loyal stead to jump off. Holding the reins, he walked over to the queen and opened an arm, "Come now Queen Annabelle."

Annabelle let out a soft laugh against her palm and reached out to place both palms on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her small waist and lifted her off the carriage. The queen was placed on the ground and Constantine felt his lips curved as he looked into her blue eyes.

'Still as blue as when she was young,' his eyes softened at the memory.

Walking her to his horse, he had his mare lay down awaiting the queen. Once the queen was situated with both legs dangling off one side of the horse, he had a hand on her left hip as his mare stood back up. Once the queen was steading on the horse, she nodded at the knight with a relieved smile.

"Thank you, Sir Constantine," she settled herself as the slight bounced of the horse began to walk.

Annabelle was happy. She had not been happy for quite some time.

The beginning of their marriage was filled with understanding between one another. He knew she will never him truly and she knew he enjoys many women. She never argued with him nor strayed away from a dutiful wife, a fine example of a queen. However, when that woman, Hilda, had somehow captured Valor's heart, he was not the same.

He spent many days and night away from his duties; the king would threaten his people or initiate a fight with no reason. As a queen, she could not take the constant attack of their people and had stepped in when Valor had ordered the execution of a maid.

"That is enough, my king!" Queen Annabelle stood up from her throne, "She had done nothing to deserve this."

The maid was crying, sobbing as she wrapped her arms around herself. Annabelle walked down to her and glared at the soldier beside her.

"You dare interfere?" Valor looked surprised and Annabelle took a deep breath.

"What is the reason for your decision, husband?"

"Reason? Must I have one?" Valor stood up from his throne and took a step forward, "I am king! What I say will be law."

Annabelle knew the reason why this was happening. This maid was not the first to be executed and she had wished to step in far sooner. Holding her ground, she lifted her chin and puffed out her chest.

"Exile her."

The room fell silent and Valor stared at her for a moment as he walked down the steps to her. Reaching for her face, he pulled her face and narrowed his eyes.

"You dare tell a king what to do?" he gritted out quietly.

"Exile instead of executing," she glared back, "Or I will tell all the kingdoms of who you hide."

She threatened in a soft tone, but the widening of the king's eyes told her he heard. The grip on her face tightened before it was released as Valor stepped back.

"Very well," he spoke up so others could hear, "You are exiled and not allowed in this kingdom. Do you understand!"

The maid nodded shakily and when excused, hurried off like a scared kitten.

Since then, Annabelle continued to make sure her people were cared for as much as she could. Those who had been exiled, she did her best to comfort them with some currency. Until her good friend, Queen Bella from the Kingdom of June agreed to take in her people. She was truly thankful to her and have continued to send gifts to the queen.

Letting out a sigh, she glanced at Constantine and found her lips curving.

He had accomplished his goal of being a well-known knight and treated Anastasia with love. Glancing over to the young knight, she felt her heart swell.

'She looks so much like you Anastasia,' the queen let out a soft sigh and turned back to look down the road to the prince's kingdom.

She received letter from Queen Celeste and understood the anger behind her words. This time, there is no hiding because both the witch and her husband had attempted death upon the young knight. Her best friend's child.

Annabelle will do all she can to assist with Celeste, and anyone else who was involved to bring down her husband at the female mage.