Chương 26: Sisterly (2)

Helena contained her excitement as she now stood before the queen's doors.

The maid knocked on the door, announced Helena was outside and then waited for the order that she could enter.

"Come in."

The maid opened the door for Helena, but before Helena could enter, she grabbed her hand and said, "Be careful with your words. This time alone can ruin your chance."

Helena didn't need the maid to tell her that. She shook her hand to not be held back any longer. She was smart to be mindful of her words with where she was now.

Helena entered the room without sparing the maid another glance. As she walked further into the room in search of the queen, she was puzzled when she came across the queen sitting alone and there were no ladies as the maid had told her.

How could someone try to give her advice when they couldn't properly deliver a message?

"Queen Tabitha Castro," Helena addressed the queen with a curtsy.

"Come take a seat. You don't need to be so stiff as it is only the two of us," said Tabitha.

Helena wished to know how the woman could tell how her body was when she had not looked her way. Was she stiff earlier when they were all in the garden or maybe when the queen first addressed them?

Helena panicked as she tried to think of when she would not have been graceful like she was taught to be. She held her head up high and walked with grace now to rid the queen of the memory from when she had been stiff.

Tabitha chuckled, bringing her cup to her lips. "You are a lot like me. That is why I like you."

Helena almost stumbled when she heard the compliment but she regained her composure and did not fall before the queen to ruin the compliment already. "It warms my heart to hear that from you, Your Majesty."

"I'm sure you've heard it from your mother plenty of times. You and your sister's names tend to reach the palace from time to time. Whether it be from your father boasting or talk going around of how you two carry yourself. Truly women who had great care put into how they should act when around important guests. I like that no money went to waste in tutoring you," said Tabitha.

Helena sat down on the opposite side of the table to face Tabitha. There was already something poured for her in a dark cup so she couldn't tell what it was and treats were placed on a small plate.

"My father loves to talk about us. I find joy in hearing him tell others about me so I always try my best to succeed at something to hear his compliments," said Helena.

Tabitha put her white cup back down after taking a sip of her tea. "What a good daughter you are. I was once close to my father when he was alive. Fathers have a special place in their hearts for their daughters. Should you marry my son, you will see that the princess is greatly pampered by the king. Sometimes I try to stop it but then I don't want to get in the way of those two."

"Mothers can sometimes have a special place for our sons. They can do no wrong in our eyes even when their actions frustrate us. I can turn a blind eye to many things my son does until now that we are in the selection. I need to be the bad person for a moment to make sure all goes well and a suitable queen is picked."

Helena wondered why the queen was speaking of this to her. Normally, royalty didn't share much of their personal life with someone they weren't close with. This was the first time she sat alone with the queen so why was she hearing this?

"I must be boring you with talking about my family," Tabitha said, inspecting Helena's appearance. She was like one of the pretty flowers placed in the garden nearby.

The garden Tobias had taken someone without her approval.

"Not at all," Helena answered. "I find it all exciting."

Tabitha smiled. "You don't need to lie to me here. I prefer honesty over a quick lie to compliment me. Still, I must say that your responses do delight me. It's a shame you weren't picked first to spend time with my son. Perhaps others feeling sorry for the older sister who is not yet married ruined that. Does that upset you?"

"It does not. My time will come to get to know more about the prince. I was the only one to share a dance with him therefore I should let the others have a chance. I know that I can succeed so who is picked will not bother me," Helena declared.

"So the conversation you had with your sister in the garden wasn't you throwing a tantrum that you weren't picked?" Tabitha asked.

"I," Helena stopped, not knowing what to say. "You weren't there."

"You are in my home, Helena. I have eyes everywhere to keep watching you when I am not around. I advise you to watch your behaviour when you think that I am not there. I will always know what happens in my palace. Except for one thing since they didn't follow my order," Tabitha said, looking out the window at the tower where Tobias's room was.

She hoped he had listened to her this once and did not run off somewhere. The palace was quiet but it didn't mean the prince wasn't up to something.

"Your sister should have returned by now. What did she speak of with my son?" Tabitha questioned. She couldn't hear it from Tobias and Hazel wasn't as eager to speak as her sister so she had to hear it from Helena.

What made her son take Hazel to a garden meant for only Castro royalty and why did he send Linda away? She wasn't aware of Tobias having any feelings for Hazel and if he did, it should be shared with her. Only then could she shift her eyes to Hazel though she preferred Helena.

"My sister didn't share what was spoken with the prince. She wants to keep it private and said that I should do the same when my time comes. I am sorry that I could not be of any help to you," Helena answered.

She grabbed a handful of her dress under the table, frustrated with the queen calling her here to ask about Hazel. She was not going to be a spy to report her sister's actions to the queen and if the queen knew everything happening in the palace, why did she need to resort to asking her about Hazel?

"Well, that is not very sisterly of her. To withhold something from you. Perhaps the competition is already getting to her. Listen to me carefully, Helena. When I was like you in the selection the queen sat me down and told me that she took one look at me and it was then she had me picked as queen. I felt that with you this morning. Continue to shine and I will see to it you go far. Drink," Tabitha said, picking up her cup.