17: Another Problem Arise

Being able to prove that Ezra is not my father's child is one thing, but making sure that rebellion does not rise is another thing, a harder thing.

It's been a week, another week of negotiating, checking and heightening the security of the palace and the kingdom. I don't even get any decent sleep nowadays, I don't know but I really can't sleep every time I remember that at any moment, Ezra and Katrina could come to the palace and lead a rebellion to take me off the throne.

I sat up when I heard something from the window, I removed my glove and carefully opened the window.

Along the weeks that have passed, I have noticed that my gift is becoming stronger, there were times I'd wake up with snow falling from my room's ceiling, it turns out, I was unconsciously releasing my magic when I'm having a bad dream or when I'm in deep thought so I'm wearing the gloves for safety purposes.

"Zairo." I said assuaged

"You seem in distress…" he said worriedly and went inside

"Were you sleeping?" he asked and I shook my head

"I can't sleep." I answered

"Were you lacking sleep?" he asked

"Yeah… I wasn't able to sleep." I said

"Is it because of the possibility of them attacking the palace to dethrone you any moment?" he asked and I nodded

"I just can't help it." I mumbled

"Come here." He said and placed me on the bed

He tucked me to bed and I chuckled when he even closed my eyes gently with his palm.

"I'll be here until you fall asleep." He said

"Zai…" I said and sat up but he held my shoulder and patted it twice

"You need to sleep, Pam, you need it." He said and I sighed

"What if they suddenly attack us?" I asked

"They won't, and if they do, I'll alert you right away." He said and I nodded

"Promise?" I asked

"Promise." He said and tapped my cheek

"Now go get some sleep, Pam." He said and tucked me to bed again

I closed my eyes and I heard him humming a soft tune, I can't help but smile when I recognized the tune.

"You recognize it?" he asked and I nodded

"It's your turn." He said and started humming again

It's the same tune that Darcy had taught me before, I taught it to him because he's my friend and now he's making me fall asleep using it like what I did to him when we're kids.

His presence gave me a sense of comfort and the tune he's humming slowly brought me to the dreamland.

The next day, I woke up feeling refreshed and relieved. I smiled at everyone as I pass by.

"Good morning, your highness." They greeted and I nodded

"Good morning, everyone," I said and went to the dining hall

Sitting in the middle facing a long table without anyone else seated made it feel quite lonely, but I shook the thought off and started eating breakfast. After eating breakfast, I headed to the King's study room.

"Sir Charles," I called him when I saw the scrolls on the table

"Yes, your highness?" he asked

"Did the council send their replies regarding the laws I requested to rewrite and reconsider yet?" I asked

"I believe Lord Valdez has, your highness," he said and went to the table and gave me a scroll

"How about the rest of the council, have they sent their replies yet?" I asked upon accepting the scroll containing Lord Valdez's response

"They haven't sent any replies yet, your highness." He answered and I nodded

"See to it that they're informed that I'll only be waiting for their replies until the next council meeting in two days." I said and he bowed before going

I sat on the chair and started to read the documents stacked on the table.

I looked up when I heard a knock on the door, it must be their replies, that was quite… fast?

Knight Maia opened the door and the royal messenger went in and bowed his head.

"A letter for the Queen Avery from the King of Arcadia." He said and placed the letter on my table

"From the King of Arcadia?" I asked confusedly and took the letter

Indeed, according to the stamp and the words at the back, it's indeed from Zairo but I don't know why he has to send me a letter when we have our communication devices.

"Thank you, you may leave." I said and he bowed before leaving

I immediately opened it.

|#3

Queen Patrice,

This is my third letter and I hope to receive a favorable reply. I'd like to ask you for your time, I'd understand if you're skeptical of my intentions but I assure you that I mean no harm to you or your subjects.

If you're all right with it, we can hold our meeting in your kingdom, you can bring as many knights and palace guards as you'd like. I'm interested in the alliance you had proposed. I have every intention to become your ally and fix the feud that had been taking lives and had been damaging our kingdoms for generations.

Please consider this as a meeting for an alliance agreement.

I'll be waiting for your reply, Queen Patrice Avery Mae Jilliane Astrae. I hope you'll be able to read this letter and think it over.

King Zachary Iverone Ruiz Olivier Arcadia

The King of Arcadia

This is his third letter?

"Knight Therese," I called her

"Yes, your highness?" she asked

"Go to the letterman's post, ask him if there are any other letters that are addressed to me apart from this." I told her

"Yes, you highness." She bowed and left

"Is there a problem, your highness?" Knight Maia asked and Sir Charles went in

"Knight Maia, ask the royal messenger if there is any letter addressed to me delivered to the kingdom." I told her

"Yes, right away, your highness." She said and bowed before leaving

"Is there a problem, your highness?" Sir Charles asked

"This is the third letter of the King of Arcadia," I said and pointed at the letter

"Is it a threat, you highness?" Sir Charles asked and I sighed in exasperation

Oh well, it's not like the bad image of Arcadia can be easily removed from our people's minds.

"No, it's the third letter but it's the first letter that I received." I said and his mouth parted upon realizing what it meant

"Are you saying that there's someone blocking the letters addressed to the royal highness?" he asked

"Do you have other possible reason for me not to receive the King's letters?" I asked and he shook his head

"Someone… someone's trying to cut our communication with the other kingdoms." I said with gritted teeth

"Do you have any idea who could be behind this?" he asked and all of a sudden, we heard knocks from the door so he opened it

"Your highness, a village has been massacred." The royal messenger said and I stood up and clenched my fist

"Which village?" I asked

"The village closest to the borderline between Arcadia and Astrae, your highness." He said and I gritted my teeth

"Sir Charles, we're going to the village." I told him and he nodded

So, this is how it is, huh?

I have a feeling that they're worsening our kingdom's relationship with Arcadia because of the threat I said about bring it up to the inter-kingdom council.

They're playing dirty, they're even involving innocent people.