22: Commotion
A couple of weeks have passed again and the construction had been going quite well. It is almost finished, I commend Knight Stephen for that. The investigation on the culprit behind the massacre that Sir Charles is leading on the other hand still does not have a lead on the culprit's identity. He/she did a great job concealing his/her identity and covering her tracks.
It's already the fourteenth of Bluebell, I still am having a hard time falling asleep so I'm spending my waking hours studying and improving my magic in secret. I can control my magic at ease inside the secret room however using it outside that secret room is another thing, a harder one at that.
"Your majesty," I stood up and walked to the door when I heard Dame Therese's voice from the outside
"Dame Therese, what is it?" I asked after opening the door
"Sorry for disturbing your rest, your majesty but there's a commotion in front of the palace gates." She said and my eyes widened
"Wait for me, I'll just change." I said and closed the door
I quickly changed into a dress from my nightgown and went out with Dame Therese on my trail. Everyone seems to be problematic because of the commotion in front of the palace gates.
"What is happening, Sir Charles?" I asked Sir Charles when I saw him
"I'm afraid but it seems that the massacre that had occurred in one of the villages had caused uproar to the other villagers, the noble and the commoners." He said and I walked towards the palace gates
"Your majesty, it's unadvisable." Knight Stephen stopped me
"I know, but they are still my people, I must listen to their voice." I said and they walked behind me
"Her majesty, the Queen." The knights announced my arrival
"What is the problem?" I asked them
"You're letting your people die!" one of the people shouted
"What kind of leader are you?"
"Get off the throne!"
"You don't care about us!"
One shout was followed by other, they started getting chaotic, both nobles and commoners alike.
"Silence!" Sir Charles and the rest of my personal guards stood up protecting me from the angry people
"Is this how a queen should treat her people?" I clenched my fist when I saw Ezra
I see. So this is how it is, she's making my people turn their backs from me.
"Lady Trinity Ezra," I mentioned her name just as everyone silenced
"You want me to get off the throne? Why?" I asked
"Lady Trinity is a more suitable leader." A noble woman said
"A more suitable leader, huh? Then a more suitable leader is someone who used people for her gain?" I asked
"You're spouting nonsense, don't ruin the Lady Trinity for your gain." Another one shouted
I see. Now it all makes sense. They had been building alliance and a façade to these noblemen to gain their favor.
"I'm not, the Lady Trinity is illegible to the throne because she is the former queen consort now dowager Queen Katrina's first born however, she is not King Aristotle's child." I said seriously
"So, what if she's not? She's still an Astrae legally!" Another one shouted
"A legal Astrae is nothing compared to a biological Astrae, only a biological Astrae is legible for the throne. You know the law, don't you?" I replied and they were silent
"What can a stupid runaway princess like you know about ruling?" another one shouted from the crowd
"Indeed, I am a runaway princess but I doubt you know where I was whenever I disappear." I said
"I became one of the commoners to see how the perceive life, you haven't experienced that, did you, Lady Trinity?" I asked her
"Of course, you did not, after all, you've lived in luxury all your life. From both being the Duchess Elizabeth's adopted daughter and being Queen Katrina's illegitimate child." I chuckled
"Please settle down, there's no use trying to enthrone an illegible illegitimate noble." I said and turned my back on them
"See to it that everyone returns home safely." I told the knight seriously before I went back to the palace
"Wasn't Lady Trinity your best friend, your majesty?" Dame Maia asked on our way back
"Dame Maia, it's inappropriate to ask such imprudent question to her majesty." Sir Charles scolded her
"It's alright, she really was my best friend however her thirst for power was stronger than our friendship." I muttered
What a shame, I had never imagined that there would come a time I will be going against Ezra and Mother, it had never crossed my mind. We were family, they were supposed to be there for me, not be there against me.
Power and money really does change people. It changes their mindset and the people they value.
I went back to my room and went to take a bath to calm my mind. I have servants who will wash me but I want to savor the peace that being alone gives me and at a time like this, I honestly don't know who to trust and who to doubt.
My world had become so chaotic, more chaotic than before. It's unbelievable how months before, I was just a princess who is planning to solve a feud that had been passed down to every generation and now I am a queen facing the greatest betrayal from the people I had considered as family.
I'm starting to wonder. Do I really make a good queen, or was I really just too idealistic?
I looked at the bubbles on my tub, I changed the water and allowed the soap to disappear before I relaxed my back submerged in the clear water. I looked at my waist and I sighed when I felt a scar.
I traced the scar from my waist up to my navel diagonally. I chuckled bitterly when I remembered where I got this from, a bittersweet memory played on my mind.
I must really be a stupid princess back then not to see that Mother was trying to have me dethroned and killed.
She tried to render me infertile so I will not be able to produce an heir and back then, she said it was for the best, saying that I was sick. If it weren't for Zairo and his trusted doctor, they would've had a good reason to dethrone me or make me illegible to the throne in the first place.
I was too blinded by my belief that my mother was the best woman, I guess she really were however the mother I grew up with is not my real mother, the mother I grew up with was just using me as a pawn, her daughter's stepping stone to the throne.
I didn't notice that I was already crying while my body is submerged in the water.
I finished taking a bath and changed into a clean nightgown then headed to my bed. I lay on my bed for I don't know how long before I surrendered to the tiredness and heaviness of my eyelids.
The chirping sound of birds and the ray of sun hitting my face woke me up, I immediately sat up and opened the door, the maids went in and started preparing everything for me.
"Good morning, your majesty," they greeted
"Your bath is ready, your majesty." The maids assigned to bathe me said
I entered the bathroom and took my nightgown off before submerging in the tub filled with bubbles. A maid carefully combed my hair while the other two are carefully washing and lathing my arms and legs.
"Your golden streaks are becoming more dominant, your majesty," the one assigned to wash my hair said
"Is it now? That's good to hear." I said
After I took a bath, they gave me a cotton robe and followed me when I went out of the bathroom. The curtains are now closed and a gown is neatly laid on the bed.
They helped me change into my gown before they left my room.
I used to have maids like them before when I was a princess too but Mother removed them after I got quite attached to them. Attachment to a servant is really forbidden in this palace, and I doubt there will ever come a day it won't be forbidden.
I went out of my room shortly after they left. I headed to the garden where I had my peaceful breakfast, I've decided to eat my breakfast here because I always feel empty every time I dine alone in the long table in the Dining Hall.
I spent my whole day performing my duties as a queen again.
"That's your last meeting for the day, your majesty." Sir Charles said and I nodded
"Would you like some tea to be delivered here, you majesty?" he asked
"Yes, please." I answered
I had just finished a meeting with a count and countess who I managed to win over to my side despite declaring neutrality.