39: Change

Another two days have passed, it's the 31rst of Virgo. As usual, I am in the receiving area of the Silk Palace, having tea while reading book. The King of Holland is busy handling his kingdom's matters while Zairo is busy with training the knights who will take part in the war so there isn't any meeting set for today, not that we're required to discuss the plan every day until the day of the first step anyway.

Yesterday, we held a meeting to discuss the reports about Astrae's current state. Baron Tariq agreed that the corruption did increase, I did not know about the corruption until now that I'm out of the throne as I had only been able to sit on my throne for less than two months, I actually spent more time planning to wage war than actually leading the kingdom.

"I want to take a walk in the garden, you can stay here." I said after finishing the book I'm reading

I do not like to stay in one place for the whole day, it makes me feel very unproductive and lazy.

I stood up and left the receiving area after wearing a blue coat laced with fur, heading to the garden. Upon arriving in the garden, I noticed that most of the trees are now losing their leaves and most of the bushes no longer have their flowers, the pathway remains clean but there still are some petals and leaves on the side. I saw some servants cleaning the pathway.

"Have you heard?"

That statement took my attention, it came from the other side of the wall made of leaves, from the other side of the hedge.

"The lady visitor of the king who has been staying here for a month now might actually be a royal blood." I stopped the side of my lips from rising because of that statement

It's not surprising that some speculations about my true identity is circulating as these past few days, I've encountered my knights, some knights of Arcadia, and some of Holland's who addressed me as 'your majesty' and bowed before speaking or whenever they would see me.

"Where could she might be from?"

"That's probably why she looks so different from the rest of the noble ladies we've seen."

"No wonder his majesty is taking interest in her."

"But why would she be here?"

I shook my head after hearing their conversation, since when did I start eavesdropping on someone else's conversation? A lady doesn't gossip, and I shouldn't do that as well, I just find it amusing that some people are now intrigued about my identity.

"Good day, my lady." The servant who saw me approaching greeted

"Are you the one keeping the place clean?" I can't help but asked when I noticed the cart filled with petals and dried leaves behind him

"Yes, my lady." He said

"My lady," they all greeted whenever they would see me

After walking around the garden, I decided to go back to the receiving area.

"Welcome back, my lady, did you enjoy your stroll?" one of them asked and removed my coat

"Yes, I did." I said and went to the chair

"Would you like some tea and snacks as you read?" another one asked and I nodded

They left to get the tea and snacks from the kitchen, I guess.

"That would be nice," I replied and sat on the chair

"Would you like me to increase the warmth in the room, my lady?" another servant asked and I shook my head

"There's no need, I am not cold." I replied

I took a book from the stack, I was about to open it when the door opened and Sir Charles and Sir Monte arrived.

"Stay standing, for what purpose did you come here?" I asked them before they could bow down

"His majesty had told us to check on you and give you this," Sir Monte said and handed a scroll

"That is the progress report about the training, your majesty." Sir Charles said and I nodded

"How is the general doing?" I asked, as I haven't heard about or from the general since their arrival

"The knights are now listening to his orders after being informed of the situation." Sir Monte answered

"And how did the knights take the information?" I asked

"They had taken an oath to keep it a secret, in front of the kings." Sir Charles answered and I nodded

"I see, thank you, you may take your leave." I said and they bowed down

"Yes, your majesty." They said and left

"I can read your minds just by how frequent you'd glance at me." I muttered and opened the book I'm holding

"I apologize, my lady," they apologized

"I am aware that you'd like to ask me something." I said and they all silenced

They are no longer glancing at me frequently so I managed to read in peace. I hated reading but not having anything else to do to pass the time, I had no choice but to take what's there to distract me.

"Sorry for the delay, my lady." The servants who have left to get the tea and snacks arrived and immediately placed the tray on the table

"Thank you." I said after one of the servants poured tea on the teacup in front of me

I continued reading the book while taking a sip of the tea from time to time.

There was a knock on the door so the servant opened it and two knights entered and bowed

"Your majesty," they said

I mentally shook my head because of their action.

I won't be surprised if everyone in the Silk palace will soon know that I am of royal-blood disguising as a lady from a noble family.

The respect of these knights is already a great giveaway to reveal my real identity and status in the hierarchy. That might not turn out to be in favor to our plan, however, as the more people knowing that I am of royal-blood, the higher the risk of my presence here in Holland reaching my kingdom and in worst-case scenario, Ezra and Katrina.

"You may rise, for what purpose are you here, knights?" I asked and they stood up

"The young prince of Arcadia had requested an audience with you, your majesty." The knight on the left answered

"I see, let him in." I said and the young prince entered

"Queen," I saw how the servants stared at the young prince of Arcadia who had just arrived

"For what purpose did the prince of Arcadia wish to see me?" I asked and he walked forward

"I'd like to play chess with you, would you mind?" he asked waving out a chessboard

"That sound interesting, however, did King Zachary not give you any orders for today?" I asked him and he sat on the chair near me

"He told me to stay out of trouble." He said and I nodded

"Which is why you're decided to approach me instead," I said and he nodded before turning to the knights

"Thank you for accompanying me to see her, you may leave." He told them

"Yes, you may leave." I said and they bowed before leaving

"Do your words really hold more authority than mine?" he asked while arranging the chess pieces on the board

"Am I older than you? Then, yes, it does." I replied and he shook his head

We started playing chess and I started with moving the pawn in front on the rook on the left two spaces.

"Why change strategies, Queen?" he asked and I shook my head when he moved the knight forward

"I didn't change strategies, young prince." I replied and moved the rook to fill the space after the pawn

"I wasn't talking about the game." He said while moving the knight forward

"I know." I replied smiling and moved the rook side ward

"Then how come there suddenly was a puppet general?" he asked and moved his queen

"To trigger the opponent, to use him as bait," I said and moved the rook forward to eat the pawn in front of his bishop

His eyes widened when he realized that his king is in a tight position. He had moved his knight away from the bishop so if I ate his bishop it would be checkmate because his king can't move anywhere else since there's still a pawn in front of his king piece.

"Queen…" he looked at me in disbelief and I chuckled

"Your turn to move," I said and he sighed before moving his knight forward again

"Checkmate." I said after eating his bishop

"That wasn't fair…" he mumbled and I chuckled and caressed his cheek

"Life isn't fair, young prince, that's why you need to learn to play along." I said and he nodded

"And also, you should still stand your ground and think rationally even when you think you'll be losing." I told him and he looked confused so I touched the pawn in front of the king

"If you moved this pawn when you realized that your king will be in check once I eat the bishop then you could've won, but it's alright, at least the next time we play, you'll know how to keep thinking calmly and assess the situation." I said and he nodded

"So, when did you arrive?" I asked him

"I arrived after King did, he didn't tell me he was coming here." He said and his brow furrowed when he said the last part

"So, you took the shorter route." I said and he nodded

"That's dangerous, Malika." I said and he bowed his head

"I know…" he said softly

"Were you afraid you'd be left out?" I asked and he looked up

"You're both unpredictable, Queen." He answered and I smiled

"Are we really?" I asked and he nodded

"Wouldn't they look for you in Arcadia?" I asked him and he shook his head

"They are too busy." He shook his head

"They can't be too busy not to look for their youngest prince, can they?" I asked

"They can if it's the Duchess Cassandra's party for the baby." He said and I looked at him seriously when I saw his expression

"I didn't know that she's married." I said and he looked at me with pursed lips

"She got married a year ago to a duke in our kingdom." He said and I nodded

I did recall hearing news about her marriage before, I just didn't know it was true as she's still in the palace back when we came to personally invite them to the ball that was held to look for my potential husband.

"You seem to be worried about something, young prince." I pointed out and he nodded

"I might not be a prince anymore."