Checkmate

"The fallen queen,"

A smirk formed on my lips as the knights made way for me out of the circle they've built. They all look startled upon seeing me before them, they're all looking at me as if I came back from the dead. Oh wait, Katrina and Ezra did claim that I died.

Also, my, my, what a surprise, everyone's here. I mean every single one of them.

"Greetings, councils, Mother, cousin," I greeted slowly while emphasizing each word as I walk in the way that the knights had created for me

"Your majesty," they gaped while looking at me

"My, what a surprise," I chuckled while looking at the councils then turned to the throne

"They've gone impertinent within your months of reign, cousin. What a shame." I uttered while slowly shaking my head then clapped my hands once

I chuckled when I noticed how they got stunned at my sudden movement.

"I guess I can straighten their etiquettes now that I'm back, right?" I said

"I am the rightful queen of Astrae now, Avery, we have proven that." Trinity Ezra said under her façade of innocence and compassion

"Is that so, then you wouldn't mind if I ask mother to come with me to the noble's estate?" I asked her and I saw how her expression changed

"After all, you said it's been proven that you're the rightful queen." I said slowly mocking her

"What does mother have to do with this?" she asked

"My question exactly, why is it that Mother still stays when she could've gone back to the estate?" I asked

"I am the queen mother, Avery, I must remain here." She said

"Indeed, that is true," I slowly nodded my head

"However, that wouldn't have been the case if nothing happened twelve years ago, right?" I asked and I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling when I saw how shocked she was

"So the council couldn't eat her alive?" I chuckled after repeating a phrase of her sentence

"Mother…" Ezra seems to be confused of what is currently happening

"To attempt to kill the child of those who had saved her own, what ingrate would do such thing, right?" I mocked her again

"Your majesty, what is the Princess – It's Queen Patrice," I corrected Mr. Marco

"Then you must've known that – Oh, yes, I know, the tragedy, the supposed queen's death, and how you paid assassins to kill the king's only child." I cut her off enumerating everything I've heard from her during her drunken state

She chortled and began walking down the throne while looking at me.

"It seems that you've missed something, Avery." She said and I matched her gaze

"The gift of cold given only to the rightful Astrae descendant, is that what you mean?" I asked

"That's no gift, that's a curse that had brought damage to Astrae and had killed your mother." She looked at me mockingly with a menacing grin

"Oh," I faked a gasp

I would've been stoned to my spot right now if I didn't know that beforehand. It messed my mind big time when I found out about it but I've learned to put it in the back of my mind, as I don't remember it, there's no proving that it really did happen.

"However, there's no denying that I am an Astrae, legal and directly born Astrae." I reminded

"What kind of kingdom will allow a monster to rule them?" Trinity Ezra suddenly asked

"If I am a monster then are you a whore?" I shot back at her straightly

"How dare you say such thing?!" Katrina fumed in rage after hearing my statement

"You must not throw baseless accusations against the reigning queen, you can be charged for treason." One of the representatives said

"Then how come they are still alive after revolting against me?" I asked

"And, oh, it's not baseless." I added

"Dave Renzo Rondsten," I uttered his name and I saw how Trinity Ezra's expression shifted

"That's the dowager Queen Katrina's biological grandson," I added and chuckled

"The product of Lady Trinity Ezra Ivashkov and Earl David Rondsten's secret affair," I divulged slowly and chuckled when I saw that they are frozen on the spot

I mean, literally. By spreading ice as we exchange, I froze their feet on where they are currently standing, they brought it upon themselves when they walked down the throne.

"Those are Arcadian knights." Trinity Ezra suddenly pointed out

"And so? What is the relevance?" I asked with raise brow and crossed arms

"You allied with our enemy, you call yourself a ruler when you connived with the enemy?" she asked me and I chuckled

"They were never my enemy, you are aware of that." I replied with a sly grin

"You dallied with the Arcadian King Zachary, don't act like a saint now, Avery." She snorted

"I didn't, we were never romantically involved and oh please, don't compare me with you. It is very insulting." I shook my head slowly while grinning

Everything's silent outside, it seems that our force had taken over the kingdom.

"What kind of ruler are you then, Avery? Not only did you conspire with the enemy but you also damaged Astrae again. Stop this nonsense already." Katrina told me off and I sighed

"Unless you haven't noticed by now," I voiced out my disappointment with their naivety

"You are cornered now, either you give me back my kingdom or I take it back forcefully." I said and began walking in front of them

"Also, I won't be very patient with you. You're not even my mother." I said continuously

"She is still the queen mother, Queen Patrice." Lord Mares said

"However, she conspired with the lady Trinity to endanger my life." I harked back

"That is not proven. The queen mother Katrina and Queen Trinity's involvement with the attack at the place is still unproven." Mr. Marco stated and I

"Oh I'm not talking about that." I chuckled and took off my cloak

"Your majesty," Sir Charles and Knight Stephen stepped forward and pulled up my cloak

"Do you all see this scar?" I asked and traced the scar from my waist to my navel

I am wearing a long silk skirt topped with golden chain-like strings from my waist down to the hem of my skirt, it reveals the noticeable scar in a contrasting color. My top is a simple satin light blue cloth that covers my shoulders to the skin just above my navel.

"Have you lost your mind, Avery? Put your cloak back on, don't be so disgraceful!" Katrina shouted and I tilted my head slightly

"Do you not wish to tell them that you had almost rendered me infertile?" I asked her and I saw how the councils turned to her then to me in surprise

"Yes, you heard me right. The respectable Queen Mother Katrina Ivashkov-Astrae almost rendered me incapable of having an heir be sending people to drug me before attempting to kill me. That's such a noble thing to do, right?" I disclosed it slowly while mocking her reputation

I used to refuse to believe that my own mother would do such thing, but then, she's not my mother so the chances of her actually doing it to make way for Trinity Ezra is not low.

"The more you must not sit on the throne without an heir you will end the royal family!"

Katrina exclaimed and I looked at her sardonically

"Almost, Katrina, almost," I held back my chuckles

Everyone is surprised on how I addressed her, she still has been my mother and Astrae's queen for the past seventeen years after all.

"But you failed," I added

"And still by the laws of Astrae, you can be banished for what you've done." I said

"Threatening a royal…" the council glanced at each other while trailing off

"You dare banish me, Avery? After all those year I've spent to raise you?" Katrina asked

"Why mustn't I?" I asked and sighed

"It is the law, not my decision." I looked at her seriously

"Now, hand over the crown and give up." I said slowly

"I am the rightful heir!" Trinity Ezra shouted

"There's not a drop of Astreaian blood flowing in your veins, so how are you rightful?" I asked her with a blank stare

"I ruled Astrae while you were gone, Astrae was alright while you were gone." She said

"Then, how come there was a rise of corruption?" I asked her

"You weren't ruling Astrae, don't play with me, Ezra, it is still your mother who's doing the work." I told her seriously

"The people preferred me." She said

"What people? The noble ladies who sniffed out of your power? The noble families you've tricked into believing that you are better than I am?" I asked her continuously

"I am better that you, Avery. Without the privileges you've enjoyed as the crown princess, you are no match to me." She said in umbrage

"Is that so? But then, I was born a crown princess, it wasn't a privilege, it was a right, just like how I am the rightful heir of Astrae." I replied

"Unlike you, I didn't commit adultery, I didn't disgrace the family name behind the curtains. I am true, I show who I am, and I am not a fake." I spelled it out in front her while walking

The cold wind with fractals of snow entered and whooshed inside the throne room but it does not bother me even a bit.

"I am not a fake!" she refuted and I chuckled

"I did not say you are, don't be too guilty." I burlesqued

"Also, unlike you, I didn't hurt the innocent children." My smile faded and my stares became blank as I met their gazes

"What does her majesty mean?" Lord Valdez asked

"Lord Valdez!" Trinity Ezra bellowed in disbelief

"Why don't you answer his question, Trinity?" I asked her and she stared at me angrily

"I have no idea of what you are speaking of, Avery." She denied and I looked at her taciturnly

"I hope you are aware that he is still lying unconscious." I taunted while pushing guilt

However, that seems unlikely as they don't consider anyone of their opposition as humans. To them, they are mere replaceable pieces, sacrificial pieces, like how Katrina had considered my existence before. I sighed, this has taken unnecessary length of time, I'm afraid I may be too late if I allow it to take more time.

"I take my throne back." I said and froze their bodies

"What are you –" Katrina's statement was cut off when I froze her body to her neck

"I hereby sentence you of treason, Lady Katrina Ivashkov, Lady Trinity Ezra Ivashkov."