In one of Queen's private chambers in Buckingham Palace, located at London, England.
June 17th, 2026
11: 32 PM(London time) 4° Celcius/40° Fahrenheit.
(7:32 AM Tokyo time)
The tall mahogany doors of Queen Charlotte Victoria III's private chambers shut quietly behind her, muffling the echoes of boots and whispers still drifting from the airstrip. She walked slowly across the lavish room, her heels soft against the Persian carpet. The scent of lavender and aged books mingled in the air. The fireplace crackled faintly in the corner, illuminating the polished floor and velvet drapes with a warm golden glow.
The Queen exhaled and removed her coat, draping it carefully over the arm of a tufted crimson chair. The weight of the night bore heavily on her shoulderz - duty always did.
Seated by the window, staring into the London mist with a wine glassc in hand, sa her mother: Charlotte Victoria II - the former Queen, the Iron Lady of the Crown, still regal in her sharp navy suit, her silver hair swept into a tight, uncompromising bun.
Across from her on the chaise lounge, polishing the ruby pendant around her neck, was her younger sister, the fourth Rourke: Tristana, dressed in a high-collared black dress and heeled boots, her legs crossed casually, though her eyes flickered with tension the moment their mother had arrived here.
The silence was brief.
"I assume the mission with Serpent, Viper, and Nighthawk went well." Charlotte Victoria II began, not turning from the window.
Queen Charlotte straightened.
"Yes, Mother. Blackthorne is dead. No trace left. They handled it with precision."
Her voice was calm, but there was a soft thread of weariness in it.
"Hmmm." The former Queen sipped her wine and finally turned her head.
"Good. At least something tonight went according to plan." She added.
"Something wrong, Mum?" Tristana asked, her brow arched.
Charlotte Victoria II stood and walked toward the fireplace, her glass now hanging loosely at her side. Her gaze was distant....unreadable.
"Do either of you know why Risa is in Tokyo?" She said slowly.
Both daughters froze.
Tristana blinked. "What?"
Queen Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
"Risa's in Tokyo?"
"So you didn't know?" Their mother turned sharply.
"We don't know, Mum." Tristana said, her voice faltering just a little.
"Understandable." Charlotte Victoria II flatly uttered.
She then set her glass down and stepped closer. "Ever since Risa and Daffodil turned their backs on this royal family...ever since they abandoned their royal vows...they've been keeping secrets. From me. From all of us." She added.
There was a bitterness in her voice now. The kind that had fermented over years.
"She shares little. Barely calls. Sends half-truths with servants and encrypted messages. And she and Daffodil is in Japan.
Her eyes narrowed into slits. "Doing god knows what. Hadn't I called her for a family meeting, she would eventually take Ray and keep him in the dark from us permanently."
Queen Charlotte stiffened
Tristana's mouth opened. "Mum-"
"I should've fucking known!" Their mother snapped.
"I should've fucking known five years ago. Risa's son. My grandson. Your nephew!" She added, her voice enraged.
"But, Mother, as I said. We only recently discovered that Ray is your grandson. He didn't even who he truly is. We didn't keep it from you. We found out just days ago." Queen Charlotte argued.
"It was your job to know it five years ago." Charlotte Victoria II hissed.
Tristana suddenly slammed her hand on the armrest. "This isn't fucking fair!"
"We werd the one whos had the discovery, and you're blaming us?! Risa was the one who hid Ray. Risa kept all of this from us! How can we be responsible for what she goddamn buried?!" Tristana shot back at her mother.
Charlotte Victoria II turned on her with blazing eyes. "Becase you two hold the power now. You wear crowns and command extreme soldiers. You have eyes everywhere. And still, your own blood - your own family - was hidden right under your noses."
The room fell silent.
Only the crackling of fire filled the heavy air.
Queen Charlotte's lips pressed into a thin line. "Tristana is right. This isn't fair, Mother. You think we don't feel betrayed? We trusted Risa. We adored and respected her. She and Daffodil left us. They disappeared."
"It doesn't matter. What matters now is Ray comes home and be with his rightful family." The former Queen's voice softened, but her eyes were still hard.
"We're trying. We just need more time." Tristana looked away.
"Yes, we do." Queen Charlotte softly muttered.
The former Queen stepped toward her desk and picked up her phone.
"That won't do. I've already called her. I told her to return to London immediately. With her son. We will have a family meeting...once they arrive." She said.
Queen Charlotte frowned. "She agreed?"
The former Queen scoffed. "She didn't have a choice. I made sure of it."
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Tristana stood and paced near the window. "What if Ray doesn't want to come? He's not like us. He's....different. I know him."
"He's still ours. Still blood. Still bound to this family, whether he likes it or not." Their mother said.
Queen Charlotte rubbed her temple, exhaustion sinking deeper. "You should've leave this matter to us, Mother. We know Ray better than anyone else."
"No. Risa should have." Charlotte Victoria II corrected.
She turned and looked at the portraits on the wall - her ancestors, all proud and poised. She studied the space beside the empty frame where Ray's should one day hang.
"Ray, my grandson will come." She said.
"And when he does...we will have answers. We will have truth. And we will finally decide what role he plays in this dynasty." She added, looking at the pictures.
Queen Charlotte and Tristana exchanged looks - equal parts worry, guilt, and curiosity.
Outside, thunder rolled low and deep over the London skies.