It was a great tragedy in the palace. The entire place had fallen into silence, heavy with grief. No one could believe the devastating news. The queen, who had just lost her pregnancy a few days ago, was now gone too,It was too much to bear.
The king sat frozen in shock. It all felt like a terrible dream, one he desperately wished to wake up from. A maid had rushed into the palace not long ago, delivering the heartbreaking news. "The queen has passed away," she had cried, her voice trembling.
Ministers had already gathered in the palace hall immediately they heard the shocking news,The news of the queen's sudden passing had shaken them all. Lady Larisa and Lady Kaira stood in disbelief, their minds clouded with different thoughts. The hall was filled with silence, heavy and suffocating.
"My king, please take heart. We are investigating the cause of Her Highness's death, so please, do not harm yourself with grief," the Minister of justice spoke, though there was a strange hint in his voice, almost as if he was satisfied with the situation.
"It is heartbreaking that the queen had no family, no close friends. Only the gods know what truly happened to her," another minister added sorrowfully.
"We have arrested all the guards and maids who were in charge of her chamber. I am certain the truth will come to light soon," the Minister of justice said again, his expression unreadable.
Then, as if the queen's death was just another political affair, he added, "My king, what is done is done. As you all know, the queen's position cannot remain empty. We must find a replacement as soon as possible for the sake of our kingdom,your majesty."he bowed slightly.
"Yes, my king, the position cannot be left vacant!" the other ministers echoed in agreement.
The king felt lost, his heart pounding as he looked at his ministers. They were already discussing replacing his queen when her body was still warm. It was cruel. But what choice did he have? Lord Garius, the most powerful of them all, had spoken. No one could stand in his way without facing dire consequences.
Lady Larisa glanced at the king. He looked shattered, unable to utter a word. She then turned to the ministers, who were already deep in discussion about the next queen. Just as she was about to speak, Lady Kaira beat her to it.
With an air of elegance, Kaira stood tall and snapped, "Is this not too soon to discuss choosing a new queen? The queen of this land has just died!,is it not too early!"
The ministers flinched, surprised by her outburst.
"You are all too heartless! Can't you see the king? Are you too old to know what is right and wrong? Have some patience!", She scolded them angrily, her voice ringing through the hall. Then, regaining her composure, she added, "Leave. When the culprit behind the queen's death is caught, you may return to discuss your plans. Excuse me, my king."
With that, she stormed out of the hall angrily.
Lady Larisa and the king exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. The ministers, momentarily silenced, bowed in apology to the king. All except for Lord Garius, who only gave a slight bow, his fists clenched in anger.
"We are sorry, Your Majesty," they chorused.
Without a word, the king stood and left the hall, Lady Larisa following closely behind.
Once the king was gone, the ministers turned to Lord Garius.
"Lord Garius, what happened? I thought your daughter was on our side. Is there something you're not telling us?" one of them asked.
Lord Garius sighed, his eyes staring blankly ahead. "It's nothing to worry about. She is simply overwhelmed by the queen's death. She will calm down soon. She is just in shock."
-———————
That night, in her chamber, Kaira paced restlessly. Her mind was in turmoil. She had never been interested in palace politics, but she never expected things to be this messy. People were willing to kill for power.
"The palace is no longer safe," she muttered under her breath. "The king is too weak to protect his people. The royal consort is carrying another man's child. Oh, heavens! I wanted nothing to do with this, but I cannot stand by and watch. The queen… Oh no. I may not have liked her, but I never wished her dead. I'm only here for the king and I'm going to take my revenge on him because he really deserve it.At this point, I have to step in. And whoever stands in my way… will be crushed. I promise"
Her eyes darkened with determination.
-——-
Meanwhile, the palace was still buzzing with soldiers and guards, investigating the queen's death. The king sat alone in his chamber, devastated, lost in his thoughts. A guard had just left after informing him of a small container found in the queen's chamber. It had been taken to the royal physician for examination.
"Oh, heavens… I am tired of this heavy burden," the king thought, his heart weary. "Father, Mother… Your spirits are silent. What should I do?"
Just then, Lady Larisa entered, startling him from his thoughts.
"My king," she called softly.
The king looked up at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "What are you doing here, my lady?" he asked in a tired voice.
"My king, I know this is a difficult time. Please take heart. Only the gods know what truly happened to Her Highness. Please do not torment yourself with grief," she said, her voice gentle, but her eyes held something else.
"Gilas, bring the drink," she ordered.
The nervous-looking Gilas stepped forward, carrying a cup.
"My king, please drink this. It will help you feel better. You must stay strong for the kingdom," Lady Larisa urged.
The king, too exhausted to think clearly, took the cup and sipped. Within minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.
A small smile played on Lady Larisa's lips as she turned to Gilas. He, however, looked deeply troubled.
"Thank goodness," she whispered. "Garius, now you may leave. Make sure no one enters this chamber until morning."
"Yes, my lady," Gilas bowed before leaving to stand guard outside.
Lady Larisa let out a quiet chuckle. "Once I announce my pregnancy, I will automatically become the queen of this kingdom," she murmured happily.
She removed her robe and slid into bed beside the unconscious king.
-——
Just outside, Kaira approached the king's chamber, only to find Gilas blocking her way.
"Move, Gilas," she ordered.
"The king does not wish to see anyone right now," Gilas replied firmly.
Kaira's eyes darkened. "Gilas, I will personally behead you if you do not get out of my way," she thundered.
Gilas hesitated. He had known Kaira for a while now but this was the first time she had ever spoken to him like this. He was shocked—and hurt. But the fire in her eyes told him she was not bluffing.
Reluctantly, he stepped aside.
Kaira marched into the chamber, her heart pounding. Whatever was happening in this palace, she was determined to uncover the truth. No matter the cost.
Kaira quickly stepped into the chamber, her eyes wide with shock at what she saw. There, in the weak light of the moon coming through the window, she saw Lady Larisa lying naked beside the king. The sight made Kaira's heart hurt deeply. She had not expected to see this at all. For a long moment, she stood frozen, feeling a heavy sadness and confusion fill her chest. Her mind raced with questions and pain.
The room was silent except for the quiet breathing of the unconscious king. Kaira felt lost and alone in that moment. She had come to help and find the truth, but now she was faced with a scene that made everything seem even more complicated. Tears began to well in her eyes as she realized that nothing good could come from staying there any longer. She knew that the night had taken a turn she did not want, and she was too late to stop what was happening.
With a heavy heart, Kaira slowly turned and left the chamber. Each step away from the room felt like a weight on her shoulders. As she moved through the room, she could still hear the soft rustle of fabric and faint sounds behind her. When she looked back, she saw that Lady Larisa was not asleep as she had pretended to be. Instead, Larisa sat up for a moment and gave a small, sweet smile before lying back down. It was as if she had planned everything, and her smile made Kaira feel even more hurt and betrayed.
Outside the chamber, Kaira found a quiet corner in a dark corridor to catch her breath. Her hands shook, and her eyes filled with tears as she tried to understand what she had just witnessed. The image of Larisa lying beside the king, and then her calm smile, replayed in Kaira's mind like a painful echo. She thought about the quiet, unmoving king and the secret that now seemed to grow bigger in the palace.
Kaira knew she could not stay that night. There was no time for more investigation now. Her heart felt heavy, and she felt that her world had just shifted into a deeper darkness. As she walked away slowly, she promised herself that she would return the next day with a clearer mind. The truth of what was happening in the palace must be uncovered, even if it meant facing more painful surprises.
In the silence of the corridor, Kaira wiped away her tears. She vowed to keep searching for answers, no matter how painful the journey might be. The night was long, and the palace held many secrets, but Kaira knew that only by facing these truths could she hope to heal her own broken heart.