It's the weekend, and I'm in my room, chilling, waiting.
Five days.
Five days since they dragged me before the council. Five days since they tried to break me.
And yet, nothing. No evidence, no ruling, no punishment.
They're stalling.
Cowards.
I haven't seen Cassian since that night in my chambers. Typical. The foolish prince is probably hiding, letting his mother and her pet snake, Liliana, do all the dirty work. A man without a spine.
The queen's voice still rings through the halls, issuing orders as if she owns the world. And Liliana? She's louder than ever, flaunting her spoiled son like a trophy.
She thinks she's won.
She thinks she belongs here.
I smirk.
Her days in this palace? Numbered.
Her brat? Irrelevant.
I exhale, pushing the thought aside. I haven't seen Esther. Not in days.
Poor girl.
She probably got punished for being loyal to me.
I miss her.
The palace feels emptier without her presence.
I sit up, restless.
Something's coming. I can feel it.
And when it does, I'll be ready.
***
I check my time; it's 12 PM. Showtime.
A car horn blares outside, followed by sharp, insistent knocks at the main gate. I sit up, a smirk creeping onto my face. My heart pounds, not with fear, but anticipation. I stay put. No need to involve myself. I already know who he is and what he's here for.
I hear voices. A man's deep, firm tone cuts through the still air, speaking to the guards. The conversation is muffled, but the tension is undeniable.
Then, the Queen's voice rings out, sharp and commanding.
"Who do you say you are, young man?" The witch sounds irritated.
A pause. Then the man responds, steady and unfazed.
"Simeon. I'm looking for Liliana."
I bite my lip, suppressing a chuckle. This is already off to a fantastic start.
The Queen's voice hardens. "Who are you, and why are you looking for her?"
Simeon doesn't hesitate. "I'm her husband. She left home with my son months ago. I'm here to take them back."
The silence that follows is deafening. For the first time, the Queen is at a loss for words.
I cup my mouth to keep from laughing. Let's see how the old hag deals with this.
For a while, there's nothing but silence. I smirk. The Queen is definitely trying to contain the damage, to sweep Simeon's presence under the royal rug before the whole palace gets wind of it.
Then his voice shatters the quiet. Loud. Unrelenting. Furious.
"No way! I can't take this easy! How can she say she doesn't know me?"
The Queen's response is almost inaudible. "Simeon, lower your voice. We can discuss this…"
"Discuss what?" he cuts her off, voice thick with rage. "I'm not leaving! I'm not going anywhere until I see my wife and son! How can she take my child and run away? Just like that?"
I bite back a laugh, peeking out from my window. The maids and guards have formed small clusters, whispering frantically. Eyes dart around the courtyard. They know a scandal when they see one.
But where is Liliana? The loud, obnoxious viper? Suddenly mute? Hiding in shame? I scoff. A cheap whore, quick to slander me, yet unable to face her own filth.
Simeon isn't done. He came for war.
"If she doesn't come out now, I swear I will go to the city council! I will raise hell, do you hear me? I want my wife! I want my son!"
The Queen's voice trembles. "Lower your voice! You are in the royal palace!"
"And I don't give a damn!" Simeon thunders. "Liliana! Get out here now!"
The tension is delicious. I settle back against my chair, arms crossed, heart racing with anticipation.
Let's see how the Queen salvages this mess.
The matter drags on as expected, stretching into the night. Someone, likely a guard has finally gone to fish Cassian out of whatever hole he was hiding in. I hear his voice as he steps into the chaos, speaking to Simeon.
But Simeon isn't backing down.
I remain in my room, waiting for the perfect moment to make my grand entrance. I strain my ears, catching bits of their conversation.
"She got married to me right after she left you," Simeon says, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
Silence.
Then he drives the final dagger. "I'm the reason she left you. She was already cheating on you with me. So don't even bother trying to claim what was never yours."
Cassian doesn't respond. The silence is thick, suffocating. I can almost taste his humiliation. He thought he was a king, yet here he stands, dethroned and exposed.
An hour crawls by. I hear the heavy footsteps of the council members arriving, one by one. Ah, so Cassian called them. Not the Queen.
Typical.
I scoff, tapping my nails against my vanity. He still thinks he can control the narrative.
Then, through my window, I see her - Esther. Slipping through the corridors, headed straight for me.
I rush to unlock the door. The moment she steps inside, our eyes meet, and we don't need words. We already know.
We slap our hands over our mouths, shaking with silent laughter, like two mischievous girls caught in the middle of a royal scandal.
"You heard everything?" she whispers, eyes gleaming.
I nod. "Every bit of it."
"The Queen's face was priceless."
I grin. "And Cassian? Silent as the dead."
We burst into another fit of giggles, muffling the sound with our hands.
Oh, the night is still young. And I'm just getting started.