The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen
After talking with more people than what is appropriate, I can finally hide in my rooms for lunch. I haven't eaten during the tea party, so my maids bring some refreshments and let me rest alone.
Uncle is supposed to visit soon, so I wait for a little while and decide to eat with him at this point.
I've waited hours, a few minutes won't change anything.
As the tea warms down, I heat it up again with my powers. No one is around to notice.
Just as it starts steaming again, a new scent reaches my nose. It's weird, sour and a little rotten.
I step away from the table and open the door, calling for the maids and Aida.
«What happened?» my handmaid asks.
She feels the stink as well, and she drags me out while closing the door behind my back.
«Do not go in there!» she says.
«Is the scent dangerous?»
Aida seems to wake up from the panic and shakes her head.
«No, the scent is not that much,» she sighs.
«There's no need to panic, Aida. I just warmed the water, and it started stinking. I came out immediately.»
«Yes, I see... You're all right, your Highness,» she sighs. She's relieved, a little too much for this small incident.
I wouldn't have been hurt by that poison, most likely. It's not such a dangerous situation. And, also, Queens are attacked all the time... I guess...
«Please, come sit here,» Aida continues, guiding me to a chair.
She's behaving oddly. As if it was the first time we faced an emergency.
«The doctor will be here soon,» Bea informs us, bringing some water. She takes a sip before giving me the rest.
I understand this is the protocol for such cases, but drinking from the same glass as another person... Someone I barely know, at that.
But she's risking her life for me, so I just sigh and finish the water.
If only I could find an explanation for Aida's ability to sense poison, I could find a way to avoid people risking their lives. She can warn them not to drink, and we'd all get another glass, safer for everyone.
«What happened?» uncle inquires, sensing the mood soon after crossing the door. «Are you all right, Ver... Your Majesty?»
«I am, uncle. Please, sit down. I was waiting for you to have some tea together, but I was almost poisoned. We'll avoid tea for today, all right?»
«Sure,» he mumbles, sitting next to me. His face is so funny.
The maids and Aida are panicking around me. So, the poison must be real. Still, I am rather calm. My reaction is so lame that he can't believe it just yet. He needs some moments to think.
«What are we going to discuss today?» I ask him with a smile.
«Our political orientations and medium-term goals,» he says, sighing again.
The doctor walks in and bows before sitting next to me and analysing my complexion. He can't touch me, so he just observes with a keen eye.
After a while, he nods to himself.
«Your Majesty is healthy,» he declares. «The poison didn't bring any trouble.»
I nod, keeping my expression neutral. I knew as much already, but let this grandpa think he's said something we were all dying to hear.
He just looked at my face!
«I will prepare some leaves for this evening. Your Majesty can drink a decoction before sleep. It will help drain the poison away from your body.»
I nod, even though I can tell from here Aida's intentions: she'll throw the leaves away. And I didn't ingest any poison, to begin with.
The doctor talks with the maids and walks away, finally. When the situation is under control, I order all the servants to leave my uncle and me alone.
If anyone told me I would be this calm after an attempt at my life, I wouldn't have believed them. Yet, here I am.
«What is our political orientation?» I ask my uncle.
«We're going to continue supporting the Bursio family's historical allies. We'll consider international events case after case. And we'll avoid linking too closely with the Church. His Majesty was crowned with the name Aurelius for a reason...»
«It would be suicidal. Also, his Majesty didn't express his opinion on the matter. There's a chance we can interject and make him distance the Crown and the Church.»
«All right.»
«Also, there have been voices that King Aurelius wanted to delete the old decrees allowing the Church to be in control of any court dealing with witches and spellcasters. His Majesty already does want to create a better place for mages. We can exploit his intentions and guide him in this matter.»
«Guide him?» I mutter. Now, he's being much specific. «Do you know something I don't, uncle?»
«Nothing your Majesty doesn't know.»
«But you know about... about that!» I whisper, bowing forward to let him hear me.
«Your father informed me,» uncle replies. He's impassible.
As if finding out his niece is a witch didn't change anything for him.
«We don't really have a choice, do we?» he adds with a shrug.
He's calmer now, focused on the job. He moves some papers, trying to order the topics of our discussion without giving away his real thoughts.
«Your brother will be by my side for most of the time. He will learn how to protect you very soon, and you won't need to deal with poisoning attempts on your own.»
«It will happen often,» I sigh. «But who could it be?»
Someone who knew I would drink a cup of tea as soon as I walked back to the room. Someone familiar with the detail that I wouldn't eat at the tea party.
Someone from the Royal Family, who knows how a Queen is supposed to act.
Could it have been the Queen Dowager?
Oh, but it's hard to imagine her plotting something like this. She could find a better way of dealing with me. And she wouldn't move the day after the coronation, for goodness. She had three whole days before that date to get rid of me.
Moreover, what reason can she have to kill me? She hates Ignis more than anything. Hitting me to wound his soul could be an option, but it sounds simply too stupid for that woman.
I have the impression that her attacks are way, way more dangerous and precise than this one. I believe that the person sending the maid to stain my mantle and the one ordering the poisoning are the same. But it's just an impression.
«What if someone wants to take my place?» I wonder.
Still, it sounds so stupid. Why act now? It has been seven months before I came into the picture. Couldn't whoever is trying to kill me seduce Ignis in all that time?
Oh, it looks like they couldn't.
«For now, we should all keep our profiles low and our heads steady on our shoulders. I'm still reading through the international correspondence, but there are already enough potential enemies waiting at our borders to strike. It would be better to get rid of this internal enemy before it causes more damage... But I don't know how to find them other than investigating the servants.»
«I can work on it,» I say. «There should be a way to lure them out in the open. Once we know who we are fighting, it will be easier to get rid of them.»
«Alba needs stability. The King has too many scandals going on, so we should also provide some good news.»
«Scandals? Oh, now that you remind me... I will work on Ignis's image. We have to make the people love their King. And the nobles fear him enough to respect the Crown.»
«It won't be easy. The situation is already complicated, and it gets worse as time passes. Rumours about his Majesty have been noted in the royal archives, and there is new gossip every day.»
«Every day? And all is bad gossip? How can it be?»
«Actually...»
«Hmm?»
«Well, from the coronation, there's an interesting rumour running in time.»
«Which one?»
«I don't know if you heard it, but people say you tamed the beast. They are liking the idea of a Queen out of nowhere, from the far Narith. And they think you will be able to bring the King to the bright side.»
«That's so stupid. Ignis already is on the bright side!»
«But people don't know it.»
«Not yet. But I'll do my damned best to solve it. He deserves to be known for the wise ruler he's going to become. He's been on the throne a few months only: they should give him some time before judging!»
«And we will help you with that,» uncle accepts. «We will fortify our allies, help the King's reputation, and push back the Church. I think we have enough objectives for the years to come, and we haven't even discussed diplomacy yet.»
Ah, does it have to be this complicated?
Chapter 112: Uncle
Uncle is supposed to visit soon, so I wait for a little while and decide to eat with him at this point.
I've waited hours, a few minutes won't change anything.
As the tea warms down, I heat it up again with my powers. No one is around to notice.
Just as it starts steaming again, a new scent reaches my nose. It's weird, sour and a little rotten.
I step away from the table and open the door, calling for the maids and Aida.
«What happened?» my handmaid asks.
She feels the stink as well, and she drags me out while closing the door behind my back.
«Do not go in there!» she says.
«Is the scent dangerous?»
Aida seems to wake up from the panic and shakes her head.
«No, the scent is not that much,» she sighs.
«There's no need to panic, Aida. I just warmed the water, and it started stinking. I came out immediately.»
«Yes, I see... You're all right, your Highness,» she sighs. She's relieved, a little too much for this small incident.
I wouldn't have been hurt by that poison, most likely. It's not such a dangerous situation. And, also, Queens are attacked all the time... I guess...
«Please, come sit here,» Aida continues, guiding me to a chair.
She's behaving oddly. As if it was the first time we faced an emergency.
«The doctor will be here soon,» Bea informs us, bringing some water. She takes a sip before giving me the rest.
I understand this is the protocol for such cases, but drinking from the same glass as another person... Someone I barely know, at that.
But she's risking her life for me, so I just sigh and finish the water.
«What happened?» uncle inquires, sensing the mood soon after crossing the door. «Are you all right, Ver... Your Majesty?»
«I am, uncle. Please, sit down. I was waiting for you to have some tea together, but I was almost poisoned. We'll avoid tea for today, all right?»
«Sure,» he mumbles, sitting next to me. His face is so funny.
The maids and Aida are panicking around me. So, the poison must be real. Still, I am rather calm. My reaction is so lame that he can't believe it just yet. He needs some moments to think.
«What are we going to discuss today?» I ask him with a smile.
«Our political orientations and medium-term goals,» he says, sighing again.
The doctor walks in and bows before sitting next to me and analysing my complexion. He can't touch me, so he just observes with a keen eye.
After a while, he nods to himself.
«Your Majesty is healthy,» he declares. «The poison didn't bring any trouble.»
I nod, keeping my expression neutral. I knew as much already, but let this grandpa think he's said something we were all dying to hear.
He just looked at my face!
«I will prepare some leaves for this evening. Your Majesty can drink a decoction before sleep. It will help drain the poison away from your body.»
I nod, even though I can tell from here Aida's intentions: she'll throw the leaves away. And I didn't ingest any poison, to begin with.
The doctor talks with the maids and walks away, finally. When the situation is under control, I order all the servants to leave my uncle and me alone.
If anyone told me I would be this calm after an attempt at my life, I wouldn't have believed them. Yet, here I am.
«What is our political orientation?» I ask my uncle.
«We're going to continue supporting the Bursio family's historical allies. We'll consider international events case after case. And we'll avoid linking too closely with the Church. His Majesty was crowned with the name Aurelius for a reason...»
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«We won't support the Church?»«It would be suicidal. Also, his Majesty didn't express his opinion on the matter. There's a chance we can interject and make him distance the Crown and the Church.»
«Also, there have been voices that King Aurelius wanted to delete the old decrees allowing the Church to be in control of any court dealing with witches and spellcasters. His Majesty already does want to create a better place for mages. We can exploit his intentions and guide him in this matter.»
«Guide him?» I mutter. Now, he's being much specific. «Do you know something I don't, uncle?»
«Nothing your Majesty doesn't know.»
«But you know about... about that!» I whisper, bowing forward to let him hear me.
«Your father informed me,» uncle replies. He's impassible.
As if finding out his niece is a witch didn't change anything for him.
«We don't really have a choice, do we?» he adds with a shrug.
He's calmer now, focused on the job. He moves some papers, trying to order the topics of our discussion without giving away his real thoughts.
«Your brother will be by my side for most of the time. He will learn how to protect you very soon, and you won't need to deal with poisoning attempts on your own.»
«It will happen often,» I sigh. «But who could it be?»
Someone who knew I would drink a cup of tea as soon as I walked back to the room. Someone familiar with the detail that I wouldn't eat at the tea party.
Someone from the Royal Family, who knows how a Queen is supposed to act.
Could it have been the Queen Dowager?
Oh, but it's hard to imagine her plotting something like this. She could find a better way of dealing with me. And she wouldn't move the day after the coronation, for goodness. She had three whole days before that date to get rid of me.
Moreover, what reason can she have to kill me? She hates Ignis more than anything. Hitting me to wound his soul could be an option, but it sounds simply too stupid for that woman.
I have the impression that her attacks are way, way more dangerous and precise than this one. I believe that the person sending the maid to stain my mantle and the one ordering the poisoning are the same. But it's just an impression.
«What if someone wants to take my place?» I wonder.
Still, it sounds so stupid. Why act now? It has been seven months before I came into the picture. Couldn't whoever is trying to kill me seduce Ignis in all that time?
Oh, it looks like they couldn't.
«I can work on it,» I say. «There should be a way to lure them out in the open. Once we know who we are fighting, it will be easier to get rid of them.»
«Alba needs stability. The King has too many scandals going on, so we should also provide some good news.»
«Scandals? Oh, now that you remind me... I will work on Ignis's image. We have to make the people love their King. And the nobles fear him enough to respect the Crown.»
«It won't be easy. The situation is already complicated, and it gets worse as time passes. Rumours about his Majesty have been noted in the royal archives, and there is new gossip every day.»
«Every day? And all is bad gossip? How can it be?»
«Actually...»
«Hmm?»
«Well, from the coronation, there's an interesting rumour running in time.»
«Which one?»
«I don't know if you heard it, but people say you tamed the beast. They are liking the idea of a Queen out of nowhere, from the far Narith. And they think you will be able to bring the King to the bright side.»
«That's so stupid. Ignis already is on the bright side!»
«But people don't know it.»
«Not yet. But I'll do my damned best to solve it. He deserves to be known for the wise ruler he's going to become. He's been on the throne a few months only: they should give him some time before judging!»
«And we will help you with that,» uncle accepts. «We will fortify our allies, help the King's reputation, and push back the Church. I think we have enough objectives for the years to come, and we haven't even discussed diplomacy yet.»
Ah, does it have to be this complicated?
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