"What?! Islinda is in the palace?!" Queen Victoria shouted, losing control of the arrow she was shooting. There was a slight commotion as the arrow veered off course, heading straight for the Fae officiating the ga.
Gasps filled the air as the arrow neared the terrified Fae, but Queen Victoria quickly recovered, using her wind ability to redirect its path. The arrow smacked into a nearby target with a thud, narrowly avoiding a disaster. The officiating Fae fainted on the spot, overwheld by the near miss.
"Sorry," Queen Victoria muttered, an embarrassing blush coloring her cheeks. She then turned to scowl at her son, Andre, who had delivered the shocking news. "You shouldn’t have given such news at a ti like this!" she snapped.
Andre bowed his head slightly, "Apologies mother, I didn’t think the small news would bother you like this."
"It didn’t bother , it only took by surprise." She said through gritted teeth.
"Well sorry." Andre shrugged.
"Why are you telling this anyway?" Queen Victoria said, nocking another arrow and aiming to fire, her heart pounding.
"Don’t I usually tell you things?" Andre winked, trying to get back into her good graces.
Queen Victoria gave him a look, her eyebrow arched. "Really?"
"Well...I-I.... Just.... you know... " Andre began to splutter, unable to co up with a positive answer. "Fine, you win." he gave up with a final sigh.
Queen Victoria snorted, releasing the arrow with a swift, practiced motion. It hit the target dead center, a clear sign of her skill and control.
She said with a bit of grievance. "One would think that having a spymaster as a son, that she would be privy to so of her husband’s friends’ secrets, but no, I have a tight-lipped son. What a waste." She exaggerated her grievance.
Andre nudged his mother playfully, a hint of a smile playing across his lips. "You do know I have no choice, right? That’s the reason why father trusts with his secret. He knows I would never divulge it to the one I love the most and that’s you."
Whatever little grievance Queen Victoria had towards Andre lted away at his words, yet she pretended to still be angry with him. She couldn’t make this easy for him.
But to her surprise, Andre bends down and kisses her on the cheek since he was taller. The gesture took her unexpectedly and she had to blink twice to confirm that just happened. However, a blush quickly warms her cheek.
"Behave! Or I might really shoot you! Don’t distract when I’m with a weapon." She warned him, trying so hard to hide her red cheeks. This son of hers would be the death of her.
Queen Victoria released the arrow and hit a perfect target, delighted at the result. She was about to aim her next shot when Andre said, "So..?" "So... what?" She retorted, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Is your co-wives up to anything?" Andre inquired and the shock of the question had the arrow slipping from her hand and hitting the the lowest target.
Andre, standing nearby, watched her with a curious expression. As she focused on her next shot, he broke the silence. "So..?" he began, his tone casual but probing.
"So... what?" she retorted, her attention still on the target as she tried to maintain her concentration.
"Is your co-wives up to anything?" Andre inquired.
The question was unexpected and intrusive, and the shock of it made her falter. The arrow slipped from her hand and flew erratically, hitting the lowest part of the target with a dull thud.
Queen Victoria turned to Andre, her eyes narrowing in a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"You’re not here to see , you’re here for information," she observed, her voice steady and penetrating.
Andre laughed nervously, attempting to deflect her accusation. "Of course, I ca to see you -"
"Don’t think of playing for a fool," she warned, her eyes narrowing as she saw through his weak attempt at deception.
Andre’s deanor shifted instantly. His face grew serious, and he said, "You’re flustered. I can feel your heartbeat pounding from this point."
"Don’t scrutinize ," she warned him.
Despite her clear admonition, Andre pressed on, undeterred. "Do you know if Queen Nirvana and Maeve are up to no good? They have their sources, and I’m sure they must know Islinda is already in the palace. If they plan anything bad against Islinda, then I have to know. Father has tasked with her safety."
"You can be assured that your Islinda is safe at the castle tonight, and I have no idea if they’re planning anything." She emphasized "tonight," aware that the true plan was for tomorrow. She could not afford to lie outright but chose her words carefully.
Andre’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized his mother. "Are you sure, mother? You really are not in cahoots with them?"
"We’ll talk when you’re ready to see your mother and not to investigate her," she said firmly.
Without waiting for a response, Queen Victoria turned back to her archery practice, drawing an arrow from her quiver and focusing on the target ahead.
Andre watched her for a mont, his suspicion gnawing at him. He was convinced his mother was involved in sothing, likely drawn into one of the other wives’ sches. It was a familiar pattern, one he had seen unfold many tis before.
Realizing that his mother was not going to divulge any more information, Andre sighed in resignation. Her posture remained unyielding, her focus entirely on the target as she released another arrow, which flew straight and true.
Defeated for now, Andre turned and walked away, the sound of another arrow hitting the target echoed behind him as he exited.
When Andre left, Queen Victoria finally turned around with a remorseful expression. She wished she could help him, but her hands were tied this ti. Now, she would have to warn her co-wives to be careful with the plans tomorrow. Her son was unto them.
Islinda could not die.
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