The entire room was suspended in shock at Queen Victoria’s uncharacteristic outburst. The Autumn Queen, usually known for her calm and collected deanor, had just landed a verbal blow against Queen Maeve, one that resonated with everyone present.
The air thickened, and the tension was palpable. Ministers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, so dabbing beads of sweat forming on their foreheads as the heat in the room seed to rise with the intensity of the confrontation.
Queen Maeve’s lips pressed into a thin line, her fists balled at her sides. The insult stung deeper than she wanted to admit. Victoria’s words were a stark reminder that her position, once untouchable as the Fae Queen, had crumbled. Still, she wouldn’t let them see her falter.
Before Maeve could respond, Prince Valerie, seated at his father’s throne, stepped in, his voice slicing through the charged atmosphere.
"That’s enough!" His tone carried the authority of soone who expected to be obeyed. His disdainful gaze flicked between Queen Nirvana and Queen Victoria. "You wonder why you weren’t invited to this eting? Right now, you’re proving exactly why we chose to leave you out."
Queen Nirvana’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her posture rigid as she spat back, "Shut up, you insolent child!"
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the hall. The nerve of Queen Nirvana, addressing Prince Valerie in such a manner, was almost incomprehensible.
"How dare you speak to that way?
This isn’t the first ti the kingdom of Astaria has been thrown into chaos. We’ve managed just fine, long before you were even born. Yet here you are, daring to assu power after a single attack on Oberon?"
Valerie’s jaw clenched as he stood taller, his voice sharp as he retorted, "It was not a small attack. My father nearly died!"
"And yet you refuse to let anyone see him. Not even his trusted advisor, Lennox," Queen Nirvana countered, her voice dripping with accusation. "What are you hiding?"
She laughed bitterly, the sound laced with suspicion. "You think no one notices? You’ve kept your father locked away, making decisions in his stead. Now the ministers, the people, will begin to wonder why."
Her words hit Valerie like a punch to the gut. He hadn’t anticipated Nirvana would make such a direct accusation in front of the court. Valerie felt the eyes of the room turn toward him, suspicion thickening in the air. For a brief mont, he felt fear inch its way into his chest.But he couldn’t afford to falter. Not now.
Regaining his composure, Valerie responded coldly, "I received a report from the battlefield," he said, letting his words hang for a mont. "The General believes soone intentionally brought down the barrier that protected Astaria. Soone incredibly powerful—and possibly a mber of the royal family."
The reaction was instantaneous. Ministers gasped audibly, their shock evident as they exchanged fearful glances. The idea that soone within the royal family could be responsible for such devastation was too shocking to comprehend.
Nirvana’s smirk faltered. Valerie had successfully turned the tide, directing the suspicion away from him.
"So excuse if I don’t trust anyone near my father. Not even his most trusted advisor."
For a brief mont, silence reigned. The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, their minds whirling with the potential treachery lurking within the palace.
Queen Nirvana blinked, recovering from her initial shock. She hadn’t expected Valerie to deflect so skillfully. But her suspicion deepened.
"A mber of the royal family, you say? What if that mber is you or your mother? What if you’re the one trying to keep everyone away from Oberon, so you can finish what you started?"
Valerie’s eyes widened for a second, his pulse quickening. Queen Nirvana had struck at the heart of his darkest fears—that people might believe he orchestrated the attack for his gain.
Seeing Valerie’s reaction, Queen Nirvana pressed on, her voice fierce, "Who stands to gain the most from Oberon’s death? You, Valerie. You were always threatened by Aldric’s rise in power, fearful that he would one day take what you believed to be yours. Now, with Oberon out of the way, you think you can sit on the throne unchallenged."
The ntion of Aldric sent a flicker of discomfort across Valerie’s face. The rivalry between the two princes had been no secret, and Nirvana knew it well. She was stoking the flas, pushing Valerie into a corner.
Queen Maeve, unable to contain herself any longer, sprang to her feet. "Queen Nirvana!" she barked, her voice trembling with rage. "How dare you accuse my son of such treachery? You have no proof—"
But Valerie silenced her with a raised hand. His eyes never left Nirvana’s, and he slowly stepped down from the dais. The room held its breath, the tension unbearable as he approached her. Each step he took seed to echo in the silence, his presence looming larger with each pace.
When he finally stood before her, he did sothing no one expected. He laughed. It was a cold, cruel sound that filled the grand hall.
His laughter finally subsided, and his voice dripped with icy malice. "In case you’ve forgotten, I am next in line to the throne. It was always only a matter of ti until I sat there." His gaze flicked over the ministers, making sure they heard every word. "And in case it wasn’t clear enough, I beat Aldric in that fight. He surrendered. He’s been power-shad in Astaria. So if anyone here is suspicious, it’s you desperately trying to drag my na through the mud."
Valerie’s words lingered in the air, a stark reminder of his victory and his unchallenged claim to the throne. His eyes flicked back to the ministers, his voice steady as he declared, "This eting is over. We will reconvene when the situation demands it."
With that, he turned on his heel, ready to leave. But Queen Nirvana wasn’t finished. Her voice wavered as she reached out, her hand grasping his arm. "Please, Valerie," she implored, her tone softer now, "just let Theodore see his father. If Oberon’s injuries are as grave as you say, maybe he can heal him."
Valerie’s gaze turned to ice as he looked at her. "You overestimate your son’s importance here." He yanked his arm free and strode out of the room without a backward glance.
Queen Maeve followed him, her face alight with smug satisfaction as she passed by the two queens. Without a word, she left the room, leaving Nirvana and Victoria standing in the middle of the hall, their power slipping through their fingers.
Reviews
All reviews (0)