One Month Later – Royal Garden
The royal garden blood in full glory as spring deepened its hold over the royal city.The soft clinking of goblets, polite laughter, and the rustling of silks wove through the trimd hedges and rose-laced paths. Queen Anastasia sat at the head of a long table beneath a white pavilion, her back straight, her smile effortless. Today, she was hosting the noble ladies of the court, a gesture ant to display unity and peace, though her heart stirred with unease.
Beneath the surface of laughter and wine, her mind wandered to Dorothy. A month had passed since Gavin brought word of the secret eting, and although nothing else had occurred, the silence only deepened her suspicion.
Miss Magdalene had returned with a report. The nas Dorothy asked for matched those of apothecaries and junior aides—people with access to herbs, roots, and mixtures potent enough to be used in rituals or poisons. But Magdalene found nothing that could be used to guess Dorothy’s plan.
Alden had reported all Miss Magdalene’s activities. She did not seem to had done anything to betray the queen.
She smiled as Lady Isabel complinted the garden layout. "The roses this year seem to understand the aning of elegance," Isabel said.
"Their timing is rather perfect," Anastasia replied graciously.
But even as she spoke, she saw a servant slip through the trees in the distance; a flash of blue linen and hurried steps. It was Rosa, returning early.
Because she did not have many people she can trust, she sent Rosa to collect news from Gavin. Anastasia was worried that, if Gavin ca himself to report sothing, then he might miss out of other possible clues. Now that Dorothy was back to the palace it was best to have Rosa receive news. This way, Gavin would be close by to keep an eye on Dorothy.
Rosa bowed slightly at the edge of the gathering, and Anastasia, masking her expression, rose from her seat with practiced nobility. "Ladies, please enjoy the sweetcakes. I must excuse myself just briefly."
She walked with grace until she was out of sight, then turned to Rosa sharply.
"What happened?"
Rosa bowed low, her voice hushed and urgent. "Your Majesty... the nanny by Dorothy’s side was spotted entering the old ruins near the east city wall just after dawn two days ago. A guard close to Gavin saw her hand over a parcel to a man dressed in robes... robes resembling those of the Old Gods’ priesthood."
Anastasia’s breath caught. They had their eyes on Dorothy and forgot about the people around her. This had been an oversight on her side. She thought that since Dorothy was sneaking around she did not have trusted people around her but the nanny’s movent was strange and they only found out two days later "Was it the sa man Dorothy had t before?" she asked.
"Its should be, Gavin asked the guard to discribe him. Their future seems to match.
"And the items?" Anastasia asked. She felt that this might have the clue she had been looking for.
"Gavin believe it might be everything the man had on the list he handed over to Dorothy before, if it was the sa man. This guard had not paid enough attention to the situation at that ti," Rosa answered.
Anastasia turned away slightly, her gaze falling on the blooming red lilies that bordered the hedge. "anything else?."
Rosa reported other less urgent things. Like the king visit to Dorothy courtyard once every week and even spreading two night. Dorothy was now more than five months pregnant and the royal physicians predict that she was most likely going to birth a son.
"Find Gavin. Tell him I want eyes on Dorothy at all tis. If he can, he should try to get his hand on the list in Dorothy’s hand. Most importantly, he should find a guard he can trust to keep an eye on that nanny and everyone else close to her," Anastasia instructed. She was worried that she might miss sothing important if she did not look closely to everyone close to the situation."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Rosa hurried off again.
Anastasia looked to the heavens, the soft wind brushing her cheek. After hearing that Dorothy was connected to a priest of the old gods. Anastasia had read a few history books about their worship. Most ti a priest asked for items to perform a ritual.
If this was the case, a ritual might have started two days ago. Anastasia could not say how it would unfold or what the seer truly wanted. But she could no longer afford to believe this was harmless ambition.
Especially since Gavin had heard them ntion "wearing the crown" Anastasia was certain that whatever was coming was aid at her.
She wanted the list that was handed over to Dorothy by the seer to guess their purpose. Taking a deep breath she returned to join the other noble ladies with a smile.
That night Anastasia could not sleep, so she headed to the chapel to pray. She did not believe in the old gods, so she could only turn to her God for protection as she was unsure of the plan of Dorothy.
The next morning when Dorothy return to the main palace, Rosa inford her day Gavin had sent a ssage back last at night.
"Your majesty, he managed to pay a maid by her side to copy the content of the list," as she spoke she handed over the paper to Anastasia.
Anastasia had dark circles around her eyes. She had spent the enire night praying. Not just because she want God to protect her but because she was also scared of having nightmares.
Anastasia reached out and collect the paper, "How did he get it so soon?" She raised her brows a bit doubtful.
"Gavin said he has been trying to get his hand in the list for a while now. Is just that ’she’ has been very careful with it but last night she was in a good mood and beca a bit careless giving the maid a chance," Rosa answered.
Anastasia nods, even though she was looking at the paper she had no idea what this tis were used for. There was no rare herbs in the list. They were all very common. Even three sheep and a white dove was included in the list. Dorothy was now certain that this list was used to get items for ritual but she was not sure which ritual.
She fold the paper, "as the servants to prepare my bath, I will head over to the royal library after breakfast," Anastasia made up her mind. She wanted to find more information about the ritual of the old gods.
Rosa looked at Anastasia who did not seem to have slept the previous night. She wanted to ask her to rest but thinking about how the king had spent the enire night with his mistress yesterday while he had not visited the queen’s chamber for two months she swallowed those words.
Rosa was not a fool, she knew that the queen was doing everything to protect herself.
"Yes, your majesty," Rosa bowed and turned to leave but Anastasia’s question paused her movent. "Why was she in a good mood last night?"
Rosa swallowed, she did not say it because she did not want her mistress to be sad but now that she asked she also did not dare to keep it away from her.
"His majesty spent the night in her courtyard," Rosa answered.
Anastasia paused, the king had been visiting Dorothy often but he did not spend the night. No matter how indifferent she felt towards the king this news still made her uncomfortable.
She lowered her head to hide her feelings. "Get everything ready. Tell Grater and magdalene. We leave for the library after breakfast," she said in a calm voice.
Then she copy the list using her left hand. She had no plans of implicating herself or the maid that copied out the note.
She had no idea what kind of ritual this item was used for, so she plan to ask the servants in the library for help. After all, the more people who helped her find a book the faster she could find out about the ritual.
After breakfast, Anastasia left with Rosa, Grater and Miss Madalege to look at books written about the old gods and so of the ritual connected to it.
The people in the library were not surprised to see her. After all, sincere marrying into the royal family she has visited the library many tis. Their only surprise was that she had so many people accompany her this ti.
And and her group started looking for books about the old gods customs and ritual. Anastasia also asked the workers in the library to help search out the book.
Even with so many people to check they check for such a long ti without finding any ritual to that use the items on the paper.
"Your majesty, if you want to learn about the ritual of the old gods, I suggest you visit the old gods temple. My ntor told that most books of that nature was kept there since the kingdom no longer worship the old gods," a book Steward suggested.
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