Chapter 37: Cunning Spiteful Queen
~Arika's POV~
The name attached to her soul…
The question the queen asked was one of the few questions Arika couldn't lie about. If she were to lie, she would be denying the existence of her very soul, which meant she would cease to exist.
Though that phrase was something normally kept within the Purcell family. It likely slipped out to few higher-ranking royals.
"You must have deeper connections to my family than I originally thought." Arika kept her hands on her lap as she forced a brave face. "You got me. The soul attached to my name is… Arika Purcell. Late princess of the Gardenia Kingdom…"
To her surprise, the queen no longer had a smug look. She looked sick to her stomach as a frown creased her face. Ivy had her hands over her mouth as she trembled by the queen's side.
"I had my suspicions, but hearing this…" she spoke before slamming her fist on the table. "To bring back the dead is one thing, but to revive your daughter to act as the other!? That monster is more insane than I could imagine…" She glared at her cup as she muttered more words to herself.
Ivy took a few steps back as she stared at Arika with a look of horror. "S-Sibylla? What is she talking about?" she asked while placing a hand on the back of the queen's chair to stabilizer herself.
Julianna stood up from her chair and helped Ivy sit down. "Deep breathes, dear Ivy," she instructed while the poor girl tried calming herself down.
Arika was the one who should be panicking. With the secret now out between two snapdragons who were close to Sin-Vira. This wasn't how she expected the meeting with the queen to go. To be exposed so soon, made her wish she never met any of them.
With a sigh, Arika rest her elbows on the table and dropped the act entirely. "My real name isn't Sibylla. It really is Arika. The deceased daughter who shouldn't be around. Yet, here I am…"
"The dead can't come back! This isn't funny!" Ivy shouted as she glared at Arika. Her eyes were filled with tears, though she didn't know why Ivy was so upset by it. At most, the two of them were strangers.
Julianna placed her hand on Ivy's shoulder. "It might be best to just show her. If Ivy is meant to protect my son, it's better if she knew the danger your family brings."
Her tone was heartless. Arika knew she just wanted Ivy to keep Sin-Vira away from her. After all, no monster had the right to be with someone who deserved much better.
"While there is no known way to bring the dead back, the Purcell family was gifted the ability to bring the souls of the deceased back. So long as they meet the proper requirements…" Arika carefully pulled her stained glove off and kept it on her lap. The moment she pulled her arm up to show her doll-like joints, there would be no going back. Getting revenge was the last thing she wanted before death, but the cunning eyes of a spiteful queen beat her to it.
"If a soul isn't shattered from their sins, they remember their real name and are assigned a duty to fulfill–" Arika raised her hand to Ivy. "You can attach the soul to a vessel and make them alive once again. I was brought back in the form of a doll resembling my sister. With the order to find my sister a partner to marry. She's too weak to leave on her own, so this is the sole reason I am here now. Oh, the pun was intended!" she giggled.
Ivy carefully reached out and held Arika's hand. Running her thin, trembling fingers along the joints. "Y-you're really… Princess Arika? This is remarkable…" she spoke in shock. The poor thing seemed close to falling over.
"Yes. She is. You mentioned your duty to fulfill. Does this mean you aren't the one marrying my son?" Julianna asked as her brows furrowed.
Arika held Ivy's hand with a small smile. "Correct." She nodded. Though confessing it out loud made her own eyes fill up with tears. "Truth is, your son's plan was something I came up with. My dad never cared about me, even after dying. All he cared about was my good for nothing sister and your mines…" she used her other hand to wipe her tears away. "S-so… I convinced Vira to marry me. So that he could get have a say in removing the guards and freeing your residents from their suffering. This was the only way I could think of to get back at my bastard of a father…" Arika felt more tears flow out as the guilt gripped her soul.
She heard Julianna click her tongue. "He's incompetent till the end. At the start he was already deceived by the enemy…" she muttered with disgust. "Since you mentioned your true intentions, I've lost the urge to kill you. But still, marrying my son off to that spoiled brat is far worse."
Arika flinched when she felt something wipe along her eyelid. When she looked up, she saw it was Ivy wiping them away with a cloth. She was smiling with the corners of her lips shaking.
"Does Vira know about this?" Ivy asked in a gentle voice. She still seemed shaken up.
"I haven't. Nor do I plan on it. I know it's wrong, but this relationship was built on the foundation of an agreement, not love. We wanted to free your kingdom from my father. Him knowing will only complicate things." Arika pulled her hand back and sighed. "He's very sweet and caring even when he shouldn't be towards me. So it's better if he doesn't know the real me and what will soon happen…"
The queen nodded her head in approval. Tucking a long strand of her jet black hair behind her ear. "So long as you aren't lying about your feelings towards him and your true goal, I'll approve of your marriage and keep this a secret."
Ivy sheepishly looked between the two before sighing in defeat. "I will stay quiet as well… but please think about Prince Sin-Vira's feelings as well…"
Queen Julianna waved her hand dismissively. "No, don't bother. Arika is correct. If he knows it'll make things complicated. It's better if he remains ignorant ." She glanced towards the window and Arika followed her gaze.
The rain was still pouring down and the clouds were thick enough to make it appear dark out. There were even low rumbles of thunder. The weather was only getting nastier as the day progressed.
With a deep sigh, Arika stood up. "Thanks for making my life harder, your majesty. Since everything's already out, I'm leaving." Arika spoke in a sarcastic tone as she stood from her seat and slid her glove back on. "There's tea in my left foot, poisoned chocolate in my right, and more now know about who I really am…" she mumbled as she walked towards the door.
She could hear a chair creaking back followed by quick footsteps. "Lady Sibylla. Please allow me to escort you to the prince," She offered with a kind smile.
Arika smiled back. "You make it sound so natural. Please lead the way." She gestured towards the door. She took a final look back at the queen who was already sitting in her chair. "Even if I won't be the one marrying him, I will protect Sin-Vira until the end. That much I can promise…"
The queen looked up at her with a weary smile. "We'll see."