Judge people's characters
"Regina tell me everything that happened in the throne room today has nothing to do with you," the king asked calmly. He wanted to get mad and shout at her but he blamed himself. How could he be stupid enough to call out his daughter in a throne room.
Even if she was guilty, as the head of the family he was supposed to deal with it privately. He was so carried away by his emotions that he opened the Vail of his family to the entire court.
He has always believed and proven that any family free of mistress and concubines was very peaceful. A lot of women praised him. How could he still hold his head high when it was revealed today that the royal family was not at peace like it seems. Princess Ellen even declared that her life was not safe in the Palace. This goes on to confirm the rumors.
"Your majesty how could you ask me that. I have been Ellen's mother since her birth. Are you doubting me simply because I did not give birth to her?" Queen Regina asked in a choked-up voice. Tears were raining down her elegant cheeks and she looked nothing like the pure Queen that sat beside the king some moments ago. She looked deeply hurt and wronged by the king's question.
She knew she made the biggest mistake today. For the first time in the last twenty-five years, she had made the wrong move. If the king finds out that she had really tried to ruin the princess's reputation he would reject her.
Over the years she has built an image of a nice and graceful Queen. If that image is destroyed there will be no place left for her in the kingdom to hid her face. Many of the noble ladies envy her. But she knew they will all throw dirt at her when she falls from her status as the Queen.
King George looked at her. He could not tell if she was telling the truth or not. Somehow the outburst of Ellen this morning made him feel like the Queen was lying but he had watched Regina for years and she has been a very nice Queen. Moreover, the king pride himself in his ability to judge people's character, how could he come to terms with the fact that he was wrong.
"Your majesty I think someone is sowing a seed of discord among us. Someone must have been feeding Princess Ellen with false stories. Think about it your majesty, how did she find out I was not her mother," Queen Regina stated still sobbing. She had confidently made this point because it skipped her mind that she once told the princess four years ago that she was not her mother.
That incident had been a slip of the tongue and she has long forgotten all about it because Ellen never made trouble about it.
The king hearing his wife paused and thought of her words. She made a lot of sense, after all some members of the court might be interested in his throne. It was easier to destroy the royal family from inside.
King George walked away from the Queen without saying anything, he orders his guard to bring the maid who had boldly accuse the princess falsely.
The maid was about to escape from the back of the palace when the guards caught her. Queen Regina had no plans to keep her alive but the Palace was heavily guided and her trusted guard was having troubles sneaking her out of the dungeon.
He could have killed her in the Palace using poison but one of the king's guards was the one who led her out of the court. Luckily after a few minutes, the guard had left, so the Queen's guard sneaked in to let her out of the cell in disguise of escaping her unfortunately the king guard caught up with them before they made it out.
Once the Queen guard discovered that the king's men were after them, he immediately escaped from their sight.
He knew first hand that if he was caught with her the both of them and the Queen will be done for.
He immediately made his way to inform the Queen.
"My Queen, the king's guards were after us, there was no time to carry out your full orders. If I got caught by the king's guard there will be no escape. The princess already suspects you, so I just did my best to escape," he explained.
" You did the right thing. Don't worry you will get your reward later," Queen Regina replied with a smile.
The guard bow and left the Queen's present. Regina bows her fist, once he was out of sight. It was a good thing her personal guard did not get caught by the king. She might be able to fool the king that the maid is lying if she decides to speak out but once her personal guard got involved that would spell her doom. She knew the king was already doubting her sincerity, so she needs to act accordingly in the coming days.
....
The maid was dragged to the throne room where the entire royal family was already seated.
The kingsmen had tried to get her to speak but the maid remained stubborn. Ellen looked at her maid and shook her head. Before today she usually wonders why the maid will betray her but now she understands everything.
Earlier, after the court hearing, Ellen was sure that the Queen will make a move, so she sent her personal guard to go to the dungeon and find out what will become of the maid.
It was during that time that the guard found out that the maid had a son, who the Queen has held captive as bait to her loyalty.
Once Ellen's guard heard this information, he had gone to the underground dungeon to find the maid's son. And as expected the Queen locked the young man there.
He returned to inform the princess who ordered him to rescue the son. Well, she was happy to learn the way to buy the servant's full loyalty but she was hoping to use the same blackmail to find out any of the Queen's secrets that may be in possession of the maid.
"As your king, I give you the last chance to tell me what you know or you would be put to death," King George threatened. The maid was scared but to protect her son she remained mute.
Queen Regina felt relieved. If she had not held onto a priced possession of the maid, she was sure the woman would have spilled the Bea already. Especially with the pressure coming from the king.
when the king was about to give the next instruction, Ellen beat him to it.
"Father, since the maid tried to framed me, can you give me the honor to choose her punishment," she asked.