17 Traitor!

MEANWHILE, in the Queen's Royal Quarters of the Castle...

Queen Athena had shrieked from fear when the encroaching darkness did lurk within the Castle walls. The loud desperate cries she had heard of the (now-confirmed deceased) men-in-royal-service, had felt like they had sniffed in their last breaths.

This mindful revelation had done nothing to pacify her of being afraid, but instead caused her to freeze and lose her skin's colour.

In her luck, she was not alone at this time or else she would have lost her mind altogether. Instead, the court lady, Sigrid had been by her side all along encouraging her that the storm was soon to pass.

Along with Sigrid, were the other maids of royal honour, who were also under the umbrella of serving the Queen, for which they felt utmost gratitude about.

Prior to the unfolding darkness, the queen had sent for her care-givers, her court lady and the others to source out a means of reviving her sour mood which had come about, from learning that the demon son had been her late husband's choice of a successor to rule in his stead.

"Traitor!" Queen Athena had blurted more than one time, leaving Sigrid at a loss on whom her lady was referring to.

An hour had passed, and her majesty had dismissed the services of her royal handmaids to have a private moment with a certain guest of nobility; her brother, the Duke.

Duke Wauter who was clad in his noble apparel continued to pace about, within the queen's royal space while he deliberated on many thoughts. Wauter was a man of few actual words, but one of many twisted words. Thus, making him a perfect alliance with his sister, the queen and also a dreaded force to reckon with among the majority of the aristocrats.

"Brother, can you see the burden my late husband has left in my care? He has let out the kingdom we both fought so hard to restore back to its former vigour and glory... he has traded us off to the Yonder realm while he rests on easy in his deep sleep," cried the queen to her brother's hearing.

Wauter let out a sigh as he looked upon his sister saying nothing at first.

"Do not keep me silent, this one time, brother, for I am about to lose it. Firstly, that sly man that I let myself get married to, stole the chance to make his demon son, king and cast his true heir Aldrich aside. Was it not a minute long before the darkness prevailed?" asked Athena to her brother.

Then, said Wauter...

"It is indeed as you have said, my queen."

Next, Athena rose herself up and fiercely pulled the length of her royal garment behind her as she strode closer to her brother.

"Then, tell me, brother? Is it not enough argument to lay before the next meeting with the aristocrats? If not, then what about the men who you told me were littered about the castle hallways? Isn't that enough as well?" questioned the queen.

While she thought...

'In truth the darkness had been unplanned but with the current situation shall we not use it to our advantage and have Briceus dethroned and his brother, my son, replace him instead? That is the way it should be indeed!' concluded Athena in her thoughts.

Wauter looked on, at his sister for a bit while he processed his own thoughts and gave into his logic...

It is true that I detest that Briceus of a boy, but this is not the right argument to present before the parliament. However, I am too intelligent for this. A solid evidence is required. Thought Wauter.

Next, he parted his lips to speak.

"My queen... wisdom is demanded lest we plan amiss. I propose an actual evidence. The matter of the rift in the veil which separates our world from the yonder realm is not enough argument, and-"

"What! Not enough argument?" charged Athena at her brother.

She was really at the verge of rending her garment by this time.

"My queen, refrain your temper. We will find a way. Not this one. It can easily be waved aside as a mere coincidence," concluded the Duke.

However, the Queen's face had become swollen with rage. She detested not being in totalitarian control.

Why rely on those low-lives? She thought. What do they know about a fair judgement? Bloody aristocrats!

TAP! TAP!

A knock was heard on the door of her majesty's private area.

Wauter was the one to speak.

"Who is it?"

At the other side of the door, the prince knew whose voice he had just heard. Thus, he let his audible words saunter over the barrier to the noble ones at the other side of the door.

"Uncle! Mother! It is I... Prince Aldrich."

Quickly, Wauter bellowed for his nephew to make his way in.

"Then, by all means come in, milord," ordered Wauter.

Aldrich, knowing his mother well, hesitated at first.

"Mother! I am not alone! I have come with someone. He has news to bear!" revealed the prince.

Athena looked on at her brother for a split second as if she were asking his permission. Their eyes communicated and Athena went further to speak.

"Come in with your guest, my prince," demanded the queen.

Without hesitation, Aldrich pushed open the door, and walked right in with his informant strutting behind him.

Once they had gotten a reasonable distance, in proximity to the queen, the informant fell on one knee and paid obeisance to her majesty.

"Her ladyship! I am but your humble servant. I have no business to be where you are, and breathe the same air you breathe, my queen," cried the informant.

His words entranced the queen, as she soon curled her delicate lips into a heart-warming smile.

Athena enjoyed such appraisals. More so since it was coming from a knight of nobility.

"Rise, sensible knight! The queen will behold you, and all you have to say," said Wauter to the knight.

"Thank you for your kindness, wise Duke," said the informant, and he stood up on his two feet, still at a distance from the Royals.

Prince Aldrich reached out to his mother and positioned her delicate and exquisite hands which were white as snow, in his own hands. This he did and proceeded to smoothen her hands with his equally tender palms.

Athena loved Aldrich the most when he did this to her, and usually when he had thought up a plan.

"Mother... I wouldn't want you to grow weary of standing and your limbs to fail you. Come, let me lead you on to your seat while he tells you all he has to say."

Athena smiled, and let her son walk her to a comfortable sitting spot which was perfectly endowed above with bright-coloured drapes and the very rudiments of Royal comfort.

Once seated, Aldrich turned to his informant who was standing but still had his head bowed.

"Lift your head, loyal knight and inform the queen with as much as you have fed my ears with," instructed the prince.

However, the Duke was curious about one thing.

Turning to the Knight, he asked a question.

"What is your name?"

Aldrich cowered in his heart at his own foolishness. How could he have forgotten to ask such a basic question, himself?

Instantly, he got his act together and decided to let it go.

Then, the knight went on to reveal his identity before the Royals in whose presence he stood.

He parted his hard lips, and let out the words.

"My name is Maxim, milord."