Chapter 39

There was a long astonished silence before a slow hush of murmurs erupted around us. I couldn't help my small gasp of surprise, mostly at the force at which her cane hit the floor than the actual revelation.

The late kings mother was regarded as a monarch in place of the crown prince and I had always assumed that even if the prince were to ascend the situation wouldn't change. Because she had something the crown prince would never have. She had the people's trust.

"Line up!" She commanded and everyone scurried into a straight line, some maintained grace while a few stumbled.

I realised I should have stumbled, even if it were on purpose, but somehow I couldn't put up a performance in front of the dowager queen. She was as terrifying as Jules could be, but she had an air of authority and duty that made me feel like she could see through even the whitest of deceptions.

"You" she lifted her cane, pointing it towards the girl at the very right of the line. I couldn't tell who it was and I didn't have the courage to look.

"It is an honour to stand before, Your majesty. I am Lady Hue, daughter of Rubeus Hue".

"Rubeus' daughter, Hm? And what could you offer as queen?" Her question held enough mockery to petrify me.

If a person of such status were to say that to someone…

"What could I offer?" The unsureness of Lasy Hues voice resonated with all of us, "I am skilled with my speech, your majesty. Mother says I can make"-

"I did not ask for stories, Lady Hue" the rigid ness of the Dowagers words made me look up for a moment. Just to see how she looked as she said the words. What expression did she wear? Surely an angry one. But her face was passive. No sign of aggression. "Tell me what you can offer this country that makes you different?"

What makes her different?

"I promise to- I promise to uphold the laws of Grandor. To be the best example of a queen to her citizens- the epitome of a queen" she stumbled over her words, but her courage was commendable. I might have clapped had I not been terrified.

I couldn't help a glance at the prince. Jules bangs hung lopsided as he rested his cheek on his fist and lazily crossed his legs. He looked like a spoiled child.

He opened his closed eyes and our eyes immediately met. It was almost as if he was staring at me before he had even opened those eye lids. His lips spread into a grin, showing off a set of white teeth. I didn't smile back. I could not. But he knew that. That was why he smiled.

I looked away, noticing that the queen moved onto another Lady. Again that same question.

"What could you offer this country?"

How could I even reply to that? What was the worst response. I tried to listen to what others said, trying to see the moment a frown might flutter across the dowager queens stony face. But nobody gave a response that would have you frowning.

Lady Willow had said:

"I would uphold the duties of a queen and be a great example" but she said it with such poise and confidence it somehow meant so much more than when Lady Hue said the exact same thing.

Everyone had said the exact same thing if it had to be summarised, but it was how they worded it or spoke it that truly determined how they presented it.

Should I follow suit? Say that I aim to be a queen everyone admires? Even while knowing fully the public would scrutinise my every breath?

When the hilt of that staff finally rested my way did I find myself looking straight into grey eyes that must have once been obsidian. The lines of her lips lifting while I lowered my gaze and curtsied.

"What is your name, commoner?"

I flinched at the title. The way she lay it flat out that I was unlike the others. That I had no title to offer and so little prestige.

"Lady Colter, daughter of Adam Colter" I replied with the same voice I used when dealing with the men who frowned down at me in negotiations.

"Adam Colter, the freight boy?" She hummed as if my father was so insignificant. It made my throat burn to hear such words belittling the man I would always look up to, "Then, if it's worth it, tell me what you offer this country?"

Her words made me freeze.

If I answered like the other ladies then would it be insulting? A noble could be at the liberty of not upholding duties because when they do they shine like the sun on a winter morning, but a commoner… a commoner should at least uphold so much to be even viewed as a third class citizen.

I had to answer carefully regardless because my business may be at stake. Nobody stood in the dowagers way. It was a very stupid thing to do.

"I promise…" I began and but my lip before making up my mind, "I promise to aid Grandor in the coming changes it will go through".

I could hear Crystals thoughts screaming at me to stop digging my grave, but I could only think of this.

"Changes?" I dared a glance upwards and found that her stony face had cracked. There was a frown.

"As we are now evidently part of the Empire, we will be forced to adhere to them. I promise to be a queen who can adapt to the coming change", I should've stopped talking moments ago because the queens face now looked as if she had swallowed a bug.

"You dare to think that we would be forced to adhere to anyone? Do you mean to insult our great nation child?" Her words made my legs feel as though they had given up on me.

"Forgive me your majesty. I had no intentions of portraying any discourtesy"-

"She is not wrong, mother" the prince's voice cut off my apology sharply. "After all, the late king had already taken us through great change the moment he wed mother" the prince gestured to himself as if he were presenting evidence in a case.

The dowager did not turn to him. I thought she was ignoring him until I glanced up and realised she was looking me up and down. I had once compared the prince to a lion. Now I was swallowing that accusation like a pill.

"You are a business woman, correct?"

"That is correct, your majesty" I didn't raise myself from my curtsy.

"Your business seems to have admirable profits" she stated the knowledge as if were well known. I didn't ask how she could know such a thing. She was our ruler, after all, but I had a premonition that she would use this against me, "If you were to be queen then those figures would be money earned by royalty and they would be used for our causes… Despite being a commoner you have plenty to offer and yet you made such a ridiculous claim earlier".

My shoulders stiffened, knees threatening to buckle.