The Fragile Pillar (2)

The sound of their shoes hitting the cold floor echoed around them as they walked down the corridor. 

Elucina's mind was preoccupied; she couldn't stop thinking about the debut that was coming up soon. She thought it was silly how close it was, only a week away.

The image of Countess Lenné suddenly popped into her mind, making her wonder how the Countess had been handling the responsibility of mentoring Vanetta within such a short frame of time.

She felt concerned for the Countess as she had to teach her new student everything, from proper etiquette to the complex hierarchy within noble society.

'Oh, she will be so stressed.'

When Elucina reached their destination, before she could approach the study room's entrance, the maid accompanying them opened the door.

Inside the Queen's study, Elucina walked in, stepping through the threshold with Marquess Heldan following closely behind her.

Wrapped in her shawl and seated on the couch was the Queen, anticipating them to come upon seeing them conversing earlier at the driveway through her bedroom's window.

As soon as Elucina and the Marquess entered her study, she rose from her seat, painting a worried expression on her face. She pulled her daughter close for a hug, before inviting her to sit beside her on the couch. Marquess Heldan, on the other hand, insisted he would stand.

"Elucina, have you heard about your engagement? Marquess Heldan told me about it earlier!"

"...I did, Mother," Elucina replied, looking at Queen Esteria's bloodshot eyes staring back at her with a furious gaze.

Queen Esteria gasped in disbelief. "This is unacceptable! How could they just break the engagement like that!" she called out, her voice filled with worry. 

She knew that if word of the situation got out and spread, Princess Elucina would face ridicule and humiliation. "How could the King accept this?" she added, muttering sharply.

She shifted on the couch and held Elucina's hand tightly, her eyes darting to Marquess Heldan for answers, who could not provide anything.

"Oh, Elucina…" Queen Esteria tenderly patted her daughter's hand, then proceeded to lovingly caress her face. She pulled Elucina close to hug her as she spoke, "Oh, my poor Lucy, they stripped you of your crown and even wanted to humiliate us in this way..."

When Queen Esteria let go of her daughter and broke the hug, she jolted from her seat and rose. Furious, she pointed a finger at who to blame for everything and exclaimed, "It's all because of that woman! It's Vittoria! She planned all of this!"

She then continued to repeat her words over and over, blaming someone who had been long dead. Her breath grew shallow, and it was not long until she slightly ran out of breath from her repetitive sentences.

"Mom, Queen Vittoria's already dead." Elucina stood up and gently tugged at her arm. "It's her cousin's doing, the Duke of Solmere."

"No, my Lucy," Queen Esteria insisted firmly. "Didn't you see Queen Vittoria at the previous assembly?"

"Mother," Elucina softly interjected, correcting her. "Who we saw that day was her daughter..."

While she recounted to her mother what happened, the memory rushed back to her with infuriating clarity. A clear image of Vanetta seemed to have solidified in her mind. 

It felt like it was happening again right in front of her, and it saddened her to see how it was also affecting her mother.

"She just looks a lot like the late Queen, but with Father's hair," Elucina said in a whisper.

Queen Esteria, who had been listening, asked as she began to calm down, "...Really?"

"Hm." Elucina nodded in acknowledgment while discreetly giving Marquess Heldan the 'look.' Promptly, he stepped out of the study as he understood her message.

With a gentle voice, as if lullaby-like whisper, she shared, "I have also heard from Marquess Heldan that Princess Vanetta will have her debut this week."

Queen Esteria, seemingly puzzled after hearing the name, asked in a subdued tone, "Huh? Who's Princess Vanetta?" 

Elucina could not hold back a sigh as she reminded her. "...Mom, it was the girl we saw at the assembly."

"Ohh, that's right. I think I remember her."

'...' Elucina fell silent, holding her mother as they stood by the couch. A fleeting feeling of fear crept over her, making her worry that she was losing her again, but she quickly pushed the thought.

'Has she been not drinking her medicine?' Elucina inwardly asked.

There were times when Queen Esteria was Elucina's support pillar, always there to hold her up when she needed it most. But there were also days when the Queen felt vulnerable and needed someone to lean on.

And during those times, she would need Elucina's comforting presence to calm her nerves, easing her anxiety and fears.

"By the way, Mother, I went hunting for partridges this morning. I asked my handmaiden to have the chef prepare them for your lunch today," Elucina mentioned.

At that moment, the door opened and Marquess Heldan entered, with the maid following his tail. The servant then walked over to Elucina and her mother, understanding why she had been summoned.

"Mother, I don't think you should attend the debut," Elucina said, casting a quick glance at Marquess Heldan. "What do you think, Marquess?"

"...That's true. Your Majesty, you should take some rest," Heldan added.

Elucina bobbed her head, redirecting her attention back to her mother. "Mom, why don't you return to your bedroom? I'll have the maid bring lunch to you later," she suggested. 

Sensing her cue, the maid gently took the Queen's arm from Elucina and guided her out of the study, leaving the others to watch them go.

A heavy stillness enveloped the room, only broken when Elucina finally spoke up. She mumbled, "She's having episodes again."

Heldan nodded, agreeing. He recalled, "When I told her about the news earlier, Her Majesty became upset and started mentioning Queen Vittoria."

Elucina let out a long sigh and folded her arms, feeling the room's walls pressing in on her. "Then, I am counting on you, my lord, to let His Majesty know. And as usual, please don't mention anything about her meltdown."

"Of course, Your Highness," Heldan agreed. "I will make sure the King understands that Queen Esteria is simply unwell."

"Thank you, my lord."

As Marquess Heldan was about to leave, he paused with his hand on the door handle and glanced back at Elucina briefly.

Furrowing his brows in concern, he offered words of caution, saying, "Please, be careful. Many eyes will be on you at the debut, and they will be looking for any sign of weakness, Your Highness."

"I know that." Elucina nodded, giving the Marquess a small smile while he sent her back another nod.

She watched the Marquess leave the study room, finally turning the knob and swinging the door open. As he passed through the threshold, the sound of the door closing behind him echoed in the room.

Left alone, Elucina held the skirt of her dress, the Marquess' parting words playing in her mind.

'Weakness? No, I will be the one to find their weaknesses,' she declared with determination. 'But first, I need something.'