Chapter 4: A visit to the Queen Dowager I

Queen Carissa set out to visit the Queen Dowager Catherine, with her retinue escorting her. It was still early in the morning but she couldn't wait any longer.

When she reached the Queen Dowager's chambers, she waited for her presence to be announced to her.

Meanwhile, Queen Dowager Catherine sat down in front of the mirror while her court ladies adorned her hair.

"How much longer before it is done?" She questioned the court ladies impatiently.

"Almost done, your highness." They replied in unison.

The queen Dowager frowned. "Make it hasty."

And then, her head court lady, court lady Daphne, walked into the room and bowed before her. Court lady Daphne had been serving the Queen Dowager for years now, right from when she was still Queen to the previous King. She was her most trusted persons and she was very loyal to the Queen Dowager.

"Your highness." Court lady Daphne bowed her head.

The Queen Dowager turned to her. "Speak, court lady Daphne."

"Her Majesty, the queen, is here to see you." Court lady Daphne informed her.

"Oh, alright." The Queen Dowager nodded.

Court lady Daphne bowed before taking her leave.

Then, Queen Carissa walked into the room.

"You highness." She curtsied before the Queen Dowager.

The Queen Dowager stood up and walked closer to her.

"I did not expect your visit today, Queen Carissa." The Queen Dowager smiled.

Queen Carissa smiled as well.

"I apologize for coming in such a haste, your highness." Queen Carissa said.

The Queen Dowager smiled. "You can always come to see me anytime Queen Carissa, there is nothing to apologize about."

Queen Carissa smiled and nodded. She fidgeted with her fingers and looked down.

The Queen Dowager stared at her and could read her troubled expression. "What is bothering you? You look distressed." She asked.

Queen Carissa raised her head up. "Your highness..." She started to say. "Actually... I want to talk to you about something."

The Queen Dowager nodded. "Alright then. Why don't you join me for a stroll? I planned on taking a stroll around the palace." She said to the Queen.

Queen Carissa nodded. "Of course, I would love that."

The Queen Dowager smiled. "Let us go then." She said and started walking out of the room while Queen Carissa followed her quickly.

They stepped out of the Queen Dowager's chambers and started talking a stroll.

"So, what is it that you want to discuss with me? Go ahead."

"Um... actually, it is about the royal banquet. I heard it is taking place soon and um... And that the King be taking a royal noble consort on that day."

The Queen Dowager furrowed her brows. "And who said that?"

" It was discussed at the court meeting your highness and um... I heard it from my source."

The Queen Dowager grinned. "It is indeed true that the King would take on a royal noble consort soon but it is not now. The banquet is still far you know."

Queen Carissa nodded, "I understand that, your highness but the thing is that, you...you know I cannot grant birth and...and..."

The Queen Dowager stopped walking and her retinue stopped immediately also. Queen Carissa stopped walking as well and stared at the Queen Dowager, waiting for her to say something.

"Carissa..." The Queen Dowager called her.

"Yes, your highness."

"I believe you know that there are two people who rules this kingdom, right?"

Queen Carissa nodded. "I... I do, your highness."

The Queen Dowager nodded. "Good. While the regent handles one side, I handle the other. So there is no way anyone would make a decision without me knowing first. A royal banquet will not hold if I have not signed it."

Queen Carissa sighed. "Yes your highness, all that is true but you also know that the royal physician had said that I shall be unable to birth a child. If I cannot bear a child, how then would my child become the next ruler? I cannot live to watch a royal noble consort's child rule while..."

"Calm down Queen Carissa." The Queen Dowager cut her off." You should not lose hope yet. The banquet is still far and so there would be enough time to arrange things the right way." The Queen Dowager smiled, "Why are you fretting over nothing?"

"What would I do, your highness? I would rather die than allow a consort's child rule."

The Queen Dowager smiled. "This is why I brought you to the palace, you had what he takes to be a queen and that's why I made you one. Now let me tell you a story."

Queen Carissa nodded and kept quiet to listen to the Queen Dowager.

"When I was married to the previous King..." The Queen Dowager started saying. "-I also faced similar issues like you are facing now."

Queen Carissa moves closer with interest. "You were unable to give birth too? How did you give birth to the King then?"

The Queen Dowager smiled. "Let us continue walking." She said and they started walking again. She continued. "Well... The royal physician did say than I wouldn't be able to birth a child and because of that, the court asked the previous King to take on a consort as soon as possible. They were greedy and took the perfect opportunity."

"Was that how the previous King brought in that Lady from Spain?" Queen Carissa cut in.

Queen Dowager Catherine paused before she nodded. "Yes. He went to Spain and that was how he met her since back then, our Kingdom and Spain were still getting along. She was a no body but just the friend of the crown princess of Spain but..." She scoffed. "-but the King didn't care, he was hell bent on being with her. He claimed to love her. If I wasn't already the Queen then, I am sure he would have dethroned me and made her his Queen instead."

"Why did the court allow him take her as a consort if she was not even from a noble family? And how was she even friends with a royal?" Queen Carissa asked with a confused look.

"How she was friends with a royal, I do not know nor do I care." The Queen Dowager answered. "-I do not know how the King convinced the court, he always had his ways. They allowed him to take her as his royal noble consort despite her common background."

"I heard she ran away from the palace, why?" Queen Carissa asked.

Queen Dowager Catherine sighed. "She tried to fit in where she couldn't." The Queen Dowager shrugged. "After she got pregnant, I got pregnant as well, luckily for me. And well, her child died after she gave birth to him. She lost her child and became sad and that was why she ran away."

"That must have been painful for her."

The Queen Dowager scoffed."That is not important Carissa. What is important is that I gave birth even after the royal physician said that I couldn't and my child is now the King. She was only a consort and her existence meant nothing to me. So you should not be intimidated by someone who cannot stand against you, you are a Queen and you are powerful."

"Was she never found?" Queen Carissa asked.

The Queen Dowager paused for a while and then she sighed. "No, she was not, even until this day."

Queen Carissa nodded and sighed. "You were able to give birth your highness because you were lucky but what if that is not the case for me?" She asked.

Queen dowager Catherine smiled at her and took her hands in hers.

"Trust in me Carissa, I shall always have your back. For now, I shall arrange for a very competent physician for you. He shall help you treat your fertility and you shall birth your own child, do not fear."

Queen Carissa smiled, "Thank you, your highness. I knew I could count on you.

"Of course you can, anytime."

Queen Carissa smiled and they continued walking around the palace.

Xoxo