Successful Plan

Hannah then called up a few servants, asking them to carry the boxes as she made her way to Lily's palace.

However, the palace wasn't as peaceful as she had imagined it to be. People running helter-skelter and a royal physician coming out of the room with bloodied gloves.

"Ah." She shuddered in fright, this sight was all too familiar for her. The chaos, the sound of heavy and fast footsteps, the noise, and the pungent smell of blood.

Gathering the strength in her legs, she burst into the room and the sight of the pale bloodless child, laying limply on the bed sent shivers down her spine.

"Lana. My Lana." The sight of the pale child seems to have multiplied, turning into two dying children laying helplessly on the bed, "My Lana. Cain, my dear son."

"Your Majesty, please evacuate the premises."

"Please leave the room, Your Majesty."

The voices faded as her eyes remained set on the child - or children as she saw it.

All she remembered was being pulled away by the guards, and now...

Standing here in the same dress, tattered and tear-filled, she glanced at the child who was staring back at her with a strange look on her face.

"Ya-" She paused, "Lily." Quickly correcting the name of which she uttered.

"Lily." She muttered again as if to reassure herself, she hid her trembling hands behind her back and bit her lips.

                          * ~ *

"Your Majesty?" Lily frowned. The third queen looked even worst than the first day she saw her.

"Lily."

With furrowed brows, Lily replied, "It is I, Your Majesty."

"It truly is." Hannah bit her lips lowering her head.

"I...I t-thought." She hesitated, biting her lower lip even harder. Then with a sigh, she looked away and said audibly, "I was worried about you."

"Huh? Me?"

"Hmm." Hannah nodded, "I don't know why you did it but don't do such dangerous things again. That too without my knowledge."

Lily's eyes widened, it seemed like the third queen noticed her scheme. Hopefully, nobody else would notice.

"How are you, Your Majesty?" Lily sighed, looking away.

"Ha!" A low scoff was heard followed by a high-pitched scream, "How am I? I should be asking you how you are! Focus on yourself for God's sake and stop worrying about others!"

'I wasn't worried about anybody though.' Lily thought internally, tilting her head, she was shocked by the third queen's sudden outburst. However, the third queen's appearance was even more shocking, she looked no different from a refugee who struggled to cross from the cold Northern regions to the Southern plains.

"Is there anyone outside?" Lily yelled and a servant soon rushed in.

"Prepare a bath and fetch some comfortable clothes from Her Majesty's palace."

"You should relax, Your Majesty." Lily turned to the third queen and beamed with a smile filled with assurance.

Before the third queen finished her bath and wore clean and proper clothing, Lily had already gulped down two bowls of soup. A firmer meal was prepared for the third queen who ate as soon as she came out, and soon laid on the long couch after a while, watching the rays of the sun recede as the sun set.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't give you a proper room. The new servants just came and haven't had the time to clean up the other rooms. Lily explained as she laid on her bed, away from the third queen.

"It's fine. I would have returned to my palace if I had wanted to spend the night alone." Hannah explained, laying on her back.

"I see." Lily nodded, wary of the fact that someone else was sleeping in the same room as her but she couldn't deny the unfamiliar warmth she felt, the sound of calm and steady breathing was incredibly soothing. She had lived in this cold room alone all her life, it felt just like the warmth she felt when Lorain was born but it wasn't as warm as it was now. This was the warmth of an adult. With flushed cheeks, Lily dived under her covers and unlike other days when she struggled to sleep, she fell asleep as soon as she found a comfortable spot even when the sun was not completely set yet.

* ~ *

The next morning came faster than she had expected. The room was now empty but in her place a large pile of boxes, a note was on top of the table, with written words that said; "My gift to you, Dear Princess."

With a slight smile, she jumped up and stretched, even more energised than ever. It felt like she didn't just escape the clutches of death.

Opening one of the boxes, her eyes widened, "Why not. Thank you." She exclaimed to herself, smiling from ear to ear.

It was time to go find the king.

                         * ~ *

Dressed in one of the simplest and purest white dresses that Queen Hannah had brought to her, Lily entered her father's study, keeping up her weak act.

"Your Majesty." She greeted, as her legs trembled.

"Sit." The King ordered.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lily sat, placing her hands on her trembling knee. The effect of the poison was probably still acting up and just like she wanted, the king had noticed, "You should have remained in your palace and recuperated for a while."

"I am glad that father looks out for me, but...it's not right to leave father worrying, is it?" She smiled.

"The suspects has been captured and locked up for now?"

"Who might this suspects be, Your Majesty." Lily asked in a true bid to know.

King Silas glared down at her, searching her eyes for the slightest bit of fear or concealed emotions.

"You mother and the servant responsible for serving the meal." He answered, watching closely for an exciting reaction, but all she did was gasp.

Lily truly didn't know that a few carefree words she had said would land the second queen in dungeon.

"You were right. The servant who served the meal hid in your mother's palace."

'Woah' She exclaimed even louder in her mind.

"Poor mother." She placed her hand over her mouth, hoping to conceal the snicker that had escaped her lips, "My dearest poor mother."