CHAPTER 011: Naturally

Queen Eriela's first daughter, the second Princess, Princess Jasmine was able to inherit her intelligence and drive.

Nevertheless, it would be impossible for Princess Jasmine to become a queen because her physical appearance and personality were not fit to become a wife of a king.

Once the third Princess became the Queen of Vortrion, the second Princess could force her way to become the Queen of Menotalis. Which was only possible if Princess Yanarym was no longer part of their present and future.

That reminded her, surely her daughters went to Adamas Palace just this while ago to light another noxious incense in her sick niece's chamber room. She gave them stronger incense, so she hoped that this time, it worked out.

That menace should be long dead ever since, but she guesses that Yanarym inherited her mother's persistence to live.

"You are right, Young Lady." Queen Eriela gracefully placed her cup of tea on the table and wiped the stain from her lips with a white silk handkerchief.

"Shall we, Princesses, take a walk in the inner garden?" She smiled seraphically.

As they sauntered into the inner garden Queen Eriela and her daughters were only allowed to enter. The amenable smile was visible on the Queen's face, while Princess Liezel was having cold sweats for the confession of what they did. Princess Jasmine kept her countenance expressionless.

"How long are you supposed to keep me hanging? State the important matter already." Queen Eriela said.

The third Princess looked at Princess Jasmine and gestured to her to talk.

"Mother, Princess Yanarym is dead." Princess Jasmine faintly muttered.

The Queen did not halt her steps, in lieu, she kept on walking at an elegant pace.

"Is that so..." Princess Liezel observed her mother's reaction and she could see the satisfaction in it.

She shifted her eyes to Princess Jasmine and bit her lips.

"Good job, my princess."

The third Princess was bemused, she fretfully looked at her mother and sister. Princess Jasmine cannot have the merit. She had to take the credit...

"I killed her," Princess Liezel blurted out suddenly. "I suffocated her with a pillow Mother. That's how Yanarym died."

With a perplexed expression on her face, Princess Jasmine promptly directed her head to the third Princess.

'What is it this time?!' Princess Jasmine bawled while secretly gritting her teeth in bewilderment at her sister's abrupt interjection.

She was certain that their mother would not be delighted. Princess Jasmine was trying to pacify their mother because of their inadvertent course of action, but there was no way Queen Eriela could be placated after Princess Liezel's thoughtless revelation.

"What did you say?" The second Princess' mind blanked as soon Queen Eriela swiftly swerved to face her.

'Great! Great! Just look how great you are digging my grave you fool!' Princess Jasmine screamed her frustration in her mind. 'I hate you, Liezel!'

"I killed Yanarym by suffocating her with a pillow," Princess Liezel said. "I did it, Mother! Jasmine helped me by restraining Yanarym, but I did the work—" Queen Eriela looked at her which caused her to shut up.

The third Princess saw the anger soaring in her mother's demeanor that her body froze. She grasped that she did something wrong…

'I should have not said anything?' Princess Liezel was terrified and turned to her older sister to ask for help.

That was what Princess Jasmine read just by looking at Princess Liezel's expression. 'Of course, you did something wrong, you fool! Why did you not keep your pretty mouth shut? Right, because the one that would suffer the most would be me and not you!'

"You useless—!" Queen Eriela hollered and marched towards Princess Jasmine, with no reluctance, she slapped Princess Jasmine's left cheek.

Princess Liezel gasped as she saw her sister falling to the ground. This was not what she expected to happen. She regretted butting into the conversation, she did not want to get hit!

"I only gave you one job, Jasmine! ONE JOB! Lit an incense and let her die naturally! NA-TU-RAL-LY!" Queen Eriela shouted.

"Imbecile! Useless child! How did such a stupid child come from me?!" She scoffed and massaged her temple to soothe her anger.

Princess Jasmine held her burning left cheek and stood with her eyes glued to the ground. She did not dare to defend herself because she knew that either way, she would always condone consequences.

"M-mother-"

"Liezel, quiet!" Princess Liezel stiffened with her mother's angry tone directed at her. This was getting serious, no matter what she did, she was never scolded for it.

Queen Eriela redirected her attention to Princess Jasmine. "I told you to get ahold of your sister! Why are you so empty-headed and even helped her?! I thought you were smart?! WHERE IS YOUR BRAIN, HUH!? At this crucial time, you must have used that brain of yours! How could you be so reckless?!"

"I'm sorry, Mother—" Princess Jasmine tried to apologize.

"DON'T CALL ME MOTHER!"

"...forgive me, my Queen. I won't make the same mistake twice."

"Of course, you can't! She is already dead! This is so frustrating!" The Queen glared at her daughters, then she firmly closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "How long has it been?"

"What do you mean, my Queen?" Princess Jasmine clarified.

"What time did you kill her?!" Princess Liezel flinched and slowly hid behind her older sister. She did not want to get slapped; her face could not be bruised. She could not oversee the pain and she had to maintain her glowing skin. She must use her older sister as a shield if their mother tried to raise her hand once more.

"Just now, my Queen," Princess Jasmine replied.

Queen Eriela gritted her teeth, she knew that death equates to death if they commit the assassination of royalty. It could even be decreed as royal treason. Exile was not an option; it could only be a public execution for the entire family. She was extremely careful with her schemes. And her daughters who were senseless brought them to the cliff of catastrophe. She took a deep breath, now that this had already happened, she had to live with it.