The Ochestrator

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CHAPTER 28

"No, my dear, Aeverie. Not physical hurt. I am hurt here in my heart."

"Oh, it is a matter of the heart, umm."

"No," Era answered frankly.

"No?" Era nodded. "Why?" Aeverie questioned out of curiosity.

"Because I feel burdened and it hurts."

"I am so sorry, my queen but I do not understand. Please can you help break this topic to the best of my understanding?

"As you wish. First, I would like to ask, do you know why or... never mind." She turned around again, waiting to think this true so she does not seem like she was accusing.

"Your majesty, what is it? You can ask us anything and we would be truthful about it. Trust me on that."

BINGO!

Saying that Era smiled briefly and moved forward to hold Aeverie's hand in hers. "That's good then. I can feel relieved now."

The second Aeverie said that she had wondered what in heaven's name had made her say such words. It was now she realized that Era just succeeded in making her fall into her trap.

"I am glad you feel that way, Aeveire," she said innocently. "Now, care to tell me what is going on with you girls and what exactly happened."

They all cast a glance at each other before looking at Aeverie and lowering their gazes.

Era squinted at them as if doing that would enable her to read their hearts and mind. Apparently, Aeverie knew there was no escaping it anymore and decided to voice it out.

"Fine. I would speak, your majesty. Today, just after you left, I sent Azzura after you to give you your handkerchief before you left. Unfortunately, we did not speculate you would leave so soon."

"Alright, then…?"

"Well, not quite long, Azzura returned looking all panic-stricken and read. We discovered harm had been plotted for her majesty and thud we worried."

"Hmmm." Era did not say anything but thought carefully. "Okay. So that explains why my saddle was cut. It was not coincidental but intentional," Era thought out loud.

"What!" All of them looked shocked at her revelation, making her realize they had meant something else.

"Your majesty, did you just say your saddle was cut?" Alyx questioned.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I was lucky, else I would have been severely injured if I didn't react on time and had the horse trample me."

"Oh no!"

"What?" Era questioned. "Well, I was lucky to think fast and save myself."

"No, your majesty. This is different.'

"Hmm… What was the harm to be precise then? I think I am lost actually, if the cutting of my saddle wasn't enough, was there a more precise danger?" She inquired, sterner than before.

"Yes. It was the horse on which you rode. There is a reason why she had not been ridden by anyone in such a long time and that was due to his temperament and ability to severely injure a person, even to the point of unconsciousness and death."

"Okay…"

Aeverie shook her head. Era was not getting her was she?

"Your majesty, you do not understand. Everyone in the full kingdom, okay well the palace knows that the horse, White Stallion is indeed a no go area. On no account, if you love your life would one want to ride it. But now, you are new here and somehow you went to ride it. Someone must have been involved and led out astray."

"Who dares to," Arya blotted out.

"True. Unfortunately, your majesty, that was what we were about figuring out before you came. I would not think that someone would want to offend her majesty to that point or state," Arya said.

"It is like they wish to see her majesty hurt or disfigured or something," Azzura chipped in.

All her maids were in no doubt sad about the news as things were but they needed to think fast.

"Someone threatened by her," Aeverie begun. "Someone who despises her majesty's presence so much. Someone who knows she knows nothing about this palace and took advantage at the right time to strike. Someone who believes she has a chance with his majesty and sees her as the obstacle."

The more Aeverie spoke, the clearer it became to Era and she began to pace about where they were standing at.

"So if my guess is right, I think we can successfully trace who the culprits are. First is the Head Stable attendant and the orchestrator of this whole issue," Aeverie voiced out, revealing it all with nothing left to hide. Since they were being concerned about the topic, it was best to flog it out properly.

"You sound like you already have an idea of who it was, Alyx quickly added.

She too was thinking but she dared not voice it out to the others else… However, one person was not scared and she said it.

"DIONA!"

"Your majesty…"

"That witch of a lady had the nerve."