A Discarded Princess

Every royal member was eager for the banquet to begin for one or the other reason. If a few were eager to see and speak with Freya, most of them had ulterior motives, either against the throne or Alora Linwood Roosevelt.

Well, each of them was aware that going straight against the Zander Linwood or Eugenie is equal to having a wish for death, straight to hell. Thus they needed to create the chance to bring up the topic and have a strong foothold with their reasons.

.....

On the west side of the royal palace,

A grand chamber, decorated in sparkles, fell short in front of the lady who was preparing for the banquet.

The five ladies were busy checking every small detail of her appearance. Her hair, her jewelry, her dress, her tiara, her sandals, everything was dazzling and eye-catchy.

"Your highness, this color is made freshly with the berries for your lips. This will soften your lips and give a good stain."

A lady-in-waiting wearing an expensive gown, explained, asking permission before applying the thick red liquid on Catherine's pink lips.

Catherine looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her green eyes sparkled brightly against her green gown. Her dove-gray hair was tied in a beautiful updo, adorning a tiara. She looked at her cheeks and nodded in satisfaction at the blush. She looked like a queen to be throned.

"Mother…. Mother… Mother…" A young lady in her twenties rushed inside the chamber in hysteria.

She was all prepared for the day but she was panicked and angered, "Mother, Father is encouraging Evander to court Freya and have her as a wife. I already have to bear with his lover, how could Father do this to me?" She sounded helpless.

Catherine glanced at his elder daughter. She carefully stood up and looked at her daughter, Eleanor. First princess of Blewett aka Viscountess Caswell, spouse of Evander Caswell.

Catherine wasn't surprised by the news. It wasn't new that men will have a wife and many mistresses. In her daughter's case, the situation will change if Freya becomes the crown princess and wife of Evander. Freya will get a higher priority than Eleanor.

The important thing was, that Evander will bring the throne to their hands if Freya becomes a queen in the future.

"Eleanor, your Father is doing for our good." Catherine was calm as the lake. Completely cool about the news.

"Mother…." Eleanor, who expected her mother to support her and stop her father, was disappointed.

Catherine stepped closer and caressed Eleanor's head without disturbing her hairstyle, "Don't forget what mother asked you to do today. It will give us a chance to shove Eugenie into a corner." Although her voice was like persuading the child, her eyes were malicious and warning Eleanor to behave.

Eleanor knew the threat behind her mother's words. She could only nod her head and accept her mother's orders, "Yes, Mother." She quickly left the chambers as Catherine was furious from yesterday due to the return of Eugenie. It wasn't the time to provoke her mother.

"Your highness, will Crown Princess really take away your royal court powers?"

"What if she removes us from you?"

"Your highness, we don't want to serve anybody but you."

Most of them were pretending to be anxious. Because who would like to get targeted around by an arrogant woman? They wanted to appear helpless.

A lady-in-waiting interjected to send the maids away, "Let Your Highness rest a bit." She helped Eleanor to the couch to sit while maids scurried away.

"Your Highness, is Princess Alora really Alive?" The lady-in-waiting asked.

Catherine extended her hand for a wine glass. Another lady-in-waiting quickly poured the red liquid into a golden rimmed flute and passed it to Catherine.

A few images of a little girl with silvery hair, and blue eyes lifting the ceremonial sword appeared in her mind. It was the same sword that Catherine failed to lift from the table at her coronation. The same sword that her daughters failed to move the sword on the table when she had brought them secretly to the restricted prayer hall.

If the redhead lady is Alora, Catherine knew Alora will become the crown princess. Hence Catherine wasn't going to let Alora be alive. Even if the court banishes Alora due to their pressure, Catherine will make sure that the redhead Alora dies soon.

She would let her husband do his work while she tries to get rid of some pests.

Ignoring the lady's question, Cathrine asked after a sip of her wine, "How are the arrangements at the banquet?"

She had the responsibilities of in-court management, thus the banquet was her responsibility. However, there were rules she had to follow, hence she couldn't permit her husband to bring his sons to the banquet.

However, she had planned to arrange a banquet with the nobles so that they could bring their people to the court to meet Freya. It would be after getting rid of Alora Linwood Roosevelt, the true princess of the crown.

"Your highness, everything is as you instructed. If we are caught, a maid will take the responsibility." She responded in a hushed tone as the walls of the palace had ears.

Catherine's lips arced cunningly. She was going to give a welcome that will blow everyone's mind, Eugenie and her daughters would never forget this day.

——————

On the south side of the palace,

It looked sober compared to the west side but it was after all a royal palace. An elegant woman stepped out of a room wearing a pink gown. She looked rather young with the pink and her motherly smile could put one at ease.

Charlotte entered the next room and smiled warmly looking at her three daughters preparing for the banquet. She looked at the elder daughter who dislikes the ornaments that makes her feel itchy. Shaking her head in resignation, "Briana, don't forget you are a princess."

Dovey gray hair lady turned behind. She is in her sixteens and loves to challenge strong guards and soldiers in fights, rather than playing dolling-up games. "Mother, it's poking my skin." She complained, eager to get rid of the necklace.

The fourteen-year-old Nova, chuckled at her elder sister's struggle, "Sister, why don't you wear this lace necklace?" The lace clothing wouldn't prick the skin.

Charlotte's expression briefly changed before she denied the suggestion, "No, it is unadorned."

"Argh.." Brianna let out a frustrated sigh.

A girl at the age of eleven, curtsied to Charlotte, holding her beautiful princess gown. "Greetings to mother."

Charlotte looked at her little daughter who was a sweet little doll of the Royal palace, "My daughter, Anne is all ready for the banquet." She lovingly caressed her cheeks.

Anne smiled sweetly and sprinted out with her lady-in-waiting running behind her, "Your Highness, please don't run around. You will fall…"

Anne giggled as she ran into the hallway, "I would like to meet Princess Alora." She was excited to see the fairytale girl in the palace.

Only if she knew, the witches have also described the same way and the monsters were also said to have red eyes.

Charlotte's eyes widened. She had got a glimpse of a redhead lady. She was also aware that Catherine was up on a big drama. She didn't want her daughter to be harmed. "Anne…" But Anne had disappeared.

Briana looked at the corridor and sighed. The whole morning Anne got ready chanting Alora's name so she wasn't surprised.

"Mother, will it be alright if I meet Princess Freya?" Briana's green eyes sparkled, looking hopefully at her mother.

If Freya takes her mother and father as her role model, Briana forces the soldiers to tell her about Freya's achievements. Briana's parents had put her into a different mage academy so she never got a chance to see Freya.

Charlotte rejected the idea, "Anne is young, you shouldn't appear at their chambers without notifying them prior."

Briana was disappointed but obliged her mother.

The second daughter, Nova mused, "Sister Briana, I don't understand why you are eager to see Princess Freya. Don't you know we are losing importance after their arrival?" Nova enjoys dolling up and earning attention.

She stood up with a frown. She signaled the ladies-in-waiting to leave as she continued, "We will be outcasted. We should fight to receive the best."

Briana rolled her eyes as she snapped the necklace off her neck and breathed calmly. She would rather go to the drilling field and practice swords.

'Will Princess Alora practice in the palace from tomorrow? I should get to know her schedule.' Briana silently planned.

Charlotte hid her emotions behind her complex expression. Firstly, she was worried about Anne who went to see a redhead lady, named Alora. Secondly, her second daughter was right, they were losing their ground in the palace.

Saying nothing, she left Nova's chamber saying, "I will see what your father is up to."

Looking around, she paused in front of the study room door. She heard the carnal voice of a woman and a man. Gritting her teeth, she returned to her chamber.

Although she was a royal and had many things that others couldn't afford, she can't give a son to her husband. And her husband loves to fool around with his lover who gave him two boys.

She doesn't hate Eugenie for having the royal, ancestral powers. She was envious of Eugenie because her husband never looked at another woman, may it be lust or to have a son.

She grabbed the vase and threw it against the wall, "Why HER?" Happiness, love, power of the throne, magical abilities… She had nothing. She was like a discarded princess.

'Crash.' The vase broke into pieces, spilling the water and flowers to the carpeted ground.

"If I can't be happy, I won't let any of you be joyful." She swore to herself.