The Queen's visit

"Is everything ready?" I ask anxiously as I look outside through the window.

There I saw a woman dressed in a black vintage dress. Her whole appearance shouts how sophisticated and domineering she looks. The wind blows with her slightly wavy hair as the moon reflects with her blue eyes.

She wears black again though.

I gulped before clearing my throat.

I went in front of the mirror and check myself again. I'm wearing a dark violet vintage dress above the knee. It was a long sleeve since winter is coming so it is getting cold. My hair was in a ponytail and my hairstylist put it on straight. I remove my barrette and put it in my dress pocket.

"Do I look fine?" Syl asks nervously. She keeps on brushing her long straight silky hair.

I smirk and tease her. "I think you need to visit the toilet."

She sneered at me. "What do you think is the reason why she came here?"

"I don't know. But probably about my marriage or the tradition." I answered as I look those heels in front of us.

"Oh, I think Mom will talk about it with me these coming days." I stop from picking the black heel and look at her with my eyes widened in realization.

"Oh my gosh! It is today! No! No! No! I-I'm not ready yet!" She shook her head hard and helplessly sat on my single sofa.

I bit my lower lip and sighed.

We are doomed.

Luckily, Butler Warren handled the five idiots well. If not, Mother would be furious about it and I don't know what she might to do us. If she's really going to announce that it's our time to do the tradition, then we should make her in the good mood.

As the queen, she's the one who is going to arrange our training. However, she should still stick to our tradition. And if we will make her made right now, it is not a good thing for us.

"Let's go," I said when I finish putting my heels on and pulled Syl who is sitting solemnly on my bed, hugging her legs tightly while looking at me with tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes.

"No!" She strongly refused. However, she let me pull her away.

I could not help but smile at her silliness.

Mother is really strict since I could remember. Me and Syl have suffered a lot under her strict regulations and guidance. Since childhood, the queen personally teach us about our traditions and the right way to do them.

At the age of five, Mother has been giving us a hard time. At that time, I still live in the palace. So, I need to follow the rules there. It was really strict and really harsh for me.

I could say that I'm still lucky when my parents get out of the palace to hide my identity. Since then, I've been living freely but not that free. But now that we are already turning 26, we need to go back to the palace and do our part. That's the only limit that my grandmother agreed with. We princesses can do anything we want outside the palace but when we are turning 26, we should go back to the palace and help the Crown Prince in managing the palace. Besides, the tradition for Princess should have happened at the age of 18 but because of my identity, it was postponed.

"Mother."

"Aunt."

She nodded and motioned as to sit.

"How are you? I hope you continue behaving well." I simply winced at what she said and averted my gaze. I saw Syl pout.

My mom raise her eyebrow and grinned evilly before ordering the servants to bring the food.

She really made us feel tense before starting the real conversation!

I frowned in astonishment at my mother when I saw her grin return as the helpers unloaded the food with the lid they were carrying. Syl glanced at me curiously while beaming happily.

I sneered and felt bad for her happiness. After years of being tortured by my mother, I clearly know when she's planning something bad. And that grin is a sign of that something bad.

I kicked her feet under the table.

She look at me with her brows furrowed and looking at me curiously. "What?" She asks.

I was about to tell her when I felt a cold piercing gaze is looking directly at me. I gulped and shook my head. 

I sighed heavily as the servants began to open the dishes one by one. I grimace in horror as the first dish was a wicked witch with green hair and a body with an awful taste, broccoli!

And the next dishes were revealed. They were all vegetables that made Syl almost throw up at the table. Luckily, I was used to eating vegetables these past few days thanks to Domenicus.

"Mother, I have a proposal to make to help our people." Mother look at me with her burning stares.

"What is it? You can't meet your father for the time being. So, I'll just tell him for you." I nodded understandably.

"I know what you came for today. So, I was thinking maybe Father can consider giving the allowance in our mansion to help the orphanages and people who live in the street to have a better life." I said and look at her expression. She looks so focused on her food but I know she's listening.

"I've been spending my free time helping and observing them. A lot of kids living in the orphanage have great talent and have a high IQ. If we can give them a better future, they will be very thankful to Father." I continued. 

"Besides, if they will grow just fine. They will be a great help in our country." I added.

Mother nodded and put down the utensils she was holding before wiping her lips.

"That's indeed great. Your Father already has a budget for that but doesn't have time to do that. Besides, it is still not enough but with the mansion expenses it will be a big help to sustain them." She answered that made me smile.

"But what about the maids in the house?"

"They can continue working here. I'll take care of the expenses on the mansion." I said.

She raised her eyebrow and smiles mockingly. "Oh? So you think you have time to earn money for them? Do you even know how to work?" I suddenly feel ashamed at what she said.

I was thinking highly of myself that I almost forgot I don't dare to pick up the scalpel at all.

I heard her sneer that made me feel more aggrieved but I knew she was right.

"I can do that for her, Tita." We all look at Syl, who is nervous about taking the Queen's attention.

"You?" She laughs mercilessly. "I guess too many vegetables makes you both a fool." Mother said and look at the maids mercilessly.

"These filthy people are the descendants of the killers of the past Royal Princess Fules! And not only that, but they are also murderers, thieves, corrupt officials! A criminal!" She shouted angrily which made me and Syl flinched in our chairs.

The servants instantly kneel and ask for mercy.

"But Mother, they are being punished already. They also have  an innocent family to support." I defended.

"Good! I'll punish you too! To the dungeon!" My eyes widen in disbelief.

Did mother get mad easily? She's punishing us for that? Just for that?!

"Mother-"

"No objections." I sighed, defeated.

We all stood up and start walking towards the dungeon. Syl protruded her lips while walking lazily.

"Even though we put the five idiots away we still got punished."

I stop in my tracks and look at her with my eyes widened.

"Why?"

I ignored her and closed my eyes tightly. I massage my head and start thinking about what to do.

We have ten minutes before we reach the dungeon if we use the stairs. But if we use the elevator we only have five minutes.

Ten minutes is enough time to transfer the five idiots without meeting Mother.

I need to convince Mother to use the stairs. But if it does not work I need to think of another way to stop my Mother until they got away.

I whispered to Butler Warren about my plan.

"I want my dessert before we reach the dungeon," I said before he leave so Mother won't suspect anything.

"Me too! Me too!" Syl excitedly said earning a glare from my Mother.

She instantly turned pale. Her lips tremble slightly as she slowly looks at me and mouthed "scary".

I just smirk and look away.

"Mother, do you want dessert too? How about we eat first before proceeding into the dungeon?" She squinted her eyes and look at me suspiciously.

"What? I know you like dessert too." She's still eyeing me suspiciously so I just shrugged.

"Fine. I just feel sorry for the triple bavarian cake that I specially ordered from Revamosta's desserts. It looks so yummy!" I tempted her as I pretend to imagine the cake.

"Can I just ate eat?" Syl slightly pulled my dress and say it in a low voice.

"Oh? You want it, Syl? Sure! Sure! Mother doesn't like it! You can take it!" I shouted loudly, making sure that Mother heard it.

And sure enough, she stops in her tracks and looks at me with her dagger gazes but when I thought she got tempted she continue walking and ignored us who are talking about the cake.