Conversation with the Queen

I gracefully lowered my head before Queen.

"Majesty, you called me?" I said.

Queen Silvy, with a flick of her hand, opened her hand fan and glanced her eyes at me.

"Eleanor.." said Silvy. "Come, I was waiting for you."

I walked close to her. Meanwhile, Marie stood on the other side of the pond, looking at the fish. I wonder what type of fish it has, Queen, and now even Marie is paying attention to it.

"Yes, Majesty?"

"How are you doing?" asked Silvy.

"Umm, all good and fine." I said. "Just a big scar on my stomach, which I doubt will ever go away now."

"Sorry for that, but I am glad you are okay now."

"It's okay. Thank you very much for the healers, though."

"And what about you, Majesty? You are okay too, right?" I asked.

I don't know why I raised this question, but I felt like she was asking me, so I should also.

"Don't you think you've grown too much in a year to worry about me?" said Queen Silvy, she glanced her eyes from over the fan.

"No, no, I am sorry." I replied. "That's not what I meant."

I feel like I offended her. She is right. She is a queen; who am I to worry about her like that?

But just then, a voice interrupted us.

"No, Queen isn't okay; she has a bad stomach since two days." said Marie, sat in front of the pond, glancing into the water.

*Fwooosh*

In the next second, without looking, Queen flicked the fan vertically in Marie's direction, and she went flying away, "Wha-" directly hitting the wall.

"Ouch* Ouch* But I only said the truth," said Marie, rubbing her waist.

"Ahem* I am okay. Thank you for asking," said Silvy.

"Good then." I smiled.

And after a moment's pause, Silvy slowly walked towards the edge, and I followed behind.

"Umm..so what was it that you wanted to talk about?" I asked.

"I believe you already know."

"About master, right?"

"Yes," said Silvy, standing on the support of the edge. "I want to know everything that happened there—what River said, did, and how you tackled him."

"Yeah so...."

Time slipped away, the minutes stretching into an hour, as I recounted every small detail of the events that happened at the mountain of Keral. I painted a vivid picture of how River came into my room. His betrayal, poisoning the master's meal, his attempt to kill us, and my fight with him till he stabbed me. I revealed his confessions, where he accused Master of being the reason that his father was dead.

Queen listened to me throughout without interrupting. Even Marie was looking stunned as I spoke, as this was the first time she was hearing all this from me.

"That's what happened after that; I lost my consciousness." I said.

*Clut*

With the flicker, Queen Silvy closed her fan and, looking down, let out a big sigh*

She held her head in stress, thinking over everything I said.

"I see.." said Silvy.

"Is everything okay?" I asked curiously.

I got no answer from Silvy.

"River was misunderstanding something, right?"

"I doubt," said Silvy. "When the battle at the coast happened, it was the last fight of Marthanda with the intruders of the other kingdom. I wasn't the queen. so I don't have any proper idea."

"But Master would never do anything like that." I said. "I am sure, there must be something else to the story." 

"Yeah, I hope so."

As we stood there, our gazes drifted downward, each lost in our own contemplation.

"Keep this information confidential for now until we know everything," said Silvy. "As Marthanda is looked at as a hero in Aetheria, if that turns out to be false, People will panic."

"Alright," I replied.

"Even the fact that River broke through the prison has already thrown uproar in the kingdom.

"And yes, that's the other main reason I called you here."

"Means? I didn't get it." I said.

"River... didn't break the prison by himself," said Silvy.

A rise in awareness crept over me.

"Then?" I asked.

"Someone helped him," said Silvy.

"Who can that be?"

"We don't know exactly, but breaking through the prison from inside is impossible. As it rebounds, Infusion."

"....."

"And I don't know anyone apart from the two elite knights and me who can melt down the prison like that."

I didn't reply to anything in response, as I had no idea where this was leading to.

Those two elite knights are always with the Queen, so doubting them is out of the question.

"So what does this mean?" I asked.

"Someone from the outside came and did it."

"Huhh?" I expressed. "By outside, you mean..."

"From Murk."

"Dieties..." I said.

"Possibly..we don't know for sure yet."

"I see."

*OWWW*

"That startled me," said Marie.

Our attention shifted towards the pond, where Marie sat, and a sudden splash caused her to recoil in surprise as a fish leaped unexpectedly.

"What are you doing, Idiot?" I said, laughing.

"Nothing, jeez. I am not playing with them anymore after this," replied Marie.

Even Queen Silvy smiled at Marie's reaction.

"Anyways, you can go now. That's all I wanted to talk about," said Silvy.

"Okay, Cool." I replied.

As I bowed to depart, a sudden question took over, and I turned back to Silvy and asked.

"And yes, when can I see Master again?"

"At present, he is unconscious, so you can't," said Silvy. "But as soon as he is able to speak, I'll let you know."

"Alright. Thank you very much for everything."

"You too, Eleanor." Silvy said it in a weird tone, as if warning me about something.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Don't forget that River is still out there, and he might come back anytime soon."

"...."

Yeah, she is right. I can't lower my guard just because he ran away. He is still vengeful towards Master.

"Marthanda is heavily guarded and will be safe, I can assure you, as he is in the palace under our watch," said Silvy.

"I am glad to know that."

"Take care of yourself. Marie, stay close to her. The odds of two winning against him will be higher," said Silvy, looking at Marie.

"You don't have to say that, Majesty. I am not leaving her side as long as I am alive," replied Marie, holding my arms from side to side.

"That's good, then."

I gave a faint bow, turned back, and started walking out of the hall with Marie.

"Come, Elea, let me show you the kingdom properly," said Marie, putting her hand over my shoulders.

Sometimes it feels like we are male buddies or something.

"Oh, yes, I do want to see things around."

As the grand doors of the palace swung shut behind us, we emerged onto the bustling street of the kingdom of Aetheria, greeted by the vibrant energy of the waking city and the warmth of the morning sun from above.

I took a deep breath and tried to forget that I was on the verge of death a few days ago, while being cautious that I might get attacked again by River. With those things in mind, I took a step ahead.

"Let's go."