Chapter 4

Elora took deep breaths to clear her crowded thoughts and focused on materializing her scythe.

A hazy red smoke formed swirled, gradually fusing into physical form. She felt faint as her strength drained, her milky skin paling even more, sweat beading on her forehead.

Though elated at successfully summoning her weapon, she tested her other powers: invisibility, time manipulation, teleportation, memory manipulation, and darkness manipulation.

None of them responded. Only her death sense and her ability to see the dead were active, even if only weakly. It was something, at least.

Exhausted, Elora collapsed on the bed, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. She had managed to access three of her powers, but they were a mere drizzle to her former strength.

''Your Majesty,'' a maid called out from the doorway. Two others followed behind her, carrying trays of covered food.

''Enter,'' Elora said weakly, sitting up as her stomach growled out in hunger. After the effort, her body craved for food. She eyed the trays eagerly but kept her calm demeanor in place, remembering her position.

She wondered how food would taste after not eating for so many years. The old chef she had once escorted to the afterlife raved about his dishes, claiming no mortal could resist the taste of a well-cooked meal.

She anticipated the mouthwatering taste when she accidentally heard a thought. (I hope Her Majesty sees my qualities and takes me as her maid. Then I can wrap her around my fingers, turning her into my puppet. I'm no worse than her family.) the maid fantasizes about her dreams to come.

''Your Majesty, you should try the roasted lamb; it is the speciality of today,'' she said in a matter-of-fact tone like Elora was supposed to listen to her words.

Elora's mood soured instantly, making her lose her appetite at the maid's outrageous thought. Then she heard another. (hmph, the queen is a fine match for my son. Once they marry, as her mother-in-law, I'll have the right to advise her.) this thought flowed out of the older woman's mind; she was the one in charge of this batch of maids.

Elora turned to the other maid, hoping to hear something positive and normal but this one was the worst. (When Her Highness Aurora takes over the throne from this useless queen, I'll ask for the queen. Once she's in my hands, I will peel out her face and brand it in hot iron. How dare she seduce my crush?) Elora's stomach churned, all her appetite fading.

What the hell? Has it gotten to the point that even a mere maid dared to scheme and torture their queen, and all this in one day? Was this body this weak to be disregarded in this manner?

How is she going to live with these two-faced humans? And there are more hidden, even the relatives she had not laid eye upon.

She felt like she didn't have the respect and reverence accorded to a queen of the third strongest kingdom.

She fixed the women with an icy stare, causing them to shift uncomfortably,

''Guards,'' she called, her voice cold. ''take them away. Dig out their eyes for staring at me with such disrespect. Have the magic chamber demolished.''

The maid's eyes widened in horror. They dropped to their knees, begging for mercy, wondering how they angered Her Majesty.

'' Your Majesty, please be merciful....'' one whimpered. The other could only cry in fear.

''I serve Princess Aurora,'' the last maid added, her voice tinged with threat. ''she will not be pleased if you kill her people.''

Elora's gaze darkened. ''stop,'' she ordered. The maid smirked, thinking she had succeeded. The guards' hands tightened with disappointment at the queen's hesitation. All their hopes were dashed only for them to be shocked and elated at her next words.

''I've changed my mind,'' Elora said after a pause, her voice as cold as ice. ''Tie her between two war horses and make them run in opposite directions.'' she waited for them to get the clear, gruesome image in their minds before adding, her words sending shivers down their spines.

''wrap half of her remains and gift it to my dear cousin, Aurora. Tell her it's a present from the queen.''

''Yes, Your Majesty!'' the guards bowed deeply, their hearts pounding with excitement.

The other two women didn't cry out or beg, realizing it might worsen their fate. They regretted why they had to deliver dinner to the queen.

The once confident maid, screamed out in terror ''ahh! Let me go! Please forgive me...'' the guard muted her lips and walked out faster.

Elora felt her appetite coming back and wasn't bothered by the earlier episode. After living without a heart all the years, you expect her to grow one?

She uncovered the food, the glistening sheen of roasted lamb caught her eyes, making her mouth water.

She cut a piece and put it in her mouth. ''hmm...what's this heavenly thing?!'' she screamed into her mind. As she chewed, the juice exploded on her tongue, doing wonders for her taste buds.

She didn't care for her image and cut out huge chunks, wolfing it down with squinting eyes, and lips covered in oil.

She felt at a loss when the meat finished, and she opened the other cover to see a bowl of soup with floating chunks of meat and a long loaf of wheat bread.

She held the bowl and sipped it gently, 'haa!' she blew on her tongue, feeling the spiciness, but she couldn't stop; she picked up the bread, and it squeezed softly in her hands, showing the sponginess of the bread.

She took a bite and chewed and liked the plain taste; she ate it along with the soup, and she was almost weeping with joy.

Is this what I've been missing all these years? For this meal, she mentally forgave her former boss- at least fifty per cent.

Elora removed all distracting thoughts and wiped out all her food; not even crumbs remained. She rubbed her stomach, still feeling hungry. Tomorrow, she has to request more food.

Now she was satisfied, and in a better mood; she remembered she was supposed to check her magic level. Opening the pocket dimension again, she brought out the rune stone, and, following the memories of this body, she channelled her magic into it.