Chapter 35

"PETRA WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER'S SISTER," Paula told Magnolia who was still shocked from the revelation. "Since she was a child, she was groomed and educated for the sole purpose of becoming the queen, and everyone treated her as such," she added. "As soon as they reached adulthood, King Titus married Petra. They had spent a great time together since childhood, so they had become close friends."

"If they were friends, then why was she erased from the history of this country?" Magnolia asked with a bitter taste in her mouth.

"There was a lot of pressure on both of them, especially in the first few years of their marriage," Paula explained. "The years passed without them being able to conceive a child. Everyone started being anxious for an heir and the elders started whispering in the king's ears. They pressured him to take a second wife, even though it had never happened before in our kingdom."

'A second wife?'

Magnolia could not even blink at the thought of how devastating it must have been for Petra.

"Greedy men started throwing their daughters at the king, he did not cave in at first, but a few years later, he succumbed to the seduction of a count's daughter, the current queen." Disappointment and disgust were painted all over Paula's face. "She was barely an adult, half his age. Everyone was against the marriage, of course."

"Because of the age difference?" Magnolia's curiosity increased by the minute.

"No, because Monika Saknas was not a pureblood. She had no powers and neither did her father." Paula shrugged. "But the king was in love with her, and he decided to go against every opposition. Your grandfather, Duke Gottanlich and Duke Van Konigl, even though Daniel's father was still young at the time, they were the ones most opposed to the marriage. It went against every belief and tradition that this kingdom stood for."

"Does that mean that Princess Aurora and the Crown Prince do not possess any magical powers?"

"That is correct." Paula inched a bit closer to her. "Thus, the opposition the king has been getting from some nobles. There is also the issue of the crown prince's poor health, the nobles are pushing him to have another son, but as his doctor, I know it's too late for him to have any more children." Paula sighed. "There is also the Barons Faction who have been suspiciously getting stronger."

"Wouldn't it be a good thing for the Barons if the royals could no longer use magic?" Magnolia pondered.

"Exactly, they are taking the opportunity to make a place for themselves and bare their teeth at the nobility."

"They will not have any teeth left when I am done with them." Magnolia whispered as memories from Baron Cross' attack flooded her mind.

Paula did not say anything. She just stared at the duchess with sympathetic eyes.

"What happened to the first queen?" Magnolia finally uttered.

"She lived in the palace for a few years after the king remarried." Paula sighed. "But she couldn't take it, the distress of the man who she was destined to be with leaving her was too much for her. She slowly lost her sanity."

Magnolia covered her mouth in shock.

"The whole incident nearly caused a rebellion led by your grandfather. But thankfully they came to an arrangement," Paula explained. "In exchange for Duke Gottanlich to be able to take Petra out of the palace and back to her family, King Titus' condition was for your grandfather to lose any political power in the country and change his family name. He was also not allowed to set foot in the capital."

"Did Petra get better when she went back to her family?"

Paula shook her head. "Sadly, she took her own life a few months after that."

A few tears raced down Magnolia's cheeks without her even noticing. Her chest was so tight she could hardly breathe.

'Poor Petra.'

"The duke swore that he would avenge his sister," Paula said.

"Did he?" Magnolia asked.

Paula considered her words very carefully. The rumors must have had some truth to them, because all evidence pointed to it. The king was the one to order the extermination of House Gottanlich.

The only reason Paula stayed in the palace after her sister and her brother-in-law died was to investigate. Because, like the Gottanlichs, the Van Konigls were also in the opposition and the duke was gaining more influence amongst the nobility. Paula believed that Titus killed Daniel's parents as well.

She had kept her speculations and investigation from her nephew all these years, but when she found out that his wife was none other than the sole survivor of the Gottanlich family, she could not help but think that it was a sign from the Gods.

'What are the odds of the last purebloods of the kingdom finding each other and ending up married? It must be destiny.'

"Magnolia, what I am about to tell is not proven, but there are high chances that it is true. I am personally investigating the matter." Magnolia leaned in closer to her unconsciously. "I believe the king was the one to order your family to be killed," Paula whispered to her.

Her words made Magnolia's body freeze. She blinked a few times as Paula's words sank in.

'The man I met a few weeks ago at the ball, he killed my entire family?'

Magnolia shook her head in disbelief. A ball formed in her throat. It was even more difficult for air to reach her lungs. Suddenly, she pushed to her feet.

"Excuse me…I need a moment."

Magnolia took fast steps away from Paula, she had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that she needed to get away.

Her steps became faster, more urgent, until she found herself sprinting through the woods as fast as she could.

She finally stopped when she reached the edge of a hill. She put her hand on her side and tried to draw more air in.

Her tears were unstoppable, and her heart twisted in pain. She had never had this feeling before, even when she stood desperate in front of Serena Larson's whip.

She howled and cried, letting her rage and sorrow free. She fell to the ground and looked up to the sky with blurry vision.

"You have never heard my prayers, never sent anyone to save me, so I will not pray to you this time."

'You can just watch me as I burn this wretched kingdom to ashes.'