Free Web NovelChapter 51: The Queen’s Hand
Chapter 50: The Queen’s Hand
Lyria’s POV
For a moment after the Queen’s question fell into the silence of the chamber, no one moved.
Somewhere within the brazier, a thin stick of incense cracked softly as it burned.
I bowed once more.
The motion was slow and careful, the sort drilled into my bones after years within these walls.
"Your Majesty," I said gently, "it has always been my understanding that such matters are given by Your Majesty’s instruction."
"Ordinarily," I continued with careful politeness, "it is Your Majesty who determines when I am to attend upon Her Highness."
I paused only briefly before finishing the thought.
"As I did not receive any such instruction, I did not presume to impose myself upon the Princess’s presence."
The room grew very still.
For a moment there was nothing but then, the Queen laughed. It was not a pleasant sound to hear.
The chuckle that escaped her lips was low and dark, the sort of sound that held no humor whatsoever.
Beside her, Jacinta straightened slightly, her lips curving with anticipation.
The Queen tilted her head.
"How curious," she murmured.
Her jeweled fingers tapped the arm of the chaise.
"Tell me, Lyria... do you truly not know your place?"
The words were soft, almost conversational.
But there was steel beneath them.
I remained bowed.
"Your Majesty," I began carefully.
But the Queen spoke again before I could continue.
"Do you expect me," she said slowly, "to summon you like a nursemaid summons a child? Must I give you instruction before you do what is expected of you?"
Her voice cooled further. "Do you take me for a fool?"
I lifted my head slightly, though not enough to meet her eyes directly.
"No, Your Majesty," I said immediately. "Certainly not."
She was more a villain than a fool to me after all.
The Queen watched me as silence stretched.
"But as I said before," I said calmly, my words coming out measured, "Your Majesty did not summon—"
The crash shattered the air.
A teacup flew from the Queen’s hand and struck the marble floor with such violent force that it exploded into fragments.
I flinched despite myself, and that made Jacinta chuckle. There was no surprise there.
The broken pieces scattered across the floor, some skidding across the polished marble until they came to rest near my feet.
The Queen’s voice followed a moment later.
"Look at it."
I froze.
"Look at it, spawn of the demon!" she said again.
Slowly, I fixed my gaze on the broken teacup.
"Do you see it?" the Queen asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I said quietly.
The Queen leaned back against the chaise.
"That," she said calmly, "is what you are. A broken piece. And even far less valuable than the one currently lying next to your feet."
Her lips curved faintly as she continued. "Something that may only be put together when I decide it pleases me to do so."
My breathing remained steady.
But I felt the familiar tightening in my chest.
"Your life," the Queen continued coolly, "rests in my palm."
She lifted her hand slightly as though demonstrating the fact.
"I control it. And yet," she said, "you refuse to do what is asked of you."
I swallowed.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty," I said.
The Queen scoffed.
"Sorry," she repeated as her expression darkened. "Your apologies barely scratch the itch in my ears. You carry a crime, spawn of the devil."
Her gaze cut into me with something far colder than anger.
"You carry the crime of your mother."
My stomach tightened.
"That woman," she said bitterly, "seduced my husband."
Jacinta shifted slightly beside her mother, though she remained silent.
"And she became pregnant with you," the Queen said, then laughed.
"And even at that I still give her medicine to help her recover. I still give you food and let you live within these walls."
"It is such a pity your mother is ill though, for she would have been the one carrying her crimes alone."
"But she is sick," she said as her lips curved.
"And therefore the burden falls to you."
The Queen leaned forward slightly.
"One of your punishments," she said slowly, "is to watch. You will watch as the true Princess of this kingdom takes her rightful place."
She gestured lightly toward Jacinta.
"The true moon of this kingdom."
Jacinta lifted her chin with visible pride.
"You," the Queen continued, "are nothing but the shadow to that moon."
Her voice sharpened.
"You will stand beside her. You will watch her. You will observe as she becomes the woman of this empire."
"So that you may know," she said softly, "that whatever foolish dreams your mother entertained have come to nothing."
Her lips curled faintly.
"That pathetic scheme to make you the moon of this empire isn’t going to work. You are Jacinta’s shadow. You are nothing but a mere shadow."
Jacinta laughed quietly under her breath.
I nodded slowly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
My voice did not shake.
But inside my thoughts stirred restlessly.
The Queen really was delusional. My mother had been assaulted by the King and she still insists that my mother had seduced him.
It was laughable, really. And one thing I’ve come to learn was that the whole royal family was laughable.
I schooled my thoughts and my expression. I will leave the palace soon. I’ll leave with my mother and Patricia soon.
The Queen’s voice broke through my thoughts.
"Do you understand?"
I bowed again.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do as you command."
She studied me for several seconds.
Then she nodded once.
"Good. Now that that matter is settled, you should get to work. There is a ball to be attended this evening and you are to be present along with Jacinta. And I’m certain you know where it is you are to be?" she asked me.
I nodded once. "In the shadows."
She smiled, then turned to Jacinta.
"Get dressed, dear. Your spouses will be waiting for you, and the demon will never disrespect you again."
Jacinta smiled at her.
"Yes, Mother," she said delightedly.
