Chapter 21: Framed
1101 Words
Chapter 21: Framed
Third Person's POV
"What kind of ridiculous news is this!"
General Kiros gritted his teeth as his chest heaves up and down from the tumultuous emotions he is currently feeling.
Zen is still blankly looking at his father's face, looking for confirmation to the incredulous news of the Queen's deed to the late king.
Zen might dismiss Nem for being the Queen, but it is only because she took the crown earlier than they all expected.
He grew up with her and understand how pure and kind-hearted she is. She could even tolerate him. A young and innocent girl like her should be protected to avoid being smeared by the dirty machinations in the royal family.
"Father, calm down and analyze the content of the letter."
Zen went up to his father's side and patted his back in comfort. His father is a loyal supporter of the late king and he is also one of the few who watched the Queen's growth since childhood.
Hearing his son's rational words, General Kiros tamped down his agitation and started to read the letter again from top to bottom without leaving out even a single word. His brows also crumpled the longer he looked.
"Husband, do you think the letter is from one of the opposing forces of the late king?"
Kiros' wife worriedly voiced her thoughts. The late king controlled the kingdom well, but there are some of his close relatives in the royal family that has been always coveting the throne.
"It's likely their doing, but this letter is detailed, and there is also a part where five people wrote the process of the current Queen ordering them to poison the king as witnesses.There are three royal physicians and two palace servants that have posts that attends to the king daily."
"This is absurd, how could a simple letter from an unknown source be reliable for the officials and nobles to believe."
Kiros' wife frowned in displeasure at the schemes behind the letter. Kiros helplessly looked at his wife.
She doesn't understand the severity of the situation. The letter is only a small medium to attack the current queen.
The content of the letter and the sender might be unreliable, but this small wave can become a wave that can swallow the whole kingdom if not treated seriously.
Especially with the unstable rule of the young queen, as well as the wavering hearts of the citizens. All of it could be used to destroy the already breaking balance.
Kiros clenched his fists and hurriedly stuffed the letter in his inner pocket before ordering the housekeeper to prepare his horse.
He needs to go to the royal palace and warn the queen. He also needs to stop the dissemination of the letter, especially to stop the news from reaching the citizens or else everything will go downhill.
A letter that contains false information does not mean much to the royal family, but if the citizens are driven to believe the content of the letter by someone, the worst that could happen would be a revolt that will bring chaos to the whole kingdom.
The housekeeper quickly brought the horse of the general and watched him saunter away like the wind. The housekeeper have been serving the general for years, and he also knows how severe things will be if nothing is done.
At the royal palace of the Regin Kingdom. The former Queen's royal chamber.
"Has there been any commotion outside about Asteria's rule?"
Former Queen Aria gracefully lifted the embroidered exquisite pouch that she have been working on for three days.
"This one heard that the commoners warmly received the queen for the reform of the paying of tax and the rents of land deeds."
Her personal maid cleaned up the pieces of thread on the small table in the lounge they are in. Another palace maid behind the former queen remembered what she heard earlier on her way to the royal kitchen, and she immediately lowered her head to quietly whisper in former queen Aria's ears
"Your majesty, this one heard that the old duke passed away with the same illness as his majesty the late king."
The slim hand holding the soft pouch paused with the mention of her beloved man. Former Queen Aria smiled lightly to disperse the gloomy feeling in her heart.
"I have also heard from the first princess about the old duke. It is really pitiful for that child Amayris to suffer like this."
The personal maid brewed a fresh hot tea before serving it to her master. She also lowered her head to speak softly.
"Your majesty is right, the third princess is really pitiful. The third princess barely survived to grow until this day with her weak body while also enduring to drink bitter medicine and suffer with the painful medicinal baths, but now she fainted twice from the shock of the old duke's passing."
Aria sighed ruefully at the cruel fate of that young and innocent child.
"Let's just hope for that child to live longer so she can have more time to experience the warmth of the world."
The lounge of the royal chamber was suddenly plunged in silence, until hurried small footsteps approaching the door sounded out loud.
"Mother, I came to see you."
A sweet and soft immature voice gently called and the silent atmosphere suddenly warmed up with the litte prince's presence.
At the same moment, Royal Knight Zyar already arrived in the manor of the old duke, and with the queen's personal brooch, he led the two experts to the resting place of the old duke in the quiet and isolated medium-sized room surrounded by a beautiful garden of orchids.
All of the relatives of the old duke, as well as his royal consort daughter are busy preparing for his funeral.
They did not have any objection with Zyar's purpose, and allowed him to enter the small room with only the two experts as they dismissed the servants in silent cooperation to keep things confidential.
The royal physician and the poison expert quickly examined the old duke's body that is riddled with rotting skin and flesh.
The examination lasted for two hours and the light of the sun outside slowly began to set, and general Kiros have also entered the royal palace directly inside the Queen's royal study.
"What do you think it is...is it really poison?"
Zyar's voice held a slight tremble and his staunch stature visibly deflated a bit with the positive response.
This is the worst outcome.
Everything changes with this conclusion.
- Writer
