The Forgotten Queen

Isla Trivia has flawless skin with midnight blue hair and electric blue eyes. Her movement was graceful, like a swan on a crystal lake. She dressed elegantly like a perfect doll. A perfect caged bird. At age twelve, she was kidnapped from her kingdom and forced to marry the irresponsible Crown Prince Aeson Leo Luminis. Since that marriage, Isla was taught her roles as Crown Princess and how to behave and be a noble lady. The King was obsessed with Isla, always praising her talents, grace, and beauty. The Queen would give her the cold shoulder but kept her by her side and on her toes. Her husband ignored Isla, and when forced to talk to her, he would make rude comments and even embarrass her in front of everyone. Five years passed, and Isla endured everything in the palace and never saw any other place but the palace. She got too used to the court. She felt like a prisoner, especially learning about her husband's sinful deeds outside the palace walls. King Vincent fell ill, and an heir's demand fell upon Isla. But how could she have a child when her husband disappears? On top of the pressure, she had to take on her husband's workload, and he took the current for work he had never done. Later that winter, King Vincent passed away, and nothing changed other than Isla became Queen. King Aeson would be visiting brothels religiously, changing women more than he changed clothes. The more he disrespected her, the more others disrespected her. "How does his Majesty's birthday celebration look?" Isla asked, looking through an estimate as the palace butler spoke to her. "Everything is going to plan, your Grace," he said. She nodded slightly, took hold of the imperial seal, and stumped on the book. Gracefully, Isla stood on her feet, and everyone in the office bowed their heads. She strolled out of the office with her handmaidens and guards following her. The grand hallway was silent, and servants along the way stepped aside and bowed to Queen Isla. Once passed, the servants whispered, "isn't that the cold Queen?" One asked. "Hush!" Another said, slapping the servant's hand. Isla ignored them. Even the servants gossiped about her, believing she was a monster that scared her husband. Everyone had something to say about this foreigner who ruled their kingdom. She strolled to the Queen Dowager's palace. "May the holy light bless Queen Dowager with long-lasting health and glory," Isla said as she curtsied and bowed her head. Queen Dowager Brianne gave Isla a sly glare, seated on the sofa with a teacup. Brianne turned her gaze forward to one of her handmaidens across from her. "You may rise," Queen Dowager said. Isla rose and stood in the same spot with an expressionless face. The Queen Dowager places her teacup down and does not glance at Isla. "Are you with child?" she asked. "Unfortunately, I am not..." Isla said. The Queen Dowager took a deep breath and gazed at the teacup. "As a Queen, you have a role to play. You have been married into this family for five years and are given a great opportunity. Now we only ask that you produce an heir." Given a great opportunity!? They dragged her out of her home, forced her to marry their son, and threatened to learn their ways. She never wanted this. She never had a chance to mourn her people's deaths. "Thank you for your advice, Queen Dowager. I will take it to heart, your grace..." Isla said, bowing her head. "You may leave." Isla curtsied, muttering a farewell before walking out. She gracefully strolled out of the palace when one of her handmaidens suggested a stroll in the garden. The warm winter sun grazed against Isla's fair skin. She continued to walk gracefully with an expressionless face, glancing around and seeing servants from afar working in the garden. The beautiful garden still had flowers blooming, but Isla found it boring. Giggles stopped Isla in her tracks. She glanced around, trying to find the person who giggled gleefully in the garden. Isla continued to move forward, following the joy. Suddenly, Isla stopped again in her tracks, and she saw a beauty seated in the gazebo. Her free sunny blonde hair flowed with the light breeze and caressed her blushed cheeks. Her forest green eyes crescented as she flashed a wide, warm smile while giggling. The garden beauty leaned forward with a cake in her hand, and a man leaned forward. His lips parted with a grin, and the woman slipped the cake into his mouth. The man, Isla, knew as he leaned back and turned his head, then smirked devilishly at Isla. That man was her husband. King Aeson. He glanced back at his lady with a gentle smirk, caressing her blushed cheek, and chuckled something at her. It was the first time Aeson had a woman in the palace in broad daylight. Isla's heartbeat increased, but her facial expression did not change, and she approached the gazebo. She did not want to, but she had to greet the King. "Many blessings to the golden lion," Isla said, bowing her head as she curtsied. Aeson gazed down at Isla with a smug smile, leaning back and placing his hand on his lady, who looked nervous. "You may rise," he said, shrugging his shoulders. Isla stood, staring at her husband while trying not to stare at Aeson's lady friend. "This is Lady Marie Nichols, daughter of Lord Michael Nichols." Isla glanced at the shy lady Marie as she lowered her head and was about to stand. But Aeson stopped Marie by grabbing her wrist and pulling her to sit back down. Marie glanced between Aeson and Isla awkwardly and nervously, then bowed her head. "You may leave," Aeson said, waving his hand for her to go. Isla bowed before turning on her heels and walking away. Aeson watched her walk away like nothing more than a slave. He sneered, rolled his eyes, and then turned to Marie, who smiled warmly. He grinned back at her and took a cake with his free hand. Days later, Isla sees a lot of Marie within the palace and the gardens. Of course, she was confused, as she knew her husband never stayed with the same lady longer than a night. But Marie seemed to be different, and Isla would find out at the King's birthday celebration. "Where is my son, the King?" the Queen Dowager asked in a harsh whisper with a tight smile to the nobles that watched. Isla, who was seated next to the Queen Dowager, showed no tension. "He will be here soon," she said, glancing over at her handmaiden, who shrugged her shoulders. The nobles' chuckles and murmuring caught Isla's attention as she glanced in their direction. They glanced over at her, muttering and pointing at her. She knew they were talking about her, maybe saying how she threw a party without the King's knowledge. "HIS MAJESTY, KING AESON LEO LUMINIS, AND LADY MARIE NICHOLS!" The announcer said. The doors opened, and King Aeson, with Lady Marie, holding his arm, entered the ballroom with grace. The room beamed with harsh gasps and muttering under people's breaths as they bowed to their King while he walked down to the ballroom floor. Isla remained the same, seated on her throne, watching King Aeson approach the throne with his mistress in his arms. He smirked at Isla as he stood before the throne and turned his heels to face the audience. "Thank you for coming to my birthday celebration. As I gain another year, I gain someone I want to spend the rest of my life with." Aeson said, glancing at a shy-looking Maire. "Tonight, I am announcing my engagement to Lady Marie Nichols. The future Queen of Veritas." The entire ballroom was silent until one person cheered. "LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!" Everyone cheered along, and Lady Marie smiled widely, clenching Aeson's arm, and they gazed into each other's eyes. Isla remained still on her throne, feeling unease, but a part of her told her this was her chance for her freedom. However, Queen Dowager called a small meeting with Aeson, dragging Isla. "What are you thinking!?" Queen Dowager asked angrily. She stood in front of her son, glaring up at him. Aeson turned his head away from his mother. "Have you forgotten your father's orders? You are only King with Isla and--" "He is dead," Aeson said, slowly turning to stare down at his mother. "I am King now and can do as I please." The Queen Dowager tilted her head slightly and smirked. She nods her head, "okay... But good luck convincing the Church of Light." She glanced over at Isla, who quietly stood at the back and listened in. "Fix this mess and have a child to make up for this embarrassment." Queen Dowager said before walking out of the room. Aeson and Isla stood in the room in silence until Aeson sighed loudly and then slipped his hands into his pockets. He looked away from Isla and said, "tomorrow, Lady Marie will be under your care, and you must teach her the ways of being a Queen of this kingdom." Isla remained silent, bowed, and curtsy to Aeson. He rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. Aeson was still going through with his plan despite the warning from his mother. But his mother was right. The Church of Light would not allow him to divorce Isla unless he reasons such as witchcraft, treason, or a******y. However, those reasons could get Isla killed. Unless that was his plan, to have Isla killed. She sighed under her breath and was about to leave for her palace, but the palace butler entered. "Apologize, Your Majesty. You are needed in the study," he said as he bowed. "Of course..." Isla said, gracefully strolling out the room. There was no rest for Isla. As she approached the study, she wondered if Aeson was going to take responsibility finally or was he going to throw the work to Marie. Isla shook her head at the idea that Marie was making all the commitments. But why should Isla care? The following morning, Isla wakes up at the usual time before dawn and heads to the study. However, she was surprised to see Aeson going through the paperwork in the study. She froze by the door frame, and Aeson glanced over at her, furrowing his brows. "Why are you here?" he asked. Isla cleared her throat and shook her head, bowing at Aeson. "Good morning, Your Grace. May the--" "State your business." Aeson cuts her off, rolling his eyes and sounding annoying to her. The servants in the room glanced between their King and Queen, feeling awkward. The palace butler noticed the servants' awkwardness, and he gave a silent warning with his gaze. "Forgive my rudeness, Your Grace. Usually, I start my day by doing the royal duties," Isla said. "This is not your place. Have you forgotten the orders I have given you?" "No, I have not..." "Good! You may leave." Isla was shocked yet not too surprised by Aeson's rudeness. Nevertheless, she never thought he would take control of everything suddenly. Instead of being saddled with it, he took everything by force and with power. And all Isla could do was bow and then leave the study, feeling awkward as she had nothing planned until later in the afternoon. So, Isla spent her entire morning in the garden and had tea and cakes. She was at peace until Lady Marie approached the gazebo. "Greetings, Your Grace!" Marie said while bowing a bit rudely. "Greetings, Lady Nichols..." Isla said, taking one last sip of tea. She stood up from her seat and approached Marie, who stood midway down the steps. "Your lessons will be held in the imperial library." Marie giggled, nodding her head, and Isla walked down the steps. Marie followed behind. A squeal escaped Marie's lips out of the blue, and she fell to the floor. Isla glanced at Marie in confusion. Everyone around gazed at Isla and Marie and murmuring buzzed through the garden. Marie groaned, rubbing her ankle and Isla stepped forward, wanting to help Marie up. However... "Marie!" Aeson's concerned voice echoed in the garden, and Isla glanced in his direction as he ran to Marie. He went to his knees and wrapped his arm around Marie's shoulders. "Are you okay?" he asked, and his free hand caressed her belly area. "What did you do!?" Aeson asked, snapping a burning glare up at Isla.