Kitanna
Chapter 101: THE KING’S DAUGHTER

Chapter 101: THE KING’S DAUGHTER

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: DERNIÉRE DANSE ~ INDILA]

The crowd was deadly quiet, as if frozen by a stronger force. You could hear the heartbeat of everyone; the loudest came from Khelan. Then... three... two... one...

A man asked from among the commoners, "Who are the imposters then?"

Mubera chanted again, her harsh bells no longer sounding melodious in the ears of people. It only appeared to rise the already heated tension. She swayed her body back and forth, her strong voice reverberating among the crowd once more, and she said in a strong voice,

"Those who have their hands soiled with the blood of King Dunstan and his original queen."

The confusion in the crowd became evident; murmurs erupted as people turned around to question each other. The original queen? The only king’s wife they have known was the queen dowager. One of the young men turned to Cortez, thinking he was from their kingdom, and he asked,

"Did you hear her? She said the original queen. What do you think she is on about?" The man asked with a knitted brow.

Cortez pointed to his chest to make sure the man was actually referring to him. The man who had spoken nodded, confirming that the conversation was for both of them.

"I think a big secret," Cortez replied. "We should listen to the end." The other man nodded and faced his front.

Axilla was surprised when she heard the young master answer a question without being sarcastic. But she was even more interested in the events that were now unraveling in front of them.

Almaria and Deonisia were too stunned; they didn’t expect this turn out. So they didn’t have a comeback for it. Their bodies turned cold on their chair.

"The people of Morado, you might not be aware of what I am about to say. But on the wedding day of the former king, the real queen became very sick. Her health was too weak that she couldn’t go ahead with the usual outdoor wedding. And so it was done inside, with a few officials who were present but have disappeared mysteriously today. The queen’s health became even worse after the birth of the princess, and just before the next full moon. She passed on. It was later that King Dunstan discovered that his queen was being poisoned." Mubera clarified the doubts that were now rising in the minds of the people.

"How dare you! Traitor?" It was Almaria who voiced out, her last words and pointers directed at the high priestess. Her whole body trembled with both fear and anger. She had never felt this sense of betrayal in her life. She turned to look at Deonisia pleading for help, but her cousin’s gaze was directed at someone else.

Almaria followed her eyes, and she saw the mocking face of the princess. Kitanna relaxed on her chair, waving for the maids to increase the fanning on her. The ride was just starting.

Almaria staggered and sat back on her chair. She turned to meet the eyes of her son, who was also tongue-tied at the very moment.

"How will the priestess know all these?" One of the ministers who was in the position because of the queen dowager asked, trying to defend her and suck favour later, if everything settled. But it was not today, everything will only be settled with Almaria’s downfall.

Mubera was very ready for this; the princess had already sent her ace card to the shrine the night that Almaria and Deonisia left. It was when she decided to switch positions. All odds were in the favor of the princess. Mubera did not want to play a losing game. Thinking back now, she was abandoned by these two women until they needed her help. It will be no news if they even resorted to killing her after she had played her part. Mubera knew too much of their secret, and she preferred to take her punishment from the hands of the princess rather than sinners who were just like her.

"To justify this truth, I will call on the former king’s head eunuch, who will attest to my words," Mubera moved to the side and allowed Severus to climb the podium.

Almaria widened her eyes in shock; this was not possible. This man was supposed to be in the prison; any word from him will be their downfall because he saw and heard everything.

"Guards! Seize that man; he tried to kill the former king!" Almaria barked the order; her tone was laced with urgency. She turned around to see that the guards now stood behind them, not in a protective style, but in defensive mode. It was then it made more sense to Almaria, she was not going to leave as she pleased.

Before the ritual, Nix had given his instructions to the guards. Some of them who had difficulty trusting his words were locked up, to be released after the events were over. He didn’t want any loose ends; Nix wanted this battle to be over with as quickly as possible.

Almaria turned her head, and when she saw it was a losing game, she dropped on her chair. A small sad laugh escaping her lips.

Severus now mounted on the podium, bowed deeply to the princess. "Greetings, Princess Kitanna, the only true child of King Dunstan."

Kitanna nodded in acknowledgment, and the man continued facing the crowd, "I was the head eunuch during the reign of King Dunstan. And those two women there were the personal maids of the former queen!"

Gasps erupted from the crowd; there was too much shock they could swallow all in one day. Even the ministers were surprised to hear this announcement.

Cortez rubbed his hands gently to get Axilla’s attention, and when she turned blinking at him, he noticed the surprise on her face too. "Your kingdom seems to have too much drama." He grinned.

Axilla turned her face, inching closer to get more news.

"They had the queen being poisoned even before the wedding; that was why she became weak. That period was a time of war, so King Dunstan was occasionally at home. When the war ended with the help of one of the white Lords who lost his life for the sake of this kingdom, the king made a treaty so that there will be no more war. But when he finally returned to officially marry his wife, she had become weak. The king was accused by palace maid Alm-" Severus was not allowed to complete his statement because the next moment Almaria gingerly stood up from her chair.

"I am not a palace maid! I am queen dowager. The king’s mother, I will make sure you all are punished for this!" Her eyes raged, looking at the princess, her guard, and the high priestess.

Bareea and Larel were shocked at the revelations they heard, just like everyone else. They sat coldly on their seats, waiting for the outcome.

One of the guards held Almaria down, making her sit forcefully on the chair and restricting her movements.

Deonisia’s eyes were now on Nix; she bit her lips harshly, drawing blood. How did she miss him? His features were only peculiar to the white Lords. Now that she heard it from the eunuch, she confirmed it. But news had it that the white Lord who lost his life during the battle had no heir. Heiron, that cunning old whiz.

Deonisia clenched her fist; she turned to see her cousin being held down with force. There was no point fighting; if Nix was truly a descendant of the white Lord and was supporting Kitanna, for now, their battle was over.

Severus turned to look at Kitanna, and she nodded for him to continue.

"The king was accused of infidelity, and her cousin sister, also a palace maid, Deonisia testified. King Dunstan being gentle and kind, accepted the child. When he found out about their crime and that he was not the one who fathered Almaria’s son. He had asked them to leave the palace quietly, but the maid being tenacious used the king’s daughter as her shield. And that was when she began to poison King Dunstan. When the king died, most of us who were aware either disappeared mysteriously or passed away suddenly. I was accused of poisoning the king as I was the only one allowed to serve him. I stayed in the prison for losing counts of days"

Severus finally ended his speech and stepped down, allowing Mubera to talk.

"The heavenly king is angry that the true royal blood has been cast aside, and an attempt on her life has been made once by that imposter." Mubera pointed at Almaria who snarled at her. It didn’t faze the high priestess.

One of the ministers who recovered from the shock faster than others stood up, and asked, "If that is so, the throne belongs to the princess, but she is unmarried and cannot be allowed to ascend the throne yet."

Kitanna handed a scroll that had the royal seal on it to Chantal; it was among the letters left by the former king. Chantal gave it to the minister who had spoken, and he read it out loud.

"On the account of my death, and if the princess is yet to be married. The affairs of the kingdom will be governed by Lord Hieron, and if he is not alive. His grandson shall take this position until the princess is ready." The minister passed the scroll to others for them to read.

The crowd began to complain, "The white Lords? People with the blood of poison. They will destroy this kingdom."

"They will be our downfall."

The people continued to whisper amongst themselves.

Kitanna finally rose up from her chair, and she stepped to address the crowd.

"My father’s last wish will be held, and it is up for no debate. The white Lords have only helped in keeping this kingdom safe; the security you enjoy is because of the people of Wahels. But now, to govern the affairs until I take over, you complain bitterly. I am the king’s daughter, the next in line to the throne, and I accept my father’s decision."

The crowd became silent, waiting for the princess to announce her punishment for the people who had killed the former king. By the laws of Morado, it was an offense punishable by death.

"The punishment for the crimes of these imposters will be announced soon. For now, guards, take Almaria and Deonisia to the royal prison." Kitanna removed all titles attached to their names.

"Khelan would be confined to his room until the crown is properly handed over. He should be given that last respect." Kitanna’s orders were carried out effectively.

As the guards dragged Khelan away, he hung his head in shock and disbelief. It was like the events unfolding were not happening to him personally; he was dumbfounded. Deonisia raised her hands not to be dragged as she followed the guards obediently.

Almaria wriggled out of the guard’s hands and ran to where Kitanna was, before she could get any closer she was stopped by Nix.

"You both will pay for this... both of you, I will be back." Almaria raged, pointing her fingers at the both of them.

"You always make a big show to disgrace yourself. Every ritual is a step to your downfall." Kitanna whispered to the woman.

The guards dragged Almaria away; her eyes brightened realizing what Kitanna meant. The last ritual that was held for the rainfall, the princess had come back unscathed after being assassinated.

Kitanna turned to face Nix, "Why did you ask me not to mention the mouse."

Nix turned to look at the crowd, then the princess who was small in size. "Too much revelations for today."