Kitanna
Chapter 116: THE LETTER

Chapter 116: THE LETTER

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Kitanna sat in front of her mirror, brushing her hair gently. Just as Nix had told her, he didn’t show up for dinner. She looked at her reflection, just then a soft knock came on her door.

"Who?" Kitanna asked; she was not expecting anyone by this time. Or did Nix come to see her? The thought warmed her heart, but her expression changed when she heard a female voice.

"Princess Kitanna, it’s me, Larel. Can I come in?" The young woman whispered like she didn’t want anyone to know of her presence.

Kitanna got up from her chair and went to open the door. She was surprised to see the former queen standing in front of her door. Anything that must have made her come this night would be important, Kitanna thought. Even though after the betrayal, their relationship had been strained. Larel was still someone Kitanna held as a very important person.

"Come in," the princess moved to the side, giving her space to enter the dimly lit room.

Larel walked inside, holding her dress nervously. "Did I disturb your sleep?" She asked worriedly.

Kitanna shook her head, "No, you did not," she replied looking at her.

"Princess Kitanna, I know I don’t have any right to this request I’m about to make. But please, I promise not to ask you for any favor after this, but I need your help." Larel’s voice now held a plea in it.

Kitanna knitted her brows, "Is it because of Khelan leaving the palace tomorrow? Nothing can be changed about that." She wanted the woman to know that it was the final judgment and if she was here to beg for it to be reversed, then she should better go and sleep as her mission tonight would be fruitless.

Larel shook her head slightly, "It’s not about that... It’s about Bareea’s son. Please, can he stay back in the palace?" She asked.

"I never asked Bareea to leave; the choice I gave you applied to both of you. Khelan is the only one banished, even though leaving his offspring to stay here will raise brows of the ministers, but the child did nothing wrong. I can’t force Bareea to stay if she doesn’t want to." Kitanna completed, seeing how worried the woman was; it was as if she was the actual mother to the child.

Larel bit her lips; she knew her next words might sound crazy, "I don’t mean it like that, can’t you leave the child with me? Bareea hasn’t been handling him with care, and I’m afraid she will do worse if they leave the palace."

Kitanna nodded her head understandingly, "I see, the child has grown on you. But I can’t separate the child from his mother. If Bareea decides to leave the palace with her child, there’s little or even nothing I can do to stop her."

Larel thought for some time and her eyes brightened when a thought crossed her mind. "There’s something; if you get a letter from the royal physician that she’s unwell mentally to train a child."

Kitanna widened her eyes in surprise, then she let out a small laugh. "You want me to fake a report? Why are you so concerned, just leave them be. I’m sure Bareea is just going through the shock phase; she would come around. No mother hates their child." The princess advised; she didn’t want to play a part in separating the child from the mother. It didn’t seem like the wise thing to do.

This final statement had Larel slouch her shoulder in disappointment, she dropped her hands defeatedly. Kitanna noticed this look and smiled; it seems like the birth of the boy saved one person in the palace. And it was Larel.

"What about you? Are you going back home tomorrow or joining your brother in the trade business?" Kitanna asked.

Larel shook her head, "I’ll just look for a small village and do normal work like everyone else. I can’t go back to my place like this. A woman that has been married before is seen as impure where I come from."

Kitanna nodded, that was the type of tradition they had. "That’s fine, I’d also want Axilla to come back to the palace. Let your brother know."

Larel smiled and nodded, then she bowed and left the room. She was sad she couldn’t get the child to be under her custody but she was glad she could now leave the palace and be a normal person. She just hoped and prayed Bareea would turn out to be a better mother for her son.

Kitanna, now standing alone inside her room, thought of what Larel had just told her. It made her think about the inept meaning of family. Sometimes family doesn’t have to be blood; the real mother of the boy couldn’t care more but Larel, who wasn’t his mother, was so worried about him.

This made Kitanna think about Almaria, maybe if she had cared about her just a little bit. Just maybe things would have turned out better, but how would she care about her when she poisoned Kitanna’s birth mother.

The princess brushed the thought off; there was no redemption for likes of Almaria. No need expecting good in them because it won’t ever come. Last she heard from the guards, the woman was going crazy. Lost in her thoughts, Kitanna noticed something move the corner of her eyes, and it was close to her window.

Kitanna walked straight to the window; there she saw a red paper now lying there. She peeked outside but there was nobody there. Picking up the letter, she read the contents and folded it back. Kitanna raised her pillow and hid the letter under there.

The next day arrived, which was finally the day for Khelan to leave the palace and Morado forever. The ministers arrived very early in the morning, preparing to see the former king cast out of the palace.

Hieron arrived at the palace entrance; next to him was Nix. The both of them were having a hangover; they just stood there waiting for Khelan to arrive.

Khelan stepped outside where everyone was now waiting for him. Beside him was Bareea who carried little Labre. The morning sun was shining the brightest, kissing everyone on their forehead.

"What about the princess?" Nix turned his head to the side, without looking at Chantal’s face, he asked. Since the procession had started, the princess hadn’t shown up for it.

Chantal scratched his head slightly, "I’ll go and check" he rushed out of the place, running towards the princess’s chamber.

Chantal ran back the next minute, "Lord Nix, she’s not in her room." He said breathlessly.

Before Nix could answer, another guard ran to the venue where everyone stood, waving his hand frantically like someone was chasing him.

"What is that?" Hieron asked in a strong voice.

The ministers’ attention was now caught with the little frenzy show from the guard.

The guard heaved, trying to recover his breath, he pointed at the west side of the palace, "T..the....guards at the prison are dead. The prisoners are no longer there."

This was enough hangover cure for both Nix and Hieron; everyone was now alert more than ever.

Nix thought of what Chantal had said; the princess was not in her room either.