Kitanna
Chapter 25: HELL IS QUEEN DOWAGER

Chapter 25: HELL IS QUEEN DOWAGER

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: STAY ~ BLACKPINK KOREAN VERSION]]

Axilla stopped mid-way in her steps; all she wanted was to quietly leave the room because of the rising tension. She did not expect the queen dowager to catch a glimpse of her action because she was sure she was as discreet as ever. She slowly turned her head to look at Queen Almaria.

"I was going to close the door properly, Queen dowager," In the intensity of the moment, Axilla found herself lying comfortably.

Almaria held a scornful look on her face and turned to the main person she came to taunt, her son’s wife.

"Larel dear, were you not trained at home properly? Do you not know that you are supposed to greet your husband’s mother every morning as part of your filial duty?" She looked at the young queen with a condescending gaze.

"I apologize for my mannerless behavior, My Queen. I will correct my actions. Thank you for your advice," Larel got up from her seat and knelt down to bow properly.

"Mm... is fine, is fine. I heard you have gotten yourself on Khelan’s bed." The whole room became awkwardly silent with the topic the queen dowager raised.

Axilla felt a lump in her throat, she wanted to be anywhere but in that room at the moment. She was supposed to go and serve tea but with the wave of discussion which was embarrassing for Queen Larel, she did not want to make it obvious that she heard what the queen dowager said.

"Did I hear wrong?" Almaria repeated, tilting her head.

Larel did not like the way her mother-in-law was calling her out on her room affairs in front of the maid. But she had no choice but to answer the woman promptly, as not doing so might cause more trouble.

"You did not hear wrong, My Queen."

"You there, have you decided to let my throat dry in thirst while you stand there like a duck all day?" Almaria turned to the maid who was standing in an awkward position.

"I apologize, Queen dowager," Axilla rushed to the table as soon as the words were directed at her. She got on her knees and started setting the cups to pour the tea.

"Make sure the water is extremely hot," Almaria ordered, her eyes still on the young maid who had been clumsy since she entered the room.

"How do you ensure the water for the tea is hot enough?" She inquired curiously.

"I-i... I will drink it first..." Axilla’s words came off as a squeak. She prayed internally to get out of the sticky situation. However, all she heard was the tense silence in the room.

"And when you taste it, do I, Queen Almaria, drink from the same cup?"

"Who trained this one?" Almaria used her hands to point to the girl’s head, making her lose balance and fall on her bottom.

Axilla got up immediately with her head bowed, tears forming in her eyes.

"Here, let me do it for you, Queen dowager. It is proper for me to serve my mother-in-law. That one is still a new maid. Pardon her," Larel noticed that the young girl was about to break down and she decided to step in.

Almaria turned to look at the young queen who had spoken, nodding in approval. "Go ahead, Larel, show her how to check if the water is hot enough for royal blood to use." She pressed on.

Larel pressed her lips together. It was not a new thing that the woman made her feel less of herself. She knelt down immediately and picked up the jug that held the hot water.

"You, watch and learn," Almaria pointed for Axilla to watch closely.

Larel bit her lower lip tightly before she open the jug cover, then she took out her left hand and lifted the jug up.

Axilla’s eyes widened in shock, she prayed it will not be what she was thinking. But her prayers were far from being answered. The young queen spilled the hot water on her skin. The steam from the water was seen on her pale skin. Axilla rushed immediately and used a cloth dipped in cold water to wrap the part the water had made to turn red due to the hotness.

Larel stood with the jug, her eyes not leaving Almaria. The pain she was feeling was nothing compared to the trashy way the woman treated her.

Almaria noticed the fierce look in the girl’s eyes, she turned her head and smiled as if telling her, she had no power to do anything.

"You have done well Queen Larel, now sit and let the maid take over. I’m sure she won’t forget this lesson anytime soon. Or will you? After you made your queen get hot water on her delicate skin" she turned to look at the maid who was now kneeling beside Larel.

"I have learnt my lessons very well Queen dowager, thank you for your teachings" Axilla bowed her head twice. She picked up the cups and started brewing the jasmine tea.

Larel bit her lower lip as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

"Larel. You have done well getting Khelan to bed you. But have you not noticed your husband is falling out of reality? Don’t just open your legs at night; help him reason logically. He is going about talking about the dead princess. If you are doing more than just screaming his name at night, he won’t be going insane and seeing things. I want you to handle this situation with the utmost importance." Almaria spoke bluntly about the main reason for her visit.

Larel’s heart raced as she tried to keep her emotions in check. She wanted to talk back to the woman, to vent her frustration, and stop her from shaming her every time she spoke to her. She wanted to tell the Queen Dowager that she was not just Khelan’s bed warmer or his nanny, but also a woman in her own right. But in the end, all she managed to say was, "I am sorry for not doing my work efficiently. I will do my best to take care of the king." Larel bowed deeply, throwing away her pride.

"Good. I know you are a wise woman. I will take my leave now. I think I should put you in charge of teaching new maids. It seems you will do a great job," Almaria got up from her seat. She neither drank the tea nor ate the cookie that was served.

Almaria turned to look at the maid one more time, then an inaudible chuckle escaped her lips before she left the room.

Immediately the Queen Dowager left, Larel, who was standing to see her off, felt her joints go weak, and she lost her balance. She didn’t fall harshly, as Axilla was fast enough to hold her.

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