Kitanna
Chapter 71: WHAT NEXT?

Chapter 71: WHAT NEXT?

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: QUEEN OF HEARTS ~ JUICE NEWTON]

Almaria followed Deonisia to her room immediately after the meeting. She was going to reject the child from Bareea because she knew Kitanna would only taunt her for life because of it, and to accept that the first child of the king was from a lowly maid would be a stain to the crown.

If Deonisia had asked her to accept the child then she would have her own reason. And it better be a good reason. Almaria thought.

"Can you tell me why you asked me to accept the child from the maid?" Almaria asked once they were inside the room alone.

Deonisia did not respond immediately; she took her time to comfortably sit down before turning to respond to the queen dowager.

"What were you planning on doing? Reject the child after Khelan had clearly stated he was responsible? You want the princess to have a leverage on you," the elderly woman asked with a stern look on her face.

Almaria walked to join her on the seat, "She has leverage, knowing already that the first offspring of Khelan is not from Larel."

The queen dowager let out a frustrated sigh. It was always about Kitanna; she just made things difficult for her without even being present.

"Almaria, it’s better that it’s Khelan’s offspring. It doesn’t matter who had the child, Larel or the maid. That won’t be a problem; the throne is secured. That’s all that should matter to you." Deonisia’s voice sounded a little distant, like she was tired of explaining almost everything to Almaria.

"Or is it that you’re so worried about the child coming from a maid?" Deonisia was now looking at Almaria with her brows furrowed.

"Don’t tell me that’s the reason. Did the jewelries make you forget? Or were you taking a sip of the potions given to the princess? Don’t forget so soon because that was where you started," The elderly woman said matter-of-factly. This caused Almaria to widen her eyes in shock.

The queen dowager, shocked by the words she heard, stood up gingerly to check if there was anyone listening. She moved her hands to her lips, telling Lady Deonisia not to speak further.

"You don’t have to spell it out. What if someone hears us?"

Almaria bit her lips; she didn’t like to be reminded of her past. It was a part of her that she had decided never existed. Hearing it again that she used to be a maid was like baring her dirty linen for anyone who cared to look at.

Lady Deonisia, unbothered by the words she spoke, moved her hands up and started pulling out her hairpin and earrings.

"Nobody heard us. You don’t have to detest your origin so much. Just take the maid as a reminder of your youth; she’s quite ambitious, I must agree with the princess," the woman said calmly.

Almaria pulled out the jades that were used to hold her long hair in a fold. She loosened the rope on her dress and asked, "What’s next? If you accepted the child, it won’t be for no reason."

Deonisia’s lips tugged at the end; this made the corners of her eyes pull up, and the wrinkles at the side of her face showed clearly.

"We make use of the opportunity served to us on a platter. Larel doesn’t seem like she wants to be on the team; let’s swap the one who is not ambitious for the one who knows how to survive in a jungle."

"Are you saying we should use Bareea now?" Almaria asked to be sure she was following the conversation.

"Yes, make it so that the first concubine’s rights equal that of the queen. But before you do this, make sure that you have the maid wrapped around your fingers."

The candlelight in Lady Deonisia’s room dimmed.

While inside the Queen’s room, the candle shone brightest like it was tapping energy from Larel’s anger.

"What are you doing here?" Larel asked Khelan, who was now standing in front of her.

She had left the bigger room after the meeting because she wanted some time alone to think. She didn’t want someone invading her personal thinking space.

"Larel, I’m sorry. It was -"

Larel, not in the mood for the long talks and explanations which only made her feel worse than she already felt, waved her hand for Khelan to stop talking.

"Khelan, I do not want to hear it. Like I said, I just want to be alone."

Khelan raked his hand roughly through his hair, wiped the sweat from his forehead. He wanted to talk, but he didn’t know what else to say or do. He sighed and turned, walking out of the room.

Larel slumped on the floor when she heard her door bang close; tears rolled down her eyes, and for some reason, her chest felt too heavy for her body.

The words of the queen dowager rang in her ears continuously; even when her husband broke their marital vow, she was still blamed for it. After everything she did just to make the marriage work.

The tears stopped running down her face after some time, but her heart did not heal. Each breath reminded her of what she wanted to forget so badly. She had to live under the same roof with another woman who now carries her husband’s child.

Larel bit her lower lip, which was trembling; she could not even hate the maid or the unborn child, and she hated herself for it.

The young queen turned to her window when she heard someone tap on it. She got up from the floor she was sitting on and went to open the window. She was greeted by the gentle breeze, which made her feel lighter.

Larel looked around, trying to scan in the dark place for who it was who had knocked on her window, but there was no one. She moved up her hands to close the window when she noticed an arrow which had a piece of red cloth tied to it.

Larel picked up a candle stand that had four candles in a row; she used it to check if the person who shot the arrow was still there. But it was just her. She dropped the candle stand and pulled out the arrow, which was stuck to her window. Then she unwrapped the piece of clothing; when she loosened it from the knots, a small parchment fell on her feet.

Larel bent to pick up the small paper, that was when she noticed, from the corner of her eyes, a movement in the dark. She rushed to pick up the candle stand, which she dropped on the side, and when she raised it up, there was still nobody out there. The breeze became heavier, almost blowing off the candlelight.

Larel closed her window and picked up the paper. Unfolding it, she read the contents slowly.