Sapphire Caves
A woman with long pale hair stood in front of the lake, with a frustrated expression. She just received a somewhat troublesome report. "You're telling me Queen Lyn hasn't gone to see Rhys even once?" Ayah hissed.
"T—that's right," the messenger seemed scared.
Ayah didn't have time to deal with a coward and sent them away before they could cause problems for her.
Damn, Ayah felt very frustrated. She genuinely thought she could use Rhys to trap Queen Lyn. But instead, it seems like she is the one getting played here. She had a severe headache, why on earth is this happening to her? That woman, if only that woman would submit. Ayah knew full well that the reason she was tar getting Queen Lyn was because of a personal grudge. Luke only wanted her to get rid of Rhys; he never mentioned the Queen.
Ayah too intended on focusing on getting rid of Rhys. But when she heard the reports that the Queen was with him, and that he was closely protecting her in the absence of her husband. Ayah knew it was her chance. Ever since her academy days could not get proper rest, each night is plagued with endless nightmares of the torture and suffering she faced then.
Those dark days, the days where people treated her like trash. Days where people physically harmed her for just being alive. 'Curse them all, all of them every single one of them,' the one that hurt her the most was that woman. The current Queen of the Mist Kingdom Queen Lyn. It was because of that woman that her face became like this.
Lately, her condition has not been good, so she couldn't suppress it anymore. Ayah's gaze landed on the water where she could see it; half her face was no longer healthy. Because of that woman, she suffered even more injustice upon her return to the Snow Kingdom.
While nobody emphasized it, the vast majority of people that came from the Snow Kingdom are beautiful. They are ethereal beings, with their white skin like 'snow' and mysterious eyes. Everything about them is perfect. She may not have had strength, but she always had her beauty. Of course, that didn't stop her from getting bullied. But it would at least evoke sympathy from bystanders once in awhile. They ripped away even that small bit of sympathy from her.
"Queen Lyn," Ayah clenched her fists tightly, "I won't let you get away with it," her life was already destroyed before. But the Queen made it worse for her. All for what? For a man like Rhys. Yes, it's because of these two people that she cannot rest at ease. It's because of them that her heart is unsettled even now.
.....
Tavern
The last person she would expect to call her out is the Mist Kingdom's mage of all people. Is this woman not afraid of her at all? How stupid. While her condition is not good, that does not mean she can't handle her. If it were in the past, Ayah would have hesitated to deal with Mage Kristy. However, things are different now. Now she has the power to deal with her.
Ayah calmly walked inside the tavern; it was bustling with people. Asking her to meet in a place like this, Mage Kristy is doing this deliberately. Forget it; just follow her trace of magic and search for her. Ayah followed the source but not after bumping into people several times.
'Even now she still can't deal with such crowded places,' Ayah deeply sighed. It can't be helped; she has grown a lot stronger since then. But handling large crowds and going to these places are still difficult for her. It was quite easy to find the woman, even without the trail. She was drawing far too many peoples attention.
Kristy sat in a table at the far end, and Ayah noticed how the surrounding tables were empty. Does she want a private conversation? Then so be it, she has nothing to be afraid of. Ayah made her way over, and the girl looked up. "Long time no see," Kristy said with a bright smile.
"What do you want?" Ayah said irritated.
"Take a seat."
Ayah was cautious but took a seat nonetheless. The place Kristy asked to meet her was a typical tavern; Ayah sensed nothing amiss.
"Do you know why I called you out?"
"I have no clue," Ayah said.
"After kidnapping our Queen, you have no idea?"
"Surely you know that she's no longer in my hands."
"But she won't return. You must be the cause of that."
'Wrong,' Ayah thought in her head. It isn't because of her. Rather, the reason why she's so irritated and snappy these days is because she can't find that stupid Queen. It surprised Ayah that Queen Lyn abandoned Rhys completely. She thought that woman would at least show Rhys some compassion and visit him. But, it was not like that at all.
"You're Queen hasn't changed, she's as cruel as ever."
"What do you mean?" Kristy frowned, "Lyn always treated you well."
Maniac laughter escaped her lips, "Well? That woman? Then, why did she slap me like all the others?"
"Because you were hurting Rhys."
"What business is it to her if a couple fight? She can't just but in because of her status as a Princess," Ayah recalled what happened that day so clearly. The memories have not once left her, "She even used her powers," she pointed to the mark on her skin. Because of her current weak condition, Ayah couldn't conceal it anymore.
Ever since that woman used her powers on her, half her face has been disfigured. When the woman was jailed, Ayah used magic to conceal it, so she didn't realize it. How laughable, somebody with a Queen status didn't notice that she used magic to hide the status of her face.
"Ayah, we all know what happened that day. What were you trying to do with Rhys? You gave him something, that medicine…"
The medicine Kristy mentioned was a potion she developed to control people's minds. Rhys was obeying her willingly. Ayah didn't have to use the potion on him. However, deep down Ayah was always afraid, afraid that he would turn his back on her. That's why she tried to use it on him. Naturally, it wasn't that easy, and he noticed something was wrong. But even then, Ayah decided to play it cool and acted calmly. It was he who started yelling.
She already tested the potion on other girls before and used those girls to harm Lyn. Even before the girl injured her face, Ayah disliked her. That girl is royalty, a hidden existence, somebody who was shunned for so many years. If it's like that, then how come?
How come others treat her so well? Why do people flock to her? Ayah hated it, a person like Lyn—why? Is it because the woman was royalty? Yes, that must be it.
Unlike the girl, she was not royalty; she was just an average commoner. Her family? Ayah didn't want to think about it anymore.