A lone woman don in dark heavy fur cloak could be could be seen as she trailed her lean fingers on the flower petals as she walked down the garden. The wind was blowing hard against her cloak and her hands were getting cold.
She had woken up at dawn feeling uneasy and had carefully got out of bed without making a slight sound that could wake the man sleeping next to her up.
The day was getting brighter, it was already midday but she was reluctant to go inside as if wating from something or someone.
A tall lean pretty woman with a shoulder lenght honey brown hair and sharp dark eyes fitting her sharp features dressed in a lighter amour fitting her body anyone could tell the amour was made for her approached her and bowed.
"Your Highness I brought your gloves, the wind is too strong you should go inside." She said, her face impassive. "Your ladies-in-waiting informed me that you didn't have breakfast." She added as she took a glance at the eight ladies that were standing down the path and dressed in the personal ladies-in-waiting for the Queen uniform.
The woman turned to her and lowered her hood to reveal a beautiful redhead woman. Her stomach protruding her big luxurious green robe couldn't conceal it. Her mismatched eyes looked dull like it lost its colours and her gaze seemed to be faraway, she blinked like she was trying to adjust to the present.
"What do you think I do Ayana, my husband is thinking of welcoming a concubine, my lover is away and captured and I am pregnant." Krista complained. "Worst of all I haven't heard from him."
Ayana nodded in understanding. "I am sure Sire Morton is safe, I heard King Xanxier Otis is a very wise King." She said trying to lighten her mood.
Krista snorted as she collected the gloves and wore it over her pale hands which was already cold. "Wise, wise.... very wise.. hun." She said sarcastically. "Or very stupid, do you know what he said when he rejected me!" She turned back to the flowers and plucked a tulip which she trailed her fingers on like it was a rear gem. "It was this flower then, tulips staring at me when he told me." She plucked the petal one by one squeezed it, the moisture penetrating her cloth gloves "You are an ambitious lady and I don't see you fit to marry me, I am sorry my lady." She turned back to Ayana as she caressed her stomach.
"I certainly agree it seemed King Xanxier lost a rare gem." Ayana told her the reply she used to say each time Krista complained about how Xanxier rejected her and she frowned at Krista's gloves wondering if she should have brought a rubber gloves instead. She glanced at the ladies-in-waiting but they were standing so far it would be difficult to call them and send them to get rubber gloves for the Queen.
Ayana knew better that Krista ambitious truly knew no bounds because of it she married King Dima Zee of Agatha when she was in love with Morton Noth. They didn't break their affairs and they met in secret behind closed doors and Ayana was the only witness.
Ayana was among Krista's ladies-in-waiting at Lunarwell and Krista saw potentials in her and promoted to be her personal guard. She sent for her when she wanted to elope with Morton.
It was Ayana that helped them eloped successfully clearing and masking their trails that it took months for the Queen of Lunarwell to find them.
When her mother found them, Krista was already falling out with Morton since she had no single clue on how to live like a pauper. Ayana doesn't have a choice than to stay and become her lady-in-waiting and her guard while Morton looked for ways to make their daily ends meet.
When Krista realised it was so hard living in a poor village and the villagers didn't help since they insult her as soon as she acted rude and above them exuding her grace of nobility.
It was when Ayana and Morton went to hunt and she had insulted a woman that stepped on her dress, she was beaten black and blue and they found her in the corner of their hut crying her eyes out, she told Morton she quits when he came back.
She fell in love with Morton since he was so handsome and gentle. She didn't know when it happened but their solution for her not to marry Vane was to elope.
When her mother finally found her she promised her she would marry Dima and planned to have an affair with Morton. Morton was so angry at first but based on their calculations he was able to deduced that it was the best solution.
Krista had a plan, all she needed is to have a firm ground on Agatha, win the court officials and rise her power above Dima turning him into a puppet King. When Dima's sorcerer Kaha told them they would have a daughter and suggested Dima to marry another wife to give birth to a son as the heir to the throne.
It was a big disadvantage for Krista, it was only the sorcerer Dima could never overrule.
Krista knew she had to turn Kaha to her side, she went to see him only for her to recieve a shocking news.
"Honourable receiver of news directly from the Heaven." Krista bowed as soon as she stepped into his divination room.
Kaha was sitting at the table which was filled with a lot of cards and different coloured of ropes. A transparent globe at the center of the table.
As usual Kaha was dressed in his red and black cloth with a red turban. He was wearing a lot of jewelries, each fingers with two rings, golden bracelet on his wrists, a large golden necklace rested on his chest and two golden earrings dangled in each ear. He was wearing a dark eyeliner which made his dull grey eyes sharper.
"Welcome my Queen I have been expecting you." He said and gave her a creepy smile.
Krista knew she was venturing into a wolf's den, she gave him a small smile as Kaha gestured for her to take a sit. "Do you know why I am here?" She asked as she proudly sat down. She was the Princess of Lunarwell and the Queen of Agatha, she wouldn't allow a creepy man to scare her.
"I do... you don't want the King to take in another wife." He smirked.
"Yes, you are very wise and powerful." Krista flattered.
"But that is the least of your problem since the baby you are carrying isn't for the King, it is for someone else." He said and folded his hands on the table.
Krista could feel her whole world crashing down on her as her eyes widen in shock. Her heart starting beating so fast and her ear was ringing. "Are you going to tell Dima?" She asked trying to mask her fears. Dima would always listen to Kaha, one word from him and she could already see herself thrown out of the palace and sent home on foot without anybody to accompany her.
"That is base solely on you I believe we can come to an agreement." He smirked.
"What do you want?" Krista wasn't thought to beat around the bush.
Kaha extended his hands and wrapped it around her hands. "You are very beautiful my Queen all you have to do is to start an affair with me."
Krista snatched her hands so fast and slammed it on the table as she blurted out. "What!"
"The choice is yours." He said and grabbed the spherical transparent ball for it not to roll off from the jolted table. "But remember my Queen I am a very powerful man and I will give you till sunset to make a decision but I think I won't be dissapointed."
Krista didn't say another word she only dashed out of the room.
Krista thought of many ways to kill Kaha but she knew she may not be successful in facing a powerful sorcerer, she met him at sunset and agreed to fulfill his request. They started the affairs for months and when she found out he had lowered his guard around her she stabbed him with a dagger when he was asleep and watched him bled and died on the spot.
"So much for a powerful man." It was her last words to him before she left the room.
It was so much thinking of the past all she had been through even forcing herself to lay with a man she called her husband.
"Ayana what do you think of my hold in the council?" She asked as the last of the tulip fell on the ground.
"You have won half of the council and the General is on our side." Ayana replied.
Krista nodded. "Tonight I will kill the King." She spotted a pigeon flying towards them. she smiled and her eyes lit up, she raised her hand which the bird landed on.
She removed the folded piece of paper stucked to its feet as the bird flew to perch on her shoulder. She unfolded the paper still grinning but her smile fell as soon as she read the content and she could feel her vision getting blurry, her head spinning.....
"Your Highness!!!...."
It was Ayana running to grab her she saw last before drifting into unconsciousness the paper crumbled and rolled onto the ground.