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"M-my Queen, did you say, he killed him? " I asked again. I had to make sure I was not hearing things. She nodded slowly, but even after confirming, her expression remained blank. I shuddered.
"Such an important thing, why would you tell me this?!?!" I asked her. "You must go to the king! Surely he will-"
"It does not matter who I go to." She quickly cut me off. "The king has already blamed his son's death on me. As the mother, I should have known of the 4th prince's anger towards him. " She continued. I could only stare at her. I didn't know what else to say. For the first time that I was here, I did not dare compare her to the original story. I only saw a morning mother, the numbness she must feel, how cold and distant her eyes were. She spoke as if she was only living in this world. But she wasn't truly alive. The dark energy surrounding this manor… the dead trees… the Queen turned to look at me.
"Now do you understand-" She suddenly paused. "Your crying," she stared blankly. I blinked a couple of times before wiping my eyes. I sniffed.
"Apologies my Queen, " I started. After I wiped my tears I looked her in the eyes. Her blank, soulless, eyes. I held her hand as I felt it was what my brain was signaling me to do. She looked at me shocked.
"What are you doing-"
"I'm sorry my Queen." I interrupted her. "Please ignore my rudeness for just a moment, can you please bear it?" I said. She remained silent. I closed my eyes, focusing on the Queen's hand. The coldness of her fingertips, the way her hands simply laid on my own. Not moving or struggling, but completely still. Suddenly, I heard a heartbeat, but not my own? The Queens, yes, the Queen's heartbeat. It was a soft thumping sound, throbbing in pain with every bump. I focused on the pattern, almost as if I was next to the Queen's chest, I heard it.
'Bump-bump, bump-bump, bump-bump..' I focused on it, her heartbeat. Then, I sensed something else. It was the unpleasant sound of something belong clogged as if someone was drowning. I focused on that sound. It got bigger and bigger, soon, I could sense where it was.
A dime-sized lump on the right side of the Queen's heart the unpleasant sound was coming from there, I squeezed my eyes tighter as I focused on it. Around it, I felt a vibrating sensation. It made me uneasy, I couldn't take it anymore.
'Quickly, get rid of it!' I thought to myself. And just as I did, I heard the queen let out a loud gasp, she suddenly began to cough. I quickly opened my eyes in shock.
"Your Highness!" I said. The Queen took out a small handkerchief and coughed into it. My words were stuck in my throat as she pulled the handkerchief back.
Blood.
I gasped before turning away.
"Blood! The Queen is coughing blood! Someone summon the Royal Physician!!" I yelled.
*
Suddenly, I heard the Adedora girl scream.
"Blood! The Queen is coughing up blood!! Someone summon the Royal Physician!!"
Without a second thought, I pushed the maids away and ran into the room.
"Mother!" I yelled, The girl turned around and looked at me, fear in her eyes as her hands trembled. My gaze hardened onto her. "What did you do?!?" I yelled. She jumped slightly before turning back to the queen.
"I-I was just trying to-" she started, I pushed her out of the way and kneeled at my mother's bed. She was still coughing.
"Are you alright mother-"
"Get away from me! Both of you!" She yelled. I froze slightly. She wouldn't even look at me. Suddenly, A maid quickly pushed me away and escorted The girl and me out of the room as the Royal Physician made his way in. I grabbed the girl by her collar, pulling her closer.
"What did you do to my mother?!?!" I growled at her. There was pure fear in her eyes as she shook her head vigorously.
"I-I didn't. I thought-" She suddenly started crying. "What did I do!?!" I clenched my jaw as I glared at her.
"You!-"
"The Queen is healed!!!" The Royal Physician came running out exclaiming. "Summon the King!! The queen has been healed! It is a miracle!!" I froze I turned towards the girl who was still staring at me, just as shocked.
"What??!" I said confused.
*
I was grabbed by the collar tightly, the 4th prince glared at me with nothing but anger. Remembering the Queen's words, I shuddered.
"What did you do to my mother??!" He yelled aggressively, My eyes began to water as I shrunk down in fear. My throat began closing up.
"I-I didn't, I thought-" I suddenly stopped.
I've killed the Queen.
With my own two hands, I've killed the Queen.
My tears began flowing down "What have I done!?!" I cried in horror. The 4th prince only got angrier.
"You!-" He started, but was interrupted by the Royal Physician.
"The Queen is healed!!!" The Royal Physician came running out exclaiming. "Summon the King!! The queen has been healed! It is a miracle!!" I tried to process what he had just said. My tears stopping for a moment.
"What?!?" The 4th Prince said in shock, loosening his grip on my dress. After hearing that, I truly started falling apart.
"She's Alive!! The Queen is alive!!" I said while crying harder, my tears falling uncontrollably.
The Queen Is Alive!! I didn't kill the Queen!!
I started to jump up and down out of joy while crying.
"She's alive! The Queen is alive!" I yelled repeatedly. The 4th prince was staring at me in shock.I jumped up and hugged him.
"She is truly alive!!" I said while still crying. I hugged his neck tightly.
'Thank you, gods!! Thank you spirits!! I am truly the main female lead!! The queen is alive!!' I thought to myself. I began laughing uncontrollably as I pulled away from the 4th Prince.
'Wait..' My happiness dimmed as I realized.
The maids were staring at me in shock. The Royal Physician had stopped jumping up and down as well, staring at me in disbelief. I slowly turned to the 4th Prince who was staring back at me. An unreadable expression on his face.
"....."
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(Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed)