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"Your highness, are you sure you were not poisoned?" Just as I asked the question, the Queen looked at me wide eyed, before she could say anything, the made returned with the snacks and tea.
Sending she had interrupted a vital conversation, she quickly bowed before scurrying out of the room. Just as she did, she Queen abruptly pulled her hand out of my own. I quickly backed away and bowed.
"You," the Queen turned to Bella.
"Y-Yes your majesty?"
"Wait outside."
"Yes your majesty!"
Bella quickly left the room. Once it was sure she had gone, I bowed deeper.
"Your Highness! I meant no disrespect, I just-"
"You figured that out. Just now?" She asked. Hearing her words implying that she already knew, I stood up releasing a breath I was holding. I nodded slowly.
"I noticed something was strange earlier, but I knew it was not my place to say…" I said. I looked up at her. "If I may push my luck...was it the 1st Concubine..?" My voice trailed off slightly as I looked at her face. A face of passionate anger. But not directed towards me.
In the original story, the Queen had been poisoned by the 1st Concubine. This would eventually lead to her death. I shuddered. I had stopped the Queen from dying. The Queens hit the armrest of her chair aggressively. Her eyes squinted as she had a look filled with pure hatred.
"That woman. She was always crafty and sly. After I lost my son, she took advantage of the situation. Warming up to the King while I was in bed rest." She said, her voice laced with a violent undertone. I pursed my lips before carefully returning to my seat.
"If I may ask, how long did you know it was her?" I said slowly. Pushing my luck once more.
"Since the day I fell ill. It was only a few nights after she had met with me to "settle our differences."" The Queen scoffed. "I should have known… she would never give up the chance to be Queen that easily."
I slowly nodded. I already knew that. My mind trailed back to the moment I saw the Queen.
'If I had come to her manor any later…." I thought. The Queen looked back up at me.
"It was called the cureless poison. A lethal one that kills within five months. The only reason I didn't tell the King was because of the hysteria it would cause. Thankfully, you came just at the end of the fifth month." She said. I gulped. I understood what she meant. If she had announced her condition to the king, even if she showed her speculation towards the 1st Concubine, she would not be taken seriously. She would quickly be deemed a Crazy Queen and sooner or later, replaced with the 1st Concubine.
I couldn't help but feel bad for the Queen. She had to suffer in silence. As I thought to myself, the Queen looked at my expression before letting out a small sigh.
"You pity me, don't you?" She said. I quickly pursed my lips and looked down. My face was an open book.
"Forgive me for speaking rashly again, your Highness." I looked up at her. "But no matter what, you are still a human being, you shouldn't have to suffer like this."
She scoffed slightly.
"I let my own son die by the hands of my other son. How do I not deserve it?" She spoke slowly. Her words came off strong and sarcastic, but I could still hear the sadness behind it. She slowly looked up at me.
" Who are you really?" She suddenly asked. I couldn't help but tense up at the sudden question.
"I'm sorry, I do not understand-"
"Eva." She cut me off. "This poison is not something that can be cured so easily. It is called the cureless poison for a reason. I had my own men searching for all five months I was in bed. " she paused. "I even contacted my own side of the family to try and help me. There was no luck. Yet you come here and in less than two hours time, cure me."
I remained silent.
"I am the reincarnation of the Black Jade, your Highness."
"But is that really all there is?"
"..." I remained silent. Instead of lying, I carefully poured a cup of tea for the Queen. Just before filling my own cup. She watched my actions carefully before lifting the cup to her lips.
"Where did you learn to pour like that?"
"Ah… from the few training sessions I had before leaving."
"It's boring. I shall find you a better tutor." She said before carefully sipping the tea.
'I don't know if the 4th Prince will agree but, I cannot say no to the Queen.' I thought.
As if she read my mind, the Queen spoke up.
"The 4th Prince? Have you...found anything?" She asked. I slowly put my cup down.
"I'm sorry for your Highness, but right now I- simply don't understand the situation as much," I said. "I barely understand what has actually happened, I've only heard rumors," I said. I looked up at her with a bit of hope. "If I may ask, have you heard the full story?" She didn't respond. I wasn't sure if she was angry or simply didn't know. She looked up at me, a somewhat irritated expression on her face.
"For someone so smart, you are certainly slow to catch up." She said. I bit my lip slightly. I heard her sigh.
"Do you think I came to the king, requesting your return on my behalf, for nothing? Your engagement with the 4th Prince has even been restored." She looked at me. "What do you possibly lack?"
Oh. I wanted to smack myself inwardly. That's right.
'So, the reason the Queen wanted me to return was to get information from the 4th Prince?" I thought.
"All due respect to your Highness. But wouldn't it be easier for you to talk to the 4th Prince-" I immediately stopped talking seeing her expression. Her once strong and formidable energy was replaced with fear. I couldn't help but shudder at the sudden change. My heartbeat sped up.
'The 4th Prince's mother was even terrified of him… was he truly, the same person I saw in the carriage??' I thought flabbergasted. As my mind began to wander back to that night I quickly cleared my throat. The Queen returned to her usual demeanor.
"With all due respect…" my fingers fiddled with each other awkwardly. "I know your Highness has gone through great lengths to help me, however, I'm not sure if I will be able to get the information as quickly as you want me to."
"Why is that?" She asked forwardly. My eyes shifted around the room as my mind trailed to the kiss, the feeling of the 4th Prince's lips…
"B-because!" I started, quickly interrupting my dangerous thoughts. " it's just that, the 4th Prince and I, aren't exactly on speaking terms-"
There was a small knock at the door.
"Your Highness." The maid outside spoke up. There was a slight tremble in her voice. "The 4th Prince wishes to see Lady Black Jade."
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(Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!)