Luna Kelly came gracefully down the stair case as the beta's disgraced wife announced the arrival of the King and Queen. She forced a smile on her face though anyone could see it was fake and full of malicious thoughts that certainly didn't belong in the face of a Luna as revered as she. Gently nudging her with his elbow Alpha Mark grimaced at the fake display on her face. She finally fixed it to look somewhat more genuine and he sighed. This he knew was the best he'd get from her.
The banquet hall had been shined and polished, decorated and many many dishes laid out along the buffets, all awaiting their Royal guests of honor. They spared no expense on only the finest dishes, china, and wines. Kelly seemed to recall the Queen having a particular liking for the strawberry wine her own mother had made years ago. She learned the skill as well and passed it on to several of her trusted wine makers to each give it a go. It was Donatello who won out in the end. His was nearly identical to that of her mother's. She commissioned him to make several kegs of it as a gift to the Queen. Of course, one of those kegs just might end up with a few extra ingredients…. She was still unsure of her plan of attack just yet. If the Queen refused her the help of getting that little bitch back here where she belonged, then she'd falsify a few documents, commit a little bit of poisoning, and voila, she'd be Queen, and she'd MAKE the bitch come back. Easy enough.
As the double doors swung open, the King led the way holding on to the elbow of Queen Annalise. She looked a bit older and frail from what she remembered her to be. This would be a cakewalk. Kelly's smile was finally genuine and did not go unnoticed by Alpha Mark.
Mark sank into a deep bow and nudged Kelly into a curtsy. They stood before the Royals. Where was that silly woman's head? Friend or not, formalities MUST be paid. As they straightened Queen Annalise came forward. She kissed both of Kelly's cheeks in a greeting as old as time.
"Kelly, how wonderful to see you! You don't look a day over the last time I saw you, flushed and a new bride. And Mark! Well, you've put on a few years but then again keeping up with this one is bound to wear anyone out I'd imagine!" she chuckled.
"Your Highness, would you like to freshen up or rest? We also have a banquet prepared if you are hungry." Kelly offered.
"I am a bit famished, and I know Kai is likely hungry as well, he's always hungry!" she said in that motherly clucking of her tongue.
Behind her a tall lanky boy blushed a bit and chuffed under his breath. He was easily 6'5 and had green eyes and a thick curly mop of auburn curls sweeping down into his eyes. For once Kelly wished she'd had a daughter as well as her son. That could've been a way into the Royal circle. Best she could hope for now was that one of her Gamma's daughters would catch his eye. Arrangements could be made to benefit her greatly in that circumstance.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the boy looked strikingly similar to someone else, someone she deeply despised. She was too focused on her scheming and plotting. Kelly also didn't notice Hanny coming down the stairs until she heard the audible gasp coming from her lips. The details absolutely did NOT escape her, and she knew this spelled trouble.
It couldn't be, there's no way. There is no way that the lowly omega bitch they'd hated for so many years could be related. No, it must've been her imagination. She hadn't been getting enough sleep, and she's been quite ill these last days, her mind must be seeing things that aren't there. Maybe a little food and rest would set her right again…
Kelly sharpened her gaze and fixed it on Hanny. What was the meaning of this? She would dare to embarrass her in front of such highly regarded guests? What was wrong with her?!?! She was furious as she grabbed Hanny by the arm and drug her towards the Luna's office and made a quick awkward excusal of absence.
"What the hell Hanny?" she spat out
"Don't you see it Kelly? The boy. He…. He looks like…. But it couldn't be…." Hanny sputtered out
With a swift slap Kelly cleared the fog in Hanny's brain and barked out that she speak clearly or be slapped again.
Hanny seething with rage at the slap spat out her thoughts that Prince Kai held a strong resemblance to the omega they'd just lost.
Kelly thought on it a moment and her eyes went from narrowed to wide with shock. Could it really be? No, no way. She was an omega. She had no wolf, let alone power….. It seriously couldn't be….
She would have to compare notes. Subtly sneak some of Jessa's left behind things under the Queen's nose and see if she sensed the scent behind them. She looked at Hanny with the smile that told her she had a very wicked idea. A very devious scheme in mind. No one, not even Hanny would guess just how deep the madness in her brain ran. No one could fathom the plot that lay in her mind now. Oh, she'd have revenge. She'd have everything she coveted. She was sure of this. Absolutely sure….