'Of course,' Ysabel thought, finally understanding a little of her current situation. 'I'm not yet the Queen. Which meant—'
The encounter with Prince Hinrik disrupted her brooding while standing outside the closed doors of the Queen's chamber.
Her previous fears were forgotten upon almost getting embarrassed for her clumsiness. Ysabel knew she needed to stop thinking about her burning desire to run toward the Prince and ask what he was doing in Eyeris, other than being summoned by the King.
Unable to hide the gasp that escaped her lips, Ysabel caught the attention of Dorothy and the two other maids. She lowered her head, chagrined.
"I'm—" her thoughts became scattered at the idea of seeing the late King, her father, alive. She didn't grasp it before when Dorothy mentioned him. Ysabel had been preoccupied with thoughts of the Prince and her mother.
Before she could fully process this realization, the doors swung open.
"Princess Sienna Ysabel Valerya, the Queen is now ready to see you."
Ysabel exchanged polite greetings with one of her mother's ladies in waiting. She was permitted entrance while Dorothy and the two other maids bowed and took their leave.
Her heart began pounding unsteadily in her chest. Flashbacks of what happened before her mother killed herself had Ysabel walking forcefully, slowly.
"I love you."
Her mother's voice echoed in her head, causing Ysabel's hands to tremble.
Stepping inside, Ysabel listened to the doors closing behind her. A lone figure dressed elegantly in a red dress stood by the large bed.
"Mother," Ysabel greeted, doing a small curtsy.
Queen Erce spun, turning to face Ysabel. The latter felt her breathe quicken upon seeing her mother alive and standing before her.
Before she could stop herself, Ysabel rushed toward the Queen, engulfing her in a fierce hug. Tears brimmed her eyes, constricting her heart at the memory of her death.
"Dear child," Queen Ercel grabbed Ysabel by her shoulders, pushing her daughter away. Lifting her head using her thumb under her chin, Queen Ercel made her look into her eyes. "What did I tell you about showing your weakness to others?"
Ysabel wiped at her eyes.
She looked at her mother defiantly.
"Never let people see your weakness."
"Even if that person is someone you thought you could trust," Queen Ercel finished for Ysabel.
Pulling away from her mother, Ysabel stood stiffly before the Queen. She put on a stoic expression.
"Forgive me, my Queen," Ysabel stated. She felt no need to explain further than that.
"Good," Queen Ercel then produced a small pouch from the folds of her skirt, handing it to Ysabel.
The loving look often associated with gift giving was absent in the Queen's expression.
Ysabel pondered on the situation again.
In her past life, she remembered her mother lecturing her about weakness and distancing herself after the King's death.
However, if she had been brought back to the time before she was crowned with the King still ruling Eyeris, Ysabel wondered if there were changes between what she knew and what was happening right now.
"Wear this for tonight's ball. Your father would wish to see you bearing a piece of jewelry from his late mother."
The pouch had an elegant tapestry. Ysabel tried to remember what it could be. Her mother gave her many pieces of jewelry, but none of them stood out to her at the moment.
Tentatively reaching for the pouch, Ysabel bowed as a sign of thanks to her mother. Thinking about coming back to the room when her mother would be away.
Ysabel couldn't grasp what her mother might have done that they considered a betrayal to the crown.
With a heavy heart, Ysabel knew she needed to brace herself for whatever truths she may find regarding her mother's death.
They may be ugly and hurtful, but it was better to face reality than never knowing what secrets Queen Ercel kept.
She found the dethronement a little too harsh for a punishment she didn't even deserve. No one defended her or at least gave her a chance to speak for herself.
The anger she felt had Ysabel clutching the pouch tightly. She bowed for the last time, itching to begin her investigation.
"Thank you for this gift, mother. I shall return to my chamber to prepare for tonight's festivities."
Queen Ercel lowered her head for a fraction, dismissing her daughter. She watched her maintain her pose and elegance before knocking at the door. It signaled the ladies in waiting to open the door and let Ysabel out.
Without another word, Ysabel took her leave. Her mother's ladies in waiting bowed as she walked past.
When she was out of anyone's sight, Ysabel breathed a sigh of relief. She stared at the pouch in her hand, biting her lower lip.
"A ball?" she mused, making a face. "What's the occasion? What year is it even? Did that man throw me so far back into the past?"
Feeling frustrated, Ysabel clicked her tongue and sulked. She wanted to cry, be mad, and, simultaneously, speed up finding out the answers to her query.
Everything was a mess.
Her thoughts went back to being chaotic.
Shaking her head, Ysabel decided it was best to get to her room and change. She promised her mother to start preparing for tonight, and she might as well begin with that.
In her attempt to get going, she bumped her head on a broad chest, and she would have stumbled backward, falling on her butt ungracefully, had she not been quick enough to grab the first thing her hand came in contact with.
"I'm—" the apology she initially planned to say died on Ysabel's lips. She felt her heart thumping unsteadily against her chest for the second time today.
Delightful tingles crawled on her skin as the man before her helped Ysabel find her balance. She immediately looked away, her cheeks burning with shame.
"If we keep meeting like this, I might begin to think you're purposely running into me, lady."
His teasing voice made Ysabel feel infuriated all of a sudden. She scoffed, turning to face him as she folded her arms over her chest.
"We keep running into each other perhaps because you're ignorant of where you're going."
Prince Hinrik was a little surprised by Ysabel's claim. He half expected that she would excuse herself like she often did, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.
The new response piqued his curiosity.
"The same could be said for the noble lady. Still, she left me captivated by her beauty."
Ysabel couldn't think of a proper retort. Her mind couldn't think of anything, to be precise.
Thus, instead of fighting him with words, Ysabel lifted her chin and turned away. She left Prince Hinrik, muttering several curses in her wake.
The Prince stared at Ysabel's retreating form, a light smile on his lips.