Davina arrive at the Queen mother's quarter and saw Valerie with Jessica and two other wives of the king already there
She went on her knees to greet Contessa since it's the first time she is meeting her, as she made to stand up however she felt a long whip on her leg and yelp out in pain
"Ahh"
Davina cried and falls back to the floor taken aback, Sonia stood behind her with a whip in her hand and Davina heard a short laugh from everyone
"What do you think you are doing?" she questioned angrily
"She is teaching you how to act properly in the palace" Contessa answered instead and Davina turned to her
"I was just away for a few days and you already decide to take over the harem and act on your own without following the rules" Contessa continues while Valarie look on satisfied
"Go on your knees and receive your punishment" Contessa added
She is definitely trying to get back at her for punishing Valerie, everyone else except Jessica are already used to such unfair treatment.
"What rules did I act against?" she questions
"The new concubine just explained what happened, are you going to deny it?"
Davina turn to Jessica who immediately hide her face, she must have said something to clear herself in front of Contessa like she always do
"She is not even able to keep the King in her room once but she dares to spell out punishments on others" one of the concubines, Anastasia whispers to the other but everyone could hear her
Valerie is happy to be able to get back at Davina and knowing she has everyone supporting her makes her more daring
"Didn't you hear what the Queen mother said? Or are you trying to disobey her openly?" she said accusingly provoking Contessa
"What can you expect from a girl who betrays her father to save her head?" she dissed.
Just a mistake from her now and Contessa is ready to take her down.
She was a spoilt brat in her father's house after all, there is no way she will not lose it after listening to their insulting words against her and say something wrong.
Davina inhale slowly and took a few steps towards Valerie whose face holds a mocking smile, raise her hand up ready to strike and everybody look agape at her hand which is still up.
When Davina didn't bring her hand down in more than five seconds, Valerie's body relax from the anxiety of getting hit and she look perplexed at what exactly Davina wants to do.
Seeing her guard is down Davina's mouth parted and a smug appear on her lips, her hand come down on Valerie who let out a painful yell the moment the hit landed on her.
But Davina did not stop there and give her another slap on the other cheek making her yelp out again.
Everyone held their breath shocked beyond reasoning and couldn't help but think that Davina has gone crazy
Contessa is more shocked by her actions and only recovered after the second slap, she stood up abruptly from her seat ready to lash out at her.
"Have you lost your mind Davina?" she screams at her finding her action unbelievable. She is supposed to be getting hit not the other way round.
"What Mother? I just thought since we are correcting wrongs, we should start with Consort Valerie's contempt of the harem rules" she replied and turned to a furious Valerie
"And I think Consort Valerie is the one who might have lost her mind after all, for daring to contend for the Queen's seat" She said to a pale faced Valerie.
The words she intended to say gets stuck in her throat and her eyes welled up as she turn to Contessa for help
"Isn't it a rule in the palace that no one is allowed to seat in the right side of the Queen mother except the Queen,, are you openly wishing I am dead?" Davina continues not minding the mortified look on their faces
Although Jessica knows Davina well, she is still quite surprised that she didn't hesitate to infuriate Contessa, she sided with Valerie thinking the Queen mother will be able to cut Davina's wings
Turns out that no matter where, she just has a way of dominating and spelling out her authority to others
The other two concubines also stare on stunned to see a Queen finally standing up to Valerie and the Queen mother, their opinion about the Queen changed immediately
"What!" Valerie quickly let out afraid at the weight of her accusation. She's being accused of contempt of the Queen's position and sedition.
She can't believe Davina will be crazy to accuse her of such merely because she took her seat
"Who do you think you are to accuse me of such?" She yells
"You sitting in the space meant for the Queen is a clear evidence that you covet it and according to the rules Mother" Queen Davina state turning to Contessa who has lost her brevity to speak.
She thought to set a trap for Davina but now she is the one being trapped.
"Coveting the Queen's throne is also the same as plotting against the King"
"That's nonsense! You are going too far Davina" Contessa yelled clenching her fists.
Valerie jump out of her seat and find another seat making sure her long dress isn't close to it neither, seeing how frustrated Contessa looks she might get punished for the crime
She cannot let herself get into any more trouble and have the King hate her more, it hasn't been so long that she managed to take charge of things in the harem and there is no way she is losing it.
"Nonsense you say Mother? Are you insinuating that the law made by the first matriarch is nonsense?" Davina asked looking pretentiously shock at Queen Contessa words.
"You conclude that I did wrong by punishing a lowly consort but you don't see anything in this?" Davina asked
"Lowly consort?"
"Mother" Valerie called in a low voice
"I really did not have that intention"
"How can someone who doesn't know such a simple rule be in charge of the king's harem?" Davina questions but they couldn't find any word to answer her
"She must have done that out of habits, send consort Valerie back to her room and let her think on her actions for the next few days" Contessa ordered after a long silent
Still not satisfied, Davina walk elegantly to sit in the chair Valerie just stood up from and makes herself comfortable in it
She calls Madam Allison in and she bow down to greet everyone before turning to Davina, she could feel the tension in the room and realize that something must have happened but can't figure out what it is
"What do you think is the right punishment for a maid who raises her hand to hit the Queen? Davina asked her
"She will be flogged to death" Madam Allison answers confused
"Davina! Don't go too far, Sonia is my handmaid and no one can punish her except me" Contessa barks agitated
"I know that and it's the only reason why am not giving that order yet but if you don't set an example for the maids who will?"
Sonia is immediately afraid to think that she will be flogged and to death at that, Valerie also couldn't say a word in order not to be hold in contempt and dig her hand into her clothes angrily
She wanted to embarrass Davina and get back at her for humiliating her but now she has turned their game against them
"Your highness please have mercy, I was only acting on your orders" Sonia quickly went on her kneels to plead with Contessa.
"Twenty strikes of the whip as a warning to her" Contessa orders as she turn her face away, Sonia shut her mouth relieved a little and two maids comes in to drag her out.
Everywhere is dead silent for a few seconds as no one knows who is next, Davina is disappointed to know that the late Queens were defeated by these simple tricks
They must have been intimidated by the fact that Valerie has a strong backing like the prime minister and the Queen mother
"You've only been Queen for a few days and you are already going against me?" Contessa said after sometime
"I dare not go against you; I just don't want other to think you are ignoring the rules to favor a member of your family, what if there are rumors that you hate the Queen
"Good for you, you are really good with your words aren't you? Let's see how long that will take you" Contessa is speechless to hear her accuse her of something so outrageous
"I am just afraid there will be rumors that we don't get along" Davina said with a sneer look on her face
"As if, you must really be enjoying riding on the privilege of the late King" she scoffed
Davina smile not saying anything to that and feels tired, she just wants to return home.
"I heard the king has not been out of his quarters since the night you stayed with him, is there something you want to tell me?" Contessa asked throwing her off guard
"The king seems tired so I left early, I have no idea why your highness" she answered quickly afraid she has catch in on something
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now. I have to attend my classes" Davina said and stood up from her seat and take a bow before leaving the room
"I bought you some tea from my hometown your highness, why don't you have some to ease your anger" Rhoda, the other concubine said and immediately instruct her maid to prepare some for her
"Don't bother with that, just leave the tea here" Contessa said
"All of you should leave now and make sure to find whatever news you can concerning the King's absence in the past few days" she said and dismissed them
"Mother! Are we going to let her have her way?" Valerie shouts returning to the room after everyone has left
"Lower your voice" Contessa cautioned
Turns out the maids who drag her out never forced her back to her quarters
"Are you really going to let her have her way? Did you see how she humiliated me in front of everyone today, how am I suppose to raise my head high in front of them from now on" Valerie complains bitterly
She has never been humiliated in her entire life and Davina just did that in front of the concubines who fear and respect her
"We can't act rashly with her for now"
"Why not? She is nothing but a traitor's daughter who has no power, how is she better than me" Valerie screams furious that Contessa doesn't care
"We still don't know what happened between her and the King few days ago, we can't do anything until we see how the king treats her" contessa retort
Any rash behavior from her now and Edgar might really carry out his threats, not only will her plans be ruined but she might lose her position
'What is so different about her? How can the King even forgive her and her family after what they did? Why can't we just get rid of her already" she cried acting like a brat and Contessa sighed getting fed up with her attitude
"Just give it a little time, I will take care of things sooner or later" she said and Valerie couldn't do anything but obey her words but decide not to swallow the insults
"Go back to your quarters now and stay quiet there for the next few days till I figure something out" Contessa added and she obediently returned
Contessa called out to one of her maids and is informed that Sonia has been taken back to her room after being flogged to rest
"Inform me immediately you here anything from the King's quarters and make sure to keep your eyes there all time" she said and dismss her maids
Contessa bought out a secret letter with a gold seal on it and reads it before burning it with fire from the candle, she will need to get hold of the important key with Davina first before getting rid of her and setting things straight.
If only Gregorio didn't disagree with them then she wouldn't have to go through this again
"Ask the Prime minister to come over to my palace when he is done with his business in the palace" she called to one of her servant who went away to carry out the order…