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Chapter 81 - Whatever it takes!

In the tense political atmosphere of Volkaron, the division between Regent Queen Alexandria and her daughter Elanor was deepening, with the court divided in loyalties. While Alexandria continued to spread rumors about Elanor's conspiracy with the Nannu royal family, her support among the nobles grew, attracting many of those still undecided. Her accusations painted Elanor as a traitor, increasing tensions within the palace walls.

On the other hand, Elanor, known for her generosity and compassion, had the heart of the people. Her direct involvement in caring for the most vulnerable, such as maintaining orphanages and hospitals, strengthened her image as a benevolent leader among the common citizens of Emarlal. This division not only outlined the power struggle within the nobility, but also highlighted the contrast between the ruling elites and the masses, who saw in Elanor an almost messianic figure, a hope for more empathetic and welfare-oriented leadership.

After a day of walking among the people, late Elanor returns to the palace, when she enters her room she comes across her little brother, Prince Flamarion. Apparently the boy was feeling lonely, as his mother had been very busy with the court's problems. Elanor knew that her mother was putting all her strength into destroying Nannu once and for all even if it meant condemning her own daughter as a traitor.

Taking pity on her little brother, Elanor lies down with him in her room: "Sister, can you tell me a story?" the little one asked. "Of course, what story do you want to hear?" Elanor asked, stroking her little brother's black hair. "I wanted a new one, you promised to tell me the story of when you fought the monsters!" said the boy. Elanor smiling just nodded positively with her head and began to tell the boy about her battle in Alnuum against the demons of Morfrey, however she told it in a more childlike and beautiful way, embellishing and making it more heroic with a beautiful ending. Flamarion was enchanted with his sister's story and before falling asleep in her arms he said "When I grow up I want to be like you, sister!".

In that moment, Elanor's heart warmed. Seeing her little brother so admired and inspired by her actions brought her a sense of responsibility and hope. She knew the power struggle in Volkaron was just beginning and that the challenges ahead would be arduous, but having Flamarion's admiration reinforced her determination to stand firm in her principles.

"You will be better than me, Flamarion," Elanor whispered, while stroking the boy's hair as he began to fall asleep. "You will be a kind and just leader, who will not need to fight wars to prove your worth."

After Flamarion fell completely asleep, Elanor stayed a little longer there, thinking about everything that was at stake. Alexandria was playing high, using power disputes to further fragment the region. Elanor felt torn between protecting her people and confronting her own mother. She knew she had to act, not just to safeguard her future, but that of the whole kingdom, which her mother insisted on throwing into a senseless war against Nannu.

With Flamarion still sleeping beside her, Elanor got up and walked to the window of her room, looking at the starry night sky. The weight of the intrigues was heavy, but the light of the stars always gave her hope. She knew the next days would demand more of her than ever, but she was ready to face whatever came, armed with the purity of her purpose and the strength of her love for her people.

The next morning, Elanor woke up next to her little brother, she followed her daily routine, getting up, washing herself, having breakfast and preparing to return to the gardens; However, before she could leave, a lady-in-waiting who cared for the now deathly ill King Vermilion, her father, called her saying the king himself wanted to speak with her. In hope of seeing her father a little better, Elanor went more than hastily, she entered her father's room and realized he was strange, something was dripping from his semi-open mouth, his eyes fixed upward and a strange smell of human feces.

Frightened, she ran to her father and grabbed his head screaming, next to her father she realized there was an empty flask and when she picked up the flask, soldiers ran into the room. The first sight for them was the king in his final state and his oldest daughter holding a strange flask.

Regent Queen Alexandria entered the room and saw the desolate scene. Her eyes first met Elanor's, who was crying, holding the empty flask. Without losing time, Alexandria began shouting accusations: "What did you do to your father?!" Elanor, still in shock, could hardly form words. "I... I didn't do anything, I found him like this!"

The doctors confirmed the king's death and began to suspect poisoning due to evidence in the room. The atmosphere became tense, with soldiers and servants murmuring among themselves. The news spread quickly throughout the palace, and nobles began congregating outside the king's room.

Alexandria, taking advantage of the moment, turned to the guards and said loudly so that all could hear: "Arrest Princess Elanor, she is suspected of poisoning the king!" Elanor, devastated and confused, tried to defend herself. "I loved my father, I would never do something like this!" But her words seemed empty in the face of her mother's heavy accusations.

The guards, reluctantly, advanced and arrested Elanor, taking her away from the king's room. She looked back, seeking some support, but found only looks of suspicion and fear. Meanwhile, Alexandria observed everything with a cold expression, thinking about how this event could strengthen her position and further destabilize Elanor's influence over the people and nobles.

Elanor was confined to her quarters until the regent queen and nobles decided her fate. Outside the capital population was stirred up and worried about what had happened, many could not believe kind Elanor had poisoned her own father. In the great council hall all the nobles of Volkaron were gathered. "As I said before, Princess Elanor conspired with our enemies to end the king's life, we all saw her with the poison flask in her hand, will you still remain undecided in the face of another betrayal by the princess?" questioned the regent queen to the undecided nobles.

A great discussion exploded in that council and for more than 3 hours they debated tirelessly over the princess's future, until finally many of the nobles who were still undecided decided to give their support to Regent Queen Alexandria. "And what will Elanor's punishment be?" asked one noble. "Oh, it can only be death, after all it was an unforgivable crime she committed!" another nobler responded more harshly. And once again a great discussion erupted making them stay there for another 2 hours. However, the regent queen intervened "Before we make a decision, I want to call the lady-in-waiting, she will tell everything she heard and saw about the case, then we can draw our conclusions!" she said calling for the lady-in-waiting to enter the enclosure.

When the lady-in-waiting entered the enclosure, a tense silence fell upon all present. She was visibly nervous, eyes downcast, holding a handkerchief between her trembling hands. Regent Queen Alexandria motioned for her to come closer.

"Please tell everyone here what you know about the events that led to His Majesty King Vermilion's death," ordered the queen in a firm voice.

The lady-in-waiting swallowed hard, lifted her head and began to recount. "On the morning of the tragedy, I was with His Majesty, as usual. He seemed especially agitated and asked me to bring his pain medicine. When I returned, I saw Princess Elanor entering the room. I was about to enter as well, but then I heard them arguing. I couldn't hear everything, but the king was very agitated, talking about betrayals and difficult choices. Soon after, the princess left the room in a hurry and he... he asked me to leave him alone for a moment."

She paused to catch her breath before continuing. "When I returned, I found His Majesty as Princess Elanor found him... I swear I did not see Elanor give him anything. She seemed as surprised and devastated as any of us."

An uncertain murmur ran through the assembled nobles. The regent queen raised her hand to silence them.

"This is a grave accusation that has resulted in the death of our king and threatens the life of my own daughter," said Alexandria, looking significantly at the nobles. "We must consider all the facts before making a decision. Elanor was a princess beloved by her people and a loving sister. Would she really be capable of parricide, or is there more to this story than meets the eye?"

The nobles began speaking among themselves, many now seeming to doubt the accusations and pondering the lady-in-waiting and regent queen's words. The tension was palpable, and many were visibly disturbed by the complexity of what was being revealed. The discussion continued, with arguments thrown from all sides as they tried to reach a just conclusion.

"I believe all we can do now is lock Elanor in her quarters while this is all investigated," concluded Alexandria strangely saving her daughter from a terrible fate. At that point, even going from guilty to suspect, Princess Elanor was out of all the court's intrigues and her mother Alexandria had gained the support of the majority of nobles to carry out her nefarious desires.

Deep down Elanor knew it was all planned by her mother, but still, she couldn't accept the fact that her mother had gone so far as to kill her own husband to achieve her plans. Locked in her room, Elanor's heart saddened greatly, after all she grew up seeing her mother as a strong and determined woman, even if her motivations were not the best, she stood firm and for being born into royalty she never bowed her head to men in that extremely patriarchal country.

Faced with the sadness and confusion taking hold of her heart, Elanor walked to the window of her quarters, looking out at the palace gardens where she had so often played with her little brother Flamarion. She wondered if she would ever feel the lightness and joy of those carefree days again. The shadows of the trees danced at the whim of the wind, a painful contrast to the weight in her chest.

As she reflected, the door to her room opened softly. It was Ionna, a young newly appointed commander of Volkaron's armies, who, despite her position and usually unshakeable posture, now showed visible concern. "Princess, I know I should not be here at this time, but I could not stand aside. All who truly know you are aware you would never be capable of such an act," said Ionna, her firm voice contrasting with the softness of her words.

Elanor turned to face Ionna, her own eyes full of tears she was trying to hold back. "Thank you, Ionna. Your support means so much to me, especially now. But how can we prove my innocence? Even my own mother wishes to see me destroyed."

Ionna took a step forward, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "There are rumors, rumors that only in military circles do we hear... about the Queen planning all of this. What if I use my position to investigate more deeply? If we find evidence, perhaps we can overturn this terrible situation."

Elanor took Ionna's hands in hers, feeling the strength emanating from them. "Please do so. Not just for me, but for all in Volkaron who deserve more than power games and betrayal."

Ionna nodded determinedly, her expression revealing the depth of her devotion not just to Volkaron but personally to Elanor. "I will do what I can, Elanor. For Volkaron, and for you."

With a final look laden with unspoken promises, Ionna left the room silently, leaving Elanor with her worries and the growing hope that perhaps, with Ionna's help, she might clear her name and protect her kingdom.

Not long after leaving the princess's chambers, Ionna was summoned to the throne room of the Regent Queen. There Regent Queen Alexandria sat on Volkaron's red throne. "What were you doing in the princess's chambers, did you not know she is under custody?" Alexandria asked. Immediately Ionna kneeled before the queen and said, "Forgive me my queen, as a childhood friend of the princess, I thought to comfort her while investigations occur, I did not imagine that act would offend you."

"It does not offend me, but may offend the memory of Vermilion, since the princess remains the prime suspect. Speak to her no more!" said the regent queen, ordering Ionna to immediately leave the throne room. Before the commander left the throne room, the queen called her back and with a smile on her face said, "Prepare the troops commander, in one month we will march to Nannu, for the definitive war!" Ionna would need time to investigate the truth about the king's assassination and clear Elanor, now she was tied to her duties with the troops. "What a crafty woman, she thought of everything!" thought Ionna, bowing before Alexandria and leaving.

Ionna, with her fervent devotion to Volkaron and a deeply rooted hatred for Regent Queen Alexandria, left the throne room with a barely disguised contempt on her countenance. Alexandria's Aquarion characteristics - golden hair and blue eyes - were, for Ionna, symbols of a legacy she considered poisonous, a threat to Volkaron's purity.

As she walked the palace corridors, Ionna was lost in thought. "How could a queen born in Nannu govern Volkaron with justice?" she questioned internally. Her loyalty to King Vermilion and her acceptance of Elanor, despite her mother's similarities, were complicated. At least Elanor shared Vermilion's blood, which for Ionna was redemption enough to accept, albeit reluctantly, the princess as part of Volkaron.

Reaching her chambers, Ionna sat before a large tactical map. She had clear orders to prepare the troops for an invasion of Nannu, but her mind also worked fervently on how she could subvert Alexandria's plans without betraying her oath to the nation. "I must find a way to expose the queen's true nature without harming my homeland," she thought, tracing routes on the map that could serve both the war plans and her personal investigations.

With determination, Ionna began drafting orders for her subordinates, each word imbued with her loyalty to Volkaron and her ardent desire to see Alexandria's influence diminished, if not completely eradicated.