As I stood there, still reeling from the revelation that Mary was Mercy's sister, she gently interrupted my thoughts. "You should get ready," she said kindly, "the queen wants to see you."
Surprised by the sudden request, I nodded, feeling some kind of nervousness and curiosity. "Okay," I replied.
Mary offered me a reassuring smile before turning to leave the room. She was just as sweet and kind as Mercy , "I'll wait for you outside," she said, her words filled with warmth.
Watching her go, I smiled at her , then taking a deep breath I turned towards my belongings in order to prepare myself for the meeting with the queen though I didn't know what to expect . I decided to wear one of my Amethyst dresses.
When I left the room , I didn't find Mary outside like she said Which meant I had to find my way around. idFinding my way through the multiple corridors of the castle, I found myself lost more times than I could count. Each wrong turn only made me feel even more lost , the unfamiliar surroundings adding to my confusion.
But after what felt like an eternity, I finally stumbled upon the grand dining hall. As I entered, I was greeted by the sight of the queen seated next to the head of the table seat , a warm smile lighting up her face.
"Ah, Elena, there you are!" the queen exclaimed with genuine delight.
Forcing a smile, I approached the table, my heart pounding in my chest. The spread before me was a sight to behold , it was a feast of sumptuous dishes, each more delicious than the other.
But despite the lavish display, my appetite had vanished, replaced by a knot in my stomach. I was still full from the soup I had back at the mansion .The queen's happiness was visible, her excitement at my presence was rather infectious. Yet beneath the surface, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that danced within me.
Taking a seat opposite the queen, I tried my best to mask my inner thoughts and emotions, nodding politely as she welcomed me to the table. Though my smile may have been forced, I knew that in the presence of the queen, I had to put on a brave front, for the sake of appearances if nothing else.
As I sat across from the queen, trying to maintain an act of composure despite the rage within me, she fixed me with a knowing gaze. "Elena," she began gently, "I can see that something is troubling you."
My heart skipped a beat at her perceptiveness, and I felt a lump form in my throat. Swallowing hard, I nodded silently, unable to find the words to express the depth of my troubles , maybe this was the opportunity I needed to tell her the truth. But I couldn't, anyone could be watching me.
The queen reached out and took my hand in hers, offering me a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed, my dear," she said softly, her words like a balm to my wounded soul. "But know that you're not alone. You have me , i'm here for you, and I believe you , in your strength to overcome whatever you may face."
The Queen only thought that my misery was because I lost my child, but little did she know that her son was it's murderer.
Tears welled up in my eyes at her kindness, Despite the weight of my grief , I felt the urge to tell her everything but I didn't't know what to do. Fear engulfed me, what if she would rather support her own flesh and blood to an outsider.
"I might not know how you feel , but I know what it's like to experience loss," the queen continued, as her sweet calm voice was now covered in sadness. "After the death of my son, I was devastated. I didn't want to talk to anyone, see anyone or even eat . There was nothing to fill up the loss that I felt." she paused for a while , I squeezed her hand giving her a light smile. I could sense that her emotions were right on the surface.
With a clear of her throat , she continued .
" I won't understand and nobody can understand your pain because you never got to see your child.
But I found peace and comfort in the love and support of those around me, and slowly, I began to heal , like I told you , I'm here for you okay?."
Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I felt a surge of emotion flood through me. Love and support were just words for me , Dante neither loved nor supported me after the incident. The pain of losing a child – a pain that transcends words – was what I knew all too well.
With a shaky breath, I nodded, silently vowing to draw strength from her words. Though the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, I knew that with the queen's encouragement, I would find the some kind of strength to bring me back to life.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Your words mean more to me than you know."
With a gentle smile, the queen squeezed my hand once more, "You're stronger than you realize, Elena," she said softly. "Never forget that."
As we prepared to start our meal, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the queen's comforting words still echoing in my mind. But our peace was interrupted by the arrival of the king, his presence commanding attention as he entered the room.
" Elena, my favorite daughter, " the king greeted me warmly, his smile genuine as he welcomed me. "I'm really happy to have you here , it's a pleasure to have you join us."
Returning his smile, I nodded gratefully, feeling a sense of reassurance in his presence. "Thank you, Your Majesty," I replied respectfully.
" Your Majesty? Call me Father please, " both the King and queen laughed at his remark. But as the king's gaze lingered on me, a furrow creased his brow. "Where's Dante?" he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "Oh, it wasn't necessary for him to accompany me," I replied, trying to brush off the question with a casual wave of my hand.
But the king's expression softened, his concern evident as he leaned forward slightly. "But he's your husband, Elena," he pointed out gently. "At the very least, he should have escorted you here and then returned."
I felt a pang of guilt at his words, a reminder of the strained relationship between Dante and me. "I... I understand, Your Majesty... I mean Father." I murmured, my voice tinged with regret. "But Dante had other important obligations to attend to."
The king regarded me for a moment, his gaze searching. "Very well," he conceded with a nod. "But remember, Elena, you're not alone here. We're all here to support you, no matter what."
For a moment there I felt a sense of belonging , I had found some peace eithin the castle walls. And as we sat down to eat, surrounded by the warmth of my family's hospitality, I felt a tiny glimmer of hope flicker to life within me, a promise of brighter days ahead.
As we sat around the table, the queen and king exchanged a meaningful glance , they looked at each other and giggled like little children. It went on fire for about two minutes , then the queen spoke up, her voice filled with excitement. "Elena, dear, we have something special to tell you," she began, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.
I looked up, curious at the sudden change in tone. "Yes, what is it?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.
The queen smiled warmly. "Well, it just so happens that the king's birthday is coming up," she revealed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
The king nodded in agreement, a twinkle in his eye. "That's right," he chimed in. "And we thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for us all to come together , invite people and celebrate."
My heart sank at the mention of inviting people at the king's birthday. Indeed it was a joyius occasion but I was really looking forward to staying isolated, with peace and quiet, but what can I say it's his Majesty's birthday. "Oh, that's... that's wonderful," I replied, forcing a smile despite my thoughts.
The queen noticed my hesitation and reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. "It'll be a chance for you to focus on something positive, dear," she said gently. "To take your mind off of everything that's happened."
I nodded slowly, though the thought of celebrating felt like a daunting task. "Yes, o
f course," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'll do my best."