"How do you plan on sending ten thousand soldiers to Sydney?" I ask him as I put my stamp on the the contract to seal our deal. I could practically feel the victory that was infront of me.
"Queen Emerald, do I have to remind you that how I handle my matters is none of your concern?" He shot back. I knew he would do this. Yet, I wanted to hear it from him. Hearing it from someone else made me believe that it was true.
"I have the upper hand here. Are you still willing to challenge me, King Richard?" I demand. Reminding an animal it's worth is a way to make it let go of it's prey. Silence spreads across the room but he breaks it, never letting it get to him or making him feel uncomfortable. "By ship."
I was running the same conversation in my head over and over again like a 90's film, thinking if what I had said was right or not. It had always been a habit of mine, to think after doing. Some people may think of it as a red flag, but it had always been good for me, at least. As the plane – my private plane – took off, Blanché, who was standing near enough to read my thoughts, spoke.
"Your Majesty? Are you alright?"
"Yes, Blanché. You need not to worry."
"Pardon the disrespect, but you look a little pale."
"It's nothing to worry about." She nodded as there was nothing left to question.
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I took a deep breath, leaning back in my chair. Bundles of murder cases placed on the table infront of me. The media was making the situation worse. With every other murder report, people were getting more and more scared. Even the DHO, was overwhelmed with the situation. Every time I was left alone with another file of murder case, the silence in the room became louder than my own thoughts. All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in"
"Your Majesty" Blanché came in and bowed.
"Yes, speak." I continued looking at a file as she started to speak.
"Ma'am, We have talked to the ministry... they said that they'll handle this matter."
The word ministry and this matter caught my attention because the matter she was talking about was preparing a bill and passing it to order the farmers and locals of our kingdom to carry out wheat to Port Maria.
"Did they tell us how long it will take to solve this problem?"
"They gave us an estimation of a week, Ma'am." She stepped forward and handed me a document, similar to the ones already on the desk.
"Your Majesty, this –"
"I know. Another murder case." At this point I wasn't even overwhelmed anymore.
"Miss Blanché, you may leave now and take care of the matter regarding the soldiers coming from Canada at the harbour."
"As you wish, Your Majesty." She left me with the sea of files on the desk.
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By noon, Blanché was back. She came in the conference room as I had instructed her, but she wasn't alone.
"Why did it take so long, Miss Blanché?" It wasn't supposed to.
"Your Majesty, the ship took more than the estimated time to reach the port."
Liar. She had always been bad at lying. Pushing the thought away, I shifted my attention to him.
"What's your name?"
"Ren Xander, Your Majesty." Ren Xander, how easily had that fake name rolled off his tongue.
"Ren, do you know what you're here for?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Brief answer to breif questions. It had always been his way to dodge the truth.
"Very well then. From now on, you'll be under my command. You may leave now."
"As you wish, Ma'am." Just as he left, a solider came in and whispered something in Blanché's ear. Her expression shifted slightly and she ordered him to leave.
"What is it?" I demanded.
"Your Majesty–"