The opulent dining room fell into an eerie hush as the Queen's food taster approached the ornate table. Her trembling hand reached for the chopsticks, hovering over the exquisitely arranged fugu dish. The woman's face, usually a mask of stoic professionalism, now betrayed a flicker of fear as she grasped the utensils.
With painstaking slowness, she selected a morsel of the potentially lethal fish. The chopsticks quivered violently, threatening to drop their precious cargo as she raised them to her lips. The assembled courtiers held their collective breath, the air thick with tension.
The taster's teeth closed around the fugu, and she began to chew with deliberate care. Her eyes, wide with apprehension, darted between the Queen and the dish before her. After what seemed an eternity, she swallowed and turned to face Her Majesty.
"Your Majesty," the taster began, her voice barely above a whisper, "the taste is... adequate. The texture is commendable, but the flavor profile lacks the expected complexity. It is... serviceable, but far from the pinnacle of culinary artistry one would expect at the royal table."
Queen Melina's eyebrows arched in surprise. "How curious," she mused, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Who, pray tell, is responsible for this... less than stellar offering?"
A maid from the kitchen stepped forward, her head bowed in deference. "Your Majesty, it was prepared by the new boy, Marius."
The Queen's eyes found Marius, and a knowing smirk played across her lips. "Ah, yes. Our newest addition to the kitchen staff. Come closer, boy."
Marius obeyed, his steps measured and careful as he approached the royal table. Queen Melina reached for her own set of chopsticks, twirling them with practiced ease before selecting a piece of fugu.
"Tell me, Marius," she purred, her voice silk over steel, "are you aware of the dangers inherent in preparing fugu?" She held the morsel before her, examining it with a critical eye. "A single misstep in its preparation can lead to the most gruesome of deaths. Paralysis sets in within moments of ingestion. The unfortunate soul gasps for air, their skin turning a ghastly shade of blue as they suffocate."
Her gaze locked onto Marius, pinning him in place. "I've had four tasters meet such a fate. Those who fail to prepare this delicacy correctly pay the ultimate price." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "I'm well aware of your circumstances, boy. The anger you must feel. But know this – any attempt on my life would be a grave miscalculation. The gallows are a merciful end compared to what I could devise."
Marius bowed low, his voice steady as he replied, "Your Majesty, I've had ample time to reflect on my situation. I harbor no ill will towards this noble kingdom. The crimes of my parents, their years of deception – the fault lies solely with them." He turned towards Prince Kylian, who sat apart from the proceedings, his face a mask of indifference. "I owe His Highness a debt of gratitude for his kindness. I would never seek to harm those who have shown me mercy."
Kylian's gaze flickered briefly to Marius before returning to some distant point. With a subtle gesture, he summoned a servant. "Serve me some fugu," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
The servant hastened to obey, presenting a portion to the Crown Prince. Queen Melina's voice cut through the air, sharp with warning. "Crown Prince, it would be prudent to wait a few moments more."
Ignoring his mother's caution, Kylian fixed Marius with an inscrutable look. "I trust the boy," he declared, before taking a substantial bite of the fugu.
A collective gasp rippled through the assembled servants. Queen Melina's laughter, low and rich, filled the silence. "How intriguing," she mused. "I wonder what inspires such faith in an Omega you scarcely know."
Her attention returned to Marius, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Your skill with a blade is most impressive. It's rather surprising for a recently discovered Omega, one who's never known a day of hard labor, to possess such talent."
Marius bowed once more, his demeanor humble. "You flatter me, Your Majesty. In truth, my mother always insisted on preparing our family's meals herself. I picked up some skills there as well. I never questioned it until... recent events came to light."
"You poor, unfortunate child," Melina crooned, her sympathy laced with something darker. She raised her chopsticks once more, selecting another piece of fugu and pointing it towards Marius before bringing it to her lips.
As the Queen took her first bite, a strangled cough shattered the tense atmosphere. All eyes turned to the food taster, who had begun to wheeze and splutter. The coughing intensified, wracking her entire body as she struggled for air.
Crimson droplets spattered the polished floor as blood erupted from her mouth. The woman's eyes, wide with terror, locked onto the Queen's impassive face before rolling back in her head. She collapsed, her body writhing in violent convulsions.
Chaos erupted in the dining hall. Servants scrambled, some rushing to the taster's aid while others fled in panic. The clatter of overturned chairs and shattering porcelain punctuated the woman's agonized gasps.
Through it all, Queen Melina remained seated, her posture regal and unperturbed. She delicately dabbed at her lips with a silk napkin, her eyes never leaving Marius. "How unfortunate," she murmured, her voice carrying easily over the din. "It seems the new kitchen staff still has much to learn about the intricacies of fugu preparation. Call the doctor. My son and I injested some and we simply cannot afford to suffer such a cruel fate."
Prince Kylian rose from his seat, his face a study in controlled fury. The burly boy who had been standing behind him, previously unnoticed, moved with surprising grace, positioning himself protectively at the prince's side. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice. Marius's eyes flicked to the boy, recognizing him as Rem.
"Mother," Kylian's voice cut through the thick silence like a blade, sharp and unyielding. "I know you want the boy dead, but this has gone far enough. Your games grow tiresome. This death looks nothing like what fugu poisoning should cause. The convulsions, the blood—none of the trademarks of what should have happened."
Queen Melina's smile was razor-sharp, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "Games?" she echoed, her tone deceptively light. "My dear boy, this is no mere amusement for me."
Kylian's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Then what is it, Mother? A test? A display of power? Whatever it is, it's reckless. This isn't the work of fugu, and you know it."
Melina's smile didn't waver, but there was a hard edge to her gaze as she regarded her son. "Everyone has a different reaction to poison, Kylian. Not all deaths are neat and tidy."
The tension in the room thickened, the silence pressing in on all sides. A low murmur spread among the gathered courtiers and servants, their fear and uncertainty palpable. The palace doctor, an elderly man with a thin, stooped frame, entered the room at that moment, his expression carefully neutral as he approached the queen and her son.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," the doctor began, bowing deeply before them. "I have brought remedies to prevent any potential harm from the dish."
Melina accepted the small vial he offered her without hesitation, uncorking it and swallowing the contents in one smooth motion. She handed the empty vial back to the doctor, her expression serene, as though she hadn't just ingested a potent antidote.
Kylian, however, refused the vial offered to him. "I don't need it," he said, his voice firm. "This is not the work of fugu. I'm certain of it."
The doctor's eyes flickered with uncertainty, his gaze darting between the prince and the queen. "Your Highness," he began cautiously, "it's important to take precautions. Poison can manifest in many different ways."
Kylian shook his head, resolute. "I will be fine. What we're dealing with here isn't fugu. Check the dead girl and determine the true cause of her death."
The doctor hesitated, glancing at the queen for confirmation. Melina's eyes narrowed slightly, but she gave a curt nod, signaling for him to proceed.
With visible reluctance, the doctor knelt beside the lifeless body of the taster, his hands trembling slightly as he began his examination. The room was eerily silent, all eyes on the doctor as he worked. A few tense moments passed before he suddenly gasped, his eyes widening in shock.
"What is it?" Kylian demanded, his voice cutting through the stillness.
The doctor looked up, his face pale, and stammered, "Your Highness… you were right. This… this is not the work of fugu."
Queen Melina's expression tightened, her gaze sharpening on the doctor. "How can you be so sure?" she asked, her voice cold and controlled.
The doctor swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he carefully pried open the dead girl's mouth. Inside, her tongue and the insides of her cheeks were marked with dark purple rings, stark against the pale flesh.
"Do you see this?" the doctor said, his voice trembling slightly as he pointed to the discoloration. "These rings… this is a sign of white phosphorus poisoning."
A murmur of shock and fear rippled through the room, the courtiers whispering among themselves in hushed tones. Melina's expression faltered for the first time, a flicker of unease crossing her face as she stared at the evidence before her.
"White phosphorus?" she repeated, her voice a low hiss. "How did it get into my food?"
"It didn't. It couldn't have." The doctor replied.
"Why do you say that?" Queen Melina asked.
"Because phosphorus doesn't react this violently that fast. She would have to have to taken it a day before."
Melina gasped. "What... Who's would do this?"
Kylian's gaze remained steady, his eyes locked on his mother's. "That's what we need to find out," he said, his voice calm but with a dangerous edge. "Someone has taken steps to make this look like an accident, but they've made a mistake."
Melina's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing as she processed the implications. This was no longer a simple matter of punishment or control; this was an act of treachery within her own court. Her mind raced, considering the possibilities, the potential threats lurking within her own walls.
The doctor stood back, his hands shaking as he withdrew from the corpse. "Your Majesty," he said cautiously, "we must act quickly. Whoever did this… they could strike again."
Melina's gaze turned icy, her anger barely contained. "You will keep this matter silent," she commanded, her voice cold and lethal. "No one outside this room is to know about the true nature of this death. Do I make myself clear?"
The courtiers and servants nodded in fearful unison, none daring to speak. The tension in the room was suffocating, the air thick with the threat of violence.
Kylian's expression softened slightly as he looked at the doctor. "Take care of the body," he instructed, his voice gentler now. "And be thorough. We need to know exactly how this happened."
The doctor bowed deeply, gathering his tools and moving quickly to fulfill the prince's orders.