The queen sat in her chambers, her fingers clutching the edges of her gilded chair. The worry that had carved lines into her face over the past few days was now replaced by a simmering anger. Her daughters and niece had vanished without a word, leaving the palace in turmoil.
The maids moved cautiously, their eyes downcast as they tidied the room. None dared to speak, but the tension in the air was undeniable.
A knock at the door interrupted the silence. "Your Majesty," a guard announced, bowing deeply. "The princesses and Lady Leila have returned."
The queen's breath hitched, and she rose swiftly. "Bring them to me. Now."
---
The grand doors to the queen's chamber opened, revealing Anya, Margaret, Celia, and Leila. Their cloaks were tattered, their faces streaked with dirt and exhaustion. Yet there was a fire in their eyes that hadn't been there before.
The queen's gaze swept over them, her relief quickly overshadowed by fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Anya stepped forward, clutching the box containing the Shadowstone. "Mother, I—"
"Don't," the queen interrupted, her tone sharp. "You left without a word. Do you understand the chaos you caused? The court is in an uproar, and the nobles are questioning our rule!"
Margaret met her mother's gaze, her tone measured. "We did what we had to, Mother. The Shadowstone is real, and we have it."
The queen's eyes flicked to the box, a mix of fear and awe crossing her features. "You found it?"
Leila stepped forward. "We did. But it wasn't easy. The shadow knows we have it now, and it won't stop until it gets it back."
The queen's anger faltered, replaced by worry. She moved closer, her voice softening. "You shouldn't have gone alone. You should have told me."
Celia crossed her arms. "And risked someone stopping us? We didn't have time to debate this."
The queen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're all so reckless."
Anya stepped closer, her voice firm. "We had no choice, Mother. This stone is the only way to protect the kingdom."
The queen looked at her daughters and niece, her expression conflicted. "You've brought danger to our doorstep. We'll need to act quickly."
---
As the princesses and Leila left the queen's chamber, they were met with a cluster of maids in the hallway. The young women exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to approach.
One maid, bolder than the others, stepped forward. "Your Highnesses, you're safe! We were so worried."
Anya offered a tired smile. "Thank you, Elara. I'm sorry for the trouble we caused."
Elara hesitated before speaking again. "The court was in chaos while you were gone. Some nobles even suggested… drastic measures."
Margaret frowned. "Drastic measures? What do you mean?"
Another maid chimed in, her voice trembling. "There were whispers of removing someone from the line of succession. They said… they said the royal family couldn't be trusted anymore."
Celia's eyes narrowed. "Cowards, all of them."
Leila placed a comforting hand on the maid's shoulder. "Thank you for telling us. We'll handle it from here."
The maids bowed and hurried away, leaving the group to process the information.
---
Later that evening, the queen summoned the princesses and Leila to the council chamber. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with unspoken tension.
"The nobles are restless," the queen began, her voice steady but strained. "They've already started spreading rumors about your absence. They think we're hiding something."
Anya placed the box on the table. "They're not wrong. But we can't let their fear dictate our actions."
Margaret nodded. "We need to show them that we're in control. That we're prepared to face the shadow's threat."
Celia leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "And how do you suggest we do that? Reveal the Shadowstone and risk mass panic?"
Leila spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "We don't need to reveal everything. But we do need to unite the court. If the nobles turn against us, the shadow won't have to destroy the kingdom—we'll do it for them."
The queen listened, her gaze lingering on each of them. Finally, she nodded. "Very well. We'll call a meeting of the council tomorrow. But understand this—you've started something dangerous. We must tread carefully from here on out."
--