Gracia saw herself walking around in a strange world where people dressed strangely, there was buildings that seems all too confusing for her and a device with four wheels which she assumed to be another version of carriages. She saw many other strange things that she couldn't put a name to and some people seem to recognize her.
"Barb" She saw someone snapped their finger at her and she looked up to see a tall man with physique more like her husband's but the face was different.
Just then, she felt someone pinch her wrist and she suddenly sprang up from her slumber. She saw Ginerva sitted beside her with a worried look on beside her bed.
"Oh your highness, thank goodness you are awake, have been worried dead" Ginerva said as she inspects Gracia's expression. Gracia on the other hand tries to remember the last thing she did before she blacked out. She remembers walking out of the dinning room feeling dizzy but she couldn't recall what happened next but with Ginerva's expression, she assumed she must have passed out.
"Your highness?" Ginerva called as she still stared worriedly at Gracia. Gracia raised her head up to see her and then smiles.
"I'm okay Ginerva, seems like you are the only one who cared for the Queen" Gracia said seeing that there was no one other than them in the room.
"The physician just left, he said you were suffocated, it must have being the clothing, It's all my fault your highness, I deserve to be beheaded" Ginerva said and bows her head to Gracia. Gracia smiles and then she recalls the dream she had, she knew it was strange but then she wonders why she saw herself in a world like that.
"I told the guards not to announce your collapse to the king, is it all right?" Ginerva said.
"Yes" Gracia simply replied. Since she was the one that ordered Ginerva to make sure everything she does never gets to the king since the king cared less neither does she need him to care for her. Just then, Gracia's mind drift back to the man she saw in her dream. She wondered who he was or perhaps it was her mind creating imagery because she wanted to be saved so badly from the world she's trapped in.
"Can I get you anything your highness, would you like some water" Ginerva asked and Gracia shook her head. She slumps back on the bed and that was when she figured she wasn't no longer in the dress she had wore. She felt good and alive not having to breath in the corset dress. She draws up the covers on her body and close her eyes hoping to get back to the strange but comforting world she had found herself in.
"I should leave you to rest your highness" Ginerva said and Gracia gave no response, instead, she tries to get all things off her mind so she could hurry on to sleep. Ginerva sighs seeing Gracia tighten her eyes, she was worried Gracia was getting tired of life, she knew she would be to if it were her in Gracia's position so all she wanted to do is to find the little happiness she could get for her.
**************
Delerius sat on his royal bed in his chamber, with his mistress, Beatrice laying naked beside him and drawing her hand all over his body. He was ignoring the fact that he had a meeting with all his late King's Counsel as he'd call it. He never considered himself to be king but he only accepted the proposal because he knew part of the Counsel might try to rebel and replace their familyline as the king to another and he doesn't want that, not until he knows the truth behind his late brother's death.
Delerius never enjoyed the company of men discussing about the prosperity of the kingdom, when his late father, the 14th king of Harmonia had forced him to stay in the meeting room along with his brother Anselm to listen to the Counsel make decisions, he always ended up leaving the room without saying a word and not caring about his father's warnings. He always prefers the sights of swords and blood to decent clothing of the nobles which by blood he was.
He would stick himself to the general commander, having the man teach him swordsmanship in the name of not disobeying the prince. He later made his point clear to his father and the old man on his sick bed accepted to let him go for his dream and then Instated his younger brother, Anselm as the next king and Delerius as the general commander after the general's death at a war Delerius fought hard to win.
Seeing that he later ended in the king's chamber, trying to cope with not having to fight all day and listening to the pests counsel try to lecture him on how to be a good king disgusts him. When he was the general commander, he would drink to stupor, fuck around with whores and executes anyone who crosses their line, he was the definition of ruthless and still yet he is. The only thing he couldn't do was having to execute people as he always does.
"Get your hands off" Delerius said and it didn't take Beatrice a second before she did so. She knew it was the call for her to leave so she stands up and wrap a cloth on her body not bothering to dress up, she wouldn't want to face the wrath of Delerius.
After Beatrice left, few minutes after, a guard announced the chief counsel's presence and the door opened. If it was random counsel, he could have him beheaded but because of the position the Chief Counsel holds, he couldn't. He watched the man stomp into the room with his corner of his eyes.
"Everyone is present, waiting for you in the meeting room your highness, they have a lot to share as well as I" The Chief Counsel, Hughes Seaworth said and a thought came to Delerius mind which made him burst out laughing.
"Chief Counsel, you know the queen's position is still very well opened, I could have the present queen dethroned anytime I please, I just need you to ask" Delerius on the intention of making the old man annoyed. Delerius knew Hughes was on the process of getting his daughter to being the queen before his brother's death but he quickly withdrawed when he saw Delerius would be the next king which assured him that Hughes was out of the suspects of his brother's killer.
"You have no need to do that now your highness, we have something more urgent we need to look at" Hughes said while he was trying hard to keep himself calm with the insolency of Delerius.
"I suddenly have a urge for your daughter, I saw her in town when I was the general commander, that's more urgent now" Delerius pushed further, wanting the man to break.
"She's isn't of age your highness" Hughes said and Delerius dramatically widen his mouth.
"Hmmm I would not say that, her bossom is well moulded to be called a girl of ten and eight but you would not lie so I will overlook her for now, till she grows older, maybe the coming year" Delerius said and chuckles. Hughes smiles and then nods.
"Very well your highness" Hughes said. Delerius find it fun to torment him. He knew the man was his father's most trusted man but he never trusted anyone except his late brother whom he cherished the most but then he had suddenly fall Ill and gradually wither away before he could even bore a child.
"I will join the others to wait for you in the meeting room" Hughes said and turns to leave. After he left, Delerius stands up and adjusted his clothing before he also leaves the room. Before he left, he took a glance at the incense burnt to make the room smell nice. If only he knew the mere scent was the cause of his brother's death and also the craft of his coffin.