Eve has read King Zaraki’s letter.
[ Eve, it’s almost a month since you left to conquer Kingdom Averion. I haven’t heard any good news yet. I wonder if you have forgotten about your husband. If you don’t act fast, then he will suffer without the antidote. He is getting weaker now. Don’t blame me if you come here and he is already a corpse. The effect of his initial antidote was fading now. I’m hoping to hear from you soon. Give me some updates. – King Zaraki ]
She crumpled the paper, a cold glint flashing through her eyes. She could tell that King Zaraki was being impatient.
’I was trying to buy some time. Now, he is pressuring me to give him some updates.’
"Master? Are you alright? What did the King tell you?" Aerin asked her upon noticing her grim expression.
"I have to hurry and return to Kingdom Zephyra. Alaric needs to receive the second antidote." Eve responded.
"My husband is not feeling well," she added. She felt miserable because she was not there to take care of Alaric.
Aerin and Silvester tried to comfort Eve. They could see the sadness in her eyes.
"Don’t worry, Master. You can return to him after the coronation. Riding Zephyr can bring you back to Kingdom Zephyra faster," Aerin said.
Eve smiled faintly upon hearing that. Aerin was right–Flying with a dragon can help her reach her destination faster. She doesn’t need a month to return to Kingdom Zephyra.
"I will finish what I’ve started here. Then I’ll go back to my husband soon," Eve mumbled.
It did not take long before she heard a knock. "Eve, it’s me, Gideon. Are you still awake?"
"Oh, my Master is here!" Silvester flew toward the door.
"You may enter," she said, giving him permission to open her door.
Gideon stepped into her room, looking at her worriedly. "I’ve heard that you received a letter from Kingdom Zephyra. Is everything okay?"
Silvester and Aerin decided to leave the two, giving them some privacy to talk.
"The letter is from King Zaraki. He is suspicious of me. Hr didn’t receive any updates from his knights. He wanted me to report something to him. He even used Alaric to pressure me."
Gideon furrowed his eyebrows upon hearing that. "You don’t have to worry about him. Let me write a response letter to him. I can help you buy some time. Besides, he doesn’t need to know that you are becoming the Queen of Kingdom Averion."
Eve just nodded in agreement. "How is the preparation for tomorrow’s coronation?"
"I just finished patrolling around the palace. The main guards are now replaced by Captain Alucard’s men. The member of the 5th battalion will be joining us tomorrow. General Artemis had finished talking to the elders of the four main clans. General Ravenmoor, on the other hand, is still searching for Princess Aliyah."
"You have to find Aliyah’s personal guard. He might be the one who helped her escape."
"Yes. I will continue searching for that man. So you don’t have to worry. You should sleep now, Eve."
Eve held Gideon’s shoulder as she thanked him. "You should rest too, Gideon. You’ve been running so many errands for me. I’m so sorry for tiring you out."
Gideon chuckled softly. "I have a lot of stamina. I’m not tired. Besides, I’m serving you, My Queen."
Eve hit his shoulder and said, "Hey, just call me Eve. We are the only people here. You are my friend. Don’t treat me as your Queen."
"Fine. I’ll do that, Eve. But I have to address you formally in front of others," Gideon responded.
"Yeah. I understand."
It did not take long before Gideon left Eve’s chamber. Instead of heading to his room, he continued searching for Princess Aliyah’s personal guard. He had a hunch that those two people would try to ruin the coronation and stop Eve from ascending to the throne.
"If I were him, where would I hide Princess Aliyah? What is my next move?" Gideon tried to put himself in Gerard’s shoes, wondering what he should do— rescuing the queen or leaving the palace for good.
Little did he know, the man he was looking for was now inside the Queen’s chambers together with Princess Aliyah, who was disguised as a royal servant.
"Mother! It’s me... Aliyah," Aliyah gently shook Queen Amara’s body to wake her up. She was confined in her chamber with a shackle.
Queen Amara slowly opened her eyes, only to be taken aback by the sight of her daughter standing before her.
"Aliyah! How did you get here? And why on earth are you dressed in such ragged clothes?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with both shock and concern.
Queen Amara tried to sit up, her gaze scanning Aliyah from head to toe, disbelief etched on her face. "What happened to you, my dear? Did that bitch harm you?"
Aliyah shook her head. "I’m pretending to be a royal servant. I escaped. But I can’t leave the palace, Mother. General Ravenmoor and his men are searching for me all over the palace. They shut down the palace gate."
"I’m glad you’re safe. Damn it, I want to kill that bitch! She’s treating me like a prisoner. How could she put these shackles on me?" Queen Amara lamented, clenching her fists as she cursed Eve silently in her mind.
Princess Aliyah gently cupped her mother’s face, her eyes burning with determination.
"I can’t break these binds and set you free just yet, Mother. But I promise you, I will kill Eve on your behalf. I will save you and make that woman pay for trying to covet and steal your throne. Tomorrow, before she can even be crowned Queen, she will meet her death. For me, you are the only rightful Queen of this kingdom."
A cold glint flashed through Queen Amara’s eyes. "I’ve heard about the upcoming coronation. She is so bold enough to do this! I will trust you on this. Kill that woman for me, my dear daughter."
Queen Amara expressed her support for Aliyah’s assassination plan. "If you can, please give her a horrible death!" she added.
"I know what to do, Mother. I will satisfy you tomorrow. I will avenge our family," she said, reassuring her.
"How about your brother and sister? Are they alright? Have you checked on them?" Queen Amara asked curiously.
Princess Aliyah crumpled her face. "I don’t want to see my traitor brother! I’ve heard that he tried to apologize and reconcile with Eve. He betrayed us. I’ll never forgive him."
"I can’t believe it. Stefan has gone mad. I have to teach your brother a lesson." Queen Amara said, feeling frustrated.
"As for my sister Alessandra, I haven’t seen her yet. I came to see you first. Besides, Alessandra is useless. She’s too self-righteous, always clinging to her ideals of justice and virtue. I’m certain she would never agree to my plan." Princess Aliyah hissed. She knew her elder sister too well. She hated Eve, but she couldn’t kill her.
"She would probably try to stop me instead of helping. That’s why I have no intention of involving her. This is something I have to do on my own. This is for you, Mother."
Queen Amara fell silent for a moment as she observed her daughter. She could see herself in her daughter. She reached out, caressing Aliyah’s face.
"Forgive me, Aliyah. I thought Alessandra was my best daughter, but I was wrong. It was you all along... We are so much alike," Queen Amara said, admiration shining in her eyes. She immediately pulled her daughter into a warm embrace.
Princess Aliyah smiled inwardly, satisfied to hear her mother’s compliment. "I will not disappoint you, mother. I am different from my siblings. I am special."
"I know, my dear. You will do well tomorrow. I will be looking forward to seeing Eve’s death."
"Alright, mother. Just don’t be sad anymore. Go back to sleep now. I have to go and prepare for tomorrow." Princess Aliyah broke the hug as she stood up, saying goodbye to her mother.
"Take care, Aliyah. Please be safe."
Princess Aliyah left her mother’s chamber. She was escorted by Gerard. The guards hadn’t recognized them at all. The two of them headed to the servants’ quarters. They were the only servants inside the room.
"Princess, I will just be outside if you need anything. I will stay on guard so that you can sleep well," Gerard said.
Gerard was about to leave the room when Princess Aliyah suddenly stopped him.
"Who told you to stay outside?" Princess Aliyah asked, a playful smirk curling on her lips. "You have to stay with me here, Gerard. I need you to serve me tonight... and perhaps, I’ll give you your reward in advance."
Gerard froze in place the moment Princess Aliyah began to undress in front of him.
"Come here, Gerard. Touch me. I’m all yours tonight. I am your reward. Let’s win our fight against Eve," Aliyah said, offering herself to her loyal knight.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!