Part 26

"Are you okay?"

After the crowds had dispersed, the Queen pulled Henry, Nate and me into a room alone. She dismissed the servants, and as the door closed behind them she embraced me tightly, looking terrified for me.

I hugged her back, feeling tired. "I survived."

Sitting in a chair and grabbing a cup of tea that had just been poured, I took my time between sips to explain the events of the night.

CRASH!

The Queen's teacup smashed against the table, the shards mixed with golden brown tea falling to the floor at her feet. She stared at the destruction, her face angry. "How dare they?" It was just a whisper, but I shivered at the intensity in her voice. "I just wanted to celebrate my birthday with my friends, my daughter... and they try to hurt her instead?"

I reached out, grabbing her hand tightly with my own. "It's okay, I'm safe now. Thanks to Henry and Nate I was able to turn around the situation and use it to suit my own purposes."

The Queen hesitated, and then stood up to grab both Nate and Henry, hugging them tightly. "Thank you for helping her."

They both smiled, the expressions giving me a warm feeling. "We care for her too." Henry answered, as Nate nodded in agreement beside him.

"At least there's no way I can be forced to marry the prince now."." I sighed with relief, taking another sip of my tea. "It's over."

The Queen sat back down, a complicated look on her face. "I wouldn't say that."

As there were no servants in the room to clear off the mess she had made, she simply grabbed another cup, filling it herself before continuing. "The King... is a proud man."

She leaned back, staring into her cup. "He's terrified of the Royal family losing control. Initially he only wanted your Duchy's wealth and political power as a backer to our reign. Then by the time he realized your true talents, Ronan had already broken off the engagement." She laughed, but the sound was bitter and angry.

"He's intelligent, but blinded by pride. He likely thinks that if he could force you to be married into the family, that your self-interest would align with his and the Crown's position strengthened. "

I followed her words, nodding solemnly. "But he wasn't able to force me to marry Ronan, and instead the Prince has been engaged to the daughter of a Count."

"Exactly." The Queen watched me carefully, her eyes sad. "What do you think his reaction will be?"

I smiled. "He's going to try to kill me."

The Queen nodded silently, standing up and pulling me to my feet to embrace me again.

"Wait!" Nate spoke up, his anger obvious. "Wouldn't that just cause more trouble than it's worth?! Lenora isn't even interested in the crown!"

"He sees her as a threat." Surprisingly it was Henry who answered, frowning. "She's talented, wealthy, the people love her, and she can't be controlled. Plus his only heir is hated by the people, especially these days."

"More than that, she thwarted his plans." The Queen held my hand after she stepped back. "I said it before, he's a proud man. The existence of someone who has successfully stood against him... embarrassed him... he won't tolerate it for long."

Nate stepped forward to stand by me. "Let's see him try to touch her. " His normally affable appearance faded, his grim visage reminding me of why we had used him to intimidate others in meetings in the past. His eyes were cold, his hands clenched tightly. "He won't survive the attempt."

The Queen raised an eyebrow. "You'd start a war?"

"With a clear conscience." His lips pressed firmly together, forming a stubborn look.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed, I patted him on the arm, smiling comfortingly. "It's okay, it won't come to that."

Immediately the grim and threatening appearance Nate was maintaining crumbled to nothing as his face turned red and he stared up at the ceiling to avoid my eyes.

The Queen smiled at my words. "So you understand." Her gaze remained sad, and I knew she had thought of the same plan as me.

"What are we going to do?" Henry asked, looking back and forth between us.

"I need to leave the city." I shrugged. "Out of sight, out of mind. If I can stay away for a while, let some of this boil over, the King might relent."

"At the very least he would hesitate to send assassins over borders to another country." The Queen added.

"Another country?" Nate had regained his composure, and stared at me intently. "Where...?"

I grinned at him, "I thought you wanted me to come visit in Tilendria?"

He looked shocked, "Really?!"

"Well, I was planning on being nearby for the new store's opening, anyways."

"Y-you're coming home with me?!" Nate shook his head disbelievingly.

"Well, I was hoping to catch a ride on your carriage, but I can hire my own if you don't want that and go by myself..."

"NO WAIT! I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME!"

"..." I had only been teasing him, and was startled by his panicked shout. Seeing my grin, he relaxed his stance, hiding his eyes behind a hand as he groaned with embarrassment.

Henry moved closer, patting Nate on the back. "Congratulations, Nate."

I looked at him. "Why are you congratulating...?"

"Nothing much, cousin." Henry shrugged. "You'll figure it out eventually."

"..." I stared silently.

"... Actually you might not." He patted Nate again, this time with a sympathetic face. "I take back my 'congratulations' and change it to a 'good luck'."

Nate laughed. "Thanks, Henry. I'm going to miss you, can't you come with us?"

"No, with Lenora away, I'll have to keep watch over the place and make sure it keeps running properly." He then pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Nate. "Here's a list of exotic plants only found in Tilendria. Please find them and pot them properly, I'll send a team to pick them up."

Nate read the paper, his forehead wrinkling. "How did you know to make this?"

Henry nodded solemnly. "When it comes to plants, I'm always prepared."

The Queen and I laughed at them both, turning to each other. I reached out, and hugged her a final time. "We'll leave as soon as I'm packed, so I'll say goodbye for now."

Her arms tightened around me at my words, and to my surprise I could hear her sniff back tears. "I just finally got you to call me 'Mother' for the first time and now I have to send you away!" She shook her head. "And it's all because of my own wretched husband. I'm so sorry, dear."

I stepped back, smiling at her. "Don't worry, I needed to go check on my new store anyways. And I've been wanting to take a vacation."

She rolled her eyes. "Only you would think checking on your business was a vacation." Hugging me again, she turned to Nate with a stern expression.

"Treat my daughter well."

A smile on his face, Nate gave a formal bow to the Queen, startling us both. "I promise."

Looking at me again, she whispered. "Can you say it again one more time before you go?"

Knowing what she wanted, I grinned, stepping back and giving a formal curtsey, echoing Nate. "Goodbye, Mother. Be well until I return."

Those words froze the Queen for a few moments, until she began sniffling, dabbing her eyes with a kerchief. "I love you, Lenora!"

Not knowing what to say, I nodded, turned, and I left her behind, my chest hurting, my eyes burning.

____________________________________

Nate and Henry and I walked to the carriage. Nate turned his head back and forth, keeping a close eye on our surroundings. Obviously the events from last night were making him nervous. As I prepared to step in, he reached out and touched my arm, whispering.

"I'll pick you up tonight. Let's leave before the King has time to react."

I nodded. "I'll go pack my things."

"Yes, I'm already packed but..." he smiled grimly. "I still have one other thing I have to do."

With that he was gone, leaving Henry and I to get into the carriage and ride home.

But upon entering the carriage, we were greeted with the sight of my frowning mother.

She looked at Henry with a disdainful gaze, and waved a hand. "Go home a different way. The Duke has already left with Hallers. I need to speak with my daughter."

Henry hesitated, glancing over at me to see what I wanted. My stomach sinking, I nodded slowly, giving him permission.

He stepped back out and soon it was just the two of us.

"..." In the uncomfortable silence, the carriage started to move.

The Duchess of Amerande reared her hand back, swinging it down towards my face to slap me.

I caught her wrist, preventing her palm from reaching me. For a few frozen moments we watched at each other, her hand outstretched, her face a snarl of rage. I stared back at her silently, my heartbeat in my ears.

"You stupid brat." Her voice was a quiet, but the disdain was clear. "Why did you anger the King?"

"What do you mean?" I let go of her hand, sitting back as if unconcerned that she had tried to strike me. "I've done nothing."

She laughed. "Nothing? Then what was that little show with that bastard girl and the prince this morning?"

"They were careless." I shrugged. "Nothing to do with me."

"I saw the King's face, you fool! I don't know how, but you stepped in between him and his plans. I hope you're happy, those who end up on the wrong side of him end up broken or dead." A cruel smile played at her lips.

"And if I told you that he wanted me drugged and ruined, what would you think of my actions?" My voice was cold.

Her voice was colder. "Then you should have accepted your fate as unlucky." The Duchess shook her head. "You're a disappointment. What girl doesn't have to sacrifice to become Queen? Have you ever given thought to how your actions could affect the family? Affect me as your mother?"

"Are you my mother?" I barely recognized my voice. "I never would have known."

She looked as if she wanted to hit me again. "Ungrateful child!" She hissed, clenching her fists. "That hideous woman gives you a few moments of attention and then you immediately disown me? I SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUEEN!"

"..." I was stunned into speechlessness; while the Duchess leaned forward, frowning.

"I grew up side by side with that man. Helping him with his schemes, strengthening his position in court. I was supposed to marry him! But when a princess from another country offers a better political advantage, they arrange it in a moment!"

Her voice slowly raised in volume, her eyes filled with a fanatical light. "What was I supposed to do? I was only meant to be Queen! I had my father arrange a marriage to the most powerful Duke and tried to be content with my second choice. But it was never what I wanted, YOU were never what I wanted!"

She was shouting now, her finger pointing in my face. I felt my face burn with shame, remembering how much I had cared for her in my past life..

____________________________________

"Mother!" I was walking the streets, calling out in a anxious voice.

She should have been home by now!

She told me she was going to go look for the Earl, but I hadn't seen her since.

I had to find her. She was the only family I had left.

"Mother!"

____________________________________

"Shut up." I whispered the words, but she stopped all the same. "This isn't what you wanted? Every word you say is worthless. You think you should have been queen? You say I should have been queen? None of it matters!"

Her mouth gaped open but no sounds emerged. I continued.

"I've never claimed to need you. All I told you was to stay away, to not cause trouble. Or I would ruin you."

She found her voice. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I?" I smiled, the expression making her lean away in fear. "I think society would be better without you in it. Father I know would be happier."

She snapped at my words. "Don't pity your father! Do you think I'm the only one in the wrong? That man is the guiltiest out of all of us!"

"What are you...?" I started to ask, but she held up a hand, halting my words.

"I have nothing left to say. You want to know more, ask the man himself."

The carriage was silent as we stared at each other, my breath coming out in frustrated bursts.

"Why couldn't you just be a loving mother?" I heard the tears in my voice, but I ignored them. "I would have loved you more than anyone in the world."

The Duchess's face didn't change despite my distress. "I never wanted such a disappointing child."

Even though I expected it, I still felt as if my heart was breaking with her words. "Then we finally have something in common. I never wanted such a terrible mother."

The carriage came to a stop. We were home.

I stood up, continuing to stare at the woman I once wanted to love me more than anyone else. "Here is what will happen: You will leave. Go find a life somewhere. Change your name, deceive everyone around you. I don't care. But you will never return."

Her face slowly turned red with anger. "And how do you plan on forcing me?"

"In three days, I will take every terrible thing you've done, every person you've lied to, every shop you cheated, everyone you betrayed ... and I will release it to the general publication. Your name here will be worthless. " I laughed, a desolate sound. "I'll give you enough time to leave town before you're chased out, but that is the extent of my good will. I am not your daughter, and I will never call you mother again."

She stood up as well, "Do your worst. I'll leave, as you wish. But when the King destroys you, and your new 'mother' does nothing? Remember that I'll be watching, enjoying the show."

"That may be so." I refused to rise to her baiting words. "But at least I'll still have avoided the worst possible fate: having you as my mother for the rest of my life."

I stepped down off the carriage, helped by a footman, and looked back up at her.

"I won't wish you well. I won't claim to wish to see you again. Goodbye."

With that I walked away, pretending that my heart wasn't torn to pieces.

____________________________________

The carriage ride to Tilendria was quiet. Nate watched me with a concerned stare, his first few attempts to ask me what I was upset about having been refused. I looked out at the darkness beyond the window, trying to cheer myself up.

"So you are bringing Hallers?" He finally asked, obviously trying to find a safe topic. "I would have thought it would be too short of notice."

I chuckled. "I wasn't even given a chance to ask. Hallers was packed and ready to go within a few minutes of hearing I was leaving."

He laughed as well at that, and my spirits lifted for a moment. I looked out at the dark window again, and sighed. "It's so strange to be here. We're like Erica and her Captain when they eloped."

Cough!

Nate his face bright red, seemed to choke at these words, coughing as covering his face with his hands.

"Really?!!!" His voice seemed unnaturally high and tense, but then he paused, frowning. "Wait, how do you think are we like them?"

"Well we're leaving for Tilendria late at night." I studied him, confused. "What were you thinking of?"

"Nothing! Definitely nothing!" He sighed, and then buried his face in his hands once more. "She's so dense!"

I barely heard the last few words as he muttered them, but before I could ask, I noticed his hands, which he had previously kept hidden from sight.

"What happened to you?" I reached out and gently grabbed them, examining them closer. His knuckles were scraped and bloody.

"Doing something that had to be done." Despite the fact that the wounds must have hurt, Nate simply smiled as he spoke, looking very pleased with himself.

"The errand that had you going back to the palace?"

"Yes, it was very successful." He laughed and I joined in. I had my suspicions of what he had done, but didn't comment further. I simply dressed up his wounds at the next stop, feeling that he deserved the special care.

____________________________________

We traveled for several days, staying at inns during the nights and riding in the carriage all day. It was sore and uncomfortable, and I found myself looking forward to our arrival. Nate however, didn't look nearly as excited. In fact, the closer we drew to the Tilendrian border the more nervous Nate seemed to get.

Finally on the last day, he burst out, seemingly unable to hold it in any longer. "Lenora! I need to tell you something!"

"What?" I was curious as to what had made him so agitated lately.

"I know we've sort of avoided talking about it, and I really always meant to bring it up sooner... but it's not like I can avoid it, where we're going." His eyes moved all around the carriage, avoiding mine. "I hope you understand..."

He trailed off, fidgeting, and I lost my patience. "Just spit it out, Nate! What is it?!"

Nat flinched. "Well, you see... I'm actually..."

"We've arrived at the Capital!" The driver called out. I cheered, excited that our days of carriage riding were over. Nate turned pale, and was about to call out to the driver, when the guard at the gate made an announcement.

"His Royal Highness, Prince Nathaniel has returned!!"