The tub of ice was carefully put away as the maids scurried to leave the Queen to rest. The foul mood is not something one could overlook. Bending their heads and remaining as talkative as a wall, was what they sought as the best course of action. 

Meredith rubbed her temple as her eyes shut for a moment. The matter of her grandfather leaving the capital at this time was enough for the Queen to want to break something. The matters of the day allowed her to vent relentlessly on someone she deemed deserved every bit of punishment she doled out. 

The ivory-handled brush fit perfectly in hand, cooled to the touch as the stiff boar bristles combed through her long blond hair. Meredith could not help but release a self-indulgent sigh. 

A soft knock on the door was heard before Madame Julie walked in with a tray of Earl Grey and light snacks. Madame Julie’s weathered face was calming to look upon, Meredith lifted the brush to the old woman.

Julie smiled warmly as she stepped forward, taking the brush in hand to finish the Queen’s work. 

Long even strokes as the bristles nestled into Meredith’s scalp, massaging ever so slightly. The methodical actions eased the Queen’s mind as her thoughts finally fell to the side. 

“This little one has not heard any news from the De Costa or Devoncourt household on the rumors that have been circling the capital as of late.” Madame Julie offered. 

“Are you sure?” Meredith’s eyes opened as her brows pulled together showing her wet nurse an expression of frustration. 

“No moves on quelling the rumors nor movement of fanning it.” Madame Julie directed her gaze toward the glass mirror. 

“Inaction can also be a stance.” Meredith’s expression grew ugly as she felt indignant. At first, it was simple parlor rumors, who would take them seriously but as the days passed, the rumors did not die down. 

Now, the appearance of the Grand Duke and Young Lady De Costa standing side by side at the King’s banquet was seared into the aristocracy’s memory.

Meredith went to great lengths to foster an amicable relationship with Marchioness De Costa. In order to pave the road for little Rinni to capture the Queen’s seat with Alexander sitting beside her. 

Who knew years later that fox Arsenio would arrange a marriage to the Grand Duke who leisurely spent his days in and out of brothels? 

It seemed the Queen overestimated Arsenio’s affection for his only daughter. Seeing as incapacitating the De Costa family from Vicon’s royal succession took precedence over Katarina’s happiness. 

Meredith smirked as her thoughts turned toward her late husband. The only man who could make life much more difficult in death rather than in life. 

“And the King?” Meredith pointed her gaze to the old woman through the mirror. 

“This year’s debutant will receive foreign envoys to enjoy the festivities.” Madame Julie relayed.

A hard scoff sounded undignified as Meredith did not hide her disdain. The passing of her husband was an unforeseen event but Meredith had no time to grieve.

The royal council, not even a month into mourning for King Edwards's passing, saw fit to reestablish King Richard as Regent for the time being. 

The course of the matter was baffling. Leaving the relationship between her father-in-law and herself strained at best. 

“Smoke and mirrors.” Meredith laughed. “Typical.” Many were blinded, but Meredith’s time dwelling in the palace allowed her to see past the King’s elaborate facade. 

To her, he was simply an old man unwilling to let a Cunningham atop the throne. Rather seeing a wretched bastard before the true heir due to his fear of the Church. 

Topics of the royal family were not something Madame Julie could comment on, so instead, the old lady remained silent focusing her attention on the Queen’s golden hair.

Julie's fingers twisted each strand in an intricate centipede braid that fell down the Queen’s back. Endowing the hair with white pearls at every other twist. 

Meredith was not in the mood to continue thinking of the King and his dog, Marquis De Costa. Ruining her decade-long plan to receive a De Costa as a daughter-in-law. 

As Madame Julie placed the last of the pearls she stepped back and bowed her head, crossing her hands in front of her. “Countess Hess has begun to send out her invitations.” The old maid commented. “There are sure to be many more eligible young ladies to consider,” Julie suggested. 

Meredith heaved a sigh. “Katarina is not just another young lady.” She lectured.     

The relationship between King Aleksander the First and Marquis Rodrigo De Costa was deep. Both were upstanding gentlemen, who often praised the noble countenance of Queen Adaline.

On the Queen's passing, King Aleksander never took another wife as a grim expression was permanently affixed on the sovereign's face.

To witness his old friend in such a state, the Marquis asked his King on bended knees:

"If my household has the good fortune to birth a little girl, If My liege could do me the honor to present her with the name Adaline? In the hopes for my daughter to live her life with the same dignity as the late Queen."

On that day, it was known that with King Aleksander’s blessing, Rodrigo De Costa could present his first daughter with the name Adaline.

It caused a huge stir among the nobility. As years passed, the De Costa family was not blessed with a little girl. 

In the year of Rodrigo De Costa's passing, filled with grief, King Aleksander made their verbal promise into a written mandate:

"When the time comes, the De Costa family would not forget the promise between two old friends."

History books recounted King Aleksander as a conqueror he was a romantic to the very end.

On Katarina's name day it was King Richard II who presented the mandate left behind by his Royal grandfather.

Adorning the name, Katarina Adaline De Costa.

The capital celebrated for weeks. Even the King in Aswán sent a few gifts to the little girl.

The astronomical value placed on the little girl’s head caused the common folk to etch her importance in their hearts. Such a woman that holds the amount of influence as Katarina does by birthright, was a threat.  

“Her place is beside my son,” Meredith growled.

Seeing the De Costa household’s inaction to the rumors was similar to a slap in the face for the Queen who tended to the little girl all those years prior.

If the Marquis thought the Grand Duchy of Devoncourt was invulnerable to the oncoming storm, Meredith would be sure to remind them the place Katarina belonged was on her son’s arm.