The Queen sat in front of her aunt with a frown on her face. She was in a certain predicament since she had arrived at the large house surrounded by a mass of trees.

“You could’ve commanded this loyal subject to your court, your majesty. Why would you tire yourself in coming all the way here?” Amelia frowned at her aunt’s bowed position. She looked almost innocent, but her words had affected her differently than how they were intended to.

Amelia wasn't aware of how she would be perceived going to her aunt’s house. But she had been so worried about Bran that her mind had only registered that, and she left to go to the noblewoman’s.

She had to be tact with her answer, and she knew how to do that from all her years of being the sole sovereign of her kingdom. “I desired to be respectful to you this time, aunt.”

The bowing noblewoman gritted her teeth as she remained with her head down. She disliked having the Queen in her home, but she had no other choice. She didn’t even know why the Queen was there.

As if manifesting the answer to her question, the Queen spoke up. “I thought of coming to visit you since our last meeting.” Leila tried to smile at her niece, but the sentiment just wasn’t there. All she felt was dislike and disgust from the other woman. More so now since the Queen had been willing to marry another woman but not Leila’s own son. Something that offended the woman more than she would let on.

“May I ask the reason, your highness?”

Amelia hadn’t thought so far ahead as she looked around the sitting room. There was nothing amiss there, but her doubts had led her to the noblewoman’s house anyway. There was no one else who could be responsible for Bran’s disappearance.

But that was only Amelia’s concern which had her believing so.

“I just desired to see you, aunt. Should there be more reason to do so?” Leila smiled fakely as she bowed her head before shaking it. The Queen was baiting her, and she still didn’t know why she was there in her house, in the first place.

As the two women remained in each other’s company, unwilling to yield before the other – a person entered the room. Immediately bowing their head, the messenger spoke up as soon as the two women turned their attention on him.

“Addressing the Queen – the King has come back to the castle safely and is awaiting your return!”

One sentence was enough for Leila to understand clearly what the reason for Amelia’s sudden visit had been. Leila just didn’t know if Amelia had been suspecting her of abducting Bran or of being the reason why Bran had left the castle in the first place.

Now, it was Leila’s turn to have the upper hand. “Did the King go somewhere, your Highness?”

Amelia had been so occupied with being pleased that Bran had returned safe and sound that she didn’t realize where she had been. And what she was about to face. “It would be an honour to be visited by both the King and Queen one day.”

Leila smiled as she bowed her head. Amelia frowned at the brazen request, but she didn’t want to spend any more time at her aunt’s house. She had no need to either, but another person’s entrance inside the sitting room had caused a frown to permanently make its way to Amelia’s face.

Immediately standing up, Amelia only wanted to leave the place, but now she had another obstacle in her way.

“Ah, the Queen has graced us with her presence!”

Leila raised her head to look at her only son, who was stood in the entrance of the sitting room with a haughty expression. He had been gone to the neighbouring kingdom, Naja, for trade, and had returned recently to his estate.

“Greet your cousin, Adam.”

Amelia frowned at the excitement in her aunt’s voice. She disliked both of them but had to keep appearances. Though her frown did not leave her face, she managed to be generous enough to give the young man her attention. “Welcome back, cousin.”

Her cousin was a tall man with a moustache that gave his youthful looks a certain maturity. Amelia disliked his moustache as well but kept her opinions to herself. She barely cared about the other man but seeing how he looked at her with a wide grin – a shiver of disgust flowed through her body.

“Ah, why the distance, my dear Queen? Don’t you remember how close we are to be one day?” And this was specifically the reason for Amelia’s dislike towards the man. He was arrogant and haughty. As if, he deserved the kingdom of Geraldia, when he didn’t even earn a place in it.

Leila’s expression darkened as she went over to her son, patting his shoulder comfortingly.

Amelia could tell they were about to start a theatrical performance soon.

“The Queen already has a King, my dear Adam.”

A genuine look of surprise came over the man’s face as he looked at his mother with his eyebrows furrowed. “You’re jesting, dear mother.”

Amelia rolled her eyes at their performance as she remained silent. She didn’t want to say anything or do anything while Adam was relayed the news of her marriage. Not like he hadn’t already heard of it from the woman once he returned. It was a grand ceremony, and it was one of a kind.

Where else did a Queen rule or take another woman as her spouse and King?

“I’m afraid not, my dear son. The Queen has married, and she was just here to check if the King had come around here.” Amelia’s eye twitched as she heard her aunt’s words. Of course, Leila had been aware of Amelia’s visit.

Adam frowned as he looked at his mother. “Why would the King come here?”

Amelia noticed the way the young man spat out the word as if he was disgusted by it, but before her aunt could respond – Amelia answered quickly. “I should be returning to the castle now.”

Leila smiled sinisterly as she nodded her head. “Of course, your highness. The King must be waiting for you.” Even though the sentence had been spoken with care, the intention was anything but. Amelia nodded her head as she stood up.

“I will also bring the King for a visit next time.” Amelia made sure to smile at her aunt, who made sure to bow her head in respect. Adam had also bowed his head albeit not wanting to. Amelia smirked at the display of submissiveness. She wanted to keep it that way with her aunt and cousin as she walked past them.

Leila and Adam followed behind her as she exited their home. Immediately being surrounded by her guards, Amelia frowned when she noticed something odd.

“Is there a quarry near here?”

Adam frowned as he stepped forward to answer. “Not that we know of.” His answer coincided with Leila’s confused expression which the Queen didn’t read more into. There was no reason for him to lie to her about such a thing anyway. Adam smiled slightly as he bowed his head in farewell which the Queen barely paid attention to.  

Adam did like the Queen, more than a cousin, but it didn’t matter now since she had already found herself a King.

The mother and son bowed once more as Amelia walked over to her carriage. Her eyes looked over at the cart of rocks which was being pulled on by a bull. There were only two men with the cart, but it was an odd sight to see in the middle of the woods, and on her aunt’s land.

She knew that she had to gain more information on this matter once she reached the castle.

Entering the carriage, she brought the curtains to cover the window on her side. She didn’t want to feel Adam’s gaze on her anymore. She felt no sympathy for him, but she also didn’t want to give him any reason to still have any kind of hope.

She was Bran’s spouse now.

At the thought of Bran, Amelia spoke up. “Quickly to the castle.”

“Yes, your highness!”

As the carriage began to move along with the Queen’s entourage, Leila Kelve watched with a serious expression.

Turning around to go back inside, Leila glanced towards the direction the Queen had been looking. There was nothing unusual there for her to see, which confused her, but her confusion was short-lived since the Queen’s actions were still fresh in her mind.