One week after the coronation, Sofia was at the Queen’s Garden having tea with Duchess Alicia. She looked around, admiring the flowers kept by the manny queens throughout the years. It was finally hers. 

Sofia studied her friend`s complexion, Alicia had lost weight and appeared restless. Initially, she had thought it was related to what had happened to the Duchess, but now, she wondered if something else was worrying her mother these days.

“You know, Alicia, you can talk to me about anything. I’m here for you.” reassured Sofia.

“...I think his Grace is planning on divorcing me.” said the Duchess, crestfallen.

“Pardon!”

“His Grace is more distant than ever and one of the maids told me he had his aide gather information on unmarried noble ladies!” 

“B-but, why would he want to divorce you?” asked Sofia, perplexed.

“Well, the physician said it will be difficult for me to get pregnant again.” Alicia looked sorrowful and about to cry, “I think that is why.”

Seeing her mother`s expression, Sofia stood up from her seat and hugged the Duchess. After consoling the crying Alicia, Sofia looked her in the eyes and said, “I will have a word with Miguel. I will teach him to be a proper husband.”

“N-no, Monica. I don't want you two siblings to fight.”

“Do not worry, Alicia.” Sofia held her mother`s hands, “You are my top priority. What are friends for?” 

Alicia hugged Sofia. “Thank you, Monica. What would I do without you?”

“Yes, yes. And I think it would be best if, for the time being, you stayed at Garcia Manor.” Sofia said, patting her mother`s back, “sharing the same environment with that fool will do you no good.”

“It would be nice to visit my parents.” Alicia agreed.

*

Later that night, Sofia was at her bedchambers sitting on an armchair, lost in thought.

“Monica!” Shouted Rafael clapping his hands, “What is it with you? Didn't even notice me enter.”

Sofia stared at the King, annoyed to be disturbed from her contemplations. “I’m just thinking about the Duchess and Duke Oliveira.”

“What about them?” Asked Rafael, uncorking a wine bottle.

“Miguel seems to be planning to remarry.” said Sofia, wondering why she was bothering to discuss it with Rafael. “He’s looking for someone else to bear his heir.”

“And what does that have to do with you?” The King now poured the wine in two glasses.

“Well, Duchess Alicia is my friend. I want what is best for her.”

“...um, in that case why not recommend that they have this other woman bear the duke`s child in secret and then just lie it is the duchess`. This way Duchess Alicia gets to keep her position and the Duke gets his heir.” suggested Rafael giving Sofia one of the glasses.

Sofia swirled her wine in silence, imagining Alicia stuck in that awful situation. She looked at Rafael, he seemed pleased with his idea. Sofia scoffed internally, she would not have her mother made to go through that. Her plan was much better.

There was the sound of Rafael`s now empty glass being placed at the center table. It stirred Sofia from the thoughts of her wicked schemes. She looked at her husband, sitting there waiting. Despite everything, Sofia found him handsome. She swirled her glass one more time, finding the smell of the alcohol nauseating, she placed her glass aside without drinking from it. Sofia stood up, she walked past Rafael, running her hand across his shoulder. The King took her hand and followed the Queen to bed.

*

Sofia was once again having tea at her Queen`s Garden, this time she was with Duke Miguel.

“I summoned you here to dissuade you from your plans.” Said Sofia.

“It seems your new position is getting over your head.” mocked Miguel.

“Alicia is my friend, I will not have her shooed away as you intend.”

“What don't you understand? I need an heir, something she can no longer provide me.” justified the Duke.

“House Garcia will not be silent with you divorcing their daughter.”

“Well, they won't want it to be known to all about their other daughter's crimes.” Miguel smiled. It seemed he had gathered evidence of when Lady Ana poisoned Sofia.

“Hah, it seems I won't get through to you.” Sofia sighed, “Let's just drink our tea and then you take your leave.” With that, for the remainder of their time together, the two of them drank their tea in silence. 

Once Miguel had left, Sofia burst into laughter. It startled her maids. She abruptly stood up and said, “I’m in the mood to walk through my garden." Sofia made her way, her maids in tow. 

As Sofia moved through the garden she admired her flowers. They had been carefully looked after by the queens before her. In the original time, before Sofia killed Prince Gabriel, for a short while Queen Ana, her then mother-in-law, got terribly sick. Everyone thought she would pass away from her ailment. In that moment of uncertainty, the sick Queen revealed to the Princess Consort Sofia, the secret of the garden. Hidden amidst the flowers were some of the most deadly poisons. It was the weapon passed in secret through the generations, in solidarity, by all the women who had held the position Sofia now held.

Miguel should have listened to her, but instead he made Sofia protect her mother her own way. Sofia did not regret her actions, nor did she find it difficult to decide to cause the death of the Duke. Both when living as Monica or when she was living as herself, there was never love between her and Miguel. After drinking the tea Sofia gave him, the Duke would slowly and unsuspectingly die. 

What a nice weapon she now wielded. Sofia stopped in her tracks, now that she was thinking about it, she realised it would have been better if she had used it against Prince Gabriel back then. Instead of stabbing him to death with a letter opener. Unfortunately, the sigh of that hickey in his neck had made her lose all sense. Well, no matter, past tribulations were long gone. Now things were finally going her way. Sofia enjoyed the rest of her day in a good mood and that night was most exhausting for her husband.

*

The next day, Sofia was shocked by the news that the Duke never reached his manor. His carriage was attacked and there were no survivors. What was with this development? Someone else was after Miguel`s life. Was there some plot happening behind the scenes? First it was the Duchess being attacked and now the Duke was dead. It seemed like House Oliveira had an enemy Sofia was unaware of. None of this happened in her timeline. What was the cause? Had she drawn the ire of some strong power against them? She doubted Alicia was responsible for her husband`s death. Was this all part of some scheme of Lady Ana? No, it didn’t seem likely.

Sofia spent the whole day in a daze wrecking her head trying to figure out who was responsible for it.

“Is the food not to your liking?” asked Rafael, who noticed Sofia had barely touched her dinner. 

“No, I’m just thinking about the Duke…”

“Oh, yes. Things are not looking good for the Duchess.” Commented the King.

“Pardon? What do you mean?” asked Sofia.

“Well, as you mentioned yesterday, their marriage was not going well so she is the most suspicious in this ordeal.” Explained Rafael.

“You got to be kidding me! Alicia, plotting to kill the Duke? What a joke! She is harmless.” 

“It may be so, but it is too risky to maintain her as Duchess of House Oliveira.” said Rafael.

“Who will it be then?” asked Sofia.

“Well, you are of the Oliveira bloodline. We can have one of our future children inherit the title. Until then, I can manage the House`s assets.” Rafael smiled as if he had reached the natural solution to the whole ordeal. 

Now that Sofia thought about it, Rafael had arranged for the death of Sir Tiago. Was he, perhaps, responsible for Miguel`s death? And, had he been behind the attack on Alicia`s carriage back then? None of those things happened in Sofia`s time. The major difference was that he couldn’t marry Monica in that timeline. Had this Rafael used his marriage to a daughter of House Oliveira to take over the House?

Sofia, in shock, dropped her fork to the ground. She looked at the man sitting across from her, he had a look on his face as if there was nothing wrong in this world. Sofia couldn’t help but admire his wickedness, what a great opponent. This husband of hers would be much more fun than the previous one, who only cared about chasing skirts. Sofia just could not figure out how his previous affair with Lady Ana fit in all of his plots. Well, she looked forward to unveiling all of it. 

Rafael shuddered at his wife's hungry glare, realizing he was in for a restless night.

*

Sofia was now at the Duke`s funeral. She was fighting for dear life to not doze off as the priest went on and on with his drivel. She looked around at the attendees, fortunately, the ducal couple's marital issues were not well known. If Sofia managed to silence Miguel`s aide, who was aware of the Duke`s search for a replacement for his wife, perhaps she could foil Rafael`s plans to seize Alicia`s title and assets.  

When the funeral was done and everyone was taking their leave, Alicia`s maiden family was assisting in sending off the guest. It gave the widow a moment to gather herself in the now empty chapel. Sofia took that opportunity to approach her mother in private.

“Alicia.” Sofia called softly as she made her way to the Duchess. When the startled widow turned to Sofia, Alicia`s expression carried hints of distrust, fear and disappointment.

“W-what is wrong?” asked Sofia. She could not understand why Alica would look at her like that.

“Was it you?” asked Alicia. “Was this your solution?”

“What do you mean?” Sofia was confused.

“Did you have his Grace killed?” Alicia was tearing up.

“What? No, I did not have anything to do with his brutal assassination.” answered Sofia. It was true she was not involved in the Duke`s carriage attack. She did, however, plot his poisoning, but it was not what killed him. So technically, Sofia was innocent when his death was concerned.

“L-lies!” accused Alicia.

“I’m not lying.” defended Sofia.

“You are a terrible liar, Monica! You won't stop grinning!” pointed the widow.

“What?” Sofia touched her face, she had indeed a grin on her face.

“That is beside the point. Listen, Alicia. You got to focus.” Sofia placed a small tin container on the Duchess' hands, “Here, brew some tea with these and have the Duke`s aide drink it.”

Alicia`s eyes went wide, “a-are you trying to have me poison someone?”

“No! Well, yes. But you don't understand, it is for your own go-”

“Enough! I will have no part in your schemes.” Alicia turned her back to Sofia, “Begone, Monica. And I think, going forward, we should stay away from each other.”

“B-but, Alicia.” whimpered Sofia.

“Fine, I will take my leave first.” With that, Alicia stormed off.

The abandoned Sofia, crumbled to the floor. She clawed at her hair in frustration. She heard the sound of footsteps approaching her. Sofia hurriedly looked up, hoping Alicia returned.

“No need to look at me with such a disappointed look on your face.” said Rafael, the true source of the footsteps.

“W-what do you want?” Sofia sniffed. It was all Rafael`s fault.

“That was all such a mess.” commented Rafael, who, apparently, overheard her whole exchange with Alicia. “Come, let's go back to the Palace.” The King extended his hand to the Queen, offering a handkerchief. Sofia accepted it and blew her nose. After some adjusting of her hair, she took Rafael`s still extended hand and stood up.

*

It had been a couple of days since the funeral. Sofia was now eating lunch with Rafael. She had been in low spirits since falling out with Alicia. Perhaps that was why Sofia felt so hungry. Was she eating away her feelings? Sofia had noticed she had gained some weight. But despite all her appetite the taste of the food wasn’t really registering.

“... keep as Duchess.” Said Rafael.

“Pardon?” asked Sofia who wasn’t listening.

“Ha, you were not paying attention.” sighed the King, “I said that Duchess Alicia will keep her position.”

“How come?” Sofia was perplexed, “Didn’t you plan otherwise?”

“Well yes, but given she was actually innocent in the whole affair, I figure might as well keep her as Duchess. And with her being infertile, one of our future children can still inherit the title after her.” Explained Rafael.

Sofia was confused. What an odd compromise, what was Rafael plotting now?

“Ah, I hear one of the late Duke`s assistants suddenly died.” Rafael gave Sofia a weird look, one she could not decipher, “Would you know anything about that?”

“What?” Sofia was surprised. Had Alicia followed her advice and got rid of the aide who knew too much? No, it was unlikely she would have done such a thing. Was Rafael also behind this? Cutting loose ends, perhaps? But what was behind his strange expression and his questioning? “How did he die?” asked Sofia.

“Same as the Duke, he was cut down.” answered the King staring at Sofia. Was he planning to pin it on her, because he knew she tried to have Alicia poison the aide? Was he going to use it to control her?

“Well, how unfortunate. It is the first I hear of it.” said Sofia.

“Is that so?” Asked Rafael.

“Yes. After all, I’m not as resourceful as you are.” answered Sofia.

The couple stared at each other in silence.