XVIII

3rd Person POV

Queen Keturah looks so stunning with her maroon long sleeves fitted dress along with her maroon gloves.

She's sitting so calmly while looking at the newspaper in front of her.

She hasn't read anything yet, because the newspapers just arrived right now.

"Who delivered these newspapers?" She asked in her own formal tone.

Everyone is afraid of her because of her RBF or Resting Bitch Face. Sometimes you will think she's cursing you in her mind and by her looks you'll think that she's judging you.

But in that case, you're just being too assuming that she's thinking something about you, because she's really not.

That is the similarity between Athaliah and her mother. They both look like roots from their own roses.

"I just saw that newspaper outside the grand gate of your palace, Queen Keturah." The maiden said without meeting the gaze of her queen.

Queen Keturah smirked and glance back at the newspaper once again.

"So," she grabbed one and rubs the top of the newspaper, paper. "This is rough," she complained and intentionally dropped the newspaper.

The other maiden tried to get the newspaper in front of Queen Keturah's feet, but she stepped on it.

"Stand up," she command. The maiden followed what she have said and she stand right at the corner.

Queen Keturah grabbed another newspaper.

"This is what I want," she nooded. "Soft and silky," She then opened the first page of it.

On the first page of the newspaper. It was a accident scene near the Herst Fort.

"What kind of newspaper, news is this?" She complained and looked at what she's reading in disgust. "Did they really think it was an accident incident?" Her eyebrows furrowed.

She turned to the second page and it was about love.

"Who's the writer of this newspaper? Their news is really getting into my nerves. It's disgusting!" She almost crumple the paper when she turn the page to the third page.

She seriously read that article. Her eyes widened while she was reading every words that was written on it.

She blinked her eyes how many times before processing everything. She covered her mouth and accidentally dropped the newspaper after reading them.

"I know its public, but they don't need to ruin the name of the family," she said, holding her anger inside. "They don't need to bring up everything just because they want us to go down," she clenched her fist. "They can't play dirty games here."

She grabbed all the papers and tears them up together, but there's one left behind her.

That's the evidence...

"Queen Keturah!" Russel runs towards her, the former assistant of Princess Athaliah. "What are you doing?" She stopped Queen Keturah from tearing all the newspaper.

Tears started streaming down from her eyes.

Russel was the one who stated on Queen Keturah's side when she's left alone in the palace.

Russel grabbed the last newspaper and read the article. "Oh my gosh!" He covered his mouth, then turn too see the reaction with the queen.

King Samuel found his new true love while going on a trip 19 years ago. King Samuel also accepted his daughter who is now part of the royal family, the same as her mother. Who said Love is not in the air?

That was written on the article together with the photo of the tree family. Adira, Galiah, and King Samuel.

"Russel, I don't know what to do if Athaliah finds out about this," the Queen said. Russel just stood beside her. "It's hard to water the rose again and again." She added.

She's trembling in pain. Her heart was thorned because of what is written on that newspaper. Despite herself, she's still thinking about Athaliah. How Athaliah would feel is she learns about the issue.

"What are your plans now, Queen Keturah?" Russel worriedly asked her.

She let out a sighed and answered him...

"I'm cancelling the wedding and coronation for the next two days. It will happen next month."

Russel just nooded and helped the other maiden clean the mess.

The way Queen Keturah read every detail that was written on the newspaper. On that moment she know she's falling out.

The way she thinks of her daughter instead of herself. The way she felt before she knew about the relationship between Galiah ang her husband.

It's too much for her to handle everything...

"Did you meet your fairy godmother?" Teivil asked. The eyes of Princess Athaliah widened because of his question. That question affects her, down to her stems.

"How did you know?" Athaliah asked in curiosity. No one saw that except the guy who's hanging on the tree. The one who's pretending.

"I have eyes, Princess Athaliah..." Athaliah is about to respond when the door opened.

"They're here." Mhavryck said.

"Good job," Teivil is smirking all along. No one knows what his plans are.

In one click on the bottom, the door changed and they all went to the executive room. Where all the chairs are in the middle of a table. There's also a big screen in front of them.

"Princess Athaliah," Teivil called as he open the screen. "Ikaw dapat ang huling sumugod sa taong kumuha ng korona mo, at siya lang dapat ang susugurin mo." Teivil share the first instruction to her.

"Bakit siya lang?" She raised her eyebrows at Teivil.

"Masyadong delikado kung susugod ka sa libo-libong katao. Ano pa ang magagawa namin kung hindi naman namin sila kakalabanin---" Teivil complained was stopped by the ring on the phone of Princess Athaliah.

Teivil look so pissed while staring at Pincess Athaliah.

She looked at her phone and it was written "Unknown number" means that the number was not registered on her phone.

"Ken Ivoís?" She asked directly when she answered the call.

No one answered on the other line. Prince Marius held her hand and look at her, worried in his eyes.

"Vos, Ken Ivoís?" She asked again until she heard a familiar voice on the other line. "Chatre! Is that--"

The line was cut off so she tried to call the line again but they didn't answer her call.

"Chatre Vulma! If they ever hurt Sverre's sister they will crawl to death!" She yelled while still tapping her phone.

"You... You know Salome?" Teivil asked. He hide the shocked and curiosity in his voice so Athaliah will not get suspicious.

"Why do you know her?" Athaliah raised her eyebrows and put her phone inside her purse. "Why do you know that girl, Teivil?" Nagtitimpi niyang tanong.

"I just know," Teivil avoided her gaze and looked away.

Athaliah didn't believed him, but she need to fix something that's out of Teivil's business. Or was he in our out?

"Teivil, just shut your mouth okay? I need to go somewhere and fix some things." She hurriedly grabbed her purses and in one snap she disappeared from the mansyon and appear in Herst Fort.

"Where the hell are they?" Athaliah asked herself.

Sa isang liblib na lugar siya mapadpad kung saan sobrang madilim at masyadong delikado.

Palinga-linga siya sa paligid dahil wala nang nagpapakita sa kaniya na kung sino man ang tumawag sa kaniya.

"Huh," she laughed sarcastically. "Look who's hiding in the darkness." She slowly clapped her hands and in three seconds all the lights turned on.

Four groups are hiding behind their own shadows. All of them are wearing mask but with different colors. Red, yellow, green and blue.

But one question pop on Athaliah's mind.

"Where's Salome?" She asked using her powerful voice.

The other guy laughed at her and slowly walked towards her, surrounding every each of her corner.

She can't handle all of them. If she see them as sixteen, she's wrong. They're hundreds hiding behind the shadows.

Athaliah looked at them one by one, head to foot.

"You're really silly, Princess Athaliah. You can easily be fooled by rumors.

Athaliah looked in front her, where one of the guy spoke.

"Where's Salome?" Mariin na tanong ni Athaliah sa kanilang lahat sa isa-isa sila muling tiningnan.

"I don't know where is she. Do you know where is that young innocent girl?" Athaliah got pissed because they're playing with her question.

"I don't know. Try to call her," the other guy said, then he scratches the back of his head. "Awe, she can't scream. Maybe her tongue was cut---"

"What a lie," Isang tinig mula sa itaas... Itaas na hindi nila makita kung kaninong anino iyon, ngunit nabosesan ni Athaliah.

"Prince Sergei," mahinang bulong niya.

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