An hour after the shadow guard left, two figures slipped into the ice cave.
They passed the headless bodies and approached the prison warden.
”Here are their heads; I kept them fresh.” She sang, tossing a bundle toward them.
Creeping the lifeless Rose in the closer cell.
With every breath she took an excruciating pain surged through her.
Her back was a puddle of flesh, and the bones were visible; it was a miracle she could even be alive, or it was from the prison warden’s skilful torture.
Her eyes lost the vibrant light it once had, leaving behind a dull despair.
As she gasped from pain and cold, the only thing left in her heart was regret.
The shadows took the severed heads and departed, each flying off in different directions, their mounts slicing through the sky.
Meanwhile, in the bustling city of Ironglean, people passed through the city gates like any other normal day, some passing on carriages, horses and others on foot when an echoing crystal communication projectile covered the sky.
A clear image of their city lord was shown across the sky, which later turned into a severed head with her crimes written boldly, it was read out for those who weren’t learned.
”Lord Armsfield has committed these actions: treason and selling of public property to enrich her pockets, forcing the resident citizen into mining for her without better treatment, taking young commoner men away from their homes…” The list was long but it was said loud and clear.
It repeated itself for thirty minutes before the sky became clear again, in place was a severed head mounted on the city gates to be left for five days.
Everybody sucked in deep breaths as they saw her served head; the image was so life-like and detailed that some puked at the side.
Some adults with children had to close their children’s eyes as they grew pale.
But after the sick feeling wore off, the resident of the city, hugged and laughed out in joy at the city lord’s death.
”We won’t have to be forced into the mines!”
”Thank you, your majesty!”
”My wife, did you see, the queen has avenged your death!” some men cried as they said this world, even the ones that had lost their children in the mines, cried bitterly.
The ones in the mine who got the news dropped all their tools or stopped their magic and ran out of the cave.
”After three years we are finally free.” They wiped as they hugged each other, each pale and covered in dust.
The angry ones beat the superiors in charge of the building to death, each with tears as they remembered how they had begged for a healer to be called for their loved ones but were ignored.
This is also repeated in the city of Goldglean, lord Silverado City.
With the same jubilation and laughter, the men being held were free, the families of the lords were revoked of their titles and made slaves to be sold, and the innocent ones among them were turned into commoners who couldn’t regain their nobility ever again.
In the other castles, the royal family was shaken by what the queen had done.
They had to reconsider how to perceive her or their formal plans.
Faraway on a coastal island in the Palaverda kingdom, the news was been sent to an older woman and a man.
The man frowned at the news, ”Are you sure, it’s my daughter or one of the royals pulling the strings.” The man asked in a disbelieving tone, not believing anything written on the letter sent by one of his spies in the castle.
”I thought you said you had her under control and it won’t be long before she hands the throne to our daughter.” The woman with the iconic silver hair of the royal family said, her tone cold and accusing.
She separated from his embrace and stood up, Matilda felt something was very wrong in her gut.
‘After their years of planning, no, no something must be done.
Elora can’t divert from their control or everything would be lost.’ She thought as she faced the puzzled expression on Darven’s face.
”We need to go back to the castle.
Get the twins.” She said in an ordering tone, causing a frown to form on his lips.
But he couldn’t rebut, only blaming that man’s daughter for the cause of his wife’s cold attitude.
This couple was the late queen’s third husband and his wife her cousin.
Elora, who had been fitted into the gown she would be using tomorrow, was unaware of the two people heading her way.
”Your majesty you’re beautiful.” The guards, butler and seamstress said at once, wowed at her beauty the couldn’t wait for tomorrow when she would be in front of other kingdoms.
Elora’s main concern was the gown was breathable and comfortable to walk on.
” Butler reward her generously.
I’m pleased with your work.” She uttered in a light tone.
”Thank you Your Majesty!” the woman shouted and bowed, a smile spread across her face at the queen’s praise and feeling she had achieved something after her hard work on this masterpiece.
Elora nodded, and she removed the clothes from her body.
The butler brought out different accessories for her to choose, from, elora lazily picked everyone that had a purple gemstone fitted into it.
She felt it could match her eyes and her clothes.
Then shoes, and a shawl to choose from.
By the time Elora was done with everything her eyes were seeing double, from having to choose the same thing but in different colors and shapes.
She rubbed her temples as she walked back, feeling tired and couldn’t wait for the ceremony to come quickly so she could- wait, she was going to choose a husband from the dragon kind.
‘ahh!
How did she forget something so important?
Anyways it’s tomorrow, just pick ones that are handsome to look at and don’t have thought they shouldn’t have about the kingdom.’ She made up her mind carelessly.
”Your Majesty, I employed five maids for you.” The butler said as he caught up with her fast pace.
”Alright.
Send my dinner to my room.” Elora replied in a dismissing tone, hoping another conversation would not start, she was already exhausted.
Albert wanted to ask her what to do with the punished maid, but he swallowed his word, sensing the queen wasn’t in the mood to speak.