The Viper’s Lair
***
As Helen sneered, thinking about the fate that awaited Judith, while Judith herself was harboring similar thoughts.
She had subtly prodded the marchioness, a close confidante of the queen.
It was only a matter of time before word reached Queen Gilsis that Judith was a far cry from the kind of princess she envisioned.
By noon, the news would undoubtedly reach the queen’s ears, and she would be consumed by the desire to devour her.
Judith was looking forward to this very reaction.
She needed the queen’s venomous malice to be directed towards her.
It was paramount to divert her ire, to give Franz a chance to breathe, to empower him to stand against the queen.
In the past, the mere thought of standing before Queen Gilsis would have left her breathless with terror.
But Judith was no longer the weak, frightened seventeen-year-old she once was.
She could tear Queen Gilsis apart, from head to toe and still be unsatisfied.
“This is Her Majesty’s private chamber,” Helen declared, her voice sharp.
In that instant, Judith quelled the fiery surge of hatred inside her, replacing it with an innocent expression—the kind a young bride might wear before meeting her husband’s mother, the queen of a nation.
A blend of apprehension and anticipation.
Helen scrutinized Judith’s face, her lips twisting into a smirk as if she already knew what was coming.
It was a mocking smile, a silent acknowledgment that Judith’s feigned composure was nothing but a facade.
“Announce to Her Majesty that Her Highness the Princess has come for an audience.”
The palace maid stationed outside the chamber entered, but despite Helen’s sharp command, the door remained stubbornly closed.
Her gaze flickered between the locked door and Judith, her eyes filled with disdain for the woman, as though seeing her as an unwelcome guest.
Judith felt Helen’s insolence, but remained stoic, her gaze fixed on the unyielding door.
In the past, before her death, she would have crumbled under the weight of humiliation and shame, breaking down into tears.
‘That’s exactly what happened.’
She remembered the moment clearly: as soon as her tears started spilling, the door of the chamber opened as if on cue.
And she remembered the torrent of insults she had endured for daring to cry in the presence of the queen.
Helen didn’t even bother to ask, “Shall I announce her again?” She didn’t even pretend to check if Judith was flustered.
She stood there with regal indifference, as if it were a burden Judith was simply destined to bear.
“Her Majesty is particularly meticulous about her morning toilette,” Helen finally said, her voice laced with mockery, a veiled warning that Judith would have to endure similar indignities in the future.
She ignored her transparent attempt at intimidation, offering a composed smile.
“I understand.
She is the most noble woman in the kingdom.
It’s only natural.”
The seasoned noblewoman, Helen, frowned slightly at her response, but couldn’t find fault with her.
The remark could have been seen as a veiled jab at the queen’s tardiness, but it was hard to imagine that Judith would dare to imply such a thing.
“Please, come in, Your Highness.”
The chamber door, which seemed destined to remain closed forever, finally swung open.
Judith bit her lip, her hands clasped tightly, every muscle in her body tense.
Four more doors separated her from Queen Gilsis.
The chamber was vast, far more elaborate than the King’s private quarters, a testament to the queen’s immense power.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess has arrived for her audience.”
Queen Gilsis, reclining languidly on a long sofa, waved the end of her fan.
As Judith approached, she took a swift, almost imperceptible glance at the queen’s face.
She nearly burst out laughing.
She was exactly as she remembered.
Though she looked slightly younger than the last time Judith saw her, the venomous malice in her eyes and the arrogant smirk on her lips remained unchanged.
She felt an unexpected surge of joy at the sight.
She had feared that the queen might have changed somehow, that something might have softened her cruelty after Judith’s death.
It was an unthinkable possibility.
“Judith Loervinev stands before Your Majesty.”
As Judith extended her skirt and knelt, bowing her head.
At once, the smug smile vanished from Helen’s face.
She had believed that Judith, having been raised in isolation, would be unfamiliar with Lotheir customs.
But Judith’s bow was flawless, perfect in every detail.
Her hands were concealed beneath the folds of her dress, and her head remained bowed, motionless.
‘This girl…’
A flicker of unease crossed Helen’s face.
It was clear that Judith was not as easily manipulated as she had initially believed.
She quickly glanced at Queen Gilsis, who still seemed indifferent, but her eyes, fixed on Judith’s bowed form, shone with a sudden, fierce intensity.
The queen, as if mocking Judith for her deep obeisance, tilted her head slightly.
“Marchioness.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“My chamber feels rather warm this morning.
I think I need to change my bedding.
See to it, will you?
Summon some merchants and check if they have anything suitable.
Before the afternoon.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
“This early summer heat is unbearable…
”
Throughout the queen’s meandering monologue, Judith remained in her bowed position, refusing to rise.
She held herself like a prisoner, patiently awaiting the command to raise her head.
Queen Gilsis’ eyebrows rose in response.
She had heard that Judith had been raised in Tien, a backwater country, where she was barely given a decent living.
She was annoyed that there was nothing to criticize, no obvious flaw to exploit.
“Rise.”
The queen’s words held an unmistakable note of irritation.
Judith slowly straightened, but kept her gaze lowered.
She maintained a stoic expression, her chin tucked against her chest.
The queen, her eyes narrowed in disapproval, snapped open the fan in her hand, the sound echoing in the chamber.
“I heard that you were attacked by a band of bandits on your way here.
Were you hurt?”
“It was a minor incident, Your Majesty.
I am deeply humbled by your concern.
My escorts performed their duties diligently, and there were no serious injuries.”
“Franz was injured, wasn’t he?
Did he perhaps get hurt protecting you?”
“His Highness…
”
Judith deliberately trailed off, feigning confusion.
It was a calculated move, designed to further twist the queen’s emotions even further.
“What do you mean?
Why can’t you just answer a simple question?”
As she had anticipated, the queen’s patience snapped.
Judith acted as if she had been waiting for the outburst, her voice trembling, as if she were on the verge of tears.
“His Highness…
remained seated.
He did not move.”
“Hmph.”
“I don’t know why he did that.
He must have trusted his escorts, but I never imagined that he would not even draw his sword in such a situation.”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
A jarring, sharp laugh escaped Queen Gilsis’ lips.
Even Helen flinched at the sudden outburst, but Judith remained unfazed.
“He can’t even wield a sword, can he?
He must have been too scared to move, no doubt.”
Judith’s gaze, which had been cast downwards, flickered with a hidden light.
A lingering question, nestled deep within her, had been answered by the queen’s reaction.
Queen Gilsis was unaware of Franz’s true capabilities.
She must have placed spies around him, but the fact that he possessed such martial prowess was carefully concealed.
“But His Highness is the heir to the throne.
Did he truly never learn to use a sword?”
Judith’s innocent question pierced the queen’s laughter, silencing it abruptly.
The faces of Helen and the other maids turned pale, and a glint of fury flashed in Queen Gilsis’ eyes.
It was a terrifying, almost tangible hatred that would make any ordinary person flinch.
“Heir to the throne?!” Queen Gilsis shrieked, her voice echoing through the chamber.
Judith feigned a hasty bow but didn’t stop speaking.
“My husband, His Highness Franz, is the legitimate heir to the throne, as I understand it.
He is the king’s eldest son.
Isn’t he the crown prince?”
“Hold your tongue!
Who said he was the crown prince?
Lotheir has no crown prince!
How dare you speak such insolence without my permission!”
While the term ‘crown prince’ was often used to refer to the eldest son of the king, Judith was not wrong.
But the title held more than just the meaning of ‘firstborn son’.
It implied the undeniable right to the throne, the sole heir apparent.
Franz, though the king’s eldest son, had not yet been granted the title of crown prince.
The queen, desperate to eliminate him, had used her influence to prevent the nobles from acknowledging him as the rightful heir.
She wanted Franz, the son of the previous queen, dead.
She was determined to make her own son, Prince Krolld, the sole crown prince.
To achieve this, she had attempted to assassinate the young Franz on numerous occasions, but her efforts had failed.
To dare to call Franz the crown prince in front of the queen was a blatant provocation, and her rage was understandable.
Helen, observing the tremor in Judith’s shoulders, allowed a smirk to play on her lips.
‘She dares to speak so recklessly!
The foolish girl has dug her own grave.’
“How dare you, you wretch!
I’ll have your tongue ripped out for such insolence!”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.
I merely…”
“Silence!
Get out of my sight!”
The queen’s fan flew towards her head.
As the queen’s fury reached its peak, her maids rushed to calm her.
Judith, feigning panic, fled the chamber, as if she were being chased away.
But as the door closed behind her, the fear in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze.
This was exactly what Judith had intended.
The queen was reassured by her claim that Franz had remained passive in the face of the bandits.
It would solidify her belief that he was weak and helpless, incapable of even defending himself.
But Judith didn’t stop there.
She had also thrown the queen’s greatest fear in her face.
She had successfully made herself a target, ensuring that the queen would focus all her energy on tormenting her.
Now, she had to find a way to save Franz.
Time was running out.