City of Starlight

Chapter 29 (II) - Dark Waters

Previously in City of Starlight Chapter 28 (II) - The Queen's pet 

A heart of an individual recently killed is needed for Aurelie to cross back into the realm of the living. As it so happens, Lord Iver, a minister who Daniella recently killed, has a heart in the Enchanted Forest that fits within such a category. Snow had just informed Regina that her name was also carved into a headstone by Hades when Graham showed up with Iver. Regina questioned her former advisor about how Daniella was faring and the latest events in the Enchanted Forest.

Later, Regina, Daniel and Aurelie stumbled across Esmerelda in the streets. Esmerelda is a witch who was killed by the neighbouring kingdom's sovereign, King William. She is also the mother of Lily (the young girl from the orphanage whom Daniella entrusted with her heart in the previous chapter). Esmerelda informs the trio that she had been able to receive news about her daughter by enlisting the help of a siren. 

The conch needed to summon a Dark Siren was confiscated by Leopold so Aurelie went to his office to look for the conch but instead, she was met by Lena, who smashed the conch. 

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(3rd POV) Flashback, seven years after Regina's marriage to Leopold

Regina clutched the lion's head on the armrest of her chair tightly, her head angled towards the trembling minister who had just delivered the latest report about the kingdom's grumblings to the King. Leopold's policy about poisoning the waters on the western shores was not popular to say the least. Though the decree was made in response to the massive flux of sirens who had started hunting the sailors living along the seaside, the decree only worsened the community's attitudes towards the Crown. With all the produce from the sea poisoned, the fishermen had nothing to sell and entire towns were grumbling about the price of fish. 

The creases on Leopold's forehead only increased upon hearing the report and with his hand in the air, he huffed, "Couldn't they just fish from the lakes?"

Regina held her breath. The people could not simply pack up and leave! Besides, the recent landslides near the freshwater lake region had poured silt and mud into the rivers, contaminating the waters in an instant. Regina decided the minister who reported the undesirable news to the King was more than terrified. His eyes darted between the parchment in his hand and the monarchs as he added quietly, "The people are looking for someone to blame, Your Majesties."

"They can blame those meddlesome sirens!" Leopold roared as he stood up. The twenty-five year old Queen kept her gaze lowered and waited until the minister was finished with his report. A brief silence met the air. Her heart was hammering against her chest, but she would not let the King's stupidity drag the royal family's name through the mud. Though she did not care one bit about the image of the Blanchard dynasty, it was her own name being implicated in the matter. Regina coughed to draw the attention of those in the room. "My King, wouldn't it be wise to seek for aid from the South? I hear they have been quite successful in defending their shores from siren attacks in the past."

Nobody expected the Queen to speak, certainly not Leopold, who had allowed Regina to sit on the Council on the condition that she was not to say a single word, but merely appear as an observer. Despite the needle-like gazes fixed upon her, Regina continued, "I know the royal houses of the South have been warring with us for years, so perhaps we should send spies into their territory to see how they dealt with the matter? I hear that they've obtained help from magical sources and was consequently successful in keeping the sirens away."

A red flush appeared on Leopold's neck. He ultimately chose to ignore his wife, turning back to his ministers. Again and again, Regina tried to slide a word into the men's conversation but she was ignored each time. Finally, her suggestion was met with a response from the King. Turning around, Leopold snarled, "Sending spies into the South?! Enlisting the help of magical forces?! Are you mad?!" Leopold lowered his voice and hissed, "Unless you have anything constructive to say instead of making us look like fools, I suggest you sit quietly and learn how a real leader deals with such matters."