The broken queen

14

****
"Your Excellency," Donald said looking at the room his mother formally occupied, it looked cleaner, and more organised, with simple decorations and drastic changes made to the living area.

"Please sit," she said with a clipped tone. Pearl was smiling here to hear, glad that Irisa approved of their change of residency, even though the Empress dowager and The second prince were not too glad of the latest development.

"Why are you here?" she asked not looking up, her bump already somewhat noticeable, it had been two months since the departure of the Emperor back into war.

"We are here to formally thank you for letting us back into the palace," Donald said softly, his eyes going to her bump constantly. She looked radiant, her hair had been braided into corn rolls, and she looked like she was faring well. His mother had cursed her to damnation but it seemed like the gods were not on their side.

She looked at them, almost scoffing, Agnes looked like she had aged a couple almost years, her clothes were old and saggy as opposed to the ones she was wearing when she held the throne, months in that manor had done great changes to her.

"I do not wish for you to be here, Pearl begged me for you, let me be clear, I do not like you, I will never like you and I can be civil with you people but do not think of overstepping your boundaries, I have eyes everywhere, and I will watch every one of your doings, I do not trust and I do not need you to be grateful to me, your rooms have been prepared.

Since Prince Donald and Beatrice are married I took it upon myself to prepare a be chamber for both of you, Agnes will have a bed chamber to herself, I hope we all understand ourselves?"

Donald nodded with a clenched jaw, his looked at the bump, his throat clogged up with jealousy and pain, he was supposed to be on that throne, not receiving handouts from the very woman whom he had devoted himself sincerely to. No matter what he did, he could not sincerely hate Irisa, he could not find the hatred in himself no matter how he spoke to her.

"Thank you, your Excellency, we will leave now," Pearl said with a forced smile. Irisa nodded not looking up at them, she continued embroidering as they moved out of the Empress quarter.

She looked up to see that the second princess remained on her sit even after her dismissal, "why are you still here?" she asked, looking back down to the embroidery.

"How are you sister?" Beatrice asked softly.

"Sister?" Irisa scoffed as soon as she heard those words.

"I am..." Beatrice started.

"Look Beatrice," Irisa cut her short before she could continue, "I do not have the emotional capacity for your mind games and manipulation, I do not want to hear whatever it is you have to say. You are a guest in this palace, and I will renovate the eastern manor, so you can reside there for the rest of your life."

"You seem so authoritative, I heard you and the Emperor are no longer speaking. And you are with child, must be happy and sad?" Beatrice mocked.

"You know very well that I can throw you out of the palace, choose your wording wisely princess, I am as ruthless as ever before, and I will not hesitate to throw you out into the rain," Irisa sneered, with a cold glare.

Beatrice scoffed, "You must be very happy sleeping comfortably in the most luxurious bedchamber while I suffer in that cold manor! I am your sister and you treat me like this! You are so callous and malicious!"

"It's a surprise," Irisa said putting down her embroidery, "I thought I was merely a bastard and I did not qualify to be your sister?" Irisa asked mockingly.