Justice for the Forest-Beasts

Chapter Twenty - In Which there are No Jokes

The tea room was a relatively small room, with two red couches and a big fireplace, decorated with family photos, awards, and framed certificates. The twins sat on one couch, while the doctor sat across from them on the other couch.

"Before you speak, may I ask your name?" Estelle asked politely.

"Of course. My name is Doctor Garguilo. I am an experienced, well-respected doctor, and I work in the Castle City Hospital's emergency room, Your Royal Highness."

"Alright, alright," Estelle waved her hand dismissively, having been given much more than a name. "What happened?"

"I believe she was poisoned," Dr. Garguilo began. It was an unexpected claim, but the doctor was confident. "When we arrived, she was coughing up blood. Now, she's completely unconscious. Even still, she's spitting up blood. I think the poison was likely a corrosive acid, which reacts with the fluids in the stomach to begin eating her organs away from the inside out. If she's lucky, she'll live, but she will no longer be able to speak, and she might need the assistance of a feeding tube"

Lucian suddenly let out a small laugh, and hurried to cover his mouth with his hand. "Excuse me," he signed nervously, "Ironic."

Estelle found herself smiling. It was ironic, wasn't it? Samara had never bothered to learn sign language so that she could communicate with her own son, and now that and writing would be her only ways of communicating. If she lived, of course.

"Do either of you have any clue who could be behind this poisoning?" Dr. Garguilo asked, "Perhaps a servant? A chef or a maid?"

Estelle shook her head, "No. None of our servants have ever expressed hatred for the Queen. Not to either of us, at least."

"Fair enough," the doctor said, "Well, keep an eye out for anyone suspicious, and report it to your father or any member of the Royal Guard as soon as possible. Aside from your family and most trustworthy servants, you're best off keeping this a secret." He stood up and left without another word.

The twins slowly looked up from the floor, their eyes meeting when they looked at each other. "I don't like it, but I almost...don't feel sad," Lucian signed. His expression showed honest confusion, and he almost did actually look sad to Estelle.

"Me neither—not quite," Estelle said, "I almost feel excited, I think. It's brutal, but there's one down, one to go, you know? With the Queen out of the picture, the King might even step down. I know he's not cut out to rule on his own, and I imagine he knows it, too."

"Then what?" Lucian signed, "You become queen?"

"Hopefully. That is my goal, and I'd like to run alongside you. I don't think either of us will win, since we're the youngest candidates, but I really want us to both try, at the very least," Estelle said.

"No one will vote for me," Lucian signed. The way he signed it was matter-of-fact, but still rather dismal.

"Hey, come on, you know that isn't true. Think about all the people, especially outside of the city, who want to be represented by someone like you. You'll get votes, there isn't a doubt in my mind." Estelle said. But she knew that hardly any votes came from outside the city. The monarchy had a way of toying with elections.

Lucian hesitated, staring at the ground. When he finally signed something, he changed the subject completely. "Should we find Petra and Aravis, now?" he asked.

Estelle didn't like the way Lucian avoided talking about things he didn't like, but she could understand. "We probably should," she said, "We have to tell Aravis about what happened, and I don't imagine Rain and Petra would leave us here," Estelle said.