Killer Queen

07. Wedding day (1)

"Miss Astrid? For the wedding dress, we need your final approval, is this one good?"

"Yes, this one is perfect"

"It will fit the job" she added in her teeth

The wedding was the worst part of the plan, the date was set up in a month and everything had to be ready. Like the Queen said, more luxurious and enormous it is, the more people will forget about the scandal and will be focused on the superficial royal wedding.

Frederik and her mother were excitedly happy and couldn't wait for the marriage any longer, everyone could tell that Queen Olivia was acting like a proud mother. Of course she didn't give her approval to the first woman that come on her son road. Astrid was a woman with title. The Mearls Count. They're not a random family name in Society, they are the second most important Count Family in England. The Father of Vincent Mearls, Astrid's father, was close to the actual King when he was a child. The Queen knew exactly what she was doing, and so did Astrid. While the maids asked Astrid about the wedding decorations she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten since her first day in the palace. The King. Her Grandfather's friend. Something was happening to him. Maybe a mental disease, or a physical one? She couldn't guess. What she knows is that the King is enable to govern the country. She needed to find out.

"Astrid?? Astrid?! Oh my..., can you please choose a flower, so we can all get a rest ?"

"Oh, sorry I was in my head..."

"I know how preparing a wedding can be tiring and endless, but for today darling, just pick a damn flower !" declared Queen Olivia as a joke

Couldn't she close her mouth? Her voice was the thing that was getting Astrid tired since the debut of the afternoon. Giving advice everywhere because she thinks she's better than anyone ! Astrid took a deep breath, the anger was speaking. She knew it. Since when she let her feelings speak for her ? That wasn't good at all. The Queen is pure, and kind, certainly, but she is also clever enough to understand Astrid's though, position and attention. The future bride needed to act docile and credule, like a pure young lady. And then she will find a way to kill again...she had to, or needed to. She was lost in her thoughts again, she had to ask about the king first. Everything in it's time.

-I'll pick the right one, Astrid smiled at her. Mam, can I ask you something a bit triggering? Announced Astrid to the Queen

- Please call me Olivia. Well...ask and I'll see sweetheart, the Queen answered confusedly

-Is the King alright? I heard that he was not feeling well lately"

The Queen's gaze lowered, and her facial expression changed radically.

-Astrid that is inappropriate ! She almost yell disconcerted
Her eyes were glowing with tears.
-I am sorry, I did not expect...he...he is...he is really sick...she stuttered
It was obvious that she wanted to cry but stay focus. Another time maybe. For Astrid there was no way she was comforting her

The young woman squeezed her eyebrows and looked at Olivia with pity. Weak.

-I am scared for him, you know..? I hope Frederik and you will have a happy marriage as we did with his father. She wondered. I am sorry for this...Go get some sleep, she continued sobbing.

Astrid did not answer at all. It would be a shame if she did. Olivia was weaker than she thought. She did not deserve her speak. It makes Astrid angry, really angry. 'Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak! This Woman was nothing!' She returned to her bedroom, with rage. She had to stay calm.
Pure.
Docile.
And innocent.
« I had to wait t'ill the wedding. I didn't want to attract problems when I wasn't even secure in that family. Being Anxious and full of anger for almost a month was hell. Your problems were childish stupidity. »

One month later, the fateful day arrived, the wedding of Frederik Windergton and Astrid Mearls. They were in separate room, the bride was preparing in her personal room. She had never been so anxious in a while, not because she was getting married. She didn't even care, it was the easy part. Something was missing... but she couldn't figure out what.

Why was she like that?

Was she going crazy?

She was squinting and showing a confused expression, but her eyes were angry.

Anger over and over again.

Miss, are you not well? Your expression is so many that I can even say, asked a blonde servant.

- I'm fine. She grunted
- A wedding is always stressful, it's not just a wedding! It's a royal wedding!
- I'm FINE! Don't hear what I'm saying?! Astrid almost screamed in the room.

The maid looked down and apologized to the woman.

- I need to breathe. she says finally.

The maid was confused...

- Come out, I need to breathe alone! cried Astrid.

Sorry again, ma'am. She left the room at a race.

Astrid took a deep breath, what happened to her?

Olivia entered the room:

- Astrid, the maid, told me you were stressed. She put a comforting hand on her future daughter's shoulder. She smiled nicely.
- I say, that's okay. Astrid's expression was firm and unmoved.
- Like you said, honey, you know better than anyone else. Olivia answered.

I have to introduce you to someone. She added

Astrid showed an interrogative expression

- Meet... your personal valet, Oscar!

A man with dark hair, medium height entered the room.

-Good afternoon and congratulations, ma'am. I'm Oscar Wald and I'll be your valet from today and for the rest of your future reign.

'Well a new disturbing element' , thought Astrid ironically.
It was obvious that this Wald guy was an observer, he seems polite and honest. The perfect description of a good man. But at the same time, Astrid was pretty sure that he was very calculative.
-Nice to meet you, Oscar. she answered. She raised her hand and he kissed it.

-It's almost time to go Astrid. Let me give you something first...Queen Olivia asked a maid and the blonde one came back with a tiara and a myrtle bouquet.
-This, she showed the tiara that the domestic brought. Is the tiara I had for my wedding, a long time ago now. My mother gave it to me that day, it's a tradition of the Crown.
The bride widened her eyes in surprise, the tiara was historical !
-Oh and, I almost forgot, but this is your bouquet ! Another royal tradition. It is more older than the tiara tradition.
It was a Myrtle bouquet, white small flower that meant love, obviously.
-Thank you Olivia. Its a wonderful tradition I am really grateful to honour it for the Crown. Astrid smiled at the woman who's going to be her mother in law in the next few hours, she wasn't glad at all. She simply didn't care at all, the love bouquet was useless and only the tiara deserved a look. The only thing she will keep from Olivia was the tiara. Astrid had to assume that it has picked her interest.
-Oscar and your Father are going to wait for you in the carrosse !
- He is already there ? She interrupted her.
-Obviously! You are the one who's late ! I have to be on Frederik side, i'll see you after.
They left the room and the domestic resumed her work.

When she was finally ready the maid left the room to let her alone for a minute. It's was hard to stay calm in everyone presence. She had to say, she totally lost it in front if the maid. She took a quick decision. She better had calculated her shot. It was risky.
'Let assume it's for ensure that the wedding goes smoothly'
Astrid took advantage of that time to take an empty small white purse. Nobody could see it, the bride dress was hiding it perfectly. You know...In case she had to hide something.