The Queen Is Bewitched Again (MATURE)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My cold, shivering hands touched the iron bars in front of me and I am jailed behind it. I gripped them and tried to shake it. It did not even move a bit. My eyes squinted a bit.

Hmm...these are tough.

My gaze went to the guards a few meters apart from me.

If only some guards can come here, I could take the keys without them noticing it.

“Well, aren’t you persistent?” Napatingin ako sa nagsalitang babae na nasa kabilang selda. She is smirking at me.

She must be thinking of me as a fool.

I examined her. She is dirty but I can see she is pretty behind her messy hair. Wearing an old, formal wear with that manly posture of hers.

What caught my attention was the cuffs in her hands even though she is also jailed. The bars are pretty strong. Why the cuffs?

“What?” Kalmado kong sagot.

“Something’s changed within you.” Kunot-noo niyang ani. I fully turned to her, getting my attention because of what she said.

Does she know the lady who owns this body I possess now?

Now that I also examined what I’m wearing, it is a white long dress that is full of gemstones. She must be a noble or a higher one than that. It is a bit dirty so she must have been dragged here just a few days ago. Wala pang suot na pangpaa. “Ngayon ay kalmado ka at may malalim na iniisip ngunit noong ipinunta ka rito noong isang araw ay wala ka pa sa iyong sarili.” Nanatili akong nakinig sa kanyang sinabi. I nibbled my lips.

“Ganoon ba?” I crossed my arms. I tilted my head. “Who are you?”

“I thought I was pretty famous to reach the name of the queen.” Her brow raised. She remained smirking and she shrugged. Hindi ako sumagot at nanatiling seryoso ang tingin sa kanya. Tumikhim siya. “Well, it is nice to meet the queen who attempted to kill the king, I am Nivaea Lila.” She said with a hint of mockery. What she said caught my attention.

That means I am the queen, huh? And I failed to kill the king. What must have been the reason for this weak lady to kill the king? Not to mention this lady could not probably do it. Maybe she was framed.

I squinted my eyes. My fingers tapped in my elbow.

“Your hands are cuffed even though you are in prison. Akala ko ba ay mahirap ang makalabas rito?”

“Mukhang hindi nga ako kilala ng reyna.” She shook her head and continuously clicked her tongue.

“What?”

“I have dark magic. These are restraints. I could escape if it weren’t for these.” Itinaas niya ang kanyang mga kamay.

I see. So magic is present in this era. I feel a little of mana inside this frail body but it is not awakened. The previous owner of this body must have a lavished life that she does not need her magic. Such a waste of potential.

Napangisi ako at napatingin sa aking dibdib.

It reminds of my past when I can wield magic. I guess I can go wild here without any suspicions. Then that is good. I can use magic again. The goddess who bestowed me reincarnation is quite tricky that she can also transfer to another world where the law of natures are different. That must mean I am back in my original world but in a different era. Or I may also be in another dimension that is the same nature with the dimension I came from.

“I see. If I manage to free you, would you follow me?” I gave her a sharp look.

“Why would I? Are you worthy of it?” She scoffed then chuckled. Nanatiling seryoso ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil hindi ako nagbibiro sa binitawan kong mga salita.

“I will show you. If I keep my word, do what I say.” She stopped chuckling. Napailing pa siya.

“Sure.” She unthinkingly answered.

Even if she was not serious or she was kidding of what she said, I will be able to get a pawn of mine. She will be the first one.

“When is my execution?” Tanong ko.

It is obvious what would happen to a person who attempts treason, what more if you tried to kill the king? Execution.

“This day. Ngayon rin ang koronasyon ng bagong reyna.” My hand went to my chin.

“The king has a harem or is it just new?”

“Nabagok mo ata ang iyong ulo. The king has you, the first queen, and the second queen will now get your throne now that you have fallen. The other queens are lying low. You can’t expect them to help you. Well, if the second queen is coronated, I’m sure she will have the others queens dead. ” Tumango ako. My hand went to my chin.

“That is soon.” I referred to my execution. “Well, the sooner, the better.” I do not want to stay in this rotten jail any longer.

A smirk escaped from my lips. Napatingin ako sa labas.

There is only a single open space in every jail and it has iron bars in it. Not to mention it is just small but the outside is visible. The sun is just rising and my execution will be pushed later. That means I still have my time.

Gumilid ako at umupo. I leaned on the bricked wall and closed my eyes, relaxing. I blanked my mind, only thinking a dark space and myself in the middle of that void.

“What are you doing?” Nivaea’s voice was so much clear than the water.

“Nothing.” I whispered, I know she heard it. I continued on my own space.

In my mind, I continued to walk as if looking for something. Until a door appeared when I imagined it, I opened it and the dazzling light greeted me. Napapikit ako ngunit ibinuka ko rin iyon kalaunan. A clear, bluish green lake found my eyes. Lumusong ako roon at lumangoy pailalim. As deeper as I go, the more the current go against me, as if preventing me to go deeper. My eyes squinted when I saw a shining thing on the seafloor. Tuluyan akong nakalapit roon. The shiny thing I saw is a giant clam. Nakakadena ito ngunit naalis ko naman ito ng walang problema. When I opened the clam, a lightish blue thing is floating in it. Napangisi ako. My hand went to reach it and as I touch it, my body suddenly felt hot like I am absorbing the blue thing while a cold wind circled around me. Napaawang ako sa kaunting sakit na naramdaman kaya may nainom akong tubig. I held my breath and immediately flew upwards. I gasped when I arrived at the top, catching my breath. Hinihingal ako nang tuluyan na akong makaahon.

Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib nang maramdaman ang kaunting pagbigat nito. I gasped for air when a hot and excruciating pain panged in my chest. Tahimik ko iyong nainda hanggang sa kumalma ako.

“Weird. I thought I felt something.” Nivaea said with furrowed brows while looking for something. Kaunti lang akong suminghal. Nang tumingin ako sa bintana ay tuluyan na ngang umaga. There are no signs of the night.

The rusty, metal door opened and a guard arrived towards my jail. My look went cold when I realized who it is.

It is the same guard who threw me cold, dirty water when I was just reincarnated in this body.

He opened the jail and forced me to stand up. Hindi nawala ang malamig kong tingin sa kanya.

“Lapastanganan!” He shouted. “Ngayong natitigan kita ng malapitan ay maganda nga ang reyna.” Inilapit niya ang kanyang mukha sa akin. “Sayang lang at wala akong panahon upang makipagsiyahan sa iyo.” He disgustingly licked his lips and gave me a look from down to up. Parang hinuhubaran niya ako sa kanyang mga tingin.

I have dealt with his kind before. “Mapapakinabangan pa naman siguro ang iyong katawan kahit isa ka ng bangkay.” He roughly lifted my chin and examined my face. Saka niya rin iyon binitawan nang may tumawag sa kanyang kawal na kanyang kasamahan.

Seems like these two are the ones who will escort me to the execution platform. How sweet.

I licked my lips. Ngumisi ako. The raging glares and the people’s shouts judging were the only thing that greeted me as I walk out from the prison. The execution platform is just in front of me but the eye-catching ones of them all are the king and queen a few meters apart away from me. The seats of the other queens are apart from them. Kagaya ng lahat ay masasama ang kanilang tingin sa akin. Nawala rin ang aking atensiyon sa kanila nang pinaluhod ako at inilusot ang aking ulo sa gilotina.

Okay, then. I will play with their games until I get tired of it.

“Standing on the platform of the execution is the queen, who has attempted to poison and kill the king and take over the throne by herself. This action of hers has undoubtedly deemed as treason and will receive the punishment of...execution!” A mustached man who is holding a scroll shouted and gave me an eyeful with its furrowed brows on me. I remained uncaring.

All of them, they will not be able to look down on me again.

The shouts went wild when the king and queen stood up from their seats and went to me. The king clenched his jaw while the queen has her fan with her, covering her smirk behind it.

“I am disappointed at you, Cevire Lodiani Leville. The house Leville will accept no punishment but will receive criticisms because of you.” Ani ng hari. He gave me a glare before turning his back at me.

So he is the king, huh? Such a catch but not that much.

Lumapit naman sa akin ang reyna at bumulong.

“The throne of the queen...is mine and only mine. Now you’ll just be a queen who will be remembered as the one who tried to kill the king but failed. Don’t worry, you will be forgotten as the time passes, as well as your actions.” Ngisi nito ngunit kumupas rin iyon agad nang tumayo siya ng husto.

“Queen, let’s go.” Matamang sabi ni hari sa reyna. The queen sweetly smiled at him and linked her arms around him. She gave me a mocking look before leaning on the king. I parted my lips and licked them. Hindi ko mapigilang matawa. My laugh echoed around the place that the audiences’ shouts died. The two glared at me. All gave me scrutinizing eyes.

They must think I am crazy. Well, I must be now. No---I have always been.

“I am glad.” I uttered in boredom.

“You should be, I am sparing your family.” The king answered. I scoffed.

That was not what I meant. What a stupid man.

“Not that, I am glad I can kill you all without any restraints.” Ngisi ko.

“You can’t even kill a fly. Mahina ka.” His brows knotted. He shook his head and as they arrive at their seats, the queen shouted and seethed in impatience.

“Kill her! Don’t delay it any further!” The guards then went in their position and readied the guillotine. They were about to let it go when it stopped. They stopped. The guards lost their heads and blood went spurting. Their bodies fell. The guillotine should have also stopped but it stop in the air, just when it was about to cut my neck off. 

“What? What happened?” The king muttered in confusion. Nagsimula ulit ang mga bulungan. Surely, all are astonished.  “Who helped her will also be branded a traitor!” He shouted.

“Let us stop this foolishness.” I uttered. They all looked at me. Nang itinaas ko ang aking daliri ay nawala rin ang gilotina malapit mula sa aking leeg. I stood up without a scratch. Pinagpag ko ang aking sarili. They looked at me in surprise.

“Huwag mong sabihing...” He retorted. Laglag ang panga ng hari habang namimilog ang mga mata nito. “That can’t be! You’re weak! You won’t even wield magic!” He grunted.

Yes, this lady would not wield magic not until now...since I am not her.

“My king...” The queen went to his back and hid, showing fright. Keeping my cold look, I slowly walked towards them, keeping the guards in check with me and beheading them without a single thought. Nang tuluyan akong nakalapit sa kanila ay tinagilid ko ang aking ulo.

“Simply because...I am not that real queen of yours.” Pabulong kong sagot sa paratang ng hari sa akin kanina. He gave me a confused but angry look at the same time. I turned my back on them. Next thing I heard are the screams of the people who are now terrified because their rulers lost their heads from their body.

The cause of it is the magic I have awakened again, the wind magic or the element of air. My magic I had in my first life. I have used it intentionally and for the first time in this life. So it is the air this time, huh? How reminiscing. My soul may just be compatible with this body.

“Kill the traitor!” A knight rushed onto me, drew his sword and was about to slash me when I turned to him. He flew away from me in an instant, making more people panic. A new order of knights came rushing to me and with a wave of my hand, they all flew away from me. My wind magic was so strong that it killed them in an instant. I opened and closed my hands.

This power feels new but familiar to me. Ngayon ko lamang ito nagamit ulit at hindi ko pa gamay ang aking kapangyarihan. I need full control over it and to do that, I need to take care of all my problems.

“Move...and you are dead.” Ani ko sa papalapit na mga kawal sa akin. They did not listen and charged instead. “You do not listen, huh? Kailangan niyong makinig sa mas malakas sa inyo.” I tightly balled my fists. Then a circling figure started to appear until it went bigger. A tornado. It attacked all those knights that touched it. “Any more?” Tingin ko sa mga ibang may balak pang lumapit sa akin. They stood back, cowering in fear. Nakatutok lamang ang mga sandata nila sa akin. I heard a loud footstep from their back. A stout man with a nasty look came in front and continued to touch his mustache.

“Doing this won’t save you any further. Isa ka lang, marami kami.” Tawa pa nito.

“Is that so?”I tilted my head and crossed my arms. “Then what is that?” Turo ko sa kanyang likod. The knights in a group started to fall one by one with heads flying around, blood spurting around that decorates the execution platform. Napa-atras ang mayabang na lalakeng awang ang bibig.

“I-Impossible! All headless...” He muttered.

“That is right. And you are next.” I slightly nodded. I levitated the sword from a dead knight and pointed it at him. His eyes turned brown and a wall was about to form to block the sword when he was late to do that out of shock. It headed straight to his chest. He coughed up blood until he, too, fell.

His earth element is a waste for him. Stupid. “Those who want to die, come.” I declared. Ilang segundo akong nagbilang nguntit wala ni isa ang lumapit sa akin. Isinunod ko ang mga natitirang reyna hanggang sa ako na lang ang natirang reyna at wala ng iba. “Weak.” Bulong ko bago lumapit sa trono na nasa aking harapan. My hands went to caress the throne of the king. My fingers tapped on it and I comfortably sat on it with my leg put on top of the other while my head rested in my chin. “This throne...is now mine! Anyone who dares to disobey and go against me...will die.” I licked my lips as I say it. I can see the people’s fear plastered in their faces as they shiver in front of me. “Remember that.” Isang mapaglarong ngisi ang tumakas mula sa aking mga labi. “Now kneel in front of me!” I pointed at the ground. They looked confused and even looked at each other’s faces. “Kneel!” Diin ko. I added an authoritative tone. Umuna ang maharlikang kokorona sana sa dating reyna kanina.

Good choice. He chose to live.

Isa-isang nagsiluhuran ang mga mamamayan ng kaharian na ito. My eyes are fixated on the man beside me who is holding the crown of the queen. “What are you doing?”

“Y-Yes?” Tulirang ani nito sa akin.

“Crown me as the next ruler.” I pointed at the king’s crown.

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.” He retorted as he panicked to go to the king and get the crown away from him. Naroon na siya sa aking likuran maya-maya pa. “From this day forward, the queen, Cevire Lodiane Leville, is now officially crowned as the ruler of the kingdom of Savana. As a citizen of this kingdom and a duke, I am a witness of this grand coronation of the queen. And as the queen of this kingdom, she now holds the highest authority overall.” He declared and I felt the feeling of the crown put on top of my head. “A-All hail Her Majesty, the queen!” He shouted.

“A-All hail Her Majesty, the queen!” The people followed.

“Good.” I gave them an icy look.

The execution they have been expecting have been turned into a massacre of the king and queens they admired. And the one they have been expecting to be executed was the one who killed them and rose up to the throne, now crowned as their new ruler. What a twist.

A smirk rose from the side of my lips.

---

Nivaea (Ni-va-yey)
Cevire (Se-vi-re)