W.I.T.C.H.: The Bloody Throne

Part 19

AUTHOR'S NOTE: SHOUT OUT TO jimelization and their work on Dark Descendant. We did a collaboration and Queen Seras is featured. I checked out their work and I think it is awesome.

King Orlan wasted no time to respond to Armana's letter by secretly traveling to Ero; five times since his arrival that morning has he enjoyed the Duchess's body, much to Armana's disgust. One hour after arriving, he pulled her into a servant's closet; despite all the humiliation Orlan put her through, Armana kept quiet and let him have her body, even if she played with the thought of killing the nasty boy more than once. Whenever he touched her, she simply thought of the plan she and Ionah had formulated. Everything was falling into place perfectly; King Orlan was like wax in her hands, the Meridian royal family was on their way and would arrive tomorrow, the temple was excavated enough, the key to open the tomb underneath was found, and King Royan had promised his kingdom to Meridian. Now, all Armana had to do was wait, let Ionah do her part, and entice her son's friend Ratun to her cause.

"Ratun has his ears everywhere and would do anything to possess your niece, Myra. He is young and your niece is a virgin, all you have to do is promise her to him once you are in control. Whether Myra agrees or not, does not matter. This is a cruel world and only those who are willing to fight cruelly will prevail." Was what Ionah had told her and it made Armana smile. If her brother's wife hadn't birthed any children, then she would be the next heir to Ero as stated in a contract Queen Seras had signed the day she married her brother. The contract had stated that should Seras be unable to bear any children within the first 10 years of her marriage, that all control over Ero would fall to Armana; however, within the first 3 months, Seras fell pregnant with Myra, destroying all chances Armana had for the crown. The birth of Isabella and Korinthia, and then Isabella being crowned Queen after falling pregnant with the daughter of a general, was just rubbing salt in the wound. The thought of having Seras watch as each of her daughters was married off, rapped, or killed brought a smile to Armana's lips.

Once Orlan lay sleeping in her bed, after having his way with her once again, Armana quickly got washed and dressed before rushing out of her room to find Ratun. Despite the use, that boy could be to her, she despised the sight of the child. Whenever she gazed at him, she imagined a giant rat. Nonetheless, this was another pivotal moment in her plans; having a boy like Ratun as a faithful servant was vital for Armana. As she expected, she found Ratun in the library located beside Myra's private study with his ear pressed against the wall separating him from the princess. Daintily, Armana cleared her throat to catch the boy's attention and the boy spun around so fast that he nearly knocked over a stack of books beside him.

"I was listening for a mouse that I spotted here earlier. I would hate for Myra's proud collection to be ruined by such a nasty creature." Was the boy's hastily formulated excuse. Armana chuckled a little to herself; a mouse in the castle was as unlikely as the sun turning into the moon. With a smile that only a royal could carry, she approached the boy and gently placed a hand on his hunched shoulder.

"My boy, I am not here to chastise you for lurking after my niece." Her voice was sickly sweet, but Ratun hung on every word. "I have seen how you look at her and it reminds me of how my husband used to look at me when we were freshly married. Sadly, his eyes wondered soon after I fell pregnant with Dante. A devotion like yours to my niece is rare to find these days."

At this, Ratun smiled a little; gladder that he was not in trouble than what the Duchess had said. "Ratun, I wish you sit with me for a moment. I have something to inform you about."

Like a puppy, Ratun followed Armana to another room where a servant brought them bread and wine. The moment he was served his glass, the boy snatched his cup and drank a good third of his share before Armana even had her first sip; Armana let him. Having his mind dulled through the effects of the wine would be another benefit for her.