119: Blackthorn's Murderer

Blackthorn's Murderer

Music Recommendation: Abandoned Secret- Fredrik Jonasson0

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Anastasia was taken aback by the Storm Prince's story about how Dante became a demon. She wondered if he remembered what had taken place in his past life, which might explain why he had always kept women at arm's length, rather than solely attributing his emotional distance to the Mother Queen's attempts at matchmaking to secure great-grandchildren. 

"Does Dante know about this?" Anastasia asked him, her eyes brimming with curiosity. 

"He does," Prince Raylen replied, and Anastasia felt her stomach sink slightly in dismay. 

"Why did the woman stab him?" she inquired, and she saw Prince Raylen pursing his lips in contemplation as a thoughtful expression settled on his face. 

"Perhaps because her love for him wasn't as deep as his for her?" the prince ventured in a questioning tone, as though he were only guessing. 

"Anastasia!" Emily called from behind, and Anastasia turned to see the princess walking towards her. "Grandmother has been searching for you. She is in the main hall," she informed before her eyes landed on the Storm Prince.

"I will go now," Anastasia responded to the princess. She turned her gaze towards Prince Raylen and offered him a short bow, saying, "It was a pleasure talking with you." 

"I enjoyed our brief conversation as well," Prince Raylen smiled at the young woman, who proceeded to depart from the corridor, accompanied by her maid. When the princess was about to take her leave, he addressed her, saying, "Good evening, Princess Emily." 

Emily halted her steps, her inner cheek caught between her teeth, as she had hoped he wouldn't try to initiate a conversation. She turned around to meet his gaze before greeting him back in the same manner, "Good evening, Prince Raylen. I trust your stay in Versailles has been pleasant?" 

Leaning casually against the wall, Prince Raylen responded, "I don't think I have enjoyed my time here as much as I am now. Particularly in the presence of such wonderful company and the lively atmosphere." 

A faint frown formed on the princess's brow. She didn't like the Storm Prince hovering near Anastasia, especially given that the young woman was her brother's concubine. She questioned him, 

"What were you both talking about?" 

"I never thought you to be nosey, Princess," Prince Raylen retorted, evoking a disapproving expression from her. "Or could it be that my diverted attention has left you feeling excluded?" A cunning grin played on his lips as her jaw visibly clenched, but she quickly released it. 

"I asked because she is Brother Dante's woman," Emily stated firmly, her voice unwavering. "It would be best for you to not hover around her and to maintain a respectable distance, regardless of how powerful you are." 

"Spoken like a true princess," Prince Raylen remarked with the same polite smile he always wore. He continued, "I thought the lady might benefit from a little push through a small anecdote."

Emily regarded the prince with a hint of suspicion. Opting not to delve further into the conversation, she said, "I hope it was for a noble purpose. Enjoy the rest of your evening." She offered him another bow before turning and departing from the corridor. 

On the floor below, near the main hall, Anastasia found the Mother Queen standing alone in front of a pillar entwined with creeping vines as if deep in thought. As footsteps reached her ears, the older woman turned her head, prompting Anastasia to speak up,

"Princess Emily said you wanted to see me, Mother Queen." 

With a sombre demeanour, the Mother Queen turned away from the pillar and questioned Anastasia, "Have I not previously instructed you to address me as Grandmother and not as Mother Queen?" 

"My apologies, Grandmother," Anastasia quickly corrected her mistake, earning a glance of approval from the older woman this time. 

"Much better. Now, I was thinking we could chat a little, as so much has transpired in this short period, and that way, I would be able to spend some quality time with my granddaughter-in-law," the Mother Queen suggested, glancing briefly at the maid standing behind Anastasia and instructing, "You can dismiss your maid and have her return to you at a later time." 

Theresa offered a respectful bow to each before stepping away, and the two women began to walk together. 

They proceeded towards the inner side of the palace, a notably quieter area where torches affixed to the walls had been lit to prepare for the swiftly approaching night. Anastasia waited for several seconds before she heard the Mother Queen ask her,

"How are you doing, Anna?" 

"The same as yesterday, I think," Anastasia replied before returning the question, "How about you? Grandmother," she added to make her answer seem polite and respectful. 

"Upset and sadness seem to be the two feelings that have dominated my emotions in recent months. However, it's nothing I haven't experienced before," the Mother Queen sighed. "Losing a family member is never easy, but it's a reality we must face regardless of our feelings. But some losses are necessary." She briefly turned to look at the young woman, who met her gaze before looking forward. 

Anastasia hesitated, contemplating whether this was the right time to broach the topic. But she doubted there was ever a right or a wrong time as time passed swiftly, leaving little chance to seize the opportunity to ask. 

"Like Lady Maya's brother?" she finally inquired.

The Mother Queen didn't appear offended, but there was a hint of surprise in her expression. She admitted, "Yes, I was the one who ordered the man to be beheaded. Maya should have known better than to hug him in secrecy, which made it all the more suspicious. There are some things I have done that I am not proud of, mistakes that only worsened with time."

Anastasia listened as the Mother Queen recounted, "My mistake and Maya's tears led William to eventually grant her the head position in the concubines' quarters. It gave rise to her rebellion against me, but she was mistaken to think she could challenge me when I am no stranger to these games." 

"May I ask about something personal, Grandmother?" Anastasia sought permission, and the Mother Queen waved her hand for her to proceed. 

"There are no lines that you have to worry about crossing anymore. You are now a member of the Blackthorn family. Go ahead." 

Anastasia took a moment to muster her courage as they strolled along the deserted corridor before she asked, "Did King Johnathan not have any concubines or exclusive courtesans?"

"I must tell you that your questions are catching me off guard," the Mother Queen responded, her footsteps slowing down compared to their previous pace. 

"My apologies, I was curious as no one seems to know or speak about it," Anastasia replied, and the woman smiled before calmly responding, 

"They wouldn't. If they did, they know it will cost them their tongues." 

Anastasia knew that being Dante's concubine granted her favour and advantages, unlike the other servants she was once among. Still, she couldn't pretend she was unaffected by the Mother Queen's remark. She heard the woman say,

"Sometimes, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. My husband, King Johnathan, had two beautiful concubines of his own and, together with them, their equally beautiful children. You must be wondering where they are." She halted her steps, and Anastasia did too. When the curious eyes met the ones filled with experience, the red-headed queen revealed, "I had them removed from the palace, the women and their children, after the king passed away." 

Anastasia was far from naive not to understand that 'removed' meant killed. The more she conversed with this woman, the clearer it became why pretending to be mute and maintaining her silence had been necessary for her survival until the last few weeks. 

"I see…" Anastasia responded, and they continued their stroll through the quiet corridors. 

Unlike the Mother Queen, neither Lady Sophia nor Lady Maya had made such a hasty decision to kill every other companion of the king and the children they had borne him. 

"You must be wondering if I am a tyrant, eliminating everyone who once was dear to my husband," the Mother Queen said nonchalantly. 

Without directly agreeing with the older woman's statement, Anastasia responded, "You could have chosen to send them away… far from the palace or kingdom." 

"So they could return to exact revenge on me or William?" The Mother Queen chuckled softly, and said, "I had seen enough to know how each of their minds operated. We do what is necessary to protect ourselves and our children." 

Recognising they had delved into a heavy subject, Anastasia decided to change the topic by asking, "Do you miss your husband?" From what she knew, King Johnathan had died when his son, William, was in his teenage years. 

"Sometimes," the Mother Queen replied, her thoughts drifting back to the past. She continued, "He was a good-looking man. You can tell by looking at my grandchildren. Tall and dark, with a head full of hair. Women flocked to him, and he delighted in their attention. There are some good and bad memories, and as the years have passed, they now seem almost like distant thoughts. He was handsome, until that fateful day when we went hunting together, and he was mauled by a tiger."

"I am sorry that it happened," Anastasia said, offering her condolences, feeling pity for the woman.

The Mother Queen sighed and responded calmly, "Don't be. I was the one who pushed him into the animal's mouth."

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