71: A tongue for a lie

A tongue for a lie

Music Recommendation: Ghost Waltz- Abel Korzeniowski

—

The horses trotted towards the front gates of the palace. The guards respectfully lowered their heads, offering their bows.

Anastasia leaned closer to Princess Emily and whispered, "Princess, I think I should get down here before someone sees me riding on your horse." 

"Let me stop the horse," Princess Emily said, pulling on the horse's reins, bringing it to a halt. Anastasia dismounted and heard the princess say enthusiastically, "I will see you inside, Anna."

Anastasia bowed in response. 

Princess Emily's horse proceeded forward; the next to follow was Prince Aiden, with Prince Dante bringing up the rear. The first prince and the maid turned to look at each other at the same time, and upon making eye contact, Anastasia quickly offered him a bow. 

Anastasia stared at the ground, listening to the fading clip-clop of the hooves until she finally raised her head, looking in the direction where the royal siblings were headed, making their way towards the front entrance of the palace. 

As she walked towards the back of the palace, she noticed a young man walking in the opposite direction, carrying gardening tools in his arms. He wore a frown, as if deep in concentration, while he stared at the palace walls. Just as they were about to walk past each other, the things in the young man's arms fell to the ground. 

"Pardon me," the young man apologised, while picking up the fallen objects from the ground. 

Anastasia also bent down and helped gather the scattered belongings before handing them back to the young man. 

"That was nice of you. You didn't have to pick them up for me, as it was I who didn't pay attention," the young man gave Anastasia an awkward smile. 

Anastasia doubted she had seen this man in the palace before. He stood two or three inches taller than her. He had a square-shaped face, dishevelled light brown hair, and piercing grey eyes that were currently fixed on her. 

Noticing the curious look on the maid's face, the servant introduced himself, "I am a new servant here, sent here upon Lord Dunkirk's order. Gabriel Brampton at the Blackthorn family's service," he added with a slight bow. Before anything else could fall from his arms, Anastasia swiftly placed her hands on the things that the young man was holding. 

Anastasia only bowed at the man's words, as she didn't want to include more people on the list of those who knew she could speak. 

"It has been only four days since I arrived here, and I am still trying to familiarise myself with the palace. Though I must say that this place is a little scarier than Lord Dunkirk's. I heard that beheading is common here," the young man named Gabriel remarked, while his head turned to his right to stare at the palace walls. 

Anastasia raised her finger to her lips so that he would stay quiet, and she looked around to make sure no one heard him. She didn't know how things were back at Lord Dunkirk's place, but this was Versailles' main palace, where even thinking badly about the royal family or the palace was strictly forbidden.

"You don't speak much, do you?" The young man frowned, and Anastasia indicated that she couldn't speak. Surprise registered on his face before a look of disappointment filled his eyes, and he murmured, "It must be difficult for you and your family… To think you cannot speak. Your family must be worried about you, just like any other family would be." 

His words struck a chord of longing for her family, and she wondered how worried and in pain her parents were because two of their beloved children had been stolen from them. 

Gabriel offered Anastasia a bow and said, "I should go before I blabber something I shouldn't and get us in trouble." He excused himself, heading in the direction of the garden. 

Anastasia stepped inside the kitchen and found Theresa engrossed in work. She walked up behind the woman before hugging her waist. 

"Oh, my! You have returned, Anna!" Theresa recognised Anastasia's hands and turned around with her hands covered in flour from working the dough. "I thought I heard you were expected to arrive yesterday. Nonetheless, it is good to see you are fine," she whispered the last words. 

Anastasia was glad to see Theresa, who was her sole family-like figure in this palace after Marianne left them. She pulled up her sleeves, washing her hands before helping Theresa with her work. 

Now standing in the corner of the busy kitchen, Theresa updated her in a whisper, "Things here have been busy. The new king and Queen Maya have been hosting meals for important ministers. And the workload has increased because of all the changes. This room to that, that room to another, transforming them one by one." She asked, "How was your trip to the old palace?" 

Anastasia moved her hands quickly, keeping the information brief, and she saw the older woman's mouth hang open in shock. 

"How could you not be careful about it, Anna? You have been reckless, lowering your guard," Theresa lightly scolded Anastasia in worry. "You are lucky that it was them. Every time another person finds out the truth about you, the chances of the lie coming to light become that much higher."

Anastasia was aware of it. Once they finished their work in the kitchen and stepped into her room, she asked, 

"Were new servants brought to the palace recently?" 

"I think there are a few, maybe five or six of them," Theresa replied, before continuing, "I heard one of them mention that they are Lord Dunkirk's gift to King Maxwell. A few servants and concubines." 

When Anastasia finished arranging her clothes back into their designated place in her room, she found Theresa staring at her. She asked, "Is something the matter?" 

"I was only watching you. You grow more beautiful with every passing week," Theresa smiled. "But it is to be expected, considering some people are late bloomers. Men will soon begin to flock around you, Anna, especially now that you are serving Princess Emily. Has any man taken an interest in you that I should know of? Who is it?" The woman asked, noting Anastasia's sudden silence. 

"There was one at the old palace, but he wasn't a good person," Anastasia shook her head. She said, "We are women from the low class, Auntie. And when you work within the confines of the palace or in the homes of any wealthy men, people assume that we spread our legs for them."

"Oh… I am sorry to hear that, Anna. Though there are people like that, there are also people who will respect you as a person, dear," Theresa assured Anastasia. 

"It's fine," Anastasia smiled at the older woman. "It was just a passing moment. Before Marianne departed, she taught me a valuable lesson; to avoid falling in love in a place where love cannot thrive, because it will only bring about pain."

"Has there been any news about the murderer?" Theresa asked, and Anastasia shook her head. It was as if the murderer had done what they intended to do and disappeared without a trace. 

​​"I should return to Princess Emily's side. She might require my assistance," Anastasia leaned forward and kissed the older woman's cheek. 

"I will see you later. Careful where you speak," Theresa warned Anastasia as she stepped out of the room. 

As Anastasia made her way towards the inner side of the palace, she walked past the Paradise Tower, where the rotting head continued to decorate the front wall. When she made her way to the room where she could find Princess Emily, she could hear the Mother Queen's voice coming from behind the closed doors. 

Coming to stand in front of the door, Anastasia watched the guard open it, revealing the Mother Queen, Prince Dante and Princess Emily, who now stared at the concubine who claimed to have slept with the first prince. 

"Come in, Anna," Princess Emily called Anastasia inside the room and gestured for her to stand beside her. 

Dante sat there with his legs crossed, glaring at his grandmother before his eyes shifted to the concubine, who had dared to spread the word that he had slept with her. He questioned the concubine in a low, threatening voice, 

"Did we sleep together?"

The concubine shook her head. Dante deadpanned, "There you have the answer. So stop pushing women into my lap." 

The Mother Queen stared at the concubine with a look of disbelief and demanded, 

"Didn't you say in front of me and my granddaughter that you spent the night in Prince Dante's room?" Kailani nodded. The old woman's eyes narrowed, and she warned, "I haven't ripped your tongue out yet, so speak before I give the order," 

Mother Queen Ginger didn't like anyone making a fool of her because she was no fool. As she didn't know if or when Dante's soulmate would arrive, she wanted to keep all options open and hoped to secure an heir from her first grandson. She glared daggers at the concubine, ordering, "Speak!" 

The concubine trembled as she stood before them, not meeting anyone's eyes as her gaze remained fixed on the ground. She stuttered, "I—I never lied, M—Mother Queen! I was asked if I spent the night in the prince's room and I—I did."

"So you are saying you only slept in his room and not with him," the Mother Queen stood up from her seat. "When I spoke about great-grandchildren and you took my jewel as a reward, where was your explanation then?" 

"I w—was hoping for that to happen in the future! To be Prince Dante's concubine!" Kailani nervously replied because, in all honesty, it wasn't her fault that people had misunderstood her words. 

Anastasia's eyes moved from the concubine to Prince Dante, who looked unbothered by what was happening. But that was only because Dante knew his grandmother would handle the concubine and would also learn a lesson to stop sending any other woman to wait to ambush him in his room. 

The Mother Queen looked more than annoyed as she stared at the concubine silently. She then said, "You remind me of someone. Someone ambitious and ready to climb the ranks, eager to push aside those of higher standing to make space for yourself." It was no mystery to anyone in the room whom the Mother Queen was referring to. It was Queen Maya, who was a former concubine. "Guards!" 

Upon hearing the guards open the door, Kailani quickly fell to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor. She pleaded, "Mother Queen, please, don't punish me! I didn't lie! I only answered what was asked!" 

The Mother Queen ordered the guards, "Cut her tongue out." 

"No!" Kailani shouted, "Don't do this to me, please!" 

Hearing one of the guards pull out their sword from its scabbard, Anastasia became highly uncomfortable. She pressed her hands to her sides. 

Princess Emily noticed the look of worry on Anastasia's face. Aware that there was another falsehood present in the room and feeling the need to safeguard Anna's future, the princess spoke up,

"Grandmother, why not let her off with a warning? It isn't like she caused anyone any harm." 

"No," the Mother Queen firmly rejected Princess Emily's suggestion. She said, "If we allow this one to escape the consequences, another will follow suit, and before long, the entire kingdom will turn into a circus worse than it already has. And I am hurt by the lie. My happiness was stolen just like that," she snapped her fingers. 

"Open your mouth," one of the guards ordered Kailani, who had a look of horror on her face, and she screamed. 

"No! No! Please don't!" 

One guard restrained the concubine to ensure she couldn't move, while the other held the sword threateningly. A third guard attempted to force the concubine to keep her mouth open, intent on cutting her tongue out, while the concubine's whines and pleas echoed through the place.  0

"Hold your sword!" Queen Maya commanded the guards, who quickly stepped away from the concubine, bowing before their queen. She noticed the top concubine crying, tears streaming down her cheeks, shaking in terror. 

Queen Maya stepped inside the room with her daughter, demanding of the Mother Queen, "What do you think you are doing by trying to scare her?" The prince and the princess in the room had risen from their seats, observing the scene. 

"Scare?" The Mother Queen questioned with a frown before she said, "I want to see her tongue on the ground. Do it," she ordered the guards. 

"And I said stop," Queen Maya came to the concubine's aid. She asked, "Did you forget that I am the Queen of this palace? And that you don't hold the authority to override my orders." 

The Mother Queen chuckled, "Queen Maya, I wouldn't be so sure about that." She pulled out the rolled parchment from inside her coat and stretched it forward. "I might not be 'the' Queen, but I am still a woman of the royal family through marriage," she added before her lips curled up, and Queen Maya snatched the parchment to read it. The old woman continued, "My position stays the same as before." 

Queen Maya's eyes moved down the paper before she glared at the older woman. She clenched her jaws before saying, "The concubines are under my care, and neither you nor anyone else is allowed to bring any harm to them. I am sure you are already aware of it, more so than I am."

"Are you saying that you are going to defy the rules, when your precious concubine is the one who broke them, lying that she slept with Dante? I should have her beheaded," the Mother Queen's eyes narrowed at the sight of the concubine, who now cowered behind Queen Maya. 

"Kailani will be punished appropriately," Queen Maya assured the Mother Queen. "But it will be on my terms after I hear exactly what happened. I hope you won't interfere with the concubines again?" 

"I will let her off the hook this time, but let us hope another one doesn't lie because next time, I will take control of the situation," the Mother Queen softly harrumphed before exiting the room. Queen Maya stared at the rest of the people in the room before ordering, "Back to the concubine's quarters, Kailani. I will speak to you there." 

Soon the others left the room, leaving Anastasia and Princess Emily alone. 

Princess Emily said in a low voice, "Let us hope no one comes to know that you can speak. Because if someone found out the truth, everyone would be ready to punish Anastasia. Especially if they find out that you are Tasia Flores." 

After seeing how forgiving the princess was, Anastasia had told the truth to Princess Emily during their ride back to the palace. It was better to come out and tell the whole truth rather than tell only a little and face the consequences later. She had also mentioned that she and Prince Dante had not slept together, while withholding the part about how she was planning to escape from the palace. 

As the day progressed, Anastasia shared a few words with Princess Emily when they were alone and had no company. 

[Music Recommendation: Second Son- (K)NoW_NAME]

During the time of night, Anastasia walked through the quiet and deserted corridors of the palace. For some reason, Mr. Gilbert had given her the task of extinguishing the lights in one part of the palace. She carried a long pipe in her hand, which she used to snuff out the fire burning in the chandeliers. 

She took a turn at the end of one of the corridors when she caught sight of a shadow lurking in front of the Paradise Tower. She took a peek, wondering who it was this late at night. 

King Maxwell?

No, it wasn't him. She walked closer towards the staircase when she noticed the shadow taking a step on the stairs. However, as the shadow turned, Anastasia realised it was the servant named Gabriel whom she had met that morning. 

"You gave me a fright!" Gabriel placed his hand on his chest. 

What was he doing here? It seemed like everyone wandered through the night, coming to stand in front of the Paradise Tower. 

Anastasia gave him a questioning look, and Gabriel said, "I heard so much about this tower, so I thought I would take a look. Women here are beautiful." But she could tell he was lying, and she continued staring at him. "You don't believe me…" 

She shook her head in response. 

Gabriel scratched the back of his head and said, "Considering that you haven't spoken a word, you must be mute. So it should be okay… I came here looking for my little sister, who was stolen. I have moved from one place to another, not knowing where to find her, in hopes of seeing her again."

Did that mean that this man had planned to come here? Had he become a servant out of his own free will? Anastasia asked. She could understand the young man's intention, but his search for his sister was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

"I left home four years ago in search of… and heard where the pirates usually send the young girls. This palace holds most of them, and I look for her in the hope that nothing has happened to her," Gabriel said to her. 

Anastasia then heard Gabriel say, "Please behave as if you didn't see anything." When he began to walk up the stairs, she heard Madame Minerva's voice coming from the top. She climbed the stairs and caught hold of his arm to stop him, and she shook her head. 

"You can go back to your work. I will be quick. I am very good at talking when it comes to women," the young man assured her, without understanding why the maid held him back. 

If Madame Minerva saw a servant walking up the tower steps, he could forget about finding his sister, as this man would find God before anyone else! 

Knowing the pain of being torn from one's family, Anastasia dragged the young man down the stairs. When she turned to her left to walk near the end of the corridor, she heard the distinct sound of shoes resonating against the floor, and out of the shadows emerged Prince Dante. 

pqdm.com