Chapter 94: The Queen’s Imperious Decree

Chapter 94

"Whatever brings you to this wing of the palace at such an hour, Countess?" Maria asked, her voice chiming with an easy, delicate warmth that concealed the sudden wave of revulsion stirring in her chest.

Celestine lowered her hands, her eyes remaining fixed on Maria with that same unnerving, glowing adoration. "Her Majesty the Queen summoned me to her personal quarters, my lady," Celestine replied, her smile smooth and impeccably graceful. "As I am currently residing within the upper courtyard to fulfill my duties to the royal household, I made certain not to keep Her Majesty waiting."

"I see. It is always a comfort to know Her Majesty is surrounded by such dutiful devotion," Maria murmured, offering a sweet, approving nod. Yet behind her serene countenance, a bitter, poisonous malice took root. You utterly disgust me, Maria thought, staring at the woman’s flawless features.

Countess Celestine Everhart was once considered one of the primary candidates for the title of Crown Princess, renowned across the realm for her peerless etiquette, meek demeanor, and stunning visual perfection. Men of high birth had routinely thrown away their fortunes merely to secure a single glance from her. It was for that very reason Maria had aggressively sought her out, weaving a fake friendship solely to demonstrate to the high society that even the realm’s most idolized maiden was forced to bow before her influence.

The ploy had largely succeeded, winning her praise from the Queen, but a few stubborn factions within the court still whispered behind closed doors that Celestine possessed a far grander regal aura than a girl born of lesser lineage. Worse still, Celestine’s quiet composure constantly reminded Maria of her step-sister, Sigrid—the only difference being that Celestine’s gentle smile was soft and inviting, whereas Sigrid’s rare smiles felt like chilling invitations from the depths of hell itself. Though Maria’s personal visions had foretold that Celestine would eventually prove to be an invaluable ally, the woman’s sheer presence never failed to grate on her nerves.

Ragnar shifted beside Maria, his heavy brow furrowing with dark impatience as he cut through the exchange. "We ought to hasten to my mother’s chambers without further delay," he growled, his hand resting heavy and hot against the small of Maria’s back as he guided her past Celestine.

They traversed the remainder of the marble corridor in silence, the heavy bronze doors of the Queen’s private sanctuary looming before them. Two imperial guards hauled the doors open, admitting them into a grand room draped in deep crimson silks and bathed in the soft glow of gilded candelabras. Standing near the hearth was Queen Evelyn.

The moment the grand matriarch turned to face them, Maria felt the icy, suffocating weight of raw contempt radiating from the older woman’s pristine features. Maria bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted copper, silently cursing the Queen’s haughty existence while maintaining her submissive posture.

"Mother," Ragnar began, stepping forward with an air of unearned confidence. "For what reason did you command our immediate presence?"

"Silence yourself, you absolute fool!" Queen Evelyn snapped, her sharp, commanding voice slicing through the chamber like a newly honed blade. She turned her piercing gaze upon her son, her chest heaving with cold fury. "Do not dare address me with such casual insolence! The entire inner court whispers of your disgraceful display—wasting your days in squalor with that useless, disgraced Lord Roderic Warwick! A pathetic man who allowed a mere bastard child to strip him of his rightful inheritance as the Warwick heir!"

Ragnar gritted his teeth so fiercely his jaw visibly locked, his knuckles turning white at his sides as his mother mercilessly dismantled his pride.

"You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself," the Queen continued, pacing slowly across the polished floorboards, the heavy train of her gown trailing behind her. Because of your unutterable stupidity in the North, I was forced to allow a mere Duchess to dictate terms to this crown! She said internally. "To think that the boy I raised to become a terrifying sovereign like his father has reduced himself to such pathetic carelessness! You ought to drop to your knees and thank the heavens above that there is no other legitimate royal heir to claim this dynasty, or I would have stripped you of your birthright without a second thought!"

Ragnar’s eyes burned with suppressed rage, but he remained silent, unable to refute her scathing words. The Queen shifted her cold, violet eyes toward Maria, her lips curling into an expression of sheer disdain. "And you... you were expected to keep him grounded, yet you possess neither the intellect nor the authority to govern a man’s vices. But then, what grand expectations could I possibly hold for a commoner so utterly lacking in refined lineage and proper courtly grace?"

Maria squeezed her hands into tight fists behind the folds of her dress, her nails biting painfully into her palms as she swallowed the burning humiliation. Ragnar took a small step forward, attempting to redirect his mother’s fiery temper. "Mother... why have you summoned us here today?"

Queen Evelyn halted her pacing and let out a long, exhausted sigh, resting her hand upon the back of a carved throne chair. "The ceremonial preparations are being accelerated. Maria shall officially ascend to the title of Crown Princess in precisely two weeks’ time."

A heavy, stunned silence fell over the room. Both Ragnar and Maria stared at the Queen in absolute shock. "Two weeks?" Ragnar blurted out, his brows drawing together. "Mother, custom dictates a mandatory six-month period of observation before a candidate is permanently granted the crown princess mantle! That buffer exists specifically so alternative candidates can be considered should complications arise!"

The mere mention of an alternative candidate sent a sharp, agonizing pang through Maria’s chest. The thought of being set aside or replaced made her blood run cold; she had climbed too high and suffered too much to let her grand destiny be stolen away at the final hour.

"My word is law in this court, not outdated custom!" Queen Evelyn declared imperiously, shutting down her son’s protest with a single wave of her hand. "The decision is finalized. She will be elevated to Crown Princess immediately, long before our grand military forces mobilize for the upcoming war against Engrosia." The Queen resumed her deliberate pacing, her mind calculating the political chessboard. "This upcoming period will be exceptionally delicate. As such, Maria, your royal instruction will be quadrupled starting tomorrow morning. Fortunately, Countess Celestine Everhart has agreed to oversee your refined etiquette training, and she shall be appointed as the primary lady of your official retinue. You are instructed to select three additional noblewomen of high standing to complete your inner circle." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Maria’s breath caught in her throat. Despite the Queen’s harsh demeanor, the reality of her impending ascension washed over her with dizzying intensity. Her lifelong ambition was finally materializing; the glittering crown was within her reach.

"Furthermore," Queen Evelyn added, her voice dropping into a stern, pragmatic register, "you and Ragnar will be expected to conduct public visitations throughout the capital’s lower districts and impoverished slums. The official wedding and your formal ascension as Crown Princess will take place the very day before our imperial troops march to the frontlines. It shall serve as a grand, unifying display to bolster the morale of the realm."

So the Northern Duke will inevitably be forced to lead his army away to the frontlines, Maria realized, a dark, maniacal thrill blooming within her mind as her lips twitched into a subtle, hidden smile. Once the Duke of the North is separated from his fortress, I can finally set my grand strategy into motion to have both him and Sigrid executed for high treason.

"From this moment forth, the two of you will be thrust into every major affair of state," the Queen stated, stopping to gaze at Maria with an unreadable, complex expression that lacked its previous outright contempt. "You are to become the future monarchs of this realm. See to it that you do not disappoint me again. Dismissed."

They bowed respectfully and exited the Queen’s quarters. Waiting outside in the grand foyer was Countess Celestine, who offered Maria another smooth, reverent curtsy. "I bid you a pleasant evening, Lady Maria," Celestine whispered, her dark eyes gleaming with quiet delight before she turned and glided down the hallway with her retinue.

Ragnar reached out and took Maria’s hand, his heavy grip cold against her cold skin. The dark scowl that had marred his handsome features all evening had melted away, replaced by a low, triumphant smirk. "I genuinely believed my mother would never fully accept your standing," he murmured, his voice laced with possessive affection. "Yet it seems even her hardened heart could not resist your sweet, gentle nature. In two short weeks, you will officially belong to me before the entire realm."

Ragnar pulled her firmly into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her waist. Maria buried her face against his noble attire, letting out a soft, delighted laugh while her thoughts burned with icy determination. Everything is falling into place far faster than I anticipated, she declared silently, her eyes narrowing in the dark corridor. Just you wait, Sigrid. You will soon be erased from this world forever, weeping in agony for ever believing you could survive without Ragnar by your side.

Without another word, Ragnar scooped Maria up into his arms, carrying her back down the long marble corridor toward their private bedchamber as her cheerful giggles echoed off the stone walls.