Racheal's fingers hovered over the stem of a crimson rose before she gently twisted it free. The petals were lush and velvety, their scent faint but sweet in the quiet of the palace garden.
Morning light spilled through the arching vines above, dappling the stone path beneath her feet.
A wicker basket hung from the crook of her arm, already half-filled with roses.
The calm, however, was short-lived.
Soft footsteps hurried across the gravel path behind her.
"My lady."
Racheal did not turn immediately. She placed the rose carefully into the basket before glancing over her shoulder at the maid, who had rushed in, breathing slightly unevenly.
"What is it?" she asked calmly.
The maid dipped her head. "My lady… Queen Jazell is coming to see you."
Racheal's hand stilled against the rim of the basket.
Of course she is.
Ever since she had openly supported Ragaleon's plans to pick another wife, her enemies had increased overnight.
Racheal plucked another rose.
"Jazell is coming to see me?" she asked after taking a steady breath. Her voice remained sonorous and soothing, betraying none of the thoughts passing through her mind.
She turned to the maid.
"Did she tell you when?"
The maid opened her mouth to answer, but the words never came.
The soft scrape of armored boots interrupted the moment.
Both women turned.
Queen Jazell was already entering the garden.
She looked formidable in the red dress she was wearing; she had the aura of an authoritative queen. Her short blonde hair was shoulder length, and her crystal blue eyes and prominent dark eyebrows made her sinfully beautiful.
She had a predatory gaze as she arched her brows while gazing at Racheal. The red velvet gown billowed from behind her, and her crown radiated under the sun.
Her posture was rigid, chin lifted high with the confidence of someone who had never been denied anything in her life.
The maid immediately stepped aside, lowering her head.
Racheal did not move.
She simply watched as Jazell approached, the basket of roses resting against her arm, a single red petal slipping loose and drifting quietly to the ground between them.
Jazell stopped only a few steps away.
Her sharp eyes swept over the basket.
"How peaceful," she said at last, her voice cool and edged like polished steel.
"While the palace trembles with change… you spend your morning picking flowers."
Racheal tilted her head slightly.
"And yet you came all this way to find me among them."
Her gaze lifted fully to meet Jazell's.
"So I assume this is not merely a social visit."
The guards behind Jazell stiffened slightly, sensing the tension thickening the air.
Jazell smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Oh no, Racheal," she said softly.
"This visit is long overdue."
Each queen had two personal royal guards assigned to keep an eye on them. They always stood in front of their chambers, and immediately any queen stepped out of their chamber, they escorted them from behind.
Racheal had sent her royal guards away; she needed some time alone and wanted to breathe in some fresh air. Now Jazell was here to ruin her peace.
Racheal handed the basket of freshly plucked roses to the maid beside her without looking away from Jazell.
"Take these inside," she said quietly.
The maid bowed her head and hurried off, clearly relieved to escape the gathering tension.
For a moment, the two queens stood facing each other among the roses, the air thick with restrained hostility.
Without another word, Racheal gestured lightly toward the deeper part of the garden.
"This way."
They walked along the winding stone path until the garden opened into the swing arena, a secluded corner surrounded by tall hedges and flowering vines. Two wooden swings hung from an aged oak tree whose branches stretched wide above them.
A few meters away, water trickled gently from a fountain. At its center stood a golden statue of Ragaleon, sculpted in regal armor, his sword planted firmly before him like a symbol.
Jazell walked straight to one of the swings and sat down, the wooden seat creaking faintly beneath her weight. She gave a slow push against the ground with the tip of her shoe, letting the swing sway lazily.
Racheal remained standing; her posture was straight and composed, her green eyes fixed steadily on Jazell.
"I suppose you can fathom out the reason I am here," Jazell began. Her voice was low and calm — dangerously calm. "However, I deem it fit to state the purpose of my visit."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You are obliged to the king's decision… Why, Racheal?"
Jazell's brows arched as she spoke, though the faint tightening of her jaw betrayed the anger she was attempting to restrain.
"First you disregard me," Racheal said with a small sigh, "and now you seek answers from me?"
She crossed her hands behind her back, her fingers lacing together in an almost leisurely manner.
"You are the straightforward type," Racheal said smoothly.
"I like the fact that you don't hide your disdain for me."
Her lips curved slightly.
"It's refreshing."
Jazell's swing slowed; she leaned back slightly.
"You thought you were so smart…"
"But I am," Jazell interrupted immediately, lifting her chin. "I know I am."
She crossed her legs and slid a strand of dark hair behind her back with an almost careless motion.
Racheal studied her.
Those sharp green eyes searched Jazell's face carefully, as though looking for something hidden beneath the queen's composed exterior.
Finally, Racheal stepped forward.
She lowered herself onto the swing opposite Jazell, the wood groaning slightly as she settled.
The two women now faced each other, swaying gently in opposite directions.
Racheal leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on her knees.
"What do you want from me?" she asked. Her tone was calm, but her eyes were not.
Jazell's voice softened as her fingers idly caressed the diamond ring on her finger, the jewel catching the morning light.
"Bringing in a new queen into Decreash will not support our interests at heart. So why did you support Ragaleon's intentions?"
Racheal watched the movement of her hand for a moment before shifting slightly on the swing.
"And this interest you speak of…" she said slowly, crossing one leg over the other with deliberate grace. "May I know what it is?"
Jazell's eyes narrowed.
"The harem is a place for survival, Racheal," she said bluntly. "You are playing the clueless card, and it is making me sick."
"I am afraid this interest you speak of has nothing to do with me," she replied calmly. "What will you have me do? Try and make the king change his mind"
Her tone carried a thin thread of mockery.
Jazell said nothing for a moment.
She simply gazed at Racheal long and knowingly.
The look itself was a message.
Racheal read it instantly.
Her brows lifted in mild amusement.
"What makes you think I can change the king's mind?" She asked, rising slowly to her feet.
Jazell leaned back against the swing ropes.
"You know you can," she said smoothly. "I do not know how you do it… but you have your ways.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Queen of wisdom."
Racheal paused.
She liked the way the conversation was unfolding.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"And what do I get in return?"
Jazell chuckled quietly, as though pleased to finally hear the words she had been waiting for.
"Finally," she said, rising from the swing.
"You are speaking like royalty."
She walked to a small round table placed between the swings. A delicate porcelain teapot rested there beside two cups that had been prepared earlier for the garden.
Jazell poured herself some tea and lifted the cup to her lips.
Steam curled softly in the air.
"How about we play a game of chess?" she proposed and then took a slow sip.
"If I win… you will convince the king to sever all his plans of getting a new wife."
Her eyes flicked up toward Racheal over the rim of the cup.
She knew very well she was stepping on a lion's tail.
Racheal was mesmerized by her audacity.
"You do like turning everything into little games, don't you?"
She snapped her fingers.
Immediately, one of the maids who had been waiting near the hedges stepped forward with lowered eyes.
"You know what to do," Racheal said without even glancing at her.
Her gaze never left Jazell.
The maid bowed quickly and hurried away.
Only a few minutes passed before she returned, carrying a polished wooden chessboard and a small box containing the carved pieces.
She set the board carefully on the table between the two swings.
"You seem very confident," she murmured.
Jazell placed her teacup down.
"I would not have proposed the game otherwise."
Racheal sat down gracefully on one of the swings.
The palace courtyard had transformed into an arena.
What began as a quiet game between two queens had quickly spread through the household like wildfire.
Servants whispered in corridors, maids abandoned minor duties, and even a few distant courtiers lingered at the edges of the courtyard under the pretense of passing by.
From a careful distance, several maids gathered in small clusters, watching the board with intense curiosity.
Now the two opponents sat across from each other like generals commanding silent armies.
And truth be told, no one could predict the outcome.
"Who do you think will win?" Linn whispered quietly.
She was Queen Jazell's personal handmaid, her eyes sharp as she studied the board.
Beside her stood Celin, the composed handmaid of Queen Tamina.
Celin folded her arms.
"I would bet on Queen Racheal," she murmured. "She is the queen of wisdom after all."
Linn scoffed quietly.
"How much will you bet? I know my mistress will win. She is cunning." Her lips curved proudly. "They don't call her the Queen of Tactics for nothing."
At that moment, a maid finished arranging the carved chess pieces between the two queens.
Celin didn't even blink.
"Five silver coins," she said calmly. "That is the betting price."
The two women sealed the wager with a quiet nod.
Not far away, four royal guards stood watch behind the queens.
Their expressions remained disciplined, but even they could not fully hide their curiosity.
Racheal made the first move; her fingers glided across the board with effortless confidence.
Experience, dexterity, and wisdom were tools she possessed in abundance. To many watching, the outcome already seemed decided.
But this was no ordinary opponent.
Jazell watched the board with calm, calculating eyes.
She had knowledge.
She had a strategy.
And more importantly, she had patience.
Jazell moved her piece; the game had begun.
"Why do you want to get rid of all your rivals so quickly?" Racheal asked suddenly, breaking the silence as she studied the board. "The king already made you in charge of the harem. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Jazell's fingers hovered above the board before making her next move.
"The worst mistake anyone can ever make," she said calmly, "is thinking they have no enemies."
Her piece clicked against the polished wood.
"Thinking they are safe."
Her gaze lifted briefly.
"That is when the greatest force strikes the hardest."
Racheal countered her move without hesitation.
"Is that why you exposed Katie's secret?" Racheal replied cooly. "She had nothing against you."
Jazell studied the board again before responding.
"Are you insinuating I should have kept silent?" she asked slowly. "And allowed Katie's infidelity to continue?"
She moved another piece.
Racheal countered it immediately.
"Don't put words in my mouth, Jazell."
"She was a threat," Jazell continued. "And only I could see it."
Her voice hardened slightly.
"She would not have lasted long in the harem anyway. She was weak."
"There are better ways to eliminate enemies," Racheal replied calmly. "You have caused more harm than good."
Jazell leaned slightly forward, her eyes gleaming.
"How so?"
Her piece slid into place.
"The worst that could happen is Decreash going to war with the Kingdom of Canna." Her tone carried quiet certainty. "And we both know Canna would lose."
Racheal paused.
"Not bad."
She moved a piece that forced Jazell to rethink her next step.
"You know," Racheal continued thoughtfully, "for someone who keeps to herself, I never imagined you would be this good."
She meant it.
Jazell looked up slowly.
"Is that why you look down on everyone?" she asked coolly. "Because you think you are perfect?"
Racheal raised her sinister gaze.
Who said anything about perfection? " she said quietly. Nobody is perfect. Why would you think I look down on people… especially you?"
Jazell's lips twisted as she moved another piece.
"Well, let's see."
Her move sent a murmur through the watching servants.
"You are good with swords," Jazell continued. "Belligerent. Beautiful."
Her brows arched slightly.
"You came from a powerful kingdom."
Another move.
"And for some reason, the king has taken great interest in your fountain of wisdom."
She leaned back slightly.
"He asked for your opinion. And you supported him."
Racheal froze for a brief moment.
Her fingers stopped midway above the board.
"How did you know about that?"
Racheal was stunned; Jazell pouted her lips slyly.
"I have my ways."
Racheal slowly regained her composure.
"You are not bad yourself," she replied calmly. "Your brother is the Hand of the King. You have advantages when it comes to manipulation."
The board had shifted drastically.
"You can call it quits if you want," Racheal taunted.
Jazell scoffed and made her next move.
Not enough to win.
"My words are sacred," she said firmly. "I will never go back to them."
She leaned back against the royal armchair.
"I started this game."
Her gaze sharpened.
"And I will end it."
Racheal watched her carefully.
She could see it clearly now.
Jazell was determined.
"I will savor this moment while it lasts," Racheal murmured as she made another move. "This might be the last time we ever agree on something."
"Sometimes I wonder why you haven't tried to get on my bad side yet," she continued.
Her pieces were beginning to close in.
Jazell smiled slowly.
"When I find something useful against you, then that day shall come." She replied calmly, sliding her final piece across the board…
"Checkmate."
Her voice rang with quiet pride.
Several maids gasped softly.
Jazell lifted her gaze toward Racheal.
But Racheal's face remained completely blank, not a flicker of emotion.
She stared at the board silently.
"I expect you to keep your word," Jazell said as she rose gracefully to her feet. She adjusted her flowing red gown, looking every inch the victorious queen.
"And fulfill your part of the deal."
Racheal slowly crossed her legs.
Her gaze shifted lazily toward a maid nearby.
Then she pouted slightly.
"Which deal?"
Her tone was mildly irritated.
"I don't recall concluding any deal with you."
Jazell's eyelashes twitched.
"Don't make me laugh, Racheal," she snapped. "We clearly made a deal. Why else would we play this game?"
But Racheal's expression remained perfectly sincere.
"The last thing I remember," she said slowly, "is you offering me a deal."
Her eyes lifted calmly.
"I do not recall accepting." She shrugged faintly.
"I assumed we were simply playing for amusement."
Jazell's patience snapped.
"You told me what you wanted if you won," she argued. "But I never stated what you would receive if we were to win.
A stunned silence spread across the courtyard.
"You never confirmed the terms."
Racheal leaned back comfortably.
"So technically…. There was never a deal."
Jazell staggered a step back in disbelief; the realization hit her like a slap.
She had been outplayed….cmpletely.
Fuming with rage, Jazell turned sharply and stormed away.
From the watching maids, Celin sighed softly.
"She may be cunning…"
"But Racheal is definitely wise."
Linn folded her arms smugly.
"You owe me five silver coins."
Even if her mistress had been tricked, she had still won the game.
After Jazell disappeared from sight, Racheal leaned forward slightly.
With quiet precision, she moved the piece Jazell had overlooked.
"Checkmate."
She noticed the stunned expressions of the guards behind her.
"Not a word," she warned calmly.
They immediately nodded.
She reclined back in her chair and watched as a maid poured her a goblet of wine.
Racheal lifted the goblet and took a slow sip.
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the golden statue of Ragaleon in the fountain.
"Well," she murmured quietly,
"I suppose the king is getting his new bride."