Helene reclined in her private bath, the room a masterpiece of opulent elegance. Ivory and alabaster tiles adorned the walls, shimmering in the soft candlelight, while intricately carved marble columns reached towards the ceiling, their silhouettes flickering like ancient guardians.
Beneath her, a mosaic of azure, emerald, and sapphire tiles formed an exquisite mosaic underfoot, resembling a tranquil pond surrounded by a lush forest. The water, as warm as a summer's breeze, enveloped her in its gentle embrace, tendrils of steam rising in harmony with her contented sighs.
Above, a network of ivy vines cascaded from a ceiling adorned with celestial frescoes, casting dappled shadows on the surface of the pool. Nearby, a cascading waterfall carved from the same marble as the columns added a melodious note to the tranquil scene, its crystalline waters trickling into the pool with a delicate, soothing rhythm.
She was completely relaxed, with eyes closed. No doubt she miss the noise of the children but this quiet isn't too bad, especially with the way things are. Everything is happening too fast these days and a quiet rest seem overdue. But not now.
Water streamed from Helene as she stood up, its droplets sliding down her gleaming, bare skin. With the graceful ease of years of experience, she turned and stepped out of the pool. Her footsteps, marked by damp imprints, traced a transient path across the cool, marbled expanse as she departed the bath, her nakedness an embodiment of effortless elegance.
She walked into the general room, still naked, with a reckless abandon of one who was sure she was alone. She stood on tiptoe, opened the top small cupboard, and as her fingers reached for the mouthwash jar, her senses heightened. A subtle shift in the air whispered a presence, and Helene's movements froze in mid-air, an instinctive pause in her actions. Rowena.
"Hmm. The rumors are true," she heard the sultry, velvety voice of the coven's leader utter. "You are indeed pregnant"
Helene clutched the jar, then turned to face Rowena, who stood poised by the counter, cradling her fetal brew with a regal air, her beauty ethereal and undeniable as always. Her lustrous, auburn locks cascaded in soft waves, framing an elegant face adorned with emerald eyes, which sparkled with an arcane wisdom. Her attire, a bewitching masterpiece, blended seamlessly with her aura of authority.
The dress she wore was a vision of dark, iridescent silk that draped like twilight itself. It clung to her form, accentuating her curves while retaining an air of mystery. Silver threads weaved through the fabric, creating intricate patterns reminiscent of constellations. The gown's hem swept gracefully across the floor, a testament to her noble status among the coven, and the bodice was adorned with ornate, interlocking runes, shimmering in the ambient light
"Who might the father be?" Rowena inquired, her voice dripping with intrigue, and she carelessly dropped the glass jar, striding closer. "Ulric? Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, I doubt. He couldn't father a child, but then again... neither could you."
Rowena halted, her eyes drilling into Helene's, seeking the truth.
"The war is over, Rowena. What do you want?" Helene asked casually opening her mouth wash jar and taking a sip.
Rowena beamed her smile. "The coven can't afford to leave Drakoria, or live in fear of been hunted" she said, "We need you to have the king grant us special pardon"
Her words had no effect on Helene, as if she expected it. She rinsed her mouth with the mouth wash, ignoring the subtle, numbing sensation it caused then she spat out into a bowl, tendrils of steam wafting from her mouth.
"It's a bit too late, don't you think?" Helene said, casually. " What makes you think I have the ears of the king? I warned you. Begged you, but you ignored me and ended up killing many of our sisters."
"Well, we all make mistakes, don't we?" Rowena said, turning around. She strolled over to a table adorned with several glass jars, selecting one and examining its contents with a thoughtful expression.
"But you're misunderstanding something, my dear," Rowena said, carefully placing the jar back on the table and then turning to face Helene. "This is not a plea. I'm certain by now the poison is already in the system of the king, and he doesn't have long. Inform the king that we are willing to give him the antidote for a full pardon. His life for our freedom"
"...You are making things worse, Rowena"
She smiled. "It's a risk we are willing to take, my dear" she replied before making her way toward the door.
As she opened it, she paused for one final glance at Helene. "He has till sunset"
Then she stepped out and closed the door with a gentle thud, leaving Helene alone again.
This is not good, Helene thought. The king doesn't seem like the type to take manipulation lightly, but he is smart. Would he be able to see the big picture and take the deal, or will he spend the last hours of his life making sure they pay?
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
The pain was excruciating. It felt like calloused hands were roughly holding my heart and occasionally squeezing, making it hard to breathe. And then there's the sharp bite like pain in my gut, and the intense headache.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Mother asked, her composure unwavering, emotions tightly controlled.
"I'm fi--" I was interrupted by another heavy spasm cough as I coughed out blood into yet another hankerchief.
I carefully wiped my mouth and tossed the soiled hankerchief onto the growing pile.
"I'm fine" I said. I keep trying to put on a strong and barely bothered look, but these coughs and my red watery eyes are not helping matters.
I sat on the edge of the foot of my bed, and Helene and the teen priestess were standing before me. Mother was standing apart, a few feet away, her ass leaning against my work table and her hands resting on it's surface. Her posture was casual but her concerns palpable.
"You say you recognized the poison?" I directed my question at Helene.
"I have a clue, yes" she said, "but I'm not too sure. Nerium oleander seems an obvious pick, but that's the problem, it's obvious. Rowena knows I know it so she may not have picked it, and it will be instant death if the wrong antidote is administered."
Shit.
Another round of coughs seized me and I had no choice but to cough into my hands, crimson droplets trailing down my wrist. I snatched up a handkerchief, hastily wiping away the blood, then discarded it with frustration building within me. I'm definitely going to kill that bitch.
"And there's nothing you can do?" I turned my attention to the priestess.
"I'm afraid not," she replied, her tone laced with regret. "It might have been different if we acted within the first few seconds."
"Just take the deal" mother said,her voice tinged with frustration. "And figure out what to do afterwards"
"I need time" I said to the priestess, like mother never said anything. "How much time can you buy me?"
"I-I could delay it by a da--"
"mm-nmm" I shook my head, cutting her off. "That won't do."
"Your Majesty, I could hold it back for 3 days at most" the priestess offered hesitantly. "But the agony that will follow might be lethal."
I only need two. "Do it"
She nodded slightly and moved closer. Placing her thumbs just above my eyebrows, she clasped the rest of her hands around my head with a gentle touch. Her hands emitted a soft, golden glow, and a peculiar warmth spread through me. Gradually, the relentless grip on my heart, like calloused hands, loosened just enough to ease the pain. The biting sensation in my gut began to subside, though the issue with my flaccid state persisted. Hopefully Helene's potion will come through.
"This is only temporary, your majesty," the priestess cautioned as she released my head. "And it can't be repeated."
"It's fine," I replied, feeling immensely relieved. "It's precisely what I need"
She offered a toothless smile before stepping back.
"What do you have in mind?" Helene asked, her curiosity obvious.
"Don't worry about it." I said, standing up. "I need you to send a message to Mittelreich's first princess, Amara. Tell her we need to talk."
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
The morning sun had fully ascended when the priestess left the King's chambers so she wasn't expecting any secret meetings, but the moment she turned the corner into the long alleyway that will lead her to the main road to the goddess temple, waiting by the side, with no efforts to hide her identity, was Rowena Báthory.
The priestess anxiously glanced around and behind her, ensuring no prying eyes were nearby. She drew nearer to Rowena, her voice hushed with fear. "What are you doing?"
"How did it go?" Rowena countered with a question of her own, seemingly unperturbed by the teen's distress.
The priestess checked behind her once more before responding in a hushed tone, "Fine, I think" she said, coming to a halt before Rowena. "I had no choice but to slow down the poison"
"What? Why?" Rowena's posture straightened, her concern evident.
"The king asked for more time and I felt like he could see right through me"
"How much time did you give him?"
"3 days," she answered. "and he appeared quite relieved. He also instructed the witch to summon the princess of Mittelreich."
"And did he provide any reason for that?" Rowena inquired.
"No," the priestess shook her head, her apprehension still palpable.
Someone was coming from behind the priestess, just on the verge of turning the corner. A surge of fear gripped her and she quickly turned, her eyes wide with trepidation, to check. An older man emerged into view. With a sense of urgency, she pivoted back to face Rowena, only to find an empty spot where she had stood moments before. The man passed her with a warm smile and a nod of greeting, and she stood rooted, watching his departing back, her heart refusing to stop pounding.