Vol.0 Ch.136 Talking with the Queen


    <span ss="userText">When Wina came out in the hallway with Prince Quinus in her arms. She noticed George looking off to the side where there was a Royal Guard standing by the wall. But something was off. He wasn''t moving and acted like a statue.


    <span ss="userText">"Sir Sion? What in the hells are you doing standing around?! Didn''t you hear us fighting-"


    <span ss="userText">"George!... He''s dead," Wina<span ss="aiText"> said.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew noticed the stiffened man.


    <span ss="aiText">''Shit. Another dead body. Why did so many have to die on my watch...''


    <span ss="aiText">George''s face turned pale. "S-Sir Sion...<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="userText">Wina could see the small dart stuck on the right side of his neck.


    <span ss="userText">"They used Harpy''s Serum<span ss="aiText"> on him<span ss="editText">. They were better than I thought<span ss="aiText">," Wina said<span ss="userText"> with a pained look


    <span ss="aiText">"What''s that?" George asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s a rare poison that can make its target immobile for <span ss="userText">hours before the body starts to rot<span ss="aiText">,"


    <span ss="aiText">"Damn it. Let''s hope they didn''t kill any more of our people," Mathew said as he took the lead heading towards the direction of the Royal chambers.


    ***


    <span ss="userText">They quickly moved down the hallway that seemed quieter than normal until they reached the Queen''s wing of the pce. Where she has her own study, office, and bedroom.


    <span ss="userText">"Huh? Sir Mathew? Are you alright?" asked a servant who was walking<span ss="aiText"> towards the Queen''s bedroom.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Who''s on guard duty for the Queen?<span ss="aiText"> We need to speak to them immediately!" Mathew said.


    But the servant couldn''t help but notice the Wet Nurse holding the sleeping prince.


    <span ss="aiText">"Why is Miss Wina carrying the prince?" The servant asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Did you listen to a word, Sir Mathew said? Who''s on guard duty," George said in an annoyed tone.


    The servant was startled by the squire''s anger and finally started to cooperate.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I-I believe it''s<span ss="aiText"> Sir Gildas and Lady Nelumbo, Sir."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Is Sir Gildas posted at the door?<span ss="aiText"> Or is he guarding the Queen?"


    <span ss="aiText">"H-he <span ss="editText">should be by the door? <span ss="userText">Lady Nelumbo is guarding <span ss="aiText">the Queen<span ss="editText"> as usual<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew, Wina, and George quickly walked past the servant.


    <span ss="aiText">"W-wait!" The servant eximed as the three of them pushed him without giving him an answer about what was going on.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You didn''t see us. Got it<span ss="aiText">?" George said.


    <span ss="aiText">"O-of course. What happened?"


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s privileged information. And if I find out you said anything without our permission. You will be reprimanded<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText">" Mathew said as he kept walking.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">A-Alright? But you three look injured...<span ss="aiText"> Should I call the Royal D<span ss="editText">octor<span ss="aiText">?"


    <span ss="aiText">"We will call one when needed. So, go about your business like we were not here.<span ss="aiText">" Mathew said.


    <span ss="aiText">The servant was confused and watched the three go deeper into the wing.


    "What in the Goddess is going on?" whispered the servant.


    ***


    <span ss="aiText">They walked a little further until they spotted the Royal Guard on duty.


    <span ss="aiText">"Sir Gildas," Mathew said.


    <span ss="aiText">Gildas was a knight of the Queen''s home country. <span ss="editText">H<span ss="aiText">e was an older man and was getting too old for knighthood, but he had a lot of experience and was loyal to the Rianna and the Royal Family.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Mathew? What are you doing-" Gildas halted his speech when he noticed the signs of battle that showed on the three of them. And he also noticed the sleeping prince in the arms of the Royal Wet Nurse.


    <span ss="userText">"We need to speak to the Queen. As well as send word to Sir Dous. There''s been an incident in the Prince''s chamber." Mathew said with a quiet tone.


    <span ss="userText">Sir Gildas understood Sir Mathew''s code. He quickly knocked on the door to the Queen''s room until one of the maids came to the door.


    <span ss="userText">"You better have a good reason to disturb<span ss="aiText"> the Queen," The maid said with an annoyed tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"We have a Code White," Geldas said with a stern look written on his face.


    <span ss="userText">The maid''s posture changed<span ss="aiText"> and quickly nodded her head.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''ll alert the Queen. Wait a moment." the maid said before s<span ss="aiText">he quickly closed the door and headed into the Queen''s bedroom.


    <span ss="userText">It took only a moment before Lady Nelumbo<span ss="aiText">, another Female Royal <span ss="editText">Knight<span ss="aiText"> came out and greeted them.


    <span ss="userText">Nelumbo was one of the few female knights in the Fiafyr Kingdom. <span ss="aiText">She was a tall and muscr woman <span ss="editText">with white hair tied in a ponytail. She <span ss="aiText">was decorated <span ss="userText">for her for all of<span ss="aiText"> her <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">hard work over the years. She was from a famous family of knights and <span ss="aiText">was the Queen''s most loyal and strongest bodyguard. <span ss="userText">And she only stood guard in the Queen''s quarters when the High Nobles came<span ss="aiText"> to visit the capital city of Tairal.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Sir Mathew?"<span ss="aiText"> She asked<span ss="userText"> with a concerned look.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">We need to talk in private Lady Nelumbo.<span ss="aiText"> There''s been a Code White and we''re the only survivors. We were the only ones guarding the Prince<span ss="userText">." Mathew<span ss="aiText"> said.


    <span ss="userText">Her eyes narrowed as she took in the information.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Lady Wina and Sir Mathew can c<span ss="aiText">ome in<span ss="editText">..<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> Sir Gildas, take the squire and summon Sir Dous and his men immediately. Lady <span ss="userText">S<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">aya, you will stand guard until Sir Gildases back with Sir Dous<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText">" Lady Nelumbomanded.


    <span ss="aiText">Sir Gildas nodded and started to <span ss="editText">hurry down the hallway with George chasing after him<span ss="aiText">. While Lady Saya stood outside the door to the Queen''s bedroom.


    <span ss="aiText">"Come on. Follow me," Lady Nelumbo said.


    <span ss="userText">Mathew and Wina<span ss="aiText"> followed Lady Nelumbo as they entered the Queen''s room.


    <span ss="userText">Inside the Queen''s chamber was a beautiful room with arge bed and a lit candle next to it. The room was dark as the night <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">sky was visible through the window. There was a dressing room with the doors open and a bath with a mirror on the wall and candles next to it. <span ss="userText">Queen Rianna was sitting on the edge of the bed wearing her robe.


    <span ss="userText">"What happened?"<span ss="aiText"> Rianna asked.


    <span ss="userText">But once she saw Wina carrying her son she quickly<span ss="aiText"> ran over to Wina and grabbed her baby boy.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">He''s alright your Majesty," Wina said as she gave the Queen a bow.


    <span ss="userText">"We need to speak with you alone<span ss="aiText">. Your Majesty,"<span ss="userText"> Mathew said as he grimaced in pain.


    <span ss="userText">Rianna nodded to Nelumbo who then pped her hands.


    <span ss="userText">"Alrightdies<span ss="aiText">, we need some time with the Queen. Go and check on the other maids to see if they need help cleaning the other rooms."


    <span ss="aiText">The maids all bowed and exited the Queen''s chambers.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">And you too Miss Wina," Lady Nelumbo ordered<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina was about to object.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">She has vital information about the attempt on the Prince''s life Lady Nelumbo. Wina needs to be here<span ss="aiText">," Mathew objected.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">She may be your girlfriend but she can''t be-"


    <span ss="userText">"Enough, Nelumbo! She can stay," Queen Rianna interjected as she held her son.


    <span ss="aiText">"My Queen. Is that wise?"<span ss="userText"> Nelumbo questioned.


    <span ss="aiText">"Wise or not. This is a matter of <span ss="editText">His <span ss="editText">Highness''s<span ss="aiText"> safety. Miss Wina must stay and tell her <span ss="editText">M<span ss="aiText">ajesty what happened," Mathew said.


    <span ss="userText">Nelumbo wanted to argue<span ss="aiText"> but the Queen spoke first.


    <span ss="aiText">"It''s fine. She stays. Now tell me what happened?"


    <span ss="userText">"We had a breach in our security and three assassins attempted to kill the prince and everyone else in the room... We lost the squire named Robert, Sir Sion, and—"


    <span ss="userText">"Ingrid..." Wina<span ss="aiText"> said<span ss="userText"> with tears in her eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew felt the tension in the room rise.


    <span ss="aiText">The Queen''s face became hard.


    <span ss="aiText">"I see... Who was behind it?" asked The Queen.


    <span ss="aiText">"We don''t know yet, My Queen<span ss="userText">. But what we do know is that the assassins were vampires and they had a gold coin with the seal of the Kingdom of Marn," Mathew said as the pain from using his<span ss="aiText"> family''s ability was killing him.


    <span ss="userText">"And we found what seems to be a forged letter with Dark Elven scripture on it... But most of the signs point to someone in the Kingdom of Marn as the client. But we don''t know who." Wina added.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna''s eyes narrowed.


    <span ss="aiText">"I see. So, the Kingdom of Marn has made their move...<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s just a theory, My Queen. <span ss="userText">And why is the Wet Nurse acting like an expert on the subject of assassins?" Lady Nelumbo questioned<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">I<span ss="aiText"> know what I''m talking about," Wina said with venom in her voice.


    <span ss="aiText">Lady Nelumbo red at the young girl.


    <span ss="userText">"Wina... Tell her Majesty the truth..." Mathew said in a caring voice<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina''s heart raced.


    <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="editText">He''s right<span ss="aiText">!<span ss="editText"> I can''t hide this from my Queen!<span ss="aiText">''


    <span ss="aiText">Wina''s eyes darted around the room.


    <span ss="aiText">''Fuck!<span ss="editText"> Just say it<span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText"> Wina thought as she went down on one knee while bowing her head.


    <span ss="userText">"I-I know a lot about the Assassin''s Society because... I am an assassin, your Majesty,"<span ss="aiText"> Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna looked at Wina and then her son.


    <span ss="userText">Nelumbo put her hand on her sword and was about to unsheathed it, but Mathew held her arm and shook his head.


    <span ss="aiText">"Is this true?" The Queen asked Mathew.


    <span ss="aiText">Mathew looked the Queen in the eye.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, your majesty... But <span ss="editText">if it wasn''t for her we all would have died tonight. And she could have easily killed the prince. She never attempted it. <span ss="aiText">We can trust her."


    <span ss="aiText">Wina couldn''t help but blush.<span ss="userText"> And then she unbuckled her assassin''s belt and ced it on the floor in front of the Queen.


    <span ss="userText">"This Kingdom is the only ce that has treated me as a human being... I never knew what it was like to be loved and have true friends who cared for<span ss="aiText"> me... Even though I have done horrible things... I will never betray <span ss="editText">the prince or my Queen,<span ss="aiText"> your Majesty<span ss="editText">... I only fear that the Assassin''s Society will send someone to kill me. Once they get word that I have broken my contract<span ss="aiText">," Wina pledged.


    <span ss="aiText">''I can''t believe I''m saying this.''


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna''s <span ss="userText">eyes softened when hearing her.


    <span ss="userText">"You can''t be buying the words of this assassin, your Majesty?<span ss="aiText"> For all, we know<span ss="editText"> she probably nned this?<span ss="aiText">" Lady Nelumbo argued.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">NELUMBO! Do you not trust your Queen''s judgment?" Rianna<span ss="aiText"> demanded.


    <span ss="aiText">Lady Nelumbo''s jaw clenched.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''m sorry, your Majesty... It''s not my ce to question you... But how can we trust a trained assassin?" Lady Nelumbo said with her head down.


    <span ss="userText">"There''s ways for me to know if she''s truly loyal to me and my family... Now Wina. Who is the one who hired you?"<span ss="aiText"> The Queen asked.


    <span ss="userText">Wina looked up into the Queen''s eyes and said, "Arch-Duke ric Revelia<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="editText">Nelumbo''s <span ss="aiText">eyes widen.


    <span ss="userText">While the Queen''s narrowed.


    <span ss="aiText">"The Arch Duke was behind this?!" <span ss="editText">Nelumbo <span ss="aiText">eximed.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Yes, I''m one of the best assassins on the Agon Continent. And he wanted the Prince''s death to look like a natural cause<span ss="aiText">," Wina exined.


    <span ss="aiText">"That <span ss="editText">traitor<span ss="aiText">... That slimy piece of shit!" Lady Nelumbo said.


    <span ss="userText">"Nelumbo! I need you to calm yourself," Rianna<span ss="aiText"> said.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, my Queen. But we have to deal with that bastard," Nelumbo said.


    <span ss="aiText">Rianna nodded.


    <span ss="aiText">"We will... But first. Let''s see if Miss Wina is telling the truth.<span ss="userText"> Now Wina... Do you think ric could have been the one to hire these other assassins?"<span ss="aiText"> Rianna asked.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina looked <span ss="userText">at the Queen without blinking once as she said, "He is a cunning and shrewd man. And wants his son to be the next heir to the throne. And the assassins that tried to jump my im would have been too sloppy to not have this get traced back to House Revelia. And that would jeopardize his son''s<span ss="aiText"> chances of taking the throne... He <span ss="editText">is most likely unaware of these assassins'' failure. He might panic if he thinks it is I who failed to kill the prince.<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">The Queen smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">What else can you do to prove your loyalty to me?"


    <span ss="aiText">"I can <span ss="userText">write a list of all the moles servants that are in the pce, who are loyal to the Duke.<span ss="aiText"> I also know where his safe house is and a few of his secret hideouts," Wina offered.


    <span ss="userText">Queen Rianna then looked over to Lady Nelumbo who was standing next to Mathew.


    <span ss="userText">"Lady Nelumbo? May I borrow your sword please<span ss="aiText">?"


    <span ss="aiText">"O-of course, my Queen," Lady Nelumboplied and handed the Queen her longsword.


    <span ss="aiText">Wina was confused and slightly frightened.


    <span ss="aiText">The Queen<span ss="editText"> held the sword in her right hand while holding the sleeping Quinus in the other. And as she stood in front of the kneeling Wina. She <span ss="aiText">brought the<span ss="editText"> t end<span ss="aiText"> of the sword <span ss="userText">down to Wina''s left shoulder.


    <span ss="userText">"Miss Wina do you pledge yourself<span ss="aiText"> to House Meredydd and Fiafyr forever?"<span ss="userText"> Rianna said as she channeled her mana through the sword and into Wina''s body.


    <span ss="aiText">"I-I do your Majesty," Wina pledged.


    <span ss="aiText">She moved the sword and tapped it on Wina''s right shoulder<span ss="userText"> causing a white sigil to form on her right hand. It looked<span ss="aiText"> like a <span ss="editText">lion<span ss="aiText"> with a crown.


    <span ss="userText">"I dub thee Lady Wina Daz. You will act as the prince''s personal Royal Guard. As a sign of my faith in your loyalty."


    <span ss="aiText">Wina''s mouth opened in shock<span ss="userText"> while Mathew was smiling.


    <span ss="aiText">"My Queen. <span ss="userText">How can an assassin get your royal sigil?" Nelumbo asked with confusion.


    <span ss="userText">The Queen smiled while handing the sword back to Lady Nelumbo.


    <span ss="userText">"That sigil only appears when someone is truly loyal to me. And Lady Wina''s heart has shown us that she speaks the truth<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">But her sigil is brighter than mine? That can be!<span ss="aiText">" Lady Nelumbo asked with a bit of disgust in her voice.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes,<span ss="userText"> that goes to show you not to judge one so quickly<span ss="aiText">. Now <span ss="userText">Lady Wina... I must ask you one more favor?" Rianna<span ss="aiText"> asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, anything my Queen?" Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I wish for you to continue being the Royal Wet Nurse until my son can eat solids and after that... I wish for you to find someone who wants to love you.<span ss="aiText"> And live the rest of your life happily... I can''t promise that the Kingdom will give you a peaceful life. But I can make sure that you are happy. I <span ss="userText">would like for you to start a family at some point... my mother always told me that good women create good people... And you are a good woman<span ss="aiText">. A little rough around the edges. But good."


    <span ss="aiText">Wina couldn''t help but shed a tear.


    <span ss="aiText">''Why does this kingdom have to be so good to me? What have I done to deserve this?''<span ss="userText"> Wina thought as she nodded and picked up her assassin''s belt and strapped it back on her leg<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, my Queen," Wina said.


    <span ss="aiText">''But if I could start a family with anyone... It would be Mathew. He''s the first person to understand how to please me... and he loves me.<span ss="userText"> Gods!<span ss="aiText"> Why is love such a cruel thing?!''


    <span ss="aiText">"Good. Now, Lady Nelumbo I need you to send<span ss="userText">—"


    <span ss="userText">*Knock! Knock! Knock!*


    <span ss="userText">"I''ll get that, your Majesty," Nelumbo<span ss="aiText"> said.


    <span ss="aiText">She quickly made her way over to the door and opened it.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I arrived here as quickly as I could. May Ie in?"


    <span ss="userText">It was Sir Dous and five of his men.