Once inside, Marona waited for Diana to start talking. Unbeknownst to them, Zoronus had followed them, standing right beside the open door in the dark hallway, the darkness being her safety as the whole castle was in mourning and all the torches were snubbed out.
"Before I get to the matter of your parents' death, there is a much more pressing issue at hand." Diana began, making Marona release a dry chuckle. "What could be more pressing than that?"
"Your legacy."
The smile in her face left as the mood in the room shifted. Zoronus ears perked up as she glanced towards the door. Diana continued. "The throne is empty, and like always many shall try to covet it. I believe it's time for you to step forward as you always were prepared to. As it's your birth right. As the Crown Princess of this nation, it's your duty."
For a long time, Marona didn't say a word. Diana could sense the fear in the girls face as she swallowed the bile in her throat, looking away. "I see."
"We can discuss the other issue once the other princesses are present."
"Indeed."
"Well then."
"You can go Diana."
With a last curtsy, Diana excused herself, shutting the door behind her and leaving Marona to gather her thoughts. Just as Diana was about to walk away, the voice from the darkness spoke up.
"You are all so cruel."
"Princess Zoronus? What are you-"
"Barely an hour had passed of the funeral," The voice continued, startling Diana who managed to keep her composure. "And you lot are already hovering over her like hungry vultures. Give her a break. She needs it."
"Were you eavesdropping on us?"
Zoronus made no reply. So Diana stood there, waiting for the girl to speak up. Just when she thought no reply would come, the voice in the darkness spoke again. "I just want to know one thing."
"Ask, Your Highness."
"Who was it?"
"Beg your pardon?"
"Who was it," Zoronus continued, and Diana watched as the figure slowly stepped out of the darkness. And once she was out, it was only then did she notice the burning fire in her eyes. The rage that was filled in. the girl was hungry for revenge. "So that I can chop their heads off."
Diana didn't doubt it. However now was not the time. So without losing composure, she said. "In due time, I shall reveal it to the three of you. So please, Princess, get some rest."
That being said, the woman briskly walked away, while Zoronus stood there, unmoving. Glancing one last time at the door that lead to her sister, Zoronus wondered if she should go in.
It must be all too much for her.
But despite her thoughts and urge, Zoronus lifted her chin up and walked away as silently as a cat.
But she's the future Queen.
Inside the study, Marona sunk on the chair behind the table, feeling like her legs had turned into jelly.
The throne…it' mine now.
I'm the Queen now. I was always meant to be.
But not like this. Not so fast. This feels…wrong.
Like I robbed you mother. Did I rob you?
"For heaven's sake!" Marona muttered under her breath as she ran her fingers through her fiery red mane, turning her braid into a mess. "Pull yourself together. There no time for this."
That's right. There's no time for this. Said the voice inside Marona's head. The throne is vacant and hungry wolves lay in wait. Not to forget, the killers of your parents need to be called into account.
Silently, Marona nodded her head to herself, shutting her eyes and sucking in a deep breath before exhaling. "I can do this."
Yes, you can.
"My sisters are there with me."
Are they?
Her eyes flew open with a start at the sudden choice of thoughts, feeling rather alarmed.
Why would I question that?
They will be with me, of course they will be. They are supposed to. We always have been together.
They will be. There's no doubting it.
Right?
--------------
"Now that we are all here, Chief advisor Diana, please proceed with the information you have for us." Said Lord Hadford, the Minister of Justice. The others agreed.
They were back in the throne room, with the torches lit for the cabinet meeting. The throne was empty of course, but beside it lay a shorter throne that had been issued by the former Queen after the Crown Princess was selected. So there sat Marona, anxiously waiting for her sisters to arrive who were nowhere to be seen. And it seemed like Diana had been prolonging the meeting for that very reason as well, but after the words of the minister, Diana glanced at Marona, waiting for her to give the order.
Perhaps, they need more time. They must be devastated still.
Turning to Diana, Marona gave a curt nod, and the lady prepared herself to begin.
"Thank you for-"
"Her Royal Highness Princess Chiffery has arrived!" Thundered the guard stationed outside the throne room, making Marona's ears perk up. "Let her in!"
The massive doors were pulled open and in walked Chiffery with the best confident steps she could muster. The ministers bowed as she passed by them, until she was in the front of the row, closest to the throne. And then, everyone waited.
The ministers exchanged a look before Lord Combre, the Minister of foreign affairs spoke up. "It seems like Princess Zoronus won't be attending, Your Highness."
"Typical." Someone in the row muttered, but it was loud enough to reach Marona and Chiffery's ears, which made them gawk at the men's audacity now that there was no ruling head. Some of them begin snickering to themselves, whispering into each other's ears and sharing a laugh like they weren't just bawling their eyes out in this very room just a day ago for the parents of the girls they were laughing at.
Anger boiled inside Marona. Anger for being belittled before even ascending to the throne. She would not have it. She would give them a piece of their mind. She would-
"I'm right here, Lord Combre."
The men in the room flinched in surprise, looking around them to understand where the voice had come from. They didn't know. There was no one in sight. Even Marona and Chiffery looked around the room in search of the girl. Only Diana seemed unfazed.
"In fact, I have been here all this time, watching as the lot of you pompously made your way in and laid your very tired bottoms to rest on the throne my mother worked her whole life to protect." The voice finally revealed some movement, right behind the right row of ministers, were darkness was most with no torches lit. Zoronus jumped off the window pane she had been sitting on, slowly emerging from the darkness with a dead glare set on her face while the said minsters gawked at her in fright.
The surprise had finally drained from Marona's face as she released a low chuckle, glad that her sisters were still with her, like always. Then, setting her face in a glare, Marona turned to the Minsisters. "Is that true, Lord Combre?"
"Preposterous!" Bellowed Combre while the others agreed with him. "We would not dare!"
"So you are saying," Marona leaned forward in her seat threanignly. "The Princess is lying?"
"That's not-" Combre stopped midway, tongue tied. With a victorious smirk, Marona leaned back again. "It seems like with a new reign, there comes new changes as well. New order. New laws. New rules. New ministers. Wouldn't you agree, Chief Advisor Diana?"
"Very much so, Your Highness." Diana replied in a heartbeat, which only made the minster's jaw drop at the unexpected turn of events and Marona's smirk grow as she nodded. "Then it's settled then. I'll deal with the lot of you once we have dealt with this immediate matter."
So saying, Marona turned to her sisters who were now side by side and offered them a thankful smile, to which they gave curt nodes. Then she turned to Diana to proceed.
"Thank you for coming at such short notice. I believe we are all still in mourning, and it's tough for all of us, for the whole nation. But a very pressing issue remains unattended. The issue to avenge Her Majesty and His Highness."
The room had gone awfully quite at the mention of the killers, making some go still as well. But Diana continued. "After collaborating with the Chief advisor of the former King of Hucklebee, we have traced the killers. They are rebels from both the nations that collaborated together for the assassination."
"Rebels you say? Why have we not heard of them before?" Asked Lord Reynold, the Minister of the noble society. Diana was ready with a reply. "Apparently, they work from the shadows and has never done any direct harm other than spread false rumours. This was their first direct assault. And it went directly to the Royals as no one expected them to be this…violent."
A low chuckle echoed around the whole room, making everyone turn to the person. It was Zoronus. "No one expected them to be violent? Then what did you expect? Hmm?"
"Zoe-" Chiffery tried to pull the girl under control, but she was already flying off the railing as the smirk disappeared replaced with a glare set at Diana. "Did you expect them to be sweet and caring? After they spread all those false rumours for all these years? Is that how you send your Queen out for an expedition!? With such less measures taken!? Just because you didn't 'expect' them to be this violent!?"
The room echoed with Zoronus outburst while the girl panted for breath as her heart raced, making everyone lower their heads in shame, all except Marona. She stared at her little sister burning with rage in shock. Her heart shattered into pieces as she remembered her mother's secret.
Oh Zoe…
"Forgive me, Your Highness. It is all my fault." Diana replied softly, slowly bending a knee with her head lowered which only made Zoronus feel guiltier. She was angry, but she was more guilty for being unable to do anything. And she had released all her anger on the poor woman who had been nothing but supportive. So Zoronus looked away as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
Meanwhile every single minister fell on their knees, echoing together. "Forgive us, Your Highness! We have committed a terrible crime!"
A tear trickled down Marona's cheek as she closed her eyes, feeling lost all over again. But that tears weren't for her or for her late mother. It was for her sisters.
Closing her eyes, Marona let out a long breath before speaking up. "Rise. We have a meeting to finish."
The ministers got to their feet one by one, not making eye contact with anyone as Diana slowly rose to her feet as well, getting back to the matter at hand. "Our findings revealed how the Rebels found the delegation that was bringing Their Majesties back. General Langford, who had joined Her Majesty to escort them on the journey said after he woke up that the King and Queen of Hucklebee had decided to pay a visit to Hallowywoods on the invitation of Her Majesty, hence them being together in the Welk Forest which is inside the border of Hallowywoods. Apparently, the news about Their Majesties using Welk forest for passage had been disclosed to the rebels by a mole among them, because of which they lay in wait. And then, they slaughtered everyone in their sight. Hucklebee lost all their Soldiers and knights like us, save for two ladies in waiting that hid themselves. Our only survivor is General Langford. Unfortunately, he is terribly injured and won't be able to return to duty. We lost Lord Reymond as well."
Lord Reymond was the Minister of Royal Administration, in charge of the whole voyage. A long silence followed across the whole throne room as everyone let Diana's words sink in. Beside Zoronus, Chiffery was having a hard time breathing as she gasped for air, and it was only noticed when she clutched Zoronus elbow, startling the girl.
"Chiff? Chiff, are you alright? Chiffery!" This caught everyone else's attention, making Lord Reynold come closer. "Your Highness you have grown pale. Someone please bring Her Highness some water-"
"E-excuse me, Your Highness." Came Chiffery's broken voice as she looked up at Marona weakly, who only stared at her with wide eyes. "I…I would like to be excused."
Chiffery waited for her sister to reply, who could do nothing but stare with shock. It was only after she realized every eyes were on her did she finally find her voice.
"Y-you…you are excused, princess Chiffery."
What on earth is going on here?
Chiffery didn't waste a single second as she rushed out of the room, Reina trying to keep up the pace. As the door closed behind her, an uncomfortable silence fell across the room, which was only disturbed by Zoronus who wasn't looking too good herself. She didn't look weak; she looked like she would explode anytime. She was burning with rage and anticipation. "So have we found where the killers of my parents are?"
Diana stared at the young girl as she wondered how she would break the news to her, who looked like she was ready to rip off heads. Knowing that there was no way to sugar-coat this, Diana replied in plain words. "Unfortunately, no, Your Highness. The trace disappeared right when we were getting to them."
"Wow! Great!" Zoronus exclaimed in frustration, making Marona raise a questioning eyebrow at the girl's brash attitude in front of all these nobles. "You lost the killer of my parents! Good job!"
"Princess Zoronus might I remind you, you are in a public setting." Marona's sudden authority had chills running down everyones back, including Zoronus who glared back at her sister. Marona did the same, not willing to take any more of their disobedience. "Behave yourself."
The tension in the room was thick enough to be cut with a knife. The nobles exchanged glances, fidgeting in their positions as the two Princesses glared at each other, neighter of them looking away.
At long last, Zoronus spoke up, her voice low but menacing. "Excuse me, Your Highness, but I do not feel very well. I would like to be excused."
"Princ-"
"I would like to be excused."
Marona stared at her sister, unable to recognise her. She was being impertinent at best, which was punishable by law. And yet, like the older sister she was, Marona swallowed her pride in front of all the nobles and let Zoronus have her selfish way.
"You are excused."
So at long last, none of you stayed with me. All of you left.
With a curtsy, Zoronus turned on her heels and stormed off, a lone tear sliding down her cheeks as the fire burnt in her eyes, followed by Dany. All the while Marona watched her sister disappear from the room, not even once looking back or changing her mind which made Marona's heart clench.
You were wrong mother, my sisters wouldn't be with me in this path. See? They all left.
They left me to deal with this pain. Just like you and father.
The door shut behind Zoronus with a thud that echoed across the whole room, along with Marona's heart that dropped to the floor in defeat.
I'm on my own now.