Lady In Red

44

Ruby woke up with a headache, when her eyes opened, Lydia sat across her bed arranging her dress. She immediately rushed to her, asking her how she felt.

"I need a hot bath, ask Maya to prepare some rose oils"

"They aren't back Miss"

Ruby creased her eyes looking at Lydia as she held her up.

The kind dismissed them all, including several of the guards along our corridors. We don't know when they shall be summoned back.

I sigh walking the couch and sitting down washing my hands and face.

"The bath shall take a while, why don't you eat something first ?"

I nodded as she pushed the cart towards me leaning down to me and whispering heard they were tasted by two men to see if the food was poisoned"

"Nobody would be stupid enough to poison me, at least till I gave birth. It would just lead to war. Unless they want it" I mutter having some tea.

"Where is Clara?"

"Outside on guard Miss"

"Call her" she nodded walking out the door.

"Madam" Clara greeted before standing near me.

"I am glad the king didn't dismiss you." she looked down in a frown.

"Forgive me, for not being cautious. I deserve to be dismissed"

"Don't say that, you had no choice."

I assure her of her work.

As I put my hair in a light braid and moved towards the door, it opened revealing Fred, I eyes lingered over his worried ones but he moved out of the way revealing her.

The dowager. My heart dropped as I stood frozen while she walked in with her glaring eyes. Throwing knives through them . If she was Queen she would've had me under the sword.

"I see what you have done. Complaining to the King as if he is a husband."

what?

"Although, any silly girl would take advantage of the king if he showed devotion, never had he done that before. I suppose you are a master at your game"

"What do insinuate your highness?" She looked at me as I voiced my worry.

"I will not tolerate your little games of playing with my staff. I shall get to the bottom of it and best you know you shall not like the consequences of it. And since I am here, I may as well as my physician to see if you truly are fit"

"That you cannot do" Andrews's voice boomed through the halls as he walked past the guards and into my chambers.

"The Queen is prohibited from being examined by any doctor under the orders of the king. Forgive me, Madam. I am simply following my orders"

She smirked looking at him. "And I am simply doing my duty. I am the Queen mother, YOU DARE DEFY ME?"

Andrew said nothing, his eyes on the ground as she walked towards me.

I gulp as she looks at her physician and he nods.

When my eyes met Andrew's as the physician asked me to sit, he gave me a slight nod. Making me confused. I sit. Staring at him as he observed the man take my pulse and then ask me some questions.

I gave my answers stray, enough to satisfy his question but not enough to give in-depth.

"She is perfectly healthy your Highness. I would suggest a concoction for fertility"

"Everywell."

"I refuse to have it" I said

"You shall and you will! If you don't produce an heir within the next 12 months I shall be breaking the treaty under the royal seal for false agreements" She sneered before leaving with the doctor.

I leaned back, now so frustrated that a chuckle left my mouth. A crazy mother-in-law. To say the least.

"Do not worry, you shall not be drinking it. But you have to accept it." Andrew said standing with his arms cross.

"Why?"

"Once the King returns, and sees you are being fed something that is not agreed upon, there is nothing she would could do. I am under no authority to stop the dowager. We can only hope she doesn't pull any new stunts."

"Madam-"

My eyes snapped to Oliver. He looked around before his eyes set on me and he bowed.

"What is it?"

"She is locked in her chambers, By the Dowager's guards."

My face drained of any emotion as I realized she could be punished for supporting me or worse taking her condition to the king.

"Now I see why she was accusing me of things" I whispered covering my face.

"Not to fret, she will be safe. We cannot do anything yet. All I ask from Your Majesty is to stay within your quarters for the week. It shall be safer here. And if you see the change in your guards, they are from his Majesty's wing. Take care" He said walking out.

Regina's condition perturbed her, As she paced in her study chewing on her nails.

"Can nothing be done !? You know The General is still in the castle. God knows what that poor girl endured. And to think, he shall be marrying her. Disgusting"

Clara only stood in sorrow knowing that if she the Queen were to take any actions against the Dowager, she would start revolting. Ruby was a new Queen, she had no influence over the people of the court yet. If she were to make her move the Dowager could turn all against her in no time.

"We wait. That's all we can do Madam" Fred said.

"I am no damsel to wait for a higher force to come save me. I am Queen. It is disappointing to wait"

"We cannot risk your position to come under scrutiny. Sometimes it's best to lay low" Fredrick reassured her.

Ruby huffed looking out the window, wondering what she could do.

She was not taught to stand there waiting for the court to disrespect her. Her Queen had taught her many things but patience, that she lacked. She wanted to help terribly. But she was lost.