Lady In Red

41

"Your Majesty" General greets bowing and smirking at me with that horrible evil eye.

I said nothing. Standing before The Dowager and General Vincent.

"I suppose it would be courtly of me to let you know again, that your position in this court is provisionary. The conditions of the treaty will not be satisfied until you have a baby in that womb. It would be best to give in and let my trusted physicians take care of you for a smooth birthing and see perhaps if you are fit to give birth-"

"I gather you have been spying on my passing cycles since I got here. That I do not mind. But the court's conjecture about me is rather appalling, just because I am a human, such disappointment. Your Highness shall have your heir when I see myself fit-"

"Do not raise your voice at me human! "

It made her flinch.

"I am the Queen-"

A loud slap echoed through the chambers. Hot blood rushed to her cheeks and tears immediately brimmed her eyes before falling down her cheeks.

"General Vincent." Fred stood before her blocking her from him.

"You have committed a crime worse than you imagine."

"Stand back you filth!" He sneered.

"General, I suppose you should leave." The Dowager said. He glared at Fred and Ruby before leaving.

That was in fact a crime committed, but who would be a witness if they had no servants around her.

My heart stopped, and I suck in a deep breath as I feel Fred glance at me.

"You are only here to complete the treaty's promise and if I do not see to it you shall never have the respect and Title of a real Queen. I suppose sending your maid back to your home wouldn't be difficult if she refuses to cooperate with what is being asked of her."

How dare she?

I stood there, silent as she walked past me.

"My physician will decide what you shall do to conceive as soon as possible. Keep in mind if you refuse to take medicine that will be deemed as resisting the promise made to us. That would make you culpable"

The sound of that door slamming shut behind me caused me to tear up. I was alone in this, He told me it would be fine if I wished to wait longer. But what if he was just stalling having a human heir?

Tears stream down my face as I hold my face in my hand, my knees getting weak.

"Miss, let's leave" Fred's tender hand wrapped around my shoulder and ushered me towards the door.

"This time, I believe Your Majesty must take it to the King"

I nodded gulping and taking Fred's kerchief to wipe my tears. He pushed the doors to be opened but they didn't.

I sniffed frowning further as he knocked and knocked. Trying to pry them open yet nothing.

I see his jaw clenched as he looks around the room for another door but nothing.

"W-what is happening?" I asked looking out the windows to see nobody on the ground.

"They locked us in, We have to get out as soon as possible," He said hitting the door with his shoulders but they were too huge to budge.

"Clara will know we are back-"

"You do not understand Ruby!" He took my shoulders, shaking them and looking into my eyes. I see fear and anger in them. He was desperate.

"W-wha-"

"If Anyone other than Clara or Lydia finds us we shall be compromised!"

My heart sank, unable to grasp his words, "What do you mean Fred-"

"We cannot draw speculations, HELP IS SOMONE OUT THERE!"

I gulp stepping back, I was hyperventilating, tears streaming down my face and sweat building up my body. He was trying his best but who would help if all the guards were bribed by the Dowager herself?

"Fred I am scared" I whispered.

He glanced at me looking back at the door. Before walking to me and dragging me to the end of the room, pulling a chair and making me sit.

"Stay here," He said before he started pushing aside the window curtains and using his sword to break the glass open.

"You'll get hurt- You cannot jump out Fred!"

I hear the glass break and he clears the frame before looking outside.

"Fred, you cannot jump out, we are too high up-"

As he shook his head pushing out his leg to get out when the door opened, slamming on each side of the walls making me flinch.

My eyes settled on Sir Andrew as he stared at me in disbelief.

"Sir-" Fred's voice got the attention as he looked out.

Clara came through the door, hastily walking towards me.

"Thank goodness You were in the castle Andrew" She said passing by him before he turned his attention towards Fred.

"We were lock-"

"Did anyone else see you and the Queen in here?"

Fred slightly shook his head, "Only the General, and Dowger's guards"

"Madam, Come with us"

I began bawling at her as she wrapped her hand around my shoulder. I was too scared. I didn't want this, I hated this position even more. This was the first layer, what if they tried more? Breaking the treaty let alone speculations could put me and Fred in a dangerous position. Even leading to being banished, the war between the kingdoms would follow if they wished.

All this because I didn't push out an heir yet. And what if I did? WHAT then? What if the King didn't want me after that?

"Madam- Come with us" She repeats pushing me up and escorting me out the halls and towards my personal study room. Fred and Andrew follow us quietly.

"Tell us what happened."

I looked at Fed unable to talk, he gave me a worried look before turning to Andrew, "We were periled. The Dowager threatened to speculate that giving her an heir was being stalled. That Madam had no title unless she gave her a child. She left and the doors were locked."

"Any late and we would have been questioned by the court."

"No, you shall be Questioned by no one Ma'am." Andrew stated.

"I have written to the King, He shall arrive shortly, let's pray the King's disposition stays calm and this doesn't end in a family war, again." Andrew continued, "I will be questioning the guards on duty." He bowed before me, leaving us alone.

Again?

"What else? What else did the dowager say?" Clara asked.

"That she would send physicians to her chambers. Take a note of her health."

We sat still, quiet before and looked around and, my heart started beating faster.

"Lydia? Where is Lydia!?"

Clara seemed confused looking at the doors but no sign of her.

"She was here when I left-"

On cue Fred took off with no questions asked.

"She said she would banish Lydia for refusing to - to cooperate-" My voice broke and I covered my mouth.

I promised her mother to protect her at all costs. She was but an innocent maiden sent with me to serve under this tyrannic family.

"Andrew will see so this never happens. It would be wise to stay in confinement for a few days Madam-"

We heard the door open, I looked up expecting Lydia but my eyes stare in shock as Princess Regina quietly peeked through the doors. She looked around before running in and asking the doors to be closed.

"Your Majesty! Are you alright?" Clara stepped back as she sat next to me grabbing my hand.

I saw her eyes, red. Swollen. Her cheek had a light stain of red.

"I tried to stop Mother but she is far too influenced by him-"

My eyes snapped up to Clara.

"I am so sorry, I couldn't help"

"How could you, You are one of the victims here" I whispered.

"I heard them talking. Through the doors, -" She said, "Vincent told her about the importance of keeping the treaty, or they had the right to decrown you."

"Why are you hurt?" I asked ignoring her words when my eyes couldn't stop staring at her swollen eyes and cheek.

She looked up, forlorn. She tried to hide it with a smile squeezing my hand.

Here we sat, the two women who were supposed to be respected and yet, brought down by the same man. With no consequences to his name.

"I, Told Mother if she were to marry me off to the general, I would ask the King to depose me from my title. Then I would be left with nothing from the royal treasury. Since that's what he wants anyway."

"She slapped you?"

At this point, it would be happier knowing it was her mother than him. But her light head shake made me furious.

"He did?" I asked and she wiped a tear off her cheek.

"Would you mind if I stayed with you till this gets sorted?" I nod without hesitation.