Lady In Red

58

The Queen Mother sat in the dimly lit chamber, the flickering candlelight casting long, ominous shadows across the stone walls. Her advisor, Lord Tiberius, stood before her, his face taut with worry. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of treason pressing upon their chests.

"We must act swiftly, Tiberius. Each moment we waste allows her to solidify her power," the Queen Mother whispered, her voice sharp as a dagger.

Lord Tiberius hesitated, his fingers tightening around the velvet sleeves of his robe. "Your Majesty, poisoning her is not as simple as it once was. The Queen has become exceedingly cautious. Since the coronation, her meals are scrutinized by the royal tasters, each ingredient inspected with utmost care. The head of the royal kitchens has been given orders to enforce unprecedented vigilance. Any deviation from protocol raises immediate suspicion."

The Queen Mother exhaled sharply, her nails drumming against the polished armrest of her chair. "Then we must find another way. If the kitchens are impenetrable, we strike from within. Her physician—Dr. Selene."

Tiberius stiffened. "Dr. Selene is under close watch, Your Majesty. The Queen has grown particularly dependent on her. She does not allow any other healer near her person. Smuggling her in would be—"

"Difficult, but not impossible," the Queen Mother interrupted. "We must get to her. A trusted man, in disguise, must retrieve her. Once she is here, she will do what must be done."

Tiberius lowered his gaze, his mind racing through the logistics of such a scheme. Dr. Selene had served the Queen since childhood, her loyalty beyond question. If they were to coerce her into betraying the Queen, it would require leverage—something powerful enough to make her turn against her beloved sovereign.

"How do you propose we bend her to our will, Your Majesty?" he asked, wary of her response.

The Queen Mother leaned forward, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Everyone has something to lose, Tiberius. Family, honor, secrets buried beneath the sands of time. Find out what chains her, and we shall pull until she snaps."

A slow nod from Tiberius signified his understanding. "I will have my men look into her past. If there is a weakness, we will exploit it. But bringing her into the castle will require subterfuge. The Queen will not permit her absence without question."

The Queen Mother's gaze darkened. "Then let us create a distraction—something so urgent that it demands her presence elsewhere. And while the Queen remains oblivious, we will extract her." She paused, then added, "I want this done swiftly. I have waited long enough."

Tiberius bowed, his mind already working through the logistics of the scheme. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Under the cover of night, two hooded figures slipped through the hidden corridors of the castle. Tiberius had arranged everything meticulously. A false message had been sent to the Queen, informing her that the nearby village had fallen victim to an outbreak of plague. The panic would ensure her immediate concern, and Dr. Selene, as her most trusted healer, would have no choice but to attend to it.

Dr. Selene, upon receiving the summons, hurriedly gathered her medical supplies. She had no reason to doubt the validity of the message; the Queen had always cared deeply for her people. Her duty was to serve, to heal, to protect. However, as she stepped into the awaiting carriage, her instincts whispered of danger. The guards who accompanied her were not the usual castle sentinels. Their eyes, shadowed beneath their helmets, bore no recognition of her presence.

The journey was swift, yet unsettling. The path they took veered away from the usual route to the villages, leading instead toward the dense thicket of the royal hunting grounds. Alarm bells rang in Dr. Selene's mind.

"This is not the way to the village," she said cautiously.

The soldier seated across from her met her gaze but did not answer. Instead, his hand subtly rested upon the hilt of his dagger. The implication was clear.

Selene's breath quickened. She was no fool—she knew when she had been ensnared. The Queen had warned her of vipers lurking within the court, of those who sought to undermine her reign. Had she been so blind as to walk straight into their trap?

As the carriage came to a halt before a secluded hunting lodge, the doors were flung open. The Queen Mother stood at the entrance, her expression a mask of cold calculation.

"Welcome, Dr. Selene," she said smoothly, her voice betraying no warmth. "Come inside. We have much to discuss."

She hesitated, her mind scrambling for an escape. But the armed guards flanking her ensured her compliance. With slow, measured steps, she ascended the wooden steps and entered the lodge.

Inside, the chamber was dimly lit, the scent of burning wood mingling with something more acrid—perhaps the remnants of an extinguished candle. The Queen Mother motioned for her to sit, but she remained standing.

"Why have I been brought here?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

The Queen Mother studied her, tilting her head as though appraising her worth. "You are the Queen's most trusted physician. That is a powerful position. A dangerous one."

"If you seek to sway me against Her Majesty, you waste your breath. I am loyal to the crown."

"To the crown, or to the girl who wears it?" The Queen Mother's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Your loyalty is admirable, but it is misplaced. The Queen is young, idealistic—blind to the realities of power. She will fall, Dr. Selene. Whether by my hand or another's. The question is... will you fall with her?"

Selene's jaw tightened. "I will not betray my Queen."

The Queen Mother sighed, feigning disappointment. "I had hoped you would be reasonable. But if your devotion to her is unshakable, perhaps your devotion to your family is not."

At this, Selene stilled. A muscle twitched in her jaw, but she said nothing.

"Ah," she purred. "Your silence speaks volumes. You have a son, do you not? Such a bright boy, from what I hear. Seven years old now?"

Selene's fists clenched. "If you so much as—"

"No need for threats, doctor. I am merely pointing out the unfortunate circumstances that could arise should you refuse my request. Accidents happen. Bandits roam the roads. Fires ignite in the most unexpected places."

Selene's breath came in ragged bursts. She had no doubt the Queen Mother would carry out her veiled threats. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The Queen Mother leaned in, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Not death. Infertility. The Queen must never bear an heir."

Tiberius sucked in a sharp breath. "Your Majesty, this would break the treaty! The nobles agreed—"

"I do not care," she snapped. "She will never bear a child. And whatever fate befalls her, it will be on Selene's hands."

Selene's world narrowed, the weight of the decision crushing her soul. The fate of the Queen—and her own blood—now lay in her trembling hands.

And in that moment, she knew there was no way out.

Selene's world narrowed to that single vial, the flickering candlelight making the liquid inside glisten like a serpent's eye. The weight of the decision pressed upon her chest, threatening to steal the breath from her lungs.

The Queen's life. Her son's life.

There was no right choice. Only survival.

The Queen Mother watched, patient as a spider at the center of her web.

"Time is not your ally, doctor," she murmured. "Choose wisely."

Selene's fingers trembled as she reached for the vial.

And in that moment, she knew—whichever path she took, a part of her loyalty to the crown would be lost forever.