The Last Round Of The Contest

Queen Elvira leaned back on her throne, a smile on her face. The council members have asked for an urgent meeting with her to discuss the state of affairs, but she knew what they wanted to talk about...how can a mere servant get to the last stage of the competition?

She looked to her left where Hector should have been, but he was not. She sighed a little then turned back to the council. He was probably pacifying an angered Lana and getting slapped again. Poor Hector.

"Your highness." Lord Lucas said and stood up, his hands behind him. "How could you allow the servant to pass this contest? Do you really believe the servants should be treated as equals during the King selection process? We are talking about the man that will be next to you for life, your highness."

"Exactly." She said, and the uproar that Lord Lucas's soeech had caused died down. "The man that will be by my side for the rest of my life. That is why it can be anyone. Royalty is sometimes, not just found in blood, you know."

"But your highness, this will make neighboring states start to believe..."

"Give me a reason why I should care about the neighboring states, prime Minister." Her eyes focused on him. "I believe I have actually gambled enough with my life trying to please you. If this too, is not enough, then you can as well leave my council and resign to gossiping among the commoners."

The prime Minister cleared his throat and looked away. He had no son of marriageable age, so the contest was of no use to him. A servant, however, was too far a stretch to him.

"Where is my handmaiden?" Queen Elvira asked as she walked back to her chambers.

"I am not sure, your highness. I did not see hin after the contest." There was a slight implication in her tone and Queen Elvira stopped, then turned to the first person on the train of maids behind her.

"Replace her," She simply said and turned around on her way. The maid that had been right behind her stood behind as she had just been disposed, while the other one took her place.

Hector was surprisingly calm, even as he woke up in the unfamiliar shed. It looked like I used to be a place for keeping horses, but had been abandoned later on.

"You are awake." A voice said, but he did not bother turning. He already knew who it was.

"I am." He answered.

"Your calmness is commendable. You do not...however expect that the Queen will cone save you, right?" Adrian came in front of him, a small smile on his face.

"Not at all. I am just stunned."

"Stunned?"

Hector nodded. "You had to take Lana's handwriting just to get me here. Because you know you can not do it with the Queen around. You are scared of her, and that is why she does not deem you fit for her."

Adrian watched him wide eyed, before he nodded. "You think...I wrote the letter you found? How naive."

Hector tried hard not to look surprised. Lana, he believed, would never put him in harm's way. She was, a little aggressive, that was for sure, but...he did not believe she would lure him out to be kidnapped.

"Anyway," Hector said, dismissing Lana's issue. "What do you want from me?"

"Says the lowly servant who has nothing." Adrian smirked. "I am just giving you a place to rest, till after the final contest."

Hector nodded. "You are not going to win it." He was sure he would not.

"Oh, thanks to your lady love, yes, I am. I am going to win it with ease. She loves you so much, give her a little more attention, will you?" Adrian's laughter echoed as he left the shed.

Hector just realized. He had indeed told Lana the Queen's name. She had asked him when he told her that the Queen had told him, but he did not know she would do this. He did not know that she would, in any stretch of his imagination, put him in danger in order to have him.



"Is Hector not back yet?" Queen Elvira asked. She was growing a little apprehensive. Did he probably get to run this time? The city gates have been closed since the beginning of the contest, so she was sure he was still in the kingdom.

The substitute maid bowed. "No, your highness. However, since you were asking, I went to his bed to search for any clues. This is what I found."

She stretched her hand towards Queen Elvira who accepted the paper, then slowly readit.

"Where is the servant Lana?" She asked, crumpling up the paper in her hands.

"She has been working in the kitchen since morning, and never left."

Queen Elvira sighed. He would not have left on his own, so she was sure someone had taken him. Probably Adrian.

"Bring Donald to me."

The maid bowed and left. Then returned with Donald shortly after.

"Get some trained undercover soldiers. I need them to comb the entire kingdom tonight, and only come back to the palace with Hector."

Donald bowed. "This kingdom is huge, your highness...."

"Then mobilize more men. I did not push a fortune into the soldiers' welfare to be told this kingdom can not be combed in a night!"

Donald said nothing and bowed again, then went out of the chambers.

"Adrian." The Queen said through gritted teeth, her hand balled into a fist, with the paper caught in it.

"Has he not been found yet?" Queen Elvira whispered quietly.

It was already the morning of the last contest, and everyone was assembled already. Adrian was the only one who stood under rhe contestant's canopy, his eyes fixed on the Queen, his smile knowing and fixed on her throughout.

"Your highness. I am sorry, but we cannot wait for the servant anymore."

"Address him as a contestant while we are here, Lord Lucas. He just might be the King."

Lord Lucas smirked. When he looked at Adrian, he saw the King. No one else.

"I apologize. But we can not wait for him. We have to start the contest, or the people will think you are favoring him."

Queen Elvira looked at the sand clock close to her. The time was far gone. She could not delay it anymore.

"Let the contest start."

Lord Lucas smiled and adjusted on his seat as Adrian moved closer.

"The contest will now begin! Since there is only one contestant.. I will roll out the question."

The usual drum accompanied the announcement, and the announcer rolled out the massive scroll.

"What is the Queen's name? You have only one attempt, and you can not change it after. If you do not know the answer, Do say so instead."

Adrian gave a smile. "The Queen's name is Elvira. Queen Elvira."

She tried to keep her surprise at bay, and she took a deep breath. Did he torture Hector to tell him?

"Is this correct, your highness?" The announcer asked, bowed.

She looked at Adrian. He was smiling. He was sure of himself. "There is still one other contestant. If I announce the answer now, it will ruin the contest." Lord Lucas stood immediately. "That is not right, your highness. The servant has bailed out..."

"I said, address him as contestant while we are here!" She could not help the rise in her voice. The combined anger, frustration and hate she felt for Adrian did not let her keep her voice in its normal calm tone.

"I apologize," Lord Lucas said, unfazed by her outburst. "The second contestant has bailed out.. He has chosen not to contest anymore."

"I am here."

All turned their focus away from Lord Lucas towards the contestant's canopy. A limping Hector stood under the tent, his eyes wide, his hand gripping the side of his stomach. It took the Queen all she had in her not to go to him.

"I met an unfortunate event, but I am here, and I will now answer the question."

He turned to Adrian, who seemed about to push his eyes out of their sockets with the way he was gnashing his teeth against each other, livid with anger.

"It does not take one contestant to win a contest, does it?"