Chapter 39

“Where is your wife?” Queen Reina inquired, greeting him with a stiff kiss on his cheek.
“Mother, father,” Prince Remington stepped forward and greeted his parents, followed by walking his mother into the castle.
Prince Remington took his mother to the queen’s room, and King Evander took King Remington to his private sitting room for drinks.

“You snatched my son’s bride right out from our noses,” King Remington chuckled, trying to make a joke out of it even though he needed to find out where their two kingdoms stand.
“Indeed, I did, but it was you who tried to snatch her from me first,” King Evander said, and took a seat.
The servants served them wine and stood aside.
“You had no claim on her. Her parents promised her to my son,” King Remington said stiffly, and drank his goblet of wine. King Remington held out his goblet for a refill.
“You and your son and her parents knew I have been pursuing her hand in marriage,” King Evander said, stubbornly defending himself.
“It does not matter now. You got her kingdom, and my son finally gets his bride,” King Remington said.
“News travel fast,” King Evander said and drank his wine to help calm his anger.
“Prince Remington, sent a scout,” King Remington stated.
“Just because she is leaving with him does not mean she won’t stay married to me. She is still my queen,” King Evander warned.
“Is it not up to her? You discarded her so easily and that after giving you a son, an heir,” King Remington pointed out.
“I did not notice your daughter on arrival,” King Evander changed the subject and irritated his uncle.
“My daughter married a grand prince and one day will become a queen herself,” King Remington said angrily.
“The morning after the wedding night must have been interesting,” King Evander snorted, remembering some of the times he spread princess Aria Spencer’s legs and made her scream for more.
“You watch your mouth,” King Remington said, and stood up.
“So, your warm greeting was just for show?” King Evander said after him.
“Your father would be so disappointed in you,” King Remington said, and walked out.
“That depends on which one you are referring to,” King Evander shouted after him in anger.
‘I should kick them out of my castle. They are clearly here just for one thing and that is to steal my queen,’ King Evander said and stormed off towards his queen’s room.

“Some more wine?” Iris offered the queen not sure how to act around Queen Reina.
“This region did always make the best wine. Makes me wonder if the kingdoms were after your hand in marriage for you, or for the wine,” Queen Reina said and took a sniff of her refilled goblet.
“I wonder the same about Prince Remington’s intentions,” Iris responded sarcastically, and made the queen choke on her wine.
“What will I gain now?” Prince Remington questioned.
“Absolutely nothing, so why not pardon the king for his stupidity and let me stay with my son?” Iris put him on the spot.
“I will not allow you to stay behind. I am taking you away for your own good,” Prince Remington stated.
“You are taking me away from the man that I love. You know I will never love you,” Iris said.
“How can you love him after everything he has done to you? For earth's sakes, he is fucking his sister!” Prince Remington exclaimed, trying to get through to her.
“How do you even know all these things?” Iris questioned.
“Does it matter?” Queen Reina asked.
Iris noticed Lady Nina looking nervous and realized who has been leaking information to the Spencers.
“You don’t have to love me,” Prince Remington stated.
“I am not letting my nephew off the hook. He will keep his word and you will come with us. It is up to you if you bring your son with or not,” Queen Reina said, hoping the child will stay behind as she had no interest in the child.
“Will I be a prisoner?” Iris asked with caution.
“Do we look like King Evander?” Queen Reina asked sarcastically.
“We are not that monster,” Prince Remington said, not noticing King Evander walking into the room.
“Best you remember that. You all can leave. You are no longer welcome here. It is clear that you came to steal my queen and not celebrate our son,” King Evander said.
“Take the queen,” Queen Reina ordered her guards.
“No!” King Evander shouted, drawing his sword. “I will kill all of you!”
“Evander you are putting our son in danger!” Iris shouted.
“If you don’t let them take her, I promise you that all of you, including your son’s blood, will be spilled,” Queen Reina warned him, not fearing all the swords.
“She does not mean that,” Prince Remington said.
“I think she does,” King Evander said, ready to attack.

Iris ran over to her son’s crib, ignoring the pain in her ankle. Lady Nina jumped to her aid.
“No,” Iris shoved her aside, “you have done enough.”
Lady Nina knew the queen has found her out, “I only wanted to help you, protect you.”
“I wish to say goodbye to my son and husband,” Iris said, bringing everyone’s eyes to her.
“I am not letting you go. I don’t care if a break my word. It appears that everyone here is here on behalf of the Spencers, ready to stand by them in any way, so why do I have to prove myself if it will not gain me anything?” King Evander argued.
“What have I missed?” Marchelle said, walking into the room, followed by King Remington.
“Are you against me as well?” King Evander faced Marchelle.
“Who is against you?” Marchelle questioned, looking around her.
“Everyone!” King Evander shouted.
“I see family in this room and find it hard to believe that they are against you,” Marchelle said calmly.
“They want to take my queen by force!” King Evander protested like a child that has to share but doesn’t want to.
“Only because you gave her away so easily. Don’t start a war,” Marchelle said, pushing his sword down before putting her hands on the sides of his face and whispered so that only he can hear, “let her go, let them go, we can take their kingdom the same way we took this one.”
Iris looked at them, her heart breaking at the sight of Marchelle being able to calm him, thinking, ‘she would make a better wife, he is better off without me.’
Iris placed her son into a servant’s arms, ignoring Lady Nina’s stretched-out arms.
Iris hopped towards Prince Remington for support and looked over at King Evander, “you should execute Lady Nina for treason.”
“What?!” Queen Reina exclaimed, not willing to let her beloved real lady-in-waiting meet her maker especially since she needs information from her.
“Please! Please!” Lady Nina fell to the ground, pleading for her life.
“Let her go. Show your people that you are a king of mercy and forgiveness. That you have changed and no matter what; that you keep your word. Everyone that might secretly stand against you now will follow you or them, depending on your actions right now,” Marchelle pleaded in a whisper.
“Take your spy with you,” King Evander said, leaving everyone shocked.
Unexpectantly Iris grabbed Prince Remington’s sword and launched it at Lady Nina.
“No!” Queen Reina cried out and ran over to Lady Nina.
King Evander looked as shocked as everyone else as he watched his queen give Prince Remington’s sword smeared with Lady Nina’s blood on it back to him.
“See what you have done? You made a once kind-hearted and loved by all princess a monster,” Queen Reina managed to shape the words as King Remington pulled her off Lady Nina’s dead body.
“Are you sure you want this monster?” Iris asked, looking Prince Remington in his shocked-filled eyes.
King Remington whispered to Queen his queen. “You know it is not really Cerena in that body. We will swap their bodies back and punish the servant. She will hang for this,” enveloping her hysterical body of sobs.
Prince Remington put his sword into its holder and swept whom he believed to be Queen Cerena up into his arms and carried her away.
“Come dear,” King Remington said when they walked past princess Aisley that was standing in the hallway.
Princess Aisley pulled herself together and followed the Spencers out of the castle, thinking, ‘I will be damned if I am going to allow him to have her. I will kill her before I let that happen.’

While the servants were busy loading Prince Remington’s and Princess Aisley’s things, Marchelle took the opportunity to speak to her uncle and aunt, making King Evander believe she was just insuring they think they were parting in peace.
“Your majesty, I word please,” Marchelle said with a curtsey.
“I think enough has been said,” Queen Reina said.
Marchelle ran over to the queen and whispered, “that is not Cerena.”
Queen Reina wrapped her arms around Marchelle and whispered back, “I know.”
“You do?” Marchelle asked, shocked.
The queen walked with Marchelle out of earshot, away from everyone.
“Yes, but we can’t do anything without the mirrors. The princess said it has to be the same mirrors and Lady Nina was supposed to retrieve them but could not find them.
“I can get them,” Marchelle said and ran into the castle.
Marchelle was relieved to find that King Evander was not in the queen’s room and ignored the servants that were busy washing up blood from the floor.
Marchelle kneeled down next to the bed and reached out for the mirrors. “What the hell?” Marchelle put her head to the floor so that she can look under the bed, ‘where are they?’