The Queen's Power~
"You must be the king's new toy," Queen Bianca said, her violet eyes fixed on Elizabeth. A spark of rage flickered within them as she looked the newest queen up and down.
"And you must be Queen Bianca… the king's first wife," Elizabeth replied politely.
For a brief second, she had almost called Bianca the king's first toy, but she swallowed the words before they could leave her lips. She had no desire to provoke the most powerful queen in the palace, especially when she had no idea what Bianca was capable of.
Bianca rose gracefully from beneath the shade of the flowering tree and walked toward the Magic Pool.
Queen Nora and Queen Violet followed closely behind her.
Only then did Elizabeth realize why she hadn't seen them earlier.
They had been watching from the shadows all along.
Queen Bianca stood slightly taller than the others, carrying herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how much authority she possessed. Her long golden hair was tied into an elegant ponytail that reached her waist. Hair of such color was extremely rare, almost as rare as Elizabeth's crimson hair.
Queen Nora possessed long raven-black hair that flowed freely down her back, while Queen Violet's silky ash-brown hair framed her sharp features perfectly.
On the opposite side stood Anna and Luna.
Anna's chestnut hair was thick and smooth, while Luna's long wavy hair danced gently with every breeze.
Each queen possessed a different kind of beauty.
Elizabeth couldn't deny it.
They were all breathtaking in their own way.
Yet she remembered hearing the palace servants whisper that she was the most beautiful among them.
A small smile unconsciously formed on her lips.
Perhaps…
She truly was worthy of being queen.
Suddenly—
She felt an intense glare.
Elizabeth looked up.
Queen Violet was glaring directly at her.
"So…" Violet said coldly, folding her arms. "Who exactly told you that you were the prettiest among us?"
Elizabeth blinked.
"What?"
"Just because you were born with red hair doesn't make you special," Violet continued with a scoff. "Without it, no one would even notice you."
Elizabeth stared at her in complete confusion.
Before she could respond, Luna gently swam closer and rested a comforting hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"Don't mind her," Luna whispered.
Elizabeth looked at her.
"Violet can read people's thoughts."
"…She what?"
"It's her gift," Luna sighed. "She reads minds without permission."
Luna shot Violet an annoyed look, as though this wasn't the first time she had invaded someone's privacy.
Bianca laughed softly.
"Were you complimenting yourself in your own thoughts?" she teased. "How unfortunate that someone exposed them."
She covered her mouth dramatically.
"Oh dear… how embarrassing."
Although Bianca pretended to sympathize, everyone knew she was enjoying every second of Elizabeth's discomfort.
"You must be wondering what my power is."
Bianca's smile widened.
When Elizabeth remained silent, Bianca snapped her fingers.
Immediately, the surrounding forest came alive.
Birds swooped down from the trees and perched effortlessly on Bianca's shoulders.
Rabbits hopped from the bushes.
Butterflies circled around her.
Even deer slowly emerged from the distant trees.
Then…
Tiny glowing lights floated through the air.
Fairies.
Dozens of them.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in amazement.
"Are those really…"
"Fairies?" Bianca finished with a smirk. "Yes."
The tiny creatures fluttered happily around Bianca before settling beside her.
"I summoned them."
She spread her arms proudly.
"I possess the power to command every living creature."
Her smile deepened.
"Animals."
"Birds."
"Fairies."
She paused.
"And even humans."
Elizabeth frowned slightly.
"Humans?"
Bianca nodded.
"Those with weak minds."
"Those consumed by fear."
"The broken."
"The desperate."
"They cannot resist my command."
Her eyes gleamed with arrogance.
"Not even the king."
Elizabeth remained silent.
She couldn't understand why Bianca seemed so proud.
Power alone didn't make someone superior.
At least…
That's what she believed.
"Careful with your thoughts, little girl."
Violet spoke again after reading Elizabeth's mind.
Elizabeth clenched her fists beneath the water.
She hated it.
She couldn't even think freely without someone invading her privacy.
Before Elizabeth could say anything, Jasmine finally intervened.
"Enough, Violet."
Jasmine stepped forward.
"She doesn't like you reading her thoughts."
Anna nodded.
"And she's not a little girl anymore."
"She's a queen now."
Luna crossed her arms.
"Perhaps even the king's favorite."
The words had barely left Luna's mouth before Bianca's smile vanished.
"What did you say?"
The air around her instantly became heavy.
"How dare you say that in front of me?"
Rage flashed across Bianca's face.
She slowly raised one hand toward Elizabeth.
At first…
Nothing happened.
Then Elizabeth felt something cold brushing against her back beneath the water.
Her body stiffened.
No…
Please…
Not that…
"Elizabeth!"
Anna screamed.
"Behind you!"
"It's a snake!"
The other queens immediately swam out of the pool while the frightened fairies hurried to cover them with robes.
Only Elizabeth remained frozen.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't even turn around.
She already knew what was behind her.
Her entire body trembled violently.
"Bianca!" Jasmine shouted.
"Stop this!"
"She's terrified of snakes!"
But Bianca only laughed.
"What happened?"
"Has the new queen suddenly lost her voice?"
She turned toward Violet.
"What is she thinking now?"
Violet burst into laughter.
"You don't want to know."
"Please…"
Elizabeth whispered through trembling lips.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her vision blurred.
The memory returned.
She was only eight years old.
A venomous snake had bitten her while playing outside.
The poison had nearly killed her.
For an entire month she had suffered unbearable pain before finally recovering.
Since then…
Snakes had become her greatest fear.
Tears filled her eyes.
She wished she had never come to the Magic Pool.
"Come now," Bianca mocked.
"It's only one little snake."
She smiled wickedly.
"If it bites you…"
"…simply heal yourself."
"Isn't that what powerful queens do?"
Anna quietly gathered water with her magic, intending to wash the snake away.
Before she could act—
Violet read her thoughts.
"Bianca."
"Anna is about to interfere."
Bianca immediately shot Anna a warning glare.
"Don't."
Anna froze.
A moment later—
Elizabeth's body went limp.
She fainted.
Her unconscious body slowly slipped beneath the water.
"Elizabeth!"
Ignoring Bianca's warning, Anna thrust out her hand.
The water instantly lifted Elizabeth back to the surface.
Luna summoned a gentle current of wind that carried Elizabeth safely toward the edge of the pool.
Jasmine hurried over, wrapping a robe around Elizabeth's trembling body.
Bianca merely folded her arms.
"Hm."
"It seems my bath is over."
She turned away as though nothing had happened.
"What a pity."
"I would have loved to see how our new queen recovered."
She smiled over her shoulder.
"But I have more important matters to attend to."
"You could have killed her!" Jasmine shouted furiously.
Bianca stopped walking.
Slowly…
She looked back.
"If your precious new friend cannot survive a harmless joke…"
"…then perhaps she isn't worthy of being queen."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And don't ever raise your voice at me again, Fourth Wife."
She gestured toward Nora.
"Or I'll have Nora burn that beautiful hair of yours."
Silence filled the Magic Pool.
Only dark expressions answered her.
Bianca smiled in satisfaction.
"Good."
Without another word, she walked away with Queen Violet and Queen Nora following behind her.
"That witch…" Jasmine muttered under her breath.
Anna knelt beside Elizabeth and touched her forehead.
Her expression immediately changed.
"Her body temperature is dropping."
She looked at the others.
"Quickly."
"We need to return her to her chamber."
"And send for the royal physician at once."