"Gaurds! I said do not allow her in-"
There were the sound of clattering swords. The door was brushed open.
"Knock knock," the woman laughed. I stared at her with anger, my face flushed.
Quickly, I composed myself. "The girl from the other night. I wonder what you are doing here?"
"Returning the favor, of course." She smiled. Something about the woman felt off, is she more than just a concubine? As if she could read my thoughts, the woman's smile got bigger. "The grapes tasted divine. Perhaps you would like to try some?"
A green orb appeared over her hand. In seconds, three grapes dropped into her palm. I shifted, uncomfortable. "You... what are you doing?"
"You know, there was this woman in the forest that I saw, on my way here in fact. She had a lovely little boy with her."
My heart beat faster. Somehow, does this woman know everything?
She walked closer towards me. I backed away, ready to scream.
"Guards-"
"-don't bother," she waved her hand, the grapes absorbed by another green light, disappearing.
I backed away from her, shocked. "You are not of normal origin. Who are you?"
"I have a feeling you already know though, Concubine Rebecca."
She already knew my name. My face paled, and my heart beat picked up. Turning around, I grabbed the first thing I could. "D-Die!"
When I turned back around she was right in front of me. Her motions were swift, disarming me with a scoff.
She pushed me to the bed. "You will answer my questions or loose your life. There is no other way to escape this situation."
I froze, siting in the corner of my bed. "T-The Evil..."
I couldn't even repeat her name, she just smiled.
"Hurry up and speak. Why did you attempt to poison the prince of love, hm?" She flicked her wrist, a green light surrounding us as a chair appeared from no where. She sat down, staring at me. "Will you speak? Or, are you choosing-"
"-He, He never valued me." The words passed my lips.
"Oh?"
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The girls words intrigued me. I nodded dismissively. "As a concubine... what did you expect?"
"Y-You don't understand!" Her expression grew conflicted. "He made promises to me in the beginning... I would be the only woman in his harem. Aside from the woman he would marry to be queen I-"
She looked down, as if defeated. "I didn't want to kill him by using the poison."
"Just enough to render him powerless during such an important time in life? With- my return?"
"That's just it! He... he couldn't even defeat you at his best. What help would he be at all?"
A laughing left my lips at the backhanded compliment. I sat back in my chair.
"I still am at a loss, though. You knew you wouldn't be the only woman he set his eyes on, but you were satisfied with the role of... concubine?"
A scoff left her lips just as a tear did.
"I suppose for a woman like yourself... it would be easy. Times have changed since you were killed."
"Banished," I corrected. "Not killed."
"Regardless." Her eyes grew stronger. "The prince of love is nothing but a liar. He got what he deserved."
"As for that woman in the forest with child. What would've happened if her blood was on your hands?"
The concubine sitting in front of me went quiet. With a laugh, I stood up. The chair I was seated on disappeared.
"The royal family is nothing but a spiders web for people like you. Selfish and entitled."
"What?"
"There was also a time where it wasn't like this." I stopped, my face serious. "Since when have things changed so greatly?"
"The royal family is not as stable as people may say." The concubine scoffed. "I have seen first hand the internal conflicts that have to be hidden from the public. They are only barely getting by."
My brow raised. "Is that so? In that case, I shouldn't stay in this hell hole any longer."
"You're going to- let me live?"
"Under two conditions." When I looked back at her, she had paled. I scoffed. "Will you relax? I won't ask you for your first born child."
"Then, what do you want from me?"
"Firstly," my expression became serious. "Under no circumstances should you tell anyone what we discussed today. If you do, then-"
"-T-That's easy," she quickly spoke up. "I have told you things that incriminate myself as well. I swear, I will not say anything."
I nodded, satisfied. "Good."
"As for the second condition?"
"Oh, yes,"
I turned back to look at her, smiling. "You will find the woman and her child and make sure they live another ten years."
"W-What?" Her expression changed.
"Why? Do you, refuse?"
She shook her head quickly. "N-No I, I dare not."
"The reason they are in trouble is because of you. You understand that much. Yes?"
She pursed her lips. "I-I Do."
My eyes narrowed. She was still unwilling. "Allow me to show you something, Rebecca."
"W-What?" Just as she looked at me, I raised my hands. She flinched, closing her eyes. "W-Wait!!"
I scoffed. "Open your eyes."
She did as told, slowly.
In both of my palms were swirls of pure magical energy. Their green light getting bigger and bigger, until the two orbs were larger than both of my hands.
"This... this is the power of the evil witch..." She was shaking while staring at me. No- trembling? I could only smile. "This is only 20 percent of my true power, you know."
"!!!! T-That means!!"
"Yes," I looked up at her. "Every day I get stronger. Even if every single soldier in the Solaria kingdom attacked me, They would all loose their lives fighting."
"!"
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The evil witch stood above me, bright green eyes that contrasted with her dark brown skin.
I couldn't move. I didn't dare move. Right now, my life was at stake.
She released her hands, the orbs disappearing. Her eyes flickered back to her brown eyes. "So when I asked you to do these two things..." her glare was cold "It wasn't up for question."
"I-I understand!!" I quickly spat out a response, shivering.
"Do you?" She squinted, moving closer to me. "You are certain I won't need to visit you personally in five years time?"
"I'm certain!! Miss, please." I bowed, clenching my hands as more tears fell. "I've accepted all of your conditions whole heartedly."
With a nod, she took a full step back. I quickly relaxed. "I hope my words today do not seem like empty threats, Concubine Rebecca. Remember them well."
"Yes, I promise-" Looking up, she was gone. Just as sudden as she had appeared.
But the conversation had already imprinted itself in my body.
This... this evil queen,
I shuddered, shaking my head.
She is far too powerful!!!
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I transported myself just outside the castle in an isolated alley. Ever since news broke out of my return, street venders and road sellers quickly packed up and moved farther away from the palace.
Daniel stood a few feet away from me. He met my eyes with blue orbs of shock.
"Eh? Your back already? Did you take care of what you needed to?"
"I did," I waved my hand behind my back. "But I had to cut our meeting short."
"Eh? Why? Isn't that-"
In the span of seconds, men in armor surrounded us. The royal Military. Daniel moved closer to me, letting out a shrill shout.
"E-Eh? Elodie-" he looked at me. "Did you lead them here?!? Why would you bring them to me?"
"So, it was you pulling energy in the castle." A soldier said. "Hmph! How bold of you to come here in person."
"Oh?" I looked between them all. "You believe you can stop me?"
"No. But I believe I can."
Daniel looked up, shocked. The voice came from above.
Flying down was a man dressed in royal robes, the signature softness in his eyes caused me to quickly recognize who he was.
"...Pft!" A laugh passed my lips, looking at him. "Aren't you a bit too old for flashy entrances, Prince of Kindness?"
The aura around the quiet alleyway became quiet.