Her biggest mistake to date
Grace sat in stunned silence.
"Gabriel has lost his mind! The people will be in an uproar when they hear this. You have been the most loved royal in Lystra history."
Ashley stormed back and forth before them. Her rage very clear and very palpable. Grace's family often visited and it just so happened that her mother, father, and younger siblings were visiting when the news came.
They all sat watching Ashley walk back and forth across the room, her father barely maintaining calm. He suddenly stood and spoke rapidly.
"Go to Golden Sea my daughter! Please! This woman has Gabriel's mind twisted. Take my grandchildren and start anew."
Her mother looked at her with hope in her eyes, but she knew her daughter very well. She knew this girl of hers would not go easily. The room sat in silence for a long time. All eyes were focused on Grace, awaiting her response or, at the very least, a reaction. She slowly began to shake her head and every heart sunk.
"No. I may send the children their but I will stay here in Lystra. Gabriel has cut her off at the pass with his decree. It is true he stripped me of everything but he gave us land and he knows I am capable enough to make something of both.
"I already have a few ideas. No my fight is not with Gabriel but with this woman who has decided to claim Lystra for her own personal use."
She became silent, her lips pursing, and her forehead furrowed.
"I will get my revenge on that wench and she will wish she had never ever heard of Lystra or King Gabriel."
She looked to her Houseman and her head of household. "Pack our things we leave for the west. I want everything. Nothing is to be left behind."
"Yes My Lady." They both spoke, bowed, and rushed from the room in unison. The news arrived to her before the official notice so she wanted to have her things packed before an envoy could arrive to take note of anything and maybe claim it for the crown.
She looked at the stained glass windows with a bit of regret. Many had been designed by her Albert. She had no doubt that Gabriel would recognize this and protect all of them.
The northern castle was a chaotic mess over the next few days. Even the city surrounding it was in a bit of an uproar. The city was informed of everything, almost entirely through gossip, and many had decided to follow Grace to the west. Most of these people were artisans brought in by Grace from different areas. The northerners loved Grace but they still didn't want to leave their homes. This was causing big problems in the city as debates raged and guilt flooded the city.
On the fourth day the queen mother and her daughters arrived. Everyone initially thought it was the announcement from the king. There was a collective sigh of relief and then a redoubling in the effort to move everything as quickly as possible.
Initially Grace was going to work and allow her children and family receive the queen mother and her daughters and their families, but her staff did not want her to stress or be overworked and insisted that their mistress take time and visit.
The queen mother sighed. "My dear daughter my son…"
Grace shook her head. Her eyes moving from the queen mother's face to her daughter sitting on the queens lap. She smiled. It was so inappropriate but her daughter looked so happy. Perhaps this woman did her the greatest of favors. Her children could still be successful without the royal family and the kingdom would always see them as royals anyway.
"I actually blame Ester more than the king your Highness. He has actually helped us quite a bit by just giving us the next two worthless properties before they are ever seen as valuable and then coveted by that woman. Then he made it impossible for her to ever take it from them. His children will always have property in their kingdom of birth if they want it.
"Now him bringing her into our life and not trusting our marriage, that was all him and I am not sure if I will ever be able to forgive him for it."
She shook her head and all three of her children left their respective favorite grandparents and moved to sit at her feet and try to comfort her. She smiled down at them.
"Do not worry. I am okay visit with your grandparents, especially the queen mother. I feel that your step mother will try to cut us off from her."
The queen mother's eyes went wide. She had not thought about that. Grace was right. That wretched woman would hear about her visit there and when Grace once again succeeds in creating a good home out of nothing that petty thing would think she received help.
She was suddenly glad her granddaughter returned to her lap. She hugged her tightly and fought the tears that wanted to fall. The boys went to aunts as tears formed in their eyes and suddenly the children were moving from adult to adult giving hugs and trying to be of support.
"Do not worry queen mother. I am already preparing things in both the East and the West."
"I am not worried about you my dear, I already know how capable you are, I am worried about my precious grandchildren. I know my Albert wanted your Albert to succeed Gabriel." Tears filled her eyes. "He always felt that you were extraordinary and that you had given this to Albert. Image if he would've known Devon and Sabrina?"
She hugged Sabrina tightly again and said no more.
"Please. Stay, at least until the decree comes. I have already sent most of our things away but the guest rooms and the children's rooms are still fully furnished."
One of Gabriel's sisters looked at the windows. "You are leaving so much of the stained glass." It was a statement not a question and Grace nodded.
"Yes. I left some of Albert's work for his father. Only Gabriel and maybe Vanessa will recognize it. The other will be too absorbed in other things."
She looked to her eldest son. "Albert. You need to make stained glass for your grandmother and your aunts."
He looked to them with excitement in his eyes. "How big is you window."
"That is not important nephew! We will build windows to fit your creations."
"I will work on sketches for them tonight. Can I make two sets so I can tell two stories?"
They just looked at this brilliant, creative boy and they all sat speechless.
Hazel whispered in his ear. "They will love however many you make them my love." He nodded.
Devon frowned. "Mommy can Sabrina and I make music for them as well?"
"Yes mommy we can gift them music boxes."
"Of course my loves."
"Um. Wait a moment. What about us?"
Sabrina giggled. "Grandpa you have a lot of our music."
"But no stained glass and. Devon just learned how to play that new odd instrument. And you have been promising to do a play for us again."
"Really?! You do plays for your grandfather Bri? Why was I not invited."
Sabrina continued to giggle but Albert and Devon wore serious faces. Grace merely shook her head and smiled. That woman definitely did her children a favor. She looked out the window to her hanging gardens and her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed.
She would still get her revenge for her ruining her life and causing her to have to create a new one, not once but now twice even. She didn't know how or when but Ester McAllen would truly understand suffering one day.
Ester reclined on a wide divan eating chocolates from a far away place she knew nothing about. All she knew was that they had good chocolate. She kept rolling her eyes because Vanessa was doing all she could not to look at her.
"How long will you be angry."
"Until Grace comes after you, and she will come after you, because I will have to focus on protecting the family."
Ester scoffed loudly. "come after me. You overestimate her sister."
"And you underestimate her."
Marigold agreed as she quietly prepared Ester's dinner clothes in a far corner. As if she could hear her thoughts Vanessa looked to the maid. Marigold almost jumped, which would have exposed her, she was not supposed to be paying any attention to them.
"And why do you always speak in front of servants. You know our methods and still you behave so naively." She shook her head. "Leave girl. We will call you back when we are ready."
"Do not go Marigold. Finish what you are doing." Marigold stood frozen. The entire staff feared both these women for different reasons. She didn't know what to do.
She was granted a reprieve when King Gabriel burst into the room taking his clothes off. No one needed to tell her anything. This was an automatic kick out. As the door closed behind her she heard the prince speak out of frustration or exhaustion.
"I want only you right now Vanessa. Ester you can watch if you want."
Marigold and the two maids beside her had wide eyes and red cheeks as the words registered. Perhaps their queen was better off without their perverted king. All three looked at each other, turning even redder in the face as they moved to the maid's waiting room to the left of the door.
[R18]
Ester had been upset when Gabriel chose to leave her out and only be with Vanessa. This was not the first time he had done this and she would have been furious if she felt either one liked the other.
She was now frowning on her favorite divan, her hand playing with her clit as she watched the two carefully. If anything looked suspicious she would stop them immediately. She harrumphed to herself. How could they leave her out.
She watched Gabriel's hands grip Vanessa's ass as she rode him. He smacked both cheeks hard and Vanessa let out a passionate yelp that made Ester's frown deepen and her hand move faster. She cupped a breast then pinched and pulled her nipple as she began to salivate, lick her lips, and swallow hard.
Why was she being punished. Vanessa moaned loudly as Gabriel began to thrust harder and harder. Ester frowned as their bodies began to slap together faster and faster and harder and harder.
She bit her lower lip as she felt herself getting closer to climax. She slowed and relaxed her body.
Vanessa arched her back and brought her hands back to grip Gabriel's calves. She rose higher and higher. Bringing herself up to his tip just to quickly fall back down his full length over and over again.
How dare they. Were they having more fun without her or were they like this because they knew she was watching and mad about it?
When they all three climaxed together Ester was happy. It was just angry sex. Gabriel finished, pushed Vanessa off of him and went to wash up.
Ester frowned. Now he was even angry at Vanessa. Her sister threw her a dirty look, telling her she was thinking the same thing.