Queen Thorn escorted the royals to their rooms, each was grand and left them in awe as she had designed them to.
Eyeing them as they walked into a room that looked like a mini palace, Thorn waved her hand dismissively.

"Feel free to use these rooms as you desire, and please enjoy the refreshments as much as possible."

Her last sentence was mostly directed at the Princes, she knew the kings would be too stubborn to eat food so willingly.
Their paranoia would be their destruction.

As she left she could hear their voices faint until it was just the stars and moon in her company, and Thorn felt a few moments of bliss.
A soft night breeze brushed her cheeks like a whisper of a kiss as she stood on a balcony gazing at the sky.

Dragana who had stayed hidden throughout the ball walked out of the shadows, clearing her throat as lightly as she could manage.
"Mother?"

Thorn turned to her with a soft smile, it was rare that the two would be alone and in those moments of rarity, she would be her most genuine self.

"Dragana, you're okay?"
"Yes, they didn't see me."

For a moment they enjoyed each other's company before Dragana hesitantly spoke.
"Are...you sure this is the best option? Couldn't we...end them?"

Thorn would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it, gently she rubbed Dragana's shoulder.

"If I was to end them now all I'd be doing was sowing the seeds of future war, pain, grief and revenge. Their sons and daughters, their people...would see me as more of a tyrant."
"Mother, they already see you that way..."

Thorn looked into her eyes and brushed the auburn hair from Dragana's face, letting her expression soften.
"Perhaps...but if I open them with welcome arms, show them our ways and they still carry out their plans...the people will be less resistant to my reign when they fail."

Dragana listened intently before sighing with a smile,
"Okay, and you still want me to...?"

"Stay out of sight. Yes. You must."

Without another word, although Dragana's curiosity was rising, they both retired to bed for the night. It wasn't until dawn when Thorn was seen again, sitting elegantly on her throne with Kittyosis by her side.
The kings walked into the throne room yawning, clearly, they had slept well even if they denied it so feverishly. It was interesting to see them so early in the day, it seemed Thorn had only ever known them from their portraits.

"Good morning."

It took a moment for them even to register the fact the hall was filled except the centre, only a single figure down on their knees and bound by vines with thorns poking into their skin filled the space.
Thorn stood gracefully from her throne and made her way to the last step, towering over the figure and in the corner of her eye she stalked the Kings' reactions.

"Very bold attempt by thou to sneak into my bedchambers to end my life, Prince Shaxs...son of King Soroph!"

She made sure to announce it perfectly, announcing it for everyone to hear as the Prince raised his twisted face of rage. He seemed to be avoiding his father's face, perhaps from shame for failing to get the job done.
King Soroph, released a deep breath and waved his hand dismissively.

"Do what you will with him."

There were whispers among the crowd before shouts of approval to end the Prince's life, but, Queen Thorn scowled at the responses causing a hush to fall over the small world inside the room.
"Ending a life is not as simple as drinking water and giving permission. How can you dispose of your own so...ruthlessly?"

Without a response, she kneeled to Prince Shaxs whose anger had been replaced with an almost lost-at-sea look. Thorn was close enough that if he wanted to he could attack in multiple ways to end her life or even make an attempt at an escape, but he stayed still seemingly to accept his fate.

A fate Thorn wouldn't allow.