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C H A P T E R    F O U R T E E N

"A Queen knows how to build her empire with the same stones that were thrown at her."

-Surbhi Mittal

The southern castles were huge. It was around four grand castles faced together in a box. The large bridge towards the castle's gates gave the most splendid view. Everything was so calm. Birds nesting and singing in the trees, a few turtles and frogs resting on the banks of the river beneath the bridge and the sunrise magnified its beauty even more.

"We have arrived, Your Majesty." One of the coachmen got off their horse and opened the door for me. Officer Richett spent the whole two hours sharpening his sword, while I tried to comprehend the fact that my dead mother ruled the southern part of the kingdom, while I, the north.

"Who rules the south?" I asked Officer Richett as we walked through the gates that led to a maze-like garden, with shrubbery higher than the castle gates.

"The Council, mostly. But I presume you do have ownership here, since this land belonged to your mother and now, to you."

I looked around again, and a few of the sun's rays peeked between the leaves of the bushes and trees. "It's beautiful." I murmured. "What else does my birth mother own that I dont know of?"

"We aren't given much information, just orders." Officer Richett stated. I turned back to see two guards following behind me. "As far as I know, your mother grew up in the south, so you could see much of her... personality... here."

"But how come?" I raised my eyebrows. "The council forbids me from ever talking about her and yet still keeps her castles?"

"If there's one thing you ever need to know about Ivories, it's that Tradition and History is always sacred to them. Whether it's venerated laws or custom Heritage, it's all important to us."

I didn't reply, because I already knew this. It was exactly the reason they kept the Ivories and Ambers separated, they always have, it's a part of their history.

The maze was a slightly long but serene trip, that was, until we reached the magnificent marble castle. Where even its physical structure took away the maze's sense of calming.

Everything from its floors to statues were made of pure marble. Some were white, some were black and some were mixed with streaks of gold. I could hold in the gasp that escaped me. With each step I took, it felt as if I was flying on air. The spiral staircase had marble flights of a royal white and silver, which, in my opinion, was the main attraction.

I turned around to see what more the castle had to offer, only to find four more guards behind me. One Spira, two Terra's, a pair of Pyro's and a Hydro along with Officer Richett.

"Security." Was all officer Richett said before I was whipped away by the staff.

"Your Highness!" One of the maids fluttered to where I was standing and curtsied, her blonde hair was in a neat braid, except for the few strands falling out as she bowed. "We've been expecting your arrival!"

To say I was surprised would be an understatement, my old maids couldn't even bear to look me in my eyes, yet here were a handful of them, grinning and giggling loudly. "Uh- Thank you! The castle is wonderful."

"We've been keeping it this way for years." Another maid beamed. "We're you're new maids, would you like us to show you to your chamber, Your Majesty?"

"Of course." I nodded and looked back at Officer Richett, who was conversing with the other guards.

"Tell Bruno and his Sentinel that they are on night shift in the North Wing. I want three guards outside every castle entry and Her Majesty's chamber, no post should be left unguarded..." He continued to give orders as my new maid Whipped me away. The ride here made me see Colonel in a different light.

History and Tradition was sacred, and so were his duties.

I wondered what my old maids would be doing, I hope they didn't get fired. I hope Tia doesn't meet the same fate as Olive. I hope none of my maids do.

"This is the ballroom, well one of the ballrooms, but this one is usually the one where we host welcome parties or festival balls. The others are used for royal events, like banquets, the Winter ball and what not. Your coronation party will be happening in our grandest ballroom!" The maids kept chirping as I was given a tour of the castle while walking to my chamber.

"This hallway leads to the second Dining room and the hallway opposite leads to the library." she continued on, but another maid spoke,

"Did you know that this castle's library was named after the Second Prince of the First King of Mithalore? Apparently he was such a bibliophile that the King just had to name the room after one of his sons." She giggled. "I've heard that if no-one knew where the second-born prince was, all they had to do was search in the library."

"What was his name?" I asked. I've heard about the First King and his First son, he was written in almost all the History books in our town's library, after all, he was the king that found Mithalore.

"Prince Caecilius Rael O. Wesnon Nox. Quite a mouthful." She giggled again when another maid hushed her and allowed the former maid to continue with the tour.

"This hallway leads to your Chamber. Your chamber is in the same hallway as our quarters, if you have a problem sleeping next to Ambers, we can accommodate-"

"No, no." I cut them off. "I have absolutely no problem with Ambers!"

They all smiled. "So the rumours are true then."

I frowned. "What rumours?"

"That you were an Amber." And with that simple sentence my whole world came crashing down.

"Of course not!" I shrieked. "No. No! I... I was brought up- Not-"

"Shhh!" The blonde maid who first greeted me earlier, hushed me. "Don't worry. We know all about your little secret. We know what's happening in the north much more than your people do."

I kept my mouth shut. What else could they know about me?

"You look just like her." Another maid mused as we finished climbing a long flight of stairs. "Your Brown hair and everything, your sharp jawline is just like hers."

"Like who?" I asked, forgetting that I probably shouldn't have said anything for the better of my reputation.

"Your mother of course." She pointed at a framed painting of a woman, who looked just above her thirties, smiling widely with luxury adorned all over her. Even through the picture you could sense an aura of elegance

But what struck me most were the similarities. She looked like a much older version of me.

"That's... my mother?" I asked stupidly, even though the maid before did just point it out. "I thought nobody knew her.

"This is her castle." A petite redhead quipped. "But only one person has ever seen her, and she was the one who painted this masterpiece, or at least that's what they say, it was found near her cottage a few days ago."

I turned so fast, I may have gotten a whiplash. "Who? Who saw her?"

The other maids kept their lips tight shut, glaring at the little maid, a silent warning telling her to stop at where she started. "No-one did dear, that painting is just an interpretation of how she would have looked like." The blonde maid shooed me away from the painting, her glare not leaving the little maid. But I was adamant to know.

"Who saw her?" I pressed again. "Who?"

"No one." she replied sternly, almost as if she was reprimanding a child.

"No." I crossed my arms. "I am Queen, and I demand an answer." Another pang of guilt swelled in my chest. Using my authority against my own kind, or who were once my own kind. I felt snobbish and spoiled, I couldn't understand how the Ivories could enjoy this.

"Please." I begged, trying my best not to make it look like I wasn't as shallow as they thought I was, "Everyone is always keeping details of my own birth mother away from me. I want to know- I need to know."

The petite redhead maid looked at the blonde maid, who I presume was the head maid, waiting for her confirmation. When she nodded, rather reluctantly, the redhead continued. "She was the milkmaid, her name was Edelynne Cassida. She was the only and last person to See your mother before she was killed. Edelynne was immediately guilty of assasination, which was unlikely since she could hardly swat a fly..."

I tried my best to keep my facial expression neutral with this new information. "The poor girl killed herself before the trial. But she did leave that last painting of the Ex-Queen."

Things aren't adding up. Edelynne Cassida was a hired assassin, not an innocent Milkmaid.

"Why is she called the Ex-Queen then?"

"Because she gave up the throne." Another maid shrugged. "Didn't like ruling over the separation. Funny thing, Her husband, Prince Alaric, brought her these Castles, yet she never stayed."

"Do you know her name?" I asked.

"That's enough." The blonde maid ordered. "That's all you will be getting, young Queen. "You demanded answers we have given you how much we could. There are boundaries, and though we are simple Amber maids, we have served generations of Royal bloodlines. You may be her daughter, but there are things mothers have kept from their babies too"

Suddenly she wasn't the chirpy maid I thought she was.

"This is your Chamber." She opened a door, a little further from the portrait. "You may ring the bell if you need us."

"Thanks." I replied, unsure of how our conversation ended. The other maids stood still behind her, especially the little maid.

"I am Robin, your head maid." She finally introduced. "And this is Kaylee, your personal seamstress. And she-" Robin pointed at the little maid. "...is June, your Chambermaid."

I nodded. Memorising the names given. "The rest of them are your normal maids, ready to assist you in anything." The way Robin said anything didn't really mean like anything. I knew what she was referring to.

"Enjoy your stay here, Your Highness." Clearly she didn't like me intimidating her. Great. I have gotten an enemy in my first hour here.

So many unanswered questions, so much new information.

I flopped on my comfy bed and sighed. But I knew one thing was for sure. I needed to set the facts about Edelynne Cassida straight.

●・○・●・○・●

'Persistent vigilance amongst the unknown'

My fingers brushed on top of the words engraved on the lid of the box. My belongings were already here. The boxes were below my bed, and I scrambled for the one with Edelynnes Box.

"Why are you so confusing?" I asked the box. "What are you hiding?" Clearly the maids here knew something that they aren't telling me, and the rebels and searching for answers they haven't been given. "What questions do they need answers to?"

"Your Majesty." Robin peeped her head through the door. "Your butler has arrived.

My eyes lit up. Henri surely would know what to do with my impression among the maids. "Bring him in, please."

I slipped the box under the blanket. Though Robin wasn't as sharp as she was before, I could tell she wasn't entirely fond of me either. Power Corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. A proverb which my favourite Politician, Fredrique Geraldo, used in his debut book. I think I'm starting to understand what it means.

"Your Majesty." Henri bowed. "We've gotten updates on Ryke!"

I jumped from the bed. "Tell me." I urged.

"He's been found behind the factories on the coast, unconscious but alive." His tone made it clear that there was more, but somehow I wasn't going to like it. "They also left a note."

"Where is it?"

"With Patrik, they're evaluating their next steps." The council has taken it upon themselves to take care of the rebels, it's a good thing for you, you stress very easily."

"Maybe it's because of the heavy crown on my head and the kingdom I'm ruling over." I said dryly. The past few weeks were not exactly easy, and my temper was easily triggered. "What did the note say?"

"One word." Henri bit his lip, unsure of whether to say it or not, thankfully, he went with the former option. "Surrender."

My eyes darted across the room. "Surrender what?"

"We have no clue." Henri sighed in disappointment. "It could be the kingdom, or the wars or even just giving up to their supremacy."

"Last time I checked, killing people doesn't equal power."

"But it does equal fear. Which is a form of power itself. But there's no need to worry, like I said, the Council is handling this situation."

If only he knew how much of this involved me as well, or particularly, what I was harbouring. "What about Astrope?"

"Currently with Mrs. Quinn. Once Sir Ryke fully heals, she will be back with him again." Well, at least she's alright now. "There's no major injuries, but he claims that he doesn't remember anything, not even the attack itself."

"Obviously. Ryke was attacked, he could have been unconscious while he was being kidnapped."

Henri nodded. "But enough of that. How is your stay here? We're currently running low on staff, so the royals have agreed to lend some help for the coronation preparations."

"Of course not." I waved my hand dismissively. "They're our guests! They travelled all the way here for the ball, if anything, we're supposed to host them."

"I disagree, we've received a lot of distressing news on the day the kingdom is supposed to be celebrating you. Queen Rosalie has agreed to stitch you another coronation dress, Queen Lynne and Queen Hannah are overseeing the decorations, Queen Gisela would love to set up the theme and Queen Aisha is sending some men to keep as extra guards during the party."

I remained silent for a while. If Queen Aisha was sending more guards then there must be some way we could negotiate for more security before the slave Ambers arrive instead. "Alright. But what should I do?"

"Well... The young royals are still about. Prince Walter and Princess Lanying to be precise. Prince Liam was sent back to Bastenia, Queen Hannah couldn't risk it..."

I frowned. Mithalore isn't as safe as it was before. Princess Lanying I could handle, but I don't know about Prince Walter.

"...The coslitus twins are staying here as well, I heard you're quite close with the younger one?" Henri looked at me, his lips turning upward slightly.

I blushed. "Whatever it is you are thinking, you are wrong." I folded my arms. "How long till Bree and Conroy arrive?"

"One week." Of course, I mentally slapped myself, how could I forget?

I decided to take another route. "Did you know that these castles belonged to my mother?"

"I did." He stated, while scratching his bald head. Hardly any grey hair was left anymore. "Did no one tell you?"

"None." I grumbled slightly. I would have been more prepared.

"Well, if you'd like, you could interrogate the maids, I heard they served the Queen herself."

"I already did." I flopped back onto my bed. "It didn't go so well. My head maid, Robin, now hates me."

"That can't be true, you're queen!"

"That's exactly what I said!" I yelled exasperatedly. "Though it may have been a bit conceited."

"I'll put in a good word for you." He said as if reading my wishes and wrote it down on his notepad, as usual. "I am head of staff after all."

I smiled and ran to hug Henri, but, unlike last time, he didn't flinch, but instead hugged me back. "Go and meet the Princes, They're waiting in the sitting room, but take a guard with you in case of..." He trailed off, not finishing his sentence. But I understood his concern.

"I'll take one, don't worry."

"Good." He stuffed the notepad into the pocket of his suit. "The Queens are with the staff for the celebrations, unless you want it to be a surprise, I suggest you don't go to them unannounced."

I nodded my head and watched him leave the room. I picked up the book sack and safely hid the box inside. "Maybe I'll find something here about Edelynne." I muttered to myself, picking up the sack and throwing it over my shoulders.

I traced back my steps from what I could remember from the tour Robin and the maids had given me. Without me asking, a guard had already begun to walk beside me, I assume Officer Richett had asked him to, or Henri requested one after he left.

"Take me to the sitting room, please." I requested. While climbing down, I marvelled at the interior architecture, the stain-glass windows, the portraits and drapes. Each hallway looked different, with different painting and wall art.

"We're here, Your Majesty." The guard opened two large doors to a grander booking room. A large circular table stood in the middle with a fountain on top of it. Four chandeliers hung at the corners and the lovely sound of water gushing out of the fountain gave a relaxing ambience.

And sitting around the circular table were the princes and Lanying. Walter sat with Lucas, surprisingly, in conversation. Both of them were chuckling and talking. Pierre on the other hand stood isolated away, his nose buried in a book, and for once his tousled black hair looked rakishly handsome.

Lanying on the other hand looked bored to death, next to her was another girl, skinny and lean, with ginger red hair that reminded me of June, my chambermaid.

Naturally I walked towards her first. As my heels clicked on the marble floor, all heads were turned to me, that is all heads except for Pierres. His was still dug up in his book.

I felt a bit self conscious at the sudden attention, the room was large, which made it an uncomfortable long walk to reach their hearing range. "Morning." I greeted and dragged a chair next to the ginger. "How do you like it here so far?"

"It's magnificent." Lucas replied instantly. "C'est magnifique!" I was a bit stunned by how much his English had improved in the last two days.

"This is my friend Walter." He tugged on Prince Walters' collar, pulling him closer. "He teaches me English, at least the words I don't know."

I gave Lucas a warm smile. "You have improved."

"His English was always this way." Walter snapped, his velvety voice contradicting his irritated tone. "But according to Coslitian customs, the first born cant speak in anything but his native language to a Princess of royal descent."

I gave an embarrassed laugh. Of course, I didn't know that.

"Now that you're Queen, he can talk normally." This was the most I've heard Walter say directly to me, and I was starting to like him better when he just scowled at me. Quite and broody.

"Don't be rude, Walter." Lucas chastised, his English was just as great as his mother's. "She's Queen, she can banish you from this castle, her castle." Both the princes got into a glaring match, and I seized this chance to talk to the ginger.

"Hi, I'm Willow." I introduced myself. The girl looked around my age.

"I'm Ginger." That was a very big coincidence, I choked on the urge of revealing that it was what I called her in my head this entire time, thinking it would be a bit offensive. "You're really Queen?"

Nodding, I smiled. "I am."

"I'm not a Queen, but my sister is, Rosalie." I freezed, she is Rosalie's sister? Ginger couldn't look older than 20, and Queen Rosalie must be in her mid-forties. That's over 30 years apart!

Ginger must have sensed my discomfort. "Same father, different mother." She explained. "He remarried after Rosalie's mother died, and here I am. Princess Ginger, or rather, Aunt Ginger to the twins." She chuckled awkwardly.

"Hey, anything's possible." I laughed along with her. "One day I was jobless, the next day I'm queen, trust me, if there's anybody who gets these things, it would be me."

"I've heard." she grinned. "You were applying for a maid, but isn't that an Ambers job?"

I nodded, "Every Ivory is an Amber before they get their powers." I was Amber, until I became an Ivory. Ever Ivory is an Amber until they get their Powers.

"Well said." She giggled. "Thanks for inviting me. Rosie mentioned how you asked that I should come."

"She said you were married." I blurted. "To some handsome suitor?"

Ginger giggled again. "I am. He's not wealthy or a Royal, but he's enough." I silently awed at how adorable her relationship was. "He's a merchant, so he's always travelling, and so am I, but this time I decided it would be nice to settle down for sometime before leaving again."

I bit my lip, thinking about how Patrik has said that I would need to get myself a King soon too. Lucas and Walter were back to talking, something about warships. Pierre was still with his book and Lanying's head rested on her palms.

Something like a force was pulling us together, I could feel it. Like we were all here for a reason. Maybe it was the effects of my new Spira powers, feeling forces seemed like a power most Spiras could possess.

"Did you know this castle belonged to my mother?" I asked, to know one in particular.

Lucas and Walter paused their conversation and suddenly Lanying was up and alert. Ginger, on the other hand, looked confused.

"Georgia Waters." It was Pierres silky voice that disrupted the silence.

I nodded, despite the fact that it wasn't hers. Georgia Waters didn't exist.

"Who is she?" Ginger asked. "Never once heard about her."

"That's because it was her alias." My jaw dropped at Pierre's reply. He knew. "Her real name wasn't Georgia Waters, it was a pseudonym made up for her."

"Stop!" I exclaimed. "Why are you blatantly screaming all this aloud!"

"The only person screaming here is you." He retorted. "And don't act as if you didn't know, I saw you digging around her chamber, remember?"

Oh butterfingers. I had forgotten that was what fueled my anger towards him. "And I'm also good at reading you, especially because you are a terrible liar."

I pressed my lips shut, looking for a reaction from the other royals sitting on the table. Walter kept his signature stoic expression, Lucas looked like he was still trying to comprehend all this, Ginger stared at me wide-eyed and Lanying started bouncing up and down.

"Oh my God!" she squealed. "This is so awesome! You have a mum, who's not your mom? I want in on this!" Ten minutes ago, she was almost asleep, now she was a huge ball of energy.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out, I couldn't deny any of this either, since Pierre just unveiled everything I was hiding. This is exactly why I hate smart people.

"It's true." I sighed in defeat. "Georgia Waters doesn't exist. My actual mother was assassinated by this hired killer named Edelynne Cassida. I found a box belonging to her in my mother's chamber."

"Your mom was assassinated!" Ginger glared at the child and motioned for her to keep mum, and gestured to me to go on. Ginger, it seemed, was as interested in this as everyone else was.

"I asked Ryke, my chief Historian to examine the box, and research more about Edelynne, but he was kidnapped by the rebels, because they're after the box too"

"This is getting uncannier by the second." Lanying commented, ignoring Ginger's harsh looks.

"...Well, Ryke left the box with her daughter and said he found something on the lid." I took off my backpack and showed everyone my box. There were no guards inside the room, and the ones guarding outside wouldn't be able to hear us anyway. Everyone huddled around me, including Walter and Pierre.

It was funny, one minute everyone was minding their own business, and the next they were itching to know more, just like how I was.

"''Persistent vigilance amongst the unknown'" Walter read aloud. "So, your mother's assassin left a box with a secret code? Don't you think it's a bit far-fetched?"

"Like I said, Ryke examined the box. He's the chief historian, and if the box was just a mimic, he could have easily figured it out." I didn't know what to do, from this just being between me, Bree and Ryke, and now at least five more people know. "We have to keep this between us. I can't risk anyone else knowing."

"Not even our mums?" Lucas asked.

"No one." I replied sternly. "The rebels are after this box, we're putting our lives in danger by just knowing about this, we could be killed."

"Okay. The abnormality has officially flown above the roof." This time it wasn't just Ginger scowling at her.

"It's life or death, Lanying, if you want to be a part of this you'll have to learn to behave." I narrowed my eyes on her and folded my arms. Walter smirked.

"This all sounds like child's play." He yawned. "We don't have proof."

It took all my willpower not to take this box and smack him on his head. The proof was laying right in front of him, in the form of a box.

"Sure." Ginger drawled. "Not like there is an ancient box that belongs to an assassin on the table." She winked at me and I giggled.

"If you don't want to be a part of this, dont." I huffed. "I don't even know why Pierre said it out loud anyway."

Pierre rolled his eyes and smirked slightly. "You won't be able to get anywhere without me."

"I got this far." I snapped.

"I knew Georgia Waters didn't didn't exist while your butler was giving us the tour of your castle. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened after a bit of research."

I hope my face didn't betray me, because I was pretty sure I was sweating with embarrassment. This is what I get for being too lazy to research harder, I scolded myself.

"Nope." I popped the 'p'. "Even if you offer to help I'm not accepting it, especially not from you." I changed my mind about the force I thought was bringing us together, clearly it was all in my head.

"Could you stop being so stubborn? Plus it's not like we have anything to do for the next seven days!"

"This could take weeks though." Lucas added. "Good thing the Coslitus wars aren't ending anytime soon."

Somehow I could sense this made Pierre bitter, hearing his brother is a part of this. I didn't get the beef between them, they looked civilised and brotherly, yet Pierre almost always possessed some sort of hatred towards Lucas.

"Fine" I gave in. "What about you, Walter? Ginger?" I didn't need to ask Lanying because she was already jumping about.

"Only because the nerd is right, I don't have anything to do until your little party, so why not indulge myself in some childish goose-chase." Lucas nudged him in the ribs and I took this as a positive confirmation. I would be able to understand if Pierre had a hidden hatred for Walter, now that's something I can envision us both doing together.

"I'm in it too!" Ginger jumped in. "I can persuade Rosie and Leon to let me stay a little longer."

I looked around as the five of us circled around the box, the only two people missing were Bree and Conroy.

"Your Majesty?" My chambermaid, June, softly knocked on the door. "A letter has arrived from the north castles." She walked towards me, and Lucas quickly dumped the box back into the bag and passed it to Walter, much to Pierres annoyance.

She held the envelope for me, as I unfolded the letter.

Dear Willy,

Your dad's finally released. After a LOT of persuasion, Patrik finally bought him a cottage near the coast for both, your mom and him, to stay. You can guess who persuaded him ;) Conroy's been re-posted, again, near my chamber, which is nice until he starts complaining about how loudly I snore, which I don't. Ryke's back, and he is healing in the infirmary. The library is being shut down, and the books are being transferred to the library in the southern Castles so hopefully you can find something about ... her...

Write back.

Brianne Lee.

"Your name is Willy?" Walter snorted, from beside my shoulder. "Now that's something."

"You have a father?" Ginger pushed Walter aside, taking his place from above my shoulder while Pierre was on my other shoulder. I could feel his short breaths on my neck.

"Yes-" I faltered, Pierre's close presence distracting me. "He and my mother fostered me, though they haven't said anything about it."

"That must be hard. Finding out your parents are not your parents."

My crown began to wobble.

I tried to not let any emotion flood out. "I already knew, what I didn't know was that I was somehow related to Royalty, but after a while it gets more real." I couldn't tell them I was raised an Amber, I didn't want to lose the respect I just gained.

"Your Majesty-" Henri walks in, while June exits. "The Queens have some propositions on your coronation ball."

Lucas glances at me. "I'll go with." He motions Walter to hide the bag behind himself.

I manage to nod. "Alright." While walking past Pierre I could almost swear I heard him mutter,

"Like father, like son."

What's your favorite song?

Mine would be "Kings and Queens" by Ava Max