Chapter 116: Power vacuum.
The news of the noble consort’s tragic demise had spread from the royal castle to the streets of the city and
beyond. The bells on every wall were ringing mournfully, telling of a death in the royal family.
In the heart of the castle, queen Maurelia sat upon her intricately carved throne, her expression a mask of
composed indifference. Those that knew her well could see a faint gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. The noble
consort Rina was the favored of the king between the two women__, a love and power rival that was now dead. It
was undoubted that she was jovial about Rina’s death.
The king was grief stricken and distraught, he reeked of alcohol and his appearance was haggard. His regular
regal demeanor was shattered by the weight of sorrow and his commanding voice was now as meek as that of a
kitten.
All of the royal princes and princesses had been summoned to the throne room after hearing the news of Rina’s
passing. Rina’s children were filled with sorrow, the queen’s children had no reaction because like their mother,
they detested the noble consort.
"How could this have happened?" King Raff lamented.
The king and queen's advisors standing below thought the answer was obvious and it had been given many
times and yet the king continued to ask.
"It was the rebels, your highness." Lord Benwick repeated for the tenth time.
Lord Gaston, one of the king's advisors nodded. "Yes, it was the rebels. The chambers of the noble consort have
been searched, while it is hard to separate what remains of the people that died in there. We managed to isolate
a few weapons and make out a sword belonging to Bane Silberuss.
According to smaids, he was seen inside the castle with another knight and they were joined by other spies
that arch duke Karlton had in the castle walls. My guess is that they wanted to take the noble consort hostage
after all, it is well known that you loved her immensely.
She was seen by many as your weakness. Lord Karlton thought that if they could take her, you would surrender
the throne."
All of the advisors and a few influential Lords that had been invited nodded. The explanation made so much
sense, after all, in a war if you captured the right hostage, it was possible to get what you wanted.
"It doesn’t explain how the fire was started." Benjamin snarled.
Roland put a hand on Benjamin's back, comforting him. "The rebels set fires all over the city, it was no different
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇthere, they set three fires. The noble consorts chambers happen to be one of the three places."
Despite all the explanations that were made, Rina’s children still shot suspicious looks queen Maurelia’s way.
They suspected foul play but they dared not voice their suspicions aloud.
"| can continue looking into the fire if anybody still has doubts." The lord mage offered.
Nobody doubted the words of the lord mage, after all, he served the king and kingdom alone. None of them was
aware that he was already Sigrid’s person and loyal to her cause. No matter how many investigations were made
into the circumstances of the fire that had claimed the consort’s life the truth would remain buried beneath
layers of deception.
"I need..." the king said in a soft voice, but he did not finish his words. He looked confused and intoxicated. He
stood up and stumbled.
"Take the king to his chambers, give him a bath and put him to bed." The queen ordered.
The king's servants rushed forward to help the king immediately.
"Make sure that he is not disturbed by anyone." She added.
With the king gone, she took over the gathering with authority. "Let us discuss the plan for the burial of the
consort. The fire was very hot, | have been told that there are no remains to bury. As we have not experienced
such a situation before how do we proceed? It might seem cruel but | think that there is no need to open up the
royal tombs if there is nothing to bury."
Someone gasped and princess Thalassa loudly wailed.
"How can you not make room for her in the royal tombs? She was royalty too, our mother was the noble
consort."
Queen Maurelia’s eyebrows shot upwards, she wanted to give Thalassa a history of her mother but she decided
not to do it as it would not look good.
"Thalassa." Benjamin called his sister and shook his head.
"What do you suggest then dear?" Queen Maurelia asked. "Please understand that my words are not meant to be
cruel, I am just as lost as anyone else here and | sympathize with you for your loss. We must be realistic
however, or are you suggesting that we bury an empty coffin?"
Whispers traveled in the room, nobody had ever had of an empty coffin being buried in the royal tombs. Could
such a thing even be done?
"That is unheard of." Lord Benwick said with a frown.
"It cannot be done." Another lord said.
"Members of the royal family that die on the battle field in distant lands and those who die without a body for
sreason are not laid to rest in the royal tombs. Plaques are carved for them and placed inside the chapel."
Prince Galen shared what was the standard norm.
Thalassa would not hear of it. "My mother was the king's wife, she ought to be buried respectfully in the royal
tombs where her husband will be buried someday. No queen has ever...."
"Queen!!" Lord Benwick exclaimed.
More hushed whispers echoed in the room, and Thalassa was shot looks of mockery or sympathy.
"| apologize your highness." Benjamin lowered his head but clenched his hands in a fist.
Lord Benwick made a signal to the
queen and she nodded. Suddenly she
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rose to her feet, 'l think this is a
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process vipat hed hép ried." she
kes, looking at Rina
Ss softly, looking at Rina’s
children as if she understood their
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pain. "This can wait until tomorrow,
tonight the chapel is open for
prayers. If any of you wishes to join
those that are praying for her soul,
they are free to do so. As for the
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burial, the king will decide." The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Queen Maurelia was escorted to her
chambers which were untouched.
She walked to her egepreand
Nn) onthe Hed y overlooking a
part of the city. The moonlight bathed
her in a silvery glow and for a
moment, a cold smile played on her
lips. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
The consorts death to swas
tragic but for her, it had eliminated a
formidable rivals ig dadtiéwhich
SE BIW thought was divided by
tension was now more peaceful and
once again back in her control. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
sok AAR
All around Eldoria, nobles in their houses discussed Rina’s death and what it signified. For the first tin many
years, a position of the king's secondary wife was open.
Rina’s death had left a power vacuum which needed to be filled in order to maintain the delicate balance of the
court.
If the queen was left to dominate, the De-Kensington family would grow stronger and there were those that were
unwilling to watch it happen.
So, while Rina’s ashes sat uncollected in what remained of her chambers, they plotted how to replace her. There
was no sorrow for her passing, only opportunities.