The Devil In Guise - Chapter 152

**

Grandmother led the way to her room. The women stared and gossip when she passed. Queen Valeria had to shout at them in order to stop the murmurings that were going on. They were happy that the old woman got scolded.

“Did you see what your son has turned me in to a laughing stuff in the Harem ?” Grandmother asked, climbing the stairs. She heard their little gossips.

Queen Aslaug was startled. She did not expect grandmother to raise the issue again.

“Mother, what do you mean ? I understand…”

“Don’t pretend you did not see how he shunned me at the door , few minutes ago” Grandmother reminded her. Though they had a quarrel, she was expecting Sargon to come to her and asked forgiveness. It was well understood that he had no control over his anger.

But he did not show his face this morning. To make her more angry, the emperor took Queen Ariadne to the imperial park for horse riding. He showed clearly that his grandmother did not matter to him any longer.

“Grandmother is right. He barely look at her face this morning. This is unlike the Emperor” Queen Valeria chimmed in. She knew that mother was going to support her dear son. He was never wrong!

“The Emperor is still angry. He will come to see you when he is calm” Queen Aslaug held Grandmother’s hand as they entered her room. She was weak and sad. She needed support to walk.

“He won’t come mother, do you what to know why ?” Queen Valeria asked. She was pissed up with this new Sargon. “its because of Queen Ariadne. Ever since she moved to this harem, peace left us. Can’t you see what she doing to us?”

Queen Aslaug was shocked. Queen Valeria of all people should not complain about the peace or harmony of the harem. She was the one who started the fire by trying to murder Queen Ariadne. “Keep quiet, Valeria. Don’t bother us with such things.”

Grandmother laid on her bed quietly. A maid brought in her medicine but she rejected. When Queen Aslaug tried to convince her to take , she started sobbing.

“Mother, please don’t do this. Your health is at risk here” Queen Aslaug told her. She took the medicine from the maid and went to where the bed was. “Please, for my sake. Sargon will come to you later. He is busy with state affairs.”

“Mother, you should stop playing with grandmother’s head. The Emperor chose queen Ariadne over her. Sadly, we can’t do anything about it” Queen Valeria continued with her cursing.

Her Hatred for Ariadne was beyond imaginable. She would do anything keep her away from Sargon.

“I don’t want to hear any of your stupid stories. You are lucky that your head is still on your neck. Don’t ever slander like this in front me” Queen Aslaug shouted, angrily. She has never shouted at anyone in the harem before. Queen could not believe her eyes and ears. With tears, in her eyes, she bowed and left.

It’s was obvious that queen Ariadne has control over their brains. She has cast a spell on them. On everyone.

It’s was good that Grandmother did not believe in her lies and fake humility. Queen Valeria bawled at the women who were laughing at her, when she walked down the stairs.

They heard how the queen mother shouted at her. She felt embarrassed. The only way to feel better again was to take revenge.

**

I paced around the room looking for a solution to our problem. Queen Alissa was combing Arya’s hair , while queen Vida looked at me as I go to and fro.

Anne came in to the room. She had a big smile on her face. Had she been made the treasurer? Sounding sweet right? It was impossible. Grandmother would never make my maid a treasurer.

“My lady, what is wrong?” She asked me.

“I am scared of the future. I even heard that the Emperor will be leaving for a campaign Soon. Only the spirits know what they are going to do to me” I replied, placing one of my hand on the bed stand.

“You shouldn’t be afraid. None of them will dare the king” She assured me.

“I told her that too but she don’t want to listen to me” Queen Alissa said.

“You must all understand that Grandmother will go to any length to separate me from the Emperor” I told them. “She might kill me when he leaves and when he is back, she will tell him that I was sick. Who would not believe her?”

They lowered their head in silence. Of course, everyone was going to believe her because of my previous health condition. Grandmother might decide to use any means to get me out of the palace.

“I have an idea, but it won’t be easy” Anne finally broke the silence. I went to where she stood.

“What is it Anne? Your queen is restless” Queen Vida said, as she took Arya in her arms. They were going to study before Anne came.

“There is a famous seer in the village. They said she Is very powerful. You should see her and ask what the future holds for you” Anne told me.

A seer? I would love to meet her. I had a lot of things to ask. My future really matters. Will I be with the king in the Future? Are we going to have children in the future? Most importantly, what was going to be my fate if the king leaves for the campaign?

“Yes. I will love to meet her. But how are we going to do that?” I asked the rest. We were allowed to go out of the palace.

“With this reason, no one will let us to go out of the palace” Queen Alissa lost hope already. But I was not going to give up now. I sat on the bed and waited for an idea to hit me.

I was thinking when a brilliant plan came to me.

” Anne should pretend that she is sick. we can get permission to visit her.”

I told my plan to the rest but they told me that the Emperor, his mother and Grandmother’s permission were important. They must give their consent. What a difficult situation!

“Don’t worry about the Emperor, I will talk to him tonight. Anne , please go home immediately and don’t come to work tomorrow.”

“What about princess Arya? Who will take care of her?” She asked.

“I will. Just be careful. Walk like you are sick and go home” I told her.

Queen Alissa and Vida were going to ask grandmother for permission. I knew she was going to refuse but the Emperor was the final say.

*****

When it’s was evening, Queen Vida took Arya to her room. I put on my red dress since it’s was the Emperor’s favorite colour. I wanted him to be crazy when he set his eyes in me.

I applied makeup and let my hair loosed. The mirror spoke of my beauty and when I went out, the harem did.

The women praised me when I walked and passed them . Mother was in her room so I knocked on her door first.

A maid opened the door for me and walked in to the room with hope.

“Greetings mother” I bowed , deeply with a smile. Even with out raising my head, I felt her smile and her motherly love.

“Come here my child” She was sitting on the sofa and wanted me to sit next to her , so I did. “What a beauty, queen Ariadne.”

“Thank you mother. I am going to have dinner with the Emperor” I told her the reason for this dress up. She wasn’t surprised.

“The women are going to gossip you tonight. Now, I understand why he is so in love with you” Mother said. “Do you have any request?”

I swallowed hard as favor walked my way. “Yes mother. If it is not too much to ask?”

“Go ahead and ask me anything you want my child. If it is within my power I will give it to you, wholeheartedly.”

I looked at her and saw the affection in her eyes. Why was Grandmother not like her? So fair and just a woman! Mother was one of the most important people in my life now. I prayed that the creator grant her long life.

“My maid Anne is sick. I would love to visit her” I lied, twisting my fingers. “You know what she did for me when I was dying on that bed. If I can’t support her now then who am I ?”

Mother smiled and stroked my hair “Anne is a good maid, queen Ariadne . I give you my per…”

A knock on the door interrupted us. Mother wondered who it was. Before she could answer, the door opened and grandmother walked in to the room with her little miss Grandmother. -Queen Valeria.

I felt like shouting at them . Must they always interrupt me?