Chapter 72: The Queen’s Quiet Worry

Chapter 72: The Queen’s Quiet WorryAriana sat at the dining table, eating quietly. She hadn’t seen Zavren since morning, and she was worried. She was sure he must have left when she fell asleep—just as he had said he would. And this morning, she hadn’t woken up to find him by her side, which meant he hadn’t returned after leaving last night. Not to mention, he hadn’t even come down for breakfast. What was happening? She needed to know. Was Zavren okay? She reminded herself—this was Zavren, the King of Eltones. He always had things under control. Yet, why did it bother her so much? Why was she scared? Why did she feel like something was going on that she had no idea about? Still, she had to understand—he must have had his reasons. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized she was no longer eating—only moving her fork around her pancakes absentmindedly. Leah, who had noticed, hadn’t wanted to disturb her, but as time passed, her worry deepened. "Queen Ariana, are you okay?" she finally asked, unable to stay silent any longer. Ariana’s thoughts gently snapped back into place as she turned to Leah. A small, weak smile rested on her lips as she slowly dropped her cutlery and moved her fingers, signing softly. "My husband... did he leave?" she signed. She had originally wanted to ask where Zavren was, but she wasn’t sure how to phrase it. She didn’t even know how to feel—not knowing where her husband was. "Queen Ariana, His Majesty is in his inner chamber," Leah replied with a respectful bow. Ariana nodded and gently cut a piece of pancake, stuffing it into her mouth. She tried to savor the taste, but it felt bland—maybe because of her worry. She turned to Leah once more and signed: "After breakfast, could you take me to him?" Leah bowed her head and spoke softly. "Mister Raven informed me this morning that His Highness requires time alone. No one is allowed to enter his quarters during his quiet time." She had been informed, just in case Ariana became curious or questioned. Ariana raised a brow. Quiet time? Her lips pressed together as she signed again a slight frown forming on her face. "Are you saying that I cannot meet my husband? Is that what you’re signifying?" Leah shook her head immediately, bowing again. "My apologies, my Queen. His Highness’s alone time cannot be interrupted—not even by Mister Raven..." she trailed off, choosing to leave out the part about how interruptions during this period could lead to dangerous consequences. No one had ever dared. Ariana nodded gently. Maybe he was busy. Of course—as a king, he had responsibilities. But still... She reached for her glass of water and took a slow sip, then patted her lips with a napkin before standing up. Leah’s eyes widened—she hadn’t even eaten much. But she understood. The Queen had lost her appetite. She stood and signed softly: "I haven’t seen Mister John. Do you know when our next lesson is scheduled?" She was curious. Since the day he left, she hadn’t seen him again. Leah bowed and spoke with regret. "About that... I deeply apologize for not informing you earlier. I had planned to. Mister John will no longer be your horse-riding tutor due to... personal issues." Ariana raised a brow. Personal issues? The lady continued respectfully, "Another tutor will be coming on Monday next week." Ariana nodded slowly, sensing something. She signed: "A lady?" Leah nodded. "Yes, Queen Ariana. A lady will be teaching you," she replied respectfully. Ariana smiled faintly. So Zavren must have been behind the ’personal issues’, she thought to herself almost sarcastically. "Queen Ariana, there shall be a tea gathering in a few days time," Leah said gently, her gaze steady. "A small affair..only four ladies are expected to attend." She paused briefly, then added, "A lady will be coming to teach you the proper etiquette of tea drinking, if that’s alright with you, my Queen." Ariana nodded, though her mind still felt scattered. She had no idea why the rich went to such great lengths just to drink tea. Still, she knew she needed to familiarize herself with it as she was now Queen. Coming from the village, no one there cared whether your hands were properly placed while drinking tea. Even if she learned the etiquette, she knew she’d only use it on special occasions. When she was alone... or with Zavren... she’d go back to being her usual self. She nodded again. As Leah bowed, she spoke calmly, "She is already here, and I had asked because I needed your permission. Since you have no problem, please—this way." They began walking through the corridor. Ariana wondered if Zavren was also behind reducing the number of ladies invited to the tea gathering. Yet, she decided not to jump to conclusions. Maybe... she shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. She couldn’t help but smile. So her husband knew that saying—and yet, he had shot that man with an arrow. Many thoughts ran through her mind as she followed Leah down the hall. They stopped at a door just beside the painting room—where she had done her artwork. Leah gently opened the door, and Ariana’s lips parted slightly... then closed. It wasn’t a large room, but it was just the right size. In the middle sat two chairs with a floral-covered table between them. Cups and jugs were neatly arranged on the surface. The entire setting gave off a distinctly feminine vibe—meaning the room was clearly made for ladies. Was this where she’d be getting her practice? The window was open, letting in a fresh breeze. The garden view outside added to the serene and beautiful ambiance. "If you don’t mind, Queen Ariana, I will go and call her now," Leah said softly. Ariana nodded, and Leah quickly bowed and left. Just as the door closed behind her, Ariana inhaled deeply, her mind racing once more now that she was alone. She was worried. Deeply worried. She didn’t know why—but she just wanted to see her husband’s face, even if only for a moment. Knowing Zavren, he was supposed to meet her, check on her... and he hadn’t. So why didn’t he want anyone in his chambers? She moved toward the window and stood beside it, letting the breeze brush against her as her hair flew gently backward. Her floral gown was light and smooth against her skin. She knew Zavren had a lot of secrets—many of which she probably wouldn’t believe even if she heard them. And then there was last night—the way he had leapt, his speed... all that, and he hadn’t even shifted into a werewolf form. That alone raised questions. Not that she was scared of him or anything. One thing she knew for sure—Zavren wasn’t going to hurt her. But still... she couldn’t help but feel like she was being kept in the dark. She stood there staring blankly into the thin air... The door gently opened, and Leah entered—with a woman by her side. The lady wore a very dark green gown, the heavy kind that trailed slightly behind her. Her hair was pulled tightly into a neat bun, and if one looked closely, a few strands of white could be seen among her brown locks. Her lips were painted a deep red, and her makeup was neither light nor too heavy—perfectly balanced. Her posture was upright and elegant, her head held high, and from what Ariana could tell, this woman had years of experience in this field. Even the way her eyes moved—it was as if that, too, had been practiced. "It is the highest honor to make your acquaintance, My Queen," Lady Elle said with serene grace, lowering herself into a deep curtsy. "I am Lady Elle, and it shall be my humble pleasure to guide you through the refined grace of tea." ’Grace of tea?’ Ariana wondered. Ariana gave a slight curtsy in return. She noted the woman’s thick, fluent accent—it added to her strong presence. "Please, have a seat," Lady Elle said respectfully, her eyes resting on Ariana with the kind of reverence that came from understanding the consequences of disrespecting royalty, or rather the King himself. Ariana nodded and walked toward the seat. As she sat down, the door opened again, and two maids entered. One pushed a rolling cart while the other began clearing the table—removing the cups and jugs that were already there and placing them on the lower rack of the cart. The second maid began arranging a new set on the table—cups, saucers, a fresh jug—all done with precision and care. Once they were done, they bowed in unison and quietly exited the room. As the door closed behind them, Lady Elle spoke in a calm, low voice. "You are exquisitely beautiful, My Queen. Your hair... I have never seen anything like it before." Her sincerity caught Ariana off guard including herself. Lady Elle had been holding back that thought from the moment she saw her. She was not one to speak unless it concerned work matters—but something about Ariana had truly stunned her. She simply couldn’t help herself. She turned to Leah, who stood with her head respectfully bowed. "Lady Leah, if I may ask—are we serving tea or coffee?" Leah lifted her gaze slightly and replied with quiet composure: "There are various kinds, Lady Elle. They are distinguished by their color. The black jug contains coffee, while the others hold different blends of tea, each marked by their unique hues." "Thank you, Lady—" Their words were interrupted. SHRANG. The sudden shatter of a cup crashing to the floor made Lady Elle turn sharply. Ariana’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the broken pieces on the floor. Her hand trembled slightly, and a sharp, searing pain surged through it—shooting up her arm and piercing deep into her veins. The pain had struck so suddenly... it was what caused the cup to slip and fall. But what Ariana didn’t realize—what she had no way of knowing—was that the pain had come from the very same place on her left hand where Zavren had been poisoned.