Page 35 of Crown of Draga

She dared a glance at Raena from the cover of her long lashes and her sister watched the unfolding events with narrowed eyes. Raena was always slow to react, slow to decide, but it was not because she could not do what was necessary. It was because she considered every outcome and possibility before committing herself to the best possible choice. It was what would make her an excellent ruler given the time.

Adelina only wished she would decide quickly enough to save her sisters from a grueling punishment before it was too late.

“Adele, your children are a disgrace. If you will not punish them I will.” The dowager queen made a step towards Adelina and Giselle grabbed Adelina’s shoulders to push her out of the way, but Adelina was stubborn and would not budge. She had chosen a path and she would stick to it.

“Stop.” The quiet command whipped through the room. Everyone froze at the authority in the tone, the demand to be recognized and obeyed. A look of shock crossed their grandmother’s face and she turned to Raena as she slowly stood from her chair. Every part of her sister screamed ‘Queen.’ “You will remove yourself from the Queen’s solar, grandmother.”

A strangled noise came out of the dowager queen and Adelina winced, keeping her eyes down. She’d felt the brand of her grandmother’s cane before and didn’t wish to experience it again.

“You forget your place, Raena,” their grandmother snapped.

The power struggle between the three queens in the room had Adelina’s nerves screaming at her to grab Giselle and run. It would only be worse if she ran and incited their predatory instincts. So she kept as still as possible while Giselle slid to the floor next to her and knelt by her side. Both of them focused down on the carpet while the decision of what to do with them was made. Elara didn’t move a muscle from her corner as she waited. Giselle squeezed Adelina’s hand only once before the both of them became still as statues.

Raena’s command practically shuddered against the walls despite the quiet words, despite her small stature and lack of a physical crown. “No grandmother, you forget your place. You are no longer reigning queen, Mother is. Queen Adele is the Queen Consort of Draga and you will treat her as such. I am your Crown Princess and in two weeks’ time I will be your Queen Regent. You are nothing more than the king’s mother, title remaining out of respect. You have no power and you do not outrank me. If you do not drop this issue I will be forced to take action as my father, King Orion’s proxy.”

Holy gods.

Raena was now the official proxy of the king. When the contracts had been signed and done Adelina had no idea, but it gave Raena all the power of their king, including decisions of state. She could declare war, or order an execution, and the only person who could stop her was their father. The brilliance of keeping it a secret wasn’t lost on Adelina.

Their grandmother’s face turned purple with rage.

“How dare you,” she hissed at Raena. “You are barely thirty cycles with no experience. How dare you order me?” The dowager queen’s cane came down on the floor with a loud ‘rap,’ emphasizing her words.

Their grandmother couldn’t let go of the past, clutching to the last dregs of power until her dying breath, but Raena wouldn’t stand for it any longer.

“Elara, remove the dowager queen from the solar. Then please inform the palace staff to pack her things and deliver them to her estate. She will be moving to the Dowager House sooner than anticipated.” Raena was not fazed at all. She even fluffed her skirts and sat back in her chair as if she had simply ordered tea. “Tell the staff there will be a reward if they have her there by dinner.”

Adelina nearly choked. A part of her wanted to laugh and a part of her was too frightened to move. She didn’t know if Raena was allowed to remove their grandmother to her estate before the appointed time, but who would stop her?

Elara stood from her corner and Adelina watched her feet as she crossed the room. Silently and without question she obeyed the crown princess. “Your majesty’s orders will be done.” Elara did not look surprised Raena was proxy to the king. She must have known; bedroom-talk perhaps.

The dowager queen sputtered and resisted but she was old and Elara was much stronger than she looked. All courtesans were. The second the two of them left the solar, Adelina could feel Raena’s attention shift to their mother.

“You were not incorrect in performing the punishment for violating protocol, but you were wrong for striking Adelina instead of Giselle despite the unexpected action. I could invoke your punishment as well, but I believe it would be better if both punishments were forgotten.” The spark in Raena’s violet eyes warned Mother which choice she should make. “You are the reigning queen, and I relinquish the choice to you.”

It was impressive their sister managed to look down on their mother from her sitting position. Adelina’s knees began to ache and she hoped a decision would be made soon, regardless of the outcome.

The queen gave a quick nod to her daughter, and soon-to-be queen. “I waive my right to punish Giselle and the matter will be forgotten.” She reached down and gently helped Adelina to her feet. Her mother brushed the hair from her face and kissed her cheek before embracing her in a hug. “I am so sorry my sweet girl. Will you accept my apology?”

Adelina pulled back and gave her a shaky smile. “Of course, mother. All is forgotten.” She kissed each of the queen’s cheeks before stepping aside. Adelina remained standing, close enough to Giselle to touch her. She wanted Giselle to know she was not alone no matter what it may seem, or feel like at times.

Raena had done what she could for them with protocol invoked. Adelina was grateful for that at least.

The queen looked down at her second-born, still on her knees with her eyes fixed on the intricate design of the carpet. Giselle and Adelina had no power, and their rank meant nothing in a room full of queens. Only the submissive position protected them.

“Giselle, you may rise. Your violation of protocol has been forgiven and forgotten. Please ensure to request the chance to speak free of protocol in the future.” Their mother sighed and her hand cupped Giselle’s cheek, face full of regret. The two had never gotten along well. “I know it can be difficult, but it is our place to support and not to question.”

Giselle’s anger didn’t waver in the face of their mother’s love. “May I speak my thoughts, Queen Adele?”

Their mother dropped her hand at the formal tone and nodded sadly.

“I thought our weekly tea was the only place it was safe to question and provide insight that might not otherwise be shared. All our lives Adelina and I have trained and studied to support Raena when she becomes queen. We learned the arts of subterfuge and the gathering of information through seduction as well as our rank. If we do not share what we have learned, or our different opinions, how can we possibly help our sister? It is not the same for us as it is for you. Raena will not be Queen Consort; she will be Queen of all Draga.”

The queen winced at the reminder she was only royalty by marriage and was not born into it. She sighed. “I waive the required protocol from our tea and anything further will be decided by the king’s proxy.” The balance of family and rank was almost impossible at times. The lines blurred and it was easy to make mistakes.

Adelina did not like conflict within her family, but things would not change if they were silent. Raena would be queen soon and if Giselle and Adelina wanted better for their lives and for their people they had to start speaking up now.

Raena nodded acceptance to the pass of power and she was now reigning queen in all but actual title. “Protocol is officially waived from the tea. Any and all can speak freely without repercussions or threat of punishment until protocol is officially re-invoked.”

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