------------ Queen Eliade ---------------

Eliade awoke with a jarring headache and only a vague memory of what caused it. Vague, though it was, it didn’t stop her blushing yet again as she visualised the moment of Dangou’s confession in her court. She couldn’t even dream to think that Dangou felt the same before… but now she knew that she was truly blessed. Absorbed in her recollection, it wasn’t until she attempted to get up, did Eliade finally notice two men standing at the foot of her bed. It was Duke Chanden and his Knight of Honour, Draco.

The Queen smiled at her company and propped herself up with a pillow.

“Duke Chanden. Sir Draco.” She nodded, “What business have you come to discuss?”

Chanden bowed.

“Your majesty, we are merely here to wish you well, you should rest first.” He gestured, “We may address other issues at a later date.”

“No, no. It’s perfectly fine Chanden.” Eliade said, waving aside their worries, “I am not so weak as to not entertain my most loyal subordinate.”

Chanden paused, then shook his head.

“Your majesty, the subject, if we wish to discuss, is a heavy one.” He insisted, “I humbly suggest that we begin when you are fully recovered.”

The queen sighed.

“If you insist.”

“Thank you for your patience, your majesty.” Chanden bowed.

The conversation took a pause.

“Since we have nothing left to discuss,” Eliade smiled, “Could you call for Sir Sheen to my private quarters when you leave?”

“I would like to have a conversation…”

Eliade stopped. Somehow, the atmosphere of the room had turned sour as soon as she mentioned Dangou. Draco seemed tense as he turned back to face the Queen and Chanden, keeping silent, continued to wear a calm smile.

“What happened to Dangou…?” She asked, unsure.

Chanden knelt as he responded.

“The council of nobles found it fitting to remove a man of such ignorance from the Queenscourt.” He said, “His influence upon your majesty was foul and couldn’t be left unattended.”

The Queen sat up, eyes burning with fury.

“He is the best knight of the Empire.” Her voice remained calm, “There was no need to take such drastic measures.”

“Search for him immediately.” She continued, “Have him returned to his position.”

“Your highness, “, Chanden protested, “I’m afraid I cannot comply-”

“Duke Chanden have you gone mad?” Eliade voice quivered in anger, finally losing her cool, “You speak to the QUEEN, watch your tongue noble!”

The Queen fumed, something didn’t feel right. And as Chanden rose to his feet, an ugly grin adorning his deceitful face, she realised that her suspicion was correct.

“Scream all you desire, my queen.” He said, stepping out from the room,” But with the devil’s knight banished, the empire is no longer yours.”

------------ Eliade ------------

Eliade sat shocked on the silken sheets of her bed. What had Lord Chanden meant? The Empire was no longer hers? Was it a revolt? But why? Had she not been a compassionate and genial Queen during her time of rule? She couldn’t understand the logic behind such an uprising. Rising hurriedly out of her bed, she rushed to the door and found it locked. She pounded against the unyielding mahogany, and pushed desperately in an attempt to escape, but no matter how she struggled, the gates to freedom refused to budge.

Looking around the sleeping quarters, she bit her lip as her eyes locked onto the windows. Approaching slowly, she opened the metal retainers with a light twist and leaned over, peering down at the courtyard.

Eliade’s quarters was at the very top floor of the Royal fortress and the drop looked to be more than twenty metres tall. Her only respite lay in the shallow lotus pond a few metres away from the walls.

The dethroned queen gnawed over the risks in her mind. At worst, she would break many a bone and suffer an ugly death, at best she may survive with little injury, sneak from the fort and search for Dangou. Either way, she was certain that if she remained, there would be little chance again for her to escape. If there was any time to make a decision, it was now.

------------ The Loyal Count ------------

Count Sinclair was pacing the royal courtyards anxiously, engrossed in something that weighed heavily on his mind, when a feminine scream snapped him from his predicament. He quickly turned to investigate. It was the Queen… jumping from her living quarters. Sprinting, to her aid, he spotted the lotus pond, the most probable target of her highness’ leap. But with a second glance, he could tell that the queen wasn’t going to succeed.

Boosting his legs with a spell of haste, Sinclair surged towards the falling lady at alarming speed, praying that he made it in time. And to his elation, he did. Just managing to catch her in his arms as she landed.

Despite landing safely, the Queen continued to scream for many seconds until she finally realised she had made it alive. Then she quickly stood up, pat herself down and began walking briskly away from the scene, not once taking note of her saviour.

Count Sinclair frowned.

“Your majesty, that was extremely foolish and dangerous!” He shouted, running after the woman he’d just saved, “May I know where milady is headed?”

The Queen stopped and turned to face him.

“No!” She shouted, then turned and continued on her way.

“Milady!” Sinclair shouted again.

The Queen stopped and turned again.

“Stop shouting!” She shouted, “And I’m not even your queen anymore!”

Sinclair paused, then sprinted after the Queen, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto his shoulder. It was only when they reached the secluded safety of behind the bushes, did he finally let the struggling woman down.

“Why did you say you’re not the queen anymore?” He asked, holding the queen by her shoulders.

“Because you nobles betrayed me!” She shouted, “For no reason as well!”

Sinclair shook his head in dismay, his fears confirmed.

“No reason?” he said, “Milady, you’re as naïve as I imagined.”

The Queen slumped, “Then why?” she said, her droopy eyes threatening to burst into tears at any moment.

“Power.” Sinclair replied, “Obviously.”

“Oh.” The Queen paused, then started sobbing.

The two slowly sat down, then Sinclair waited for her to calm down.

“Your majesty. The nobles had been plotting an upheaval for many years, under the leadership of Duke Sinco Chanden.” He said quietly.

The queen nodded.

“At the beginning of your gracious rule, there had already been stirrings of revolt.”

“Your cousin, and wife of Sinco, Mary, was livid for losing her chance at the throne to a mere child.” He explained, “And while I’m sure you know this, the rest of your extended family weren’t too ecstatic over your throne either.”

The queen sighed wistfully.

“The only man that protected me through all that time was Sir Sheen.” She reflected.

“He was indeed amazing,” Sinclair nodded, “Abating all those threats with just his presence.”

The queen smiled shyly, blushing.

“I’m afraid to say it, but your moment of… weakness,” Sinclair continued, “Was what they had been waiting for.”

Eliade nodded knowingly.

“Can you help me?” She asked.

Count Sinclair rose to his knee, then nodded.

“Your majesty, I stay loyal.” He said,

“For we of the empire, live by the Queen.”

------------ The Loyalist (1) End ------------