The Fall of a Queen (IV)

The cold hallway to death was not very long. The paces of the guards were sounding in unison. Their brown leather boots were pounding on the marble floor covering the clanking of the chains.

A little frail figure was held by them. Strongly and firmly. This small creature should never escape. She was the worst threat the world could face. Her hair was cut very short. Her neck was exposed. A long black plain dress was covering her shaking and already dying body.

A large wooden door opened. A light blinded the poor brown-haired woman. She was led on a small platform and forced to kneel face to a rectangular piece of wood. She looked at the sun lighting the execution spot and her face from a window located in the roof.

She was holding a black rosary and praying with all the strength she had left: Mother, father… Can you save me? Can you save me from the misery I am in? I pray to you, for your protection, and for your pity… Please, help me. Get me out of here, mother. Father, can you hear my prayer?

Suddenly, a voice, unknown, from the darkness sounded, in a very deep and terrifying tone:

“Queen Georgiana the First of Forsyth, you are hereby sentenced to death.”

The executioner was standing behind her. His axe was shining in the light and moving closer to Georgiana’s bare neck. Georgiana felt two hands grasping her right and left’s. She turned to her left and saw her father, smiling at her. Her mother was on her right.

His father told her, in a solemn voice:

“It will be fine, Georgiana. Queens are doomed to be beheaded.”

A tear fell on the wood. The axe was swinging in the air, inching closer and closer to his target. Soon the queen will have no crown. The crown will fall on the ground and blood will be spilled.

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Queen Georgiana woke up in a cold sweat very abruptly. She looked around her. She was alive, not in a stern black robe and no executioner was swinging an axe towards her. It was just a nightmare. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. She needed to calm her heartbeat. She slowly breathed in.

She looked at the window at the right of the bed. The sun was starting to rise. She got up and put a warm dress on her and went outside. Georgiana was lucky to have the garden so close to her bedroom. She stopped next to a fountain and sat on the marble bench facing it. She watched the water flowing, as the sun was lighting her cold skin.

It had been two weeks that Georgiana had profited from Yun Ling’s hospitality. She sighed. Yun Ling was a beautiful country, but she missed Forsyth so much. She wished she was back in Ortelly, with her family and her crown. All of a sudden, a voice stopped her train of thought:

“Good morning.”

She turned and saw Lord Rufus walking up to her. He sat next to her. She said almost in a murmur: “Hello, Lord Rufus.”

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

“I had a nightmare. I was being executed. And… my father and my mother were there. They were telling me that I was bound to be beheaded.”

Lord Rufus saw her sadness and terror at this nightmare. He took discreetly her hand, hoping to comfort her. She jumped, feeling his touch. Georgiana swiftly got his hand away from hers.

“No, we should not do that anymore.”

“Georgiana, I cannot stop thinking about you.”

She looked at him. No, do not give in, Georgiana. She got up and replied, on an icy tone:

“It is over, Lord Rufus. Everything that happened will never happen again. It is dangerous.”

Georgiana went back into the castle, leaving Lord Rufus alone at the fountain. He sighed. He sees her going away once again, when he tried to talk about their relationship.

At lunch, the queen was sitting in the Dinner Room with King Xi, Queen Imogen and Lord Rufus. Georgiana was having lunch and dinner with Yun Ling’s Royal Family since her arrival. She had almost forgot what it was to live among Royalty.

“I have received news from your husband, Georgiana,” said Imogen.

Georgiana had trouble suddenly to swallow her piece of chicken.

“Really? What is it?” asked Georgiana.

“He is supposed to arrive in the castle in a few days. You must be elated.”

“I am.”

The queen of Forsyth could not help but to look in the direction of Jacob. The Private Advisor’s eyes had turned really dark. She could sense his jealousy from where she was sitting.

After lunch, Georgiana decided to remain in her bedroom. The news of her husband soon arriving had dismayed her. She needed to rest. She could not imagine herself confronting Rainer. She sighed, looking at the window.

Suddenly, the door behind her opened. She jumped and pivoted. She saw Lord Rufus. He closed the door behind him. What was he doing here? She went up to him, frowning.

“Lord Rufus? Is everything alright?”

He did not answer and grabbed her waist. Their body were very close. They have not been that close to each other for almost two weeks. Georgiana saw how much she missed it.

“I told you I cannot stop thinking about you. I love you, Georgiana. I know Rainer is coming back, but I cannot bear thinking about you with him. I love you so much. I’m sorry but I can’t stay away.”

Georgiana looked at him, drowning in his eyes. Their faces got closer and closer. Their lips were almost touching. However, a knock on the door made it stop. Georgiana immediately got away from him. She said, in a voice, hiding her embarrassment:

“Come in!”

The door opened. Georgiana could not believe it. A tall blond-haired man was standing at the entrance. The eternal smirk on his face was something she had missed so much. Rainer was here. He was standing right here, a few meters from her.

“Hi, mila,” he said, in his usual flirtatious voice.

Georgiana could not contain her enthusiasm no longer. She ran to him and hugged him. Lord Rufus was looking at him, with an expression that was not hiding his anger. He said, on a cold tone:

“It is nice to see you, King consort.”

Rainer noticed the odd energy in the room. He questioned them:

“Am I interrupting something?”

Jacob, still mad, said ‘no’ and left the room. Rainer and Georgiana were now alone in the bedroom. He smiled at his wife.

“I have missed you, mila.”

“Me too. But I thought you would arrive in a few days.”

“We took a shorter road. I couldn’t wait to see you. But I am very tired, now.”

“Sure, you should rest. We shall talk tomorrow.”

He kissed her forehead.

“Yes, we shall, mila.”