*Selena*
Harper remained steadfast and fiercely loyal to her king. I understood that extracting information from her would prove to be a daunting task. Yet, I refused to concede defeat; determination fueled my persistence.
“But why?” I furrowed my brow, attempting to coax her into cooperation. “Harper, you need not fear anyone. As your future queen, I assure you of your safety,” I reassured, reaching out to touch her shoulder. However, she evaded my touch and busied herself with her tasks.
“I possess no knowledge of the king’s personal affairs. His private life is closely guarded, and he divulges little to none of it,” she explained impassively, finally turning to face me. “If you seek answers, why not confront the king directly?” she challenged.
Ah, a clever response indeed.
“I thought about it,” I shrugged, feigning innocence. “But he didn’t tell me. Perhaps he thought I’d be jealous if he discussed his former lover with me.” I smiled coyly. “But I’m not jealous. I’m curious and eager to know. I hoped you could share something with me that would help me impress the king.” I pouted, emphasizing my desire for information.
“My queen, the king is already smitten by you. You don’t need to impress him,” Harper reassured me.
“Oh, come on, Harper. Don’t change the topic. Tell me about Arabella,” I insisted, growing annoyed by her evasion. She looked at me suspiciously.
“Never mind. I think no one here wants to talk about her as if she were a bad woman,” I scowled.
“No, that’s not true,” Harper protested promptly, and I knew I had struck a chord.
“Oh, really?!” I challenged. “But it seems like none of you like her, and discussing her is treated as a sin.”
“No, Your Highness! That’s far from the truth. Everyone respects her. But trust me, no one here knows much about Lady Arabella,” she said desperately. “However, I have heard she was a very noble and humble woman.”
“Where did you hear about her?” I inquired, delving deeper into the conversation.
“I heard from some elders, but they also haven’t seen her or know much about her,” she explained.
“Okay, I believe you,” I replied with a soft smile, though a sense of frustration gnawed at me. It seemed like a futile effort. Now, where should I go to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Arabella?
“But, Your Highness!” she suddenly squealed, as if remembering something important. “I know that there’s only one person very close to the king. Maybe she can help you.”
Wow! Now I hit the jackpot!
“Really? Tell me, who is she, Harper?” I demanded eagerly.
“The royal witch, Cassandra!” she replied.
The royal witch?!
“Cassandra!” I repeated in astonishment.
“Yes, my Queen. She is the king’s personal adviser and the most trustworthy person. Perhaps she can help,” Harper explained, her tone earnest.
“Thank you, Harper,” I said warmly, a grateful smile spreading across my face. “This is a tremendous help. I will be forever grateful if I can find what I seek. Your king and I will deeply appreciate your service and loyalty.”
“You are welcome, Your Highness,” Harper responded, bowing respectfully.
“By the way, where can I find the Royal Witch, Cassandra?” I inquired, setting aside the chopped vegetables I had been working on. My task here was complete; it was time to move on to the next step.
“She will be in her lair,” Harper revealed.
“And where is that?” I asked urgently, couldn’t wait anymore to meet this Royal Witch.
Harper arranged for a guard to escort me to Cassandra’s lair. As I stepped inside, the atmosphere felt peculiar, with the space teeming with wild and dangerous creatures-snakes, scorpions, and other untamed beasts. People moved about in peculiar attire reminiscent of witches and wizards, adding to the surreal ambiance.
“Where can I find Cassandra?” I inquired of a woman engrossed in her work amidst the chaotic surroundings.
“Selena Ardolf! My king’s mate! What brings you here?” Her directness caught me off guard; she seemed to recognize me despite the fact that we had never met.
“I’ve heard much about you being the closest confidant of the king, so I wished to meet you,” I replied with a polite smile.
“How gracious of you, my Queen. You could have summoned me to the castle instead of venturing here,” she remarked, a smirk playing on her lips. Her scrutinizing gaze hinted at her awareness of my true purpose.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” I declared, lifting my chin with resolve.
“So?! You know that I am your king’s mate?!” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Of course!” she grinned mysteriously. “I know everything about you. The King never hides anything from me,” she said smugly. Such overconfidence.
“That’s interesting. So, you and the king are very close,” I remarked, scanning the dimly lit surroundings. The gloominess of the place added an eerie atmosphere, but I concealed my distaste before turning to face her.
“Tell me, what do you know about Arabella?” I asked, adopting an authoritative tone.
She made a flustered face before answering, “It’s not my place to divulge such information.”
“Why?” I persisted as she moved to pick up a beaker, pouring a green, slimy liquid into a smaller vessel.
“Why do you want to know about Arabella?” she snapped.
“Because she was a part of the king’s life, and I want to understand everything about him,” I replied casually.
“What you already know is sufficient for you,” she said dismissively.
“What happened to her and the king?” I inquired, disregarding her dismissive demeanor. “I want to know everything about their story, and as your future queen, I order you to tell me the truth.”
She laughed, one hand resting on her stomach while the other was held up toward me, causing me to furrow my brow deeply. The audacity of this witch.
“I am sorry, Your Highness,” she managed to stifle her amusement. “Do you truly believe that I would hold knowledge about someone who existed thousands of years ago? I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not that old.”