The Lost Princess

"Why haven't they found her yet!" She yelled and it echoed throughout the room.

The guards' hands flew our their ears as they hunched their shoulders up and the hairs on the back of their necks stood up.

"We are looking everywhere for her your grace. It's as if she has fallen off the planet. Maybe the rumors of her living were untrue?" Her Head counsel replied.

"No, this information came from a very reliable source. The nurse maid's body that was in charge of caring for the child was found in a village not far from here. Not to mention the guards who my dead husband relied on heavily were present when my guards were there trying to gather information...no she is very much alive and they are hiding her. Find her...find my precious step-daughter who was stolen from me. My poor husband, may he rest well with the Ancestors, would have wanted her to be raised by me."

She threw her over hands over her heavily makeup face and pretended to weep.

The head counsel looked over his shoulder and nodded for a guard to step forward.

The guard stepped forward and he whispered in his ear,

" I want every stone on this planet check for any signs of the late king's lost daughter. No one is to return until she is found. Am I clear."

"Yes, sir. Right away." The guard said.

He turned around to two of his fellow guardsmen pointed to them and gesture for them to follow him out of the room.

The queen still pretending to cry sat with her hand over her face blinking and squeezing her eyes trying so hard to get a few tears to fall from them.

"Your grace, please do not cry. I have sent more guards to look for her. We will not rest until she is located. You have my word." The head counsel said.

The queen peeked up and then dabbed her eyes with a napkin she had hidden in her sleeve. She sniffed a few times and hid the lower half of her face behind the napkin.

The head counsel waved off the rest of the guards and other spectators as the queen continued with her act. Once the room was clear the head counsel looked over to the queen.

"You are being a bit dramatic are you not, your grace." He said.

"How else will I be able to convince them that I love the brat and only want her safe return so that I can watch her die with my very own eyes."

"That poor display might have only made you look suspicious. Remember there are still those that believe you killed the king."

"I did no such thing. Why would I stain my hands with his blood?"

"Of course, your grace, I know full well that your hands are never soiled by such things."

"Exactly, yours, on the other hand, are drowned in the color of blood."

"If it is for our benefit, I shall commit a thousand more sins"

"Yes, my sweet little pet, you are the most loyal one out of all of them aren't you, Jayel."

He stood straight as he watched the queen get up from her seat and walk up to him. Inhaling deeply he closed his eyes and waited for the queen to finish.

She stroked the side of his face and the let her finger play a bit with his wavey light brown hair.

"My sweet, sweet Jayel...it is times like this I wish I could keep you locked up. Come to my room after dinner we have much to discuss." She said.

She pecked a kiss on his lips and went to walk past him.

"Why do you play such unnecessary games, your grace? Please do keep in mind that the one who truly runs this kingdom is I and not you."Jayel replied and peered at her from the corner of his eyes.

The queen chuckled a bit and smiled.

"Oh, come now, Jayel. You only hold power because my son cannot take the throne because he is too ill. He favors you like a brother so he trusts you with his throne."

Jayel scoffed and turned her body to fully face him and he glared at her.

"Yes and if not for me both of you would be dead or exiled like your other children. I am your only true ally here, your grace, and it would be wise not to play games you do not yet know how to fully play."

The queen pouted her lips a bit as she tilted her head a bit and let out a gasp.

"Dear sir, your words hurt me so. I only wish to reward you for all your hard work and effort."

Jayel pulled her in and she could feel his breath on her cheek as he whispered in her ear,

"Do not mock me. I may hold a deep affection for you, but my d.e.s.i.r.e is not to be toyed with. Such a prize is not something I should I have. I mean you are still the queen, even if it is only in name."

The queen ground her teeth and scoffed at him as she pushed away from him.

"Just remember the plan and find my stepdaughter. The sooner we find her the faster we can move on with bigger things."

"You needn't worry yourself, my queen, we will find her and processed as planned. Unlike some, my mind is focused on what the next step should be and not who will be laying beneath my sheets."

He then bowed his head slightly and gesture his hand for her to exit the room.

"Your words will get you in trouble, my dear. Do not test the strength of a woman who has nothing much to lose."

"Your threats will only cost you your neck. Remember this, my queen, one word from me and the secret is out about what happened to the king and your dear precious step-daughter will be able to take the throne from your son."

"My son cannot be removed from the throne, he is the rightful heir."

"Is he really, we both know the true reason you want the princess dead. Because the king left your son nothing and gave it all to the princess. She is the true heir to the throne, she is the one who threatens you the most on Zanooma. So tread lightly, my dear queen."

The queen looked at him as he motioned towards the door again dismissing her. She clenched her teeth then grabbing hold of her dress she stormed off to her son's room to check in him.

Jayel smiled and watched her disappear down the hall. A guard that had been hiding in the shadows of a pillar stepped forward and took a knee before him.

"Make sure when you find the princess that no harm comes to her. She is to be my future queen after all." Jayel said

"Yes, your majesty, my troops believe they have a lead on her whereabouts." The guard said.

"So you've found her. Where might she be?"

"Ay Su, your majesty, she is apparently attending the royal school there."

"Really interesting...this will be tricky. Okay, tell your men to confirm that she is there nothing else. We will have to plan a way for us to take her back without causing a war with a neutral kingdom. Ay Su is not a kingdom we want to become our enemy...go I have much to think about and plan. Watch over her movements for the time being and report back to me."

The guard nodded his head and stood up and said,

"She will come to no harm, your majesty, on my life I swear to this."

"You are a loyal one. And for that, I will reward you greatly after all is done, Vestin."

The guard looked up and smiled.

"You are too kind, your majesty. I will take my leave now."

"Yes, you may go."

Vestin walked out of the room and Jayel watched him as he managed to fade into the shadows.