Regina
The morning after Charles's execution, the grand hall of the palace was eerily quiet, the storm's remnants still lingering in the air. Faint scent of blood still lingered in the halls.
I stood before the mirror, sun rays from the tall arched windows casting a golden glow upon my reflection. Today, I was draped in the deepest shade of black; a stark contrast to the muted grey gown I had worn just the night before, the very night I had bathed in the blood of those who laid a foot in my territory.
My hands were neatly folded before me, fingers gently intertwined, resting with poised elegance.
The same hands, once stained crimson, now appeared soft and luminous as if they could never kill a man or handle the weight of a heavy sword. Now, light, delicate jewels adorned my fingers.
I added a small yet formidable crown on top of my head to remind people I was no longer just an heir of the Anderson Duchy but the Grand Duchess. I was born with this right.
This title was mine from the moment I was born. Not Charles, not the Godwin family. They did not matter. It was always meant to be mine.
I was no longer just a grieving lady. No. What stood before them today was the woman who held authority.
Exhaling slowly, I took one last look in the mirror, and I saw a woman who was honored with power and sharpened by betrayal.
Starting today, I will start a new chapter. I will change the laws. I will hold power in my name and not live on someone else's mercy.
For every betrayal, I shall return vengeance threefold. For every wound they inflicted upon my family, I will carve their downfall into history.
I, Regina Anderson, will rule this land. The Grand Duchy is mine to command, mine to protect. And by my hand, the Andersons will rise. Greater, stronger, unchallenged.
All those who underestimated me for being a woman will see what happens when a woman burns with fury. They have only ever known the rage of men- loud, reckless, predictable. But I will not scream; I will not rant. My rage will be quiet and merciless.
It will not be a wildfire that rages and dies; it will be an eternal flame, consuming them piece by piece, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
My eyes gleamed dark with purpose.
They will kneel- out of respect or out of fear is their choice to make. My enemies will live at my mercy and die at my mercy.
With one final glance at my reflection, I straightened my shoulders, committing this image to memory. A silent promise to myself. I was the one who held the reins now.
Turning away, I strode towards the council chamber, each step unhurried. I had to deliver the news of my beloved fiancé Charles's unfortunate assassination with the grace of a grieving woman.
. . .
Outside of the palace, Margaret and Jasper arrived at their carriage, their expressions painted with arrogance, completely unaware of what awaited them.
Servants bowed, and knights stood at attention. They walked into the palace as if they owned it. They had gotten their hands on the Grand Duchy now; Charles was a mere fool who could never handle the affairs and always felt inferior to Regina. He would never ask her for help. It will be them he will turn to.
They will rule the Grand Duchy now.
They were finally near their goals that the excitement in their hearts could not be calmed.
Yet something was off. There was no sign of Charles. He must have been waiting for them, so why didn't he come out to greet? Surely, he must already be informed that they arrived.
They did not think much about it and assumed he might be in the Council Chamber with other ministers of the duchy who were also coming here today to discuss succession.
But as soon as they stepped into the hallway, Jasper saw no knight wearing the silver sword emblem. No, they all wore the emblem of a golden falcon with outstretched wings. The Anderson family legacy mark. The quick-witted and courageous ones.
Margaret did not notice it yet, she was busy making futile dreams in her head. Jasper was confused; he remembered clearly that he had advised Charles to keep Godwin's family knights in the Grand Duke's palace. Did Regina make him do this? He knew she was a smart woman, but it's possible that Charles gave in to her advice instead. But he will make sure Charles acts according to his will alone.
They entered the Council Chamber but froze in confusion as they saw her.
Regina sat on the Grand Duke's seat, not Charles, sitting in a poised, calm, and unshaken demeanor. The very image of power.
All the nobles had a sombre look on their faces. Jasper knew something had gone very wrong. He cursed at Charles in his head, not knowing what he could have done wrong when all he had to do was hold authority over the palace for a day. Even for a fool, how difficult could it be?
Margaret was enraged to see Regina sitting proudly in the Grand Duke's seat. And immediately asked in irritation, "Where is Charles? Why isn't he here?"
Just then, a knight stepped forward, wearing a silver sword emblem, and spoke solemnly,
"Lord Charles… was assassinated last night. We found his body early in the morning. All of his knights were also found dead outside his room."
The color drained from Margaret's face, while Jasper's sharp eyes flickered with something- shock, calculation, and the immediate need to regain control.
Margaret's composure shattered. "Assassinated?! What nonsense is this?! Where were the knights? How could this happen?!"
The knight standing in formation bowed his head. "We were guarding the palace, my lady, but the storm was fierce. The wind and thunder drowned out all sounds. It was… as if a trained assassin had orchestrated this."
Margaret's breath hitched. Their plan had crumbled before it even began. But she was not one to surrender easily. She turned on Regina with a venomous glare.
She did not understand how it had happened, but without a marriage alliance, they had no authority over the Grand Duchy. All she knew was to pressure Regina somehow into taking responsibility so they could blame her.
"How convenient," she hissed. "A perfectly timed attack, just as Charles took his rightful place-"
Regina met her gaze, unflinching. "Rightful place?" she echoed, her voice deceptively soft. "Tell me, Lady Margret… when exactly did Charles become my husband in the first place? It seems you are forgetting it was not Charles's rightful place, but rather my husband's. And I am not wedded to anyone yet, and that still does not change the fact that I am the heir. I hope you understand titles are not something to take so lightly."
Margaret's mouth opened to speak, but a sharp look from Regina made her pause as she continued, "You even forgot to greet me first, the Grand Duchess, as you should have given your status."
Margaret clenched her fists in rage as she proclaimed herself the Grand Duchess, but the thing was, no minister objected to it. Of course, they won't, she was always meant to be one as the heir. It didn't matter if she had a husband yet or not. They took the matter of noble bloodlines very seriously, and it was only through her that the Anderson bloodline would continue.
Jasper immediately stepped forward and spoke in a refined manner, bowing his head,
"I apologize for my mother, Your Grace. She raised Charles like her son. It was out of worry that she forgot; her intentions were not to disrespect you."
He tilted his head slightly to look at his mother, giving a silent warning not to show disgrace in front of the ministers present. Margaret unwillingly obliged and bowed as well, "Pardon my disgraceful act, you grace."
Regna didn't speak, instead choosing to reply with a firm nod. Taking the hint, Jasper continued to speak, "I wonder how such an unfortunate incident happened. Who could dare to do that to your fiancé, your grace?"
Jasper realized how drastically their situation had shifted- now, they stood on the verge of losing everything they had built over the years. Their only option was to make Regina bear responsibility for this incident. If he could cast doubt on her leadership, he could emphasize the urgent need for a Grand Duke to take charge. A duchess alone would not be enough; her rule could be seen as weak, leaving the duchy vulnerable.
He needed to salvage whatever he could from the remnants of Charles and Regina's marriage arrangement. Though their union would never come to pass, the Godwins were still associated with it, which could still be enough to claim a role in the duchy's governance. If he played his cards right, he could ensure that their family still held influence, securing control over key matters under the guise of aiding.
He was certain that in such a short time, she couldn't have prepared herself well enough to handle the questions he was about to throw her way.