Two months later:
Or so she thought. Because just like Zoronus had asked her to wait for two months, Marona unknowingly did, and before she knew it, the trumpets were being blown, the drums were beaten, the people cheered and howled, most of them cried. But one thing was heard clear as day.
"ALL HAIL PRINCESS ZORONUS! ALL HAIL THE FUTURE QUEEN MARONA!"
It continued on until the palace wall shook with the words, and Marona had it engraved in her head.
In the nation of Hucklebee, Chief Advisor Charles pushed his way among the crowded palace, the files in his hands askew, but he continued nonetheless. At long last, he reached the future Kings chamber, pushing open the doors before he burst into the personal study, not bothering to knock or announce himself.
"Charles!" Minder shrieked, staring with wide eyes at the man alongside his two brothers as they leaned over the massive table that held a map of the continent. "Compose yourself! Have you forgotten how to knock?"
"Forgive me, Your Highness but, this is urgent." Charles panted, fixing his unruly hairs as he tried to catch a breath. Mimin titled his head to the side in confusion. "What is it Charles?"
"Well," Charles began, glancing at Austin once before starting. "The rebels. They have caught them."
Instantly the three brothers straightened up, their eyes wide as the shock filtered its way into them.
The rebels. The killers of our parents are caught. Finally.
But Mimin could still not release that sigh of relief as the main question still remained unanswered. But before he could voice it out, Austin beat him to it. "But that's impossible. The elite knights in charge of finding the rebels are under my command. I haven't heard anything yet."
Three pairs of eyes turned back to the Chief Advisor, as he continued to sweat profusely. "Well, that's because, they weren't caught by our Elite knights. They were caught by the elite knights of…Hallowywoods."
The revelation hit the three princes like a bucket of ice water, but if that wasn't enough, Charles found it necessary to drop another. "Or more precisely, they were caught by the third princess, Princess Zoronus."
----------
The scene from the balcony was mind blowing. From where she stood, Marona could see the vast parade that followed the group of elite knights that made their way towards the castle gates on their horses. The people chanted and howled, most cried out in happiness, all of them chanting that same thing Marona had been hearing since day break.
"ALL HAIL PRINCESS ZORONUS! ALL HAIL THE FUTURE QUEEN MARONA."
Indeed, just like the chants said, just like Charles claimed, it was all Zoronus's doing. In front of the group of elite knights was Zoronus on top of her black horse, her hairs matted to her face with blood which was clearly not hers. From the balcony, Marona watched with her lips parted as her younger sister stopped right before the Palace gates and turned her horse around to face the people. She stared at them with her face holding no emotion, which only made her look more like a cold-blooded murderer.
But she was no murderer. She was a warrior. A princess. And that's when everyone noticed her sword. Raising it in the air, Zoronus brandished the head of the leader of the rebels stuck to the tip of the sword, making more cheers erupt, most of them from her own elite knights.
"Gracious Heavens…" Diana whispered beside Marona, sucking in a deep breath while Marona felt her heart leap. "She really did it. She killed the rebels."
You…what have you been up to this whole time?
For two years…you spent all your time among soldiers. Was it…for this?
Have you been looking for our parents' killers?
What have you done, Zoronus?
Why…did you do it, sister?
As if to answer her thoughts, Zoronus raised the sword even heigher, and the first words left her lips ever since arriving, her voice harsh and deep after spending years in war.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN MARONA! ALL HAIL QUEEN MARONA!"
More cheers erupted among the people, if that is even possible. The moise was deafening, making Diana take a step back as if that could reduce the sound, but Marona stayed rooted to her spot, staring at the tiny figure of her little sister.
"Let's get inside, Your Highness. Your Highness?"
But Diana's words fell into deaf ears as the girl only stared down while her sister chanted her name, pouring every single credit of her battle onto Marona like she had fought the battles herself.
Like they were allies this whole time.
"Two months." Marona recalled Zoronus's words two months ago, slowly putting the puzzle pieces together. "Just give me two months. That's all I ask."
Is this…why you asked for time? Because you were secretly hunting down the rebels?
As if she could hear her thoughts, Zoronus stopped chanting, letting the people continue as she slowly turned her head around and stared up at the palace, at the balcony where she knew Marona was watching.
The two women locked eyes from that far distance, neither of them moving. It seemed like each wanted to say something, one filled with questions. And yet they just stood there, looking into each other's eyes until finally Marona took a step back, ready to leave. Just like that, she walked away from the balcony, leaving Zoronus to stare after her.
-------
The throne room was filled to the brim. Not only were the ministers present, but every noble man from every house, scholars, astronomers, commanders of different troops and of course, the band of elite knights that helped in hunting down the rebels, minus Zoronus. As the minute passed, the whispers only increased as each group of mean remained huddled in corners discussing the fate of the man kneeling down on the centre of the room, his hands tied behind him. Most of them expressed their surprise to find out there were traitors in the palace, while some exclaimed how they always believed the man on the floor was too pompous and that there might be more like him among them. Others just whispered about the fate of the man, awaiting the arrival of their princess.
And as the hubbub grew, the guards outside announced the arrival of the Princess, silencing everyone once and for all.
"HER ROYAL HIGHNESS CROWN PRINCESS MARONA HAS ARRIVED!"
The double doors were pulled open and emerged Marona from outside. With her head held high, she walked briskly with the most confident steps like that of a true Queen, heading directly towards her throne without sparing a single glance to anyone. The room had fallen eerily quiet at her arrival, the only sound being that of her heeled boots and the soft rustling of her silk cape behind her.
It was only when she had crossed the man on the floor did she stop, turning around to look down at the man in mock surprise. "Oh! Lord Bradford? What on earth are you doing there kneeling on the floor? Have you committed a crime?"
Lord Bradford glared at her, struggling with the binds that held him down. He made no response, but Marona was already prepared for it. "Ah. Yes. You tried to covet the throne, didn't you, traitor?"
A sly smile built in the corner of her lips as she stared down at the man sinisterly, making everyone shudder in their places. "You have been a very terrible person, Bradford. I believe it's time you pay for it, no?"
She didn't wait for Bradford to make a reply as she swiftly turned around and began walking towards her throne again, while the said man glared at her with all the vengeance of an evil spirit. He seethed in anger, his face contorting in fury as he finally spoke up. "Covet? Covet what? The throne never belonged to you in the first place! We are only taking what is left for us!"
The silent room let the mad cackle of Bradford continue on as it echoed against the stone walls. The nobles all looked anywhere but the Princess, who had a monotone expression as she stared at the kneeling man. It was only when she said that one word did the laughter finally subside.
"We?"
Bradford stopping laughing, confusion crossing his features a he wondered what Marona was getting at. Meanwhile the girl tilted her head to the side, leaning back on her throne as a smile built on her face. "So you mean there are more of you, is that right? Well, I guess I can thank you for clearing out this information for me."
As if on reflex, Bradford turned to look in horror at the line of ministers standing while the said men looked away, trying not to be a part of this crime. All colour drained from the man's face, his eyes holding fear as he realises what he had just done.
When the man makes no more reply, Marona turned to Diana by her side. "Chief Advisor Diana, please read out the crimes of this embecile."
"Sure, Your Highness." Diana replied curtly before unrolling the scroll in her hands. "Lord Herald Bradford of House Bradford, you have been accused of treason against the Royal family. We have evidence claiming you tried to over throw Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess and claim the throne. Do you deny?"
Diana's question hung limply in the air, as no reply came, but the maniac laughter of the kneeling man. With her head tilted sideways, Marona watched the crazed man as he continued laughing out loud, earning whispers. Slowly but sirely, the laughter slowly turned to chuckles, and the man finally met Marona's eyes which held a sinister glint as he said. "I deny nothing. Nothing! Why should I? I will scream it to the world! I will tell this story to anyone listening!"
Bradford bellowed in the pin drop silent room as he raised his hands up and cried out, and then, all of a sudden, his voice was calm and collected, but that evil still remained as he smirked at his words. "After all, it's a story of a life time. Two sisters' over throwing their older sister for the throne."
Every single person in the room flinched, taking a step backwards at Bradford's words, and that also included Diana. For the first time, she seemed so very discomposed, glancing from Marona to Bradford with horror on her face. "Your Highness…"
"Did you really think it was all my doing? That I was in on this all on my own?" Bradford asked with an eyebrow raised, his laughter taking an octave again as he waited for Marona to give a reaction. But all the girl did was stared at him blankly. "You, dear Princess, have been so clueless. So 3utterly stupid. A mutiny being built not only under your nose, but within your own blood. So. Very. Stupid."
As the man laughed at his own words, earning smirks from some of the Ministers, Marona silently got to her feet, her movements slow but fluid and calm as she unsheathed her sword from her side. Not once did she break her gaze from Bradford as she held her sword with both her hands like a walking stick, balancing herself with the pointy edge facing down.
Bradford shrugged, continuing. "I mean, in all honesty, Your Highness, you cannot be blamed, really. Your whole life you have been coddled and given whatever you wanted, so it's no surprise you didn't see this coming. That your own two sisters, your only family, want you out of the way."
"Lord Bradford you shall hold your tongue or-" Diana thundered, or at least she tried to, when the sudden noise of screams and cries filtered inside the throne room outside the closed doors. All attention turned to the noises as more cries were heard, including the sound of metal against metal, as if a battle was taking place.
"Wh-what is going on?" Asked Lord Bishore as the Ministers, Scholars, Astronomers and Commanders shifted in their positions, unable to choose what to do. The only once that seemed unfazed by the whole fiasco, was Lord Combre, Middleton and of course, Reynold. Like they had been expecting it.
"It's an attack. We are under attack! Defend the Crown Princess everyone!" Diana cried out as the Commanders present prepared themselves to unsheathe their swords, but what happened next, had them halting.
"Stay as you are." Came the extremely calm voice of Marona as she stared ahead at the double doors, but every eye was on her. "That's a command."
"Marona…" Diana pleaded, her eyes wide as she wondered what the girl was thinking. So Marona told her exactly that. "If it really is my sister's, then I shall face them myself. If they want to dethrone me, they shall have to take my head first."
Her words were confident, her shoulders were straight, her head was high, her eyes were determined. She looked ready. But Diana knew better. She wasn't ready.
She wasn't ready to kill her sister's.
But there was nothing she could do to stop the girl. Marona was willing to test her own limits for the sake of the throne. She was willing to see if she has what it takes to keep the crown.
The screams outside died down, and the double doors were pushed open with all the force, scaring the men inside as Zoronus emerged, her face and hairs coated in blood. Standing there, she looked like a bloody monster, with her hairs cascading in front of her eyes as she held on to her bloody sword. She scanned the room, watching each and every one of them, until her eyes fell on the girl ahead.
Marona.
The two locked eyes for a whole minute, as if recalling their memories together which all felt like a fleeting dream now, as they stood facing each other as enemies instead of blood sisters. There was no coming back from this. They were past beyond that.
Without a word, Zoronus walked in with confident strides, and it was only then did Marona notice the elegant figure right behind her.
Chiffery.
Clad in the gown usually worn for coronations, Chiffery looked like a Queen already as she walked in with all the elegance of a true Queen. Not a single drop of blood was on her, as if all the brunt of the fight had been taken by her younger sister who made sure Chiffery could pass by without a hiccup.
As she walked in, the men loyal to Marona took a few steps backwards, safe for Lord Combre, Middleton, and Reynold, who bended the knee in respect. This was something Marona had already expected, but what she didn't expect, was the Royal elite knights to do the same. The very knights that just hunted down the rebels.
"Traitors!" Diana seethed as she glared at them fixing the dots together. They were under Zoronus's command after all.
At long last, Chiffery finally stopped, raising her head to look up at her sister who still stood there with her sword. The two stared at each other with no emotion whatsoever, until finally Chiffery did the unexpected.
She smiled.
"Hello sister. How have you been?"
When Marona made no reply, Chiffery continued, that smile still intact. "Has the throne made you mute? That's alright."
With her sickly-sweet smile still present, Chiffery pulled out her own sword, mirroring Marona's posture. "I shall save you from the burden, big sister."
Big sister. Marona let the words sink in as a pang of pain hit her chest, which, out of reflex, made her smile down at her sister. A sad smile. Yes, I'm your big sister. That is what I am.
"Unfortunately," Marona finally spoke up, her eyes glistening over with tears that she held in. "I can't allow that."
Chiffery stared up at Marona with all the malice she could muster, the sweet smile faltering as she prepared to attack. But soon, they were disturbed by Bradford's laughter.
Getting to his feet right behind Chiffery and catching everyone's attention, he asked Marona incredulously. "Can't allow it? what can you do, Your Royal Highness? I shall tell you what. Nothing! You shall do nothing! Hah!"
The man laughed out loud, earning smirks from Combre and Middleton as they shook their heads in disapproval at Marona's expense. "Let me break the reality to you, little Princess. This is the end for you. This is where you die, at the hands of your own sister's. Princess Zoronus shall take your head, and Princess Chiffery shall take the crown on top of it. That, is your fate."
As Bradford said all these, not once did Marona look at him, her eyes fully trained on her blonde sister. And while Chiffery stared at her too, it was only then did Marona slowly notice as the malice began to ebb away from her face, the cruel and evil behind her eyes turning away from Marona, and suddenly, she looked just like the Chiffery she was used to remember.
And to prove her words, someone began laughing, and it wasn't Bradford. It was a woman.
Zoronus.
All eyes turned to her as her shoulders shook, her head hanging low. No one could see her face, but the sight of a girl covered in blood cackling with laughter was enough to send chills down their spine. When she finally looked up, she sucked in a deep breath, pushing her bloody hairs from her face with a yet bloody hand as she eyed Combre with a certain evil glint.
All the while Marona watched the scene unfold before her eyes, her attention then turning back to Chiffery who no longer looked like she wanted to kill her. Instead, she smirked.
"Kill her?" Chiffery asked innocently, turning to face Bradford as he stared at her in confusion. With a shrug, Chiffery asked again. "Why would I do that? She is my sister, you old rodent."
And then, it happened in the blink of an eye. No one saw it coming. Not even Bradford. Not even the sudden fear growing inside him.
With one swift motion, Chiffery lifted her sword and ran it across Lord Bradford neck, letting his head fall to the floor with a thump.