Chained to old wounds

CH41

Morgan

My heart pounded a steady rhythm against my ribs as I re–entered the opulent confines of my chambers. The walk with the King had been… enlightening, to say the least. The weight of the situation to his son’s death and the issue with the veil between the two realms settled heavily my shoulders. I really hope nothing is up exciting sometimes. Though, but given my track record of this place, just seemed unlikely. Still, a sliver of hope remained, fueled by the King’s unwavering support and the growing bond I shared with Tsuneo. They really weren’t as bad as I was expecting, given the whole Trial bit.

Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, I was greeted by a cacophony of hushed whispers and suppressed giggles emanating from the handmaidens. Maya’s eyes widened at my arrival. The others hurried away from me, leaving us alone. I’d ever seen it, and I wasn’t looking forward to figuring out what they were talking about now. Still, I needed to know.

“My Lady,” she began, her voice barely a whisper, “there’s… something you need to know.”

The urgency in her tone sent a shiver down my spine. “What is it, Maya?”

“It’s… about Lady Ari,” she said hesitantly. “There’s a… stir among the concubines.”

I raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in my chest. Ari’s attempts to garner attention were hardly news. It was obvious that she had a thing for Tsuneo, and it clearly wasn’t going away though he was married and clearly not interested in her.

“And what, pray tell, is causing this stir?”

“She… appeared in the gardens earlier, Maya continued, her voice dropping even lower, “wearing the queen’s outer robe.”

“The queen’s? Mine?” We weren’t exactly the same size. Why would she be in my room–anyway? Not that I was in there much. I swear, for a palace full of nobles and royalty, they had very little security. That would have to be something I talked to my father–in–law about.

“The late queen’s robe.”

My amusement evaporated, replaced by anger on Tsuneo’s behalf. His mother’s things shouldn’t be touched without his knowledge. Least of all by someone who was just using it for attention.

“You’re sure? You’re sure it’s a robe of the late queen?” I breathed. The thought of Ari parading in Tsuneo’s deceased mother’s clothes left a bitter taste in my mouth.

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Could she get any more tasteless? Tactless? Obvious?

Maya nodded, her eyes wide. “The very same, My Lady. She claims it was a gift from His Highness, Tsuneo himself.”

A fierce anger flared within me, hotter than any dragon’s breath. The notion of Tsuneo bestowing such a personal item – a relic of his own grief- upon Ari was laughable. Furthermore, Tsuneo wouldn’t have had the opportunity. His mother had been murdered around the same time he himself had fallen into a coma.

The long and short of it was that she stole it and thought no one would call her out on it. Either that meant there were more people inside the houses that were against the opposition here than I thought, or Ari was really that dumb. I bet on both.

“Is there a punishment for someone who isn’t between to wear the Queen’s colors?”

Mia grinned. “Several, my lady.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Fury simmered in my veins, but I forced myself to remain calm. This was bigger than a petty squabble. Ari’s audacity, her blatant disregard for protocol, could have serious repercussions. The servants were quick to gossip, and I could only imagine what it was like within the concubine’s

chambers. This is exactly what he didn’t need.

“Where is Ari right now?”

“Yes, I heard she was in the main corridor. Heading towards the kitchen that serves the main dining hall.”

1 cocked an eyebrow at her. “Why would she be there?”

Maya rolled her eyes.” Probably to harass the kitchen staff into making her something… or and to-

not make a new dinner.”

“Walk with me,” I said. She fell into step beside me Does Ari often harass the kitchen staff?”

She always has. She’s acted like she was the queen in that regard for years.”

“And no one stopped her?”

“There hasn’t been a queen in all these years.”

Great. That was exactly what I needed to hear, but I guess I should have known that was going to

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be the answer.

I followed Maya’s directions down the hallway and through the corridors. The palace seemed to be leading the way more than Maya was.

“Shouldn’t you change?”

“Why?” I asked. Any thief can wear stolen clothes. Only the wife would be wearing her husband’s

robes.”

Maya grinned. “You have the heart of a dragon, Lady Morgan. The late Queen would have loved

you.

That warmed me, and part of me really hoped that was true. I wondered what she was like. I walked through the palace ignoring the gossiping and enjoying the way people shut up when they saw me wearing Tsuneo’s robe. It seemed like they understood, even without me telling them exactly what was about to happen. I heard people following us and hoped they enjoyed the show.

I pushed open the heavy double doors of the kitchen. The cloying scent of spices thick in the air. Gasps and hushed whispers rippled through the room as I entered. All eyes turned to me with a bit of fear before glancing toward Ari’s figure on the other side of the kitchen.

She was leaning over a long prep table, seemingly berating a young woman who seemed to be peeling potatoes.

I looked back at the rest of the kitchen staff.

“Whatever was planned to be on the menu tonight is just fine. Please continue on with your work. I’ll deal with her.” They looked stunned. ‘And for future reference, she has no authority to change anything. If she stepped foot in this kitchen for anything more than to ask for a stack, call the guards and have her thrown out.”

“Yes, your Highness….”

I turned to Ari, who still hadn’t realized that I was there. I crossed the room to where she was standing with the young woman.

“You think that’s what you’ll want?” Ari hissed. I’ll have you—

“You have no authority to do anything to the staff I said. Ari lifted her gaze and sneered. Seeing. her with the vibrant and luxurious robe that matched the robe I had last seen the king in and clearly belonged to Tsuneo’s mother, draped carelessly around her shoulders, irritated me. At least she hadn’t got anything on it, but the gall of her actions sent a fresh wave of anger coursing

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through me.

“Ari, 1 began. She sputtered. “An explanation is in order.”

Ari snarled at me. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m ensuring that people who don’t understand their place learn it.” A forced smile stretched across my face as I stared into her eyes, “Or by words, what are you doing?”

“You know nothing—”

“You have no power over the staff of the powers as a mere noble. This young woman is in the middle of preparing dinner, and you are disturbing her work. Do you think that hindering the staff in their service to the throne is befitting of a woman reliant upon the generosity of that same throne?”