I own nothing. All the characters belong to the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard :D
The small pit of hope in stomach vanishes. Coriane's parents won't let her go without Father knowing. I know that Father has always been very sensitive with anything related to them and usually likes to avoid the topic. And for what reason I don't know why. My parents are both very private about their pasts, and never once in my life have I dared to go into their mind. They deserve that much privacy from a person like me.
I know my Father is one to do things by reasoning and reality, and this is something he would usually say no to unless there is an incentive of some sort. There are so many different things I could do but whether the outcome would be favorable would still depend on him. But I have to try and convince him.
And I know exactly how to do it.
I know Mother's schedule by heart, so I quickly walk towards her bedroom five minutes after her court meeting, a time when I knew she was free. I too am on a tight schedule. I have some more lessons on mathematics and sciences after, but I am willing to sacrifice some minutes for a possibility that it will be all worth it. I bring my small package of letters with me and walk calmly towards her room.
And as usual, the plan works. I open the door to see Mother already there. My head peeks through the doorway as I looks inside.
Mother doesn't like super, flamboyant, decorations to show of her wealth as a Queen. She prefers to be practical and realistic with everything and it is no exception when it comes with her room. It is plainly made compared to the other rooms in the palace with bone white walls, some rugs, a convenient bookshelf, a bed, and a desk.
"Mother are you available right now?" I ask as I enter.
"Yes I am." she says. She's at her desk reviewing some papers and something else by the looks of it. "You really are on a tight schedule and should be getting to class soon."
"I know." I reply. "But I have a favor to ask of you. It involves Coriane Jacos and her family."
Mother's raises her eyebrows in surprise. "What could they possibly need from us?" she asks.
I hand over Coriane's responses to my letters. Mother takes it with a slight uncertainty and opens the it with caution, almost as if any more movement would cause the letter to burn in her hand. She doesn't wear Silent Stone anymore though I still remember the days when she did. Mother is quite adept as using her powers but sometimes she wears them periodically. Not for fun, but for another reason she does not disclose to anyone but Father and herself.
I see Mother's eyes moving as she quickly scans over the pages, with lightning speed.
"She wants to compete in Shade's Queenstrial." Mother murmurs as she puts the letters down with care onto her desk. There is a moment of silence and the tension in the room increases ten-fold. I don't breath.
"Impossible." She says "Your father would never allow it. He has his reasons and you he is not one to do things without logic or rationality. I hope you understand."
"I understand which is why I need to ask you to try and convince him if you can. I know you can. Father has a soft spot wherever you are concerned. If you can speak to him, then you might have a higher chance of him to saying yes."
Mother stays silent for a little bit. I think she smiles a little but when she looks up her eyes are terribly grave and somewhat afraid.
"I can't guarantee anything though" she says. "Anything concerning Lord Julian Jacos and Lady Sara Skonos is a very sensitive topic with him. I know Coriane is a sweet child, and I wish she were here, but I can't change your father's disregard towards her parents and her family. Besides, the court may not as well towards her family."
"What could be so bad?" I ask. Mother doesn't say anything to it.
"Nothing Elara." she responds, her voice strangely neutral, empty of emotion. I can see right through the lie without poking into her head. "I will try my best but I won't be able to guarantee anything."
"Thank you Mother!" I smile. Mother smiles back softly, and I happily walk away trying to suppress the slight spring in my step.
"You have my word." she says as I exit.
August 2nd, 338 NE, Whitefire Palace
Dear Kitty,
I apologize for not telling you sooner, but I will be leaving for Summerton for my brother's Queenstrial. Moreover, my friend Coriane may have a chance of coming! I have not seen her in over four years and I would like to show her everything that has changed since she was away! I am quite excited to show her around to the new landmarks and sculptures made all around Archeon.
I'll be moving to Summerton within the next two or three days and I will write about everything that happens in the Queenstrial, both good and bad. You will come with me and we'll explore the palace together sometime.
~ Elara
Note: Coriane is technically Shade's cousin or something but Maven cut off ties with Julian, Sara, and the rest of their family so they are not recognized as members of the royal family anymore. They are also not related by blood so if Coriane does indeed win the Queenstrial, the High Houses can't accuse the royal family of inbreeding and unfair judgment. In one of my previous chapters, Mare still had Silent Stone on her so I might add a to reason why she stops wearing them. More on that will be touched later in my other story "Untold Stories from the Past". Here's the link: s/13736638/1/Untold-Stories-from-the-Past
Author's Analysis: I hope this analysis section I might add later on in the future will be of some purpose when you read my story :D
- I hope you don't see Elara as an evil person because she "manipulates" Mare into speaking to Maven for her. Mare loves her daughter as much as anyone does even if she is part Maven. Plus, Elara is right as she knows that Maven has a softer spot for making decisions around Mare. Unconsciously, Elara exploits Mare's influence on Maven and takes advantage of Mare's soft spot for Coriane into helping her.
The reason why Elara asks Mare to help is because even though Maven has a small preference towards her, it's not enough for him to say yes. Elara just doesn't know why and this is because her parents never liked to talk about the past. If you read the books, you know about everything from before so I'm not going to add why.
- Elara signs off quickly in the diary to show her growing trust with something like a private journal. She's not nearly as restrained as before and the difference is seen in between the first chapter and this one. Also, she really wants to document this moment.
- Mare knows about what happened to Queen Coriane Jacos (The Singer Queen, different character to the Coriane in this story). I believe that Victoria explains what happened to Coriane in Broken Throne but if you haven't read it, the quick summary is that Coriane and Tiberias the VI fell in love. Tiberias rejected the rite of the Queenstrial for the love match, which angered Elara Merandus so much that she basically murders Coriane because she was in the way of the throne. It is also briefly touched on in Red Queen by Julian who says that Coriane was murdered and that he "let her die in shame".
When Coriane died, Julian was heartbroken having lost his only sister and relative still alive. Sara Skonos however, "didn't know how to grieve" and wanted to bring Elara Merandus, her murderer, to justice. Sadly, Sara lost her case against the queen and had her tongue cut out. It was easier to "look away" from the truth so the Singer Queen's death was always marked as a suicide.
- Mare hasn't told her children the entire history of Maven's relationship with Juliana and Sara. Since Elara doesn't know, Elara is somewhat oblivious in Mare's tight position with a husband who would say no and a daughter who wants a yes. As a side note, I might also formulate a sequel of sorts talking about Mare and Maven's relationship before A Whisper's Story began. I might also add in some novella's in there like how Elara met Eliza, Irina, and Coriane and how Irina's parents fell in love and the entire scandal between them.
- Hopefully I have been able to manipulate different voices to make different personalities appear. I specifically made Mare say "I hope you understand" instead "I'm sure you know that" because I though it would make her less harsh.
I might not be able to update the story as frequently because I have more work to do in the mid term but I will try my best to get some short chapters done so it won't be so bad. I'll see you all in the next chapter! :)