CHAPTER FOUR

The royal family set to marry off Princess Ashley like promised to the guard named Derek despite the grievance of Queen Amanda and her daughter, the other royal family seems to abandon her since no one wants to be in opposition to the King and most especially Princess Claire. In the palace, Queen Giana is known to be the least favored Queen due to her dishonest and corrupt family if not for promise of the King to her grandfather she wouldn’t be a Queen in the palace also in her early years as a Queen she was suspected of committing adultery, although the truth was unknown to many including the internal member of the royal family but she lost the King’s favor since then and no matter how many times she tried the King refused to look at her, luckily for her due to her many tricks she got on the King’s bed and ended up pregnant with her daughter Ashley, not happy with being tricked King Josh had shown her hatred ever since so she’s unlike other Queen doesn’t have much say in the palace and now that her daughter is being forced to marry a guard she has no other option than to bear the shame.

Princess Ashley yell at the maids sent to help with her wedding dress and throw the red dress on the floor stepping on it angrily 

“I told you am not getting married” she yelled again ad threw the mirror beside her at the maids. They all screeched and run back to avoid being hit

“Please my princess you need to get dressed everyone is waiting for you at the hall and the King is going to punish you if you don’t appear there” her personal maid Lucy implored 

Ashley stood up and slap her hard on the face, the other maids look on, not daring to move closer to her

“Every one of you should leave me alone” she yelled again like a possessed human, everyone in the room got frightened and move away from her to the door having no choice than to leave but before their hands could touch the knob, the door opened abruptly and about five guards entered with Claire behind they all step into the room making a way for Princess Claire to walk in.

“Why aren’t you dressed for your wedding Sister Ashley?” Claire asked taking a seat to make herself comfortable 

“You!’ she pointed accusingly at her “you ruined my life” she accused and rush at her, the guards rush over and stop her before she could get any close 

“If you don’t dress up now with the help of the maids, I will order the guards to dress you up, it shouldn’t be a bid deal anyway a guard has already seen your nakedness” 

“Ahhh!” Ashley yelled in rage trying to free herself from the grip of the guards who are stopping her from attacking Claire 

“Stop struggling and accept your fate already if you are lucky enough your new family might treat you well but if not I guess your life will be miserable then” 

Claire signal to the maids who are still by the door to move closer and help her dress up but as they try moving closer to Ashley she stare dagger at them that they halt their steps in fear of her 

“I have no choice then” Claire said with a straight face “undress her” she ordered the guard and they wasted no time in carrying out the order, they made to tear off her clothes but Lucy rush over and struggle with them trying to protect her master 

“wait” Claire stop them and wave them to move aside she move closer to Ashley who is now on the floor struggling to keep her body covered with her almost torn clothes

“Are you still refusing to get dress for the wedding?” she asked looking pitiless at her 

“Why are you doing this to me? I never asked the King to marry you off neither did I want your position for myself so why did you choose to destruct me?” she asked with tears forming in her tired eyes

“Of course you wouldn’t dare eye my position, you are not qualified after all” 

“Then why am I being punished?” she asked angrily 

“You aided Zoey in drugging her and taking my place at the initiation ceremony, you also spread rumor about me in the palace almost tarnishing my image” she revealed and Ashley look away guilty of her accusation 

“Can’t you let me off this once?” she half-pleaded knowing there is no way out of her misfortune

Princess Claire hold her hands and help her stand up, she reach out her hand to wipe the tears falling off her face and gave her a little pat on the shoulder 

“No” she replied with a smirk 

Ashley slowly withdraw her hands away from her body and went slowly to sit down on the chair she glance at the maids and they immediately understood her, seeing that her aim is achieved Claire left the room with the guards while they maids hurriedly help Ashley get dressed for her wedding. Standing up and looking at herself in the mirror there was only revenge written on her face

“no matter what, I Princess Ashley must have my revenge on Princess Claire” a murderous look appeared on her face as she walk out of her room to the hall holding a big grudges in her heart.

All members of the royal family took their seats while the couple walk into the hall to the king, the look on everyone’s face was gloomy as none of them seems happy about the union taking place, well except of course Princess Claire who had a smile on her face as she watch the couple walk in.

The couple pay their respect to the royal families and also to the groom’s family even though Ashley was forced then to bow to them, they said their prepared vows and are declared husband and wife right in front of everyone. This time a teardrop off Ashley’s face as she stare at her new hubby with pure hatred if only his greedy mother hasn’t inform the royal family about her affair with his son in order to gain favor from it, she wouldn’t be married to a lowlife guard now although she once love the man standing beside her now the hatred she’s feeling at the moment supersede any positive feelings and all she could think of is how to make her new family regret their acceptance of the marriage.

Since the Groom is barely well-off their reception took place in the palace immediately after the wedding ceremony was over rather having it in the Groom’s home according to procedure

“The Richwell is now part of the royal family and it doesn’t matter where the wedding greeting takes place” the King had said and nobody have any reason to question that even the groom family who should seems to be happily enjoying theirselves digging into the delicacies and different kind of beverages.

The main reason for the wedding greeting came and the new couple stood up to greet everybody especially the groom’s family who are to welcome the bride and accept her into the family, Guard Derek stood up but Ashley sat down still with a scowl on her face. Everyone stare at her direction wondering what is causing the reluctance in standing to greet her new family, soon there are whispers and murmuring about how uncultured and disrespectful the fourth princess is, the ceremony of the wedding greeting after the joining together of the couple is a way of honoring the Groom’s family and asking them to accept the bride into their family as a new member but seeing the attitude of the princess showing disrespect and dishonor got the few citizen there talking 

“No matter how low the Groom family are, the bride shouldn’t show them disrespect not even during their greeting” the people murmured and begin to talk about how Princess Ashley looks down on her new family. Hearing the murmuring Ashley know fully well what’s all about but for her to walk down and kneel in front of the people she has always considered her slaves and drudges in her palace she couldn’t bring her pride  down to do so, she look up to her mother sitting down on her seat beside Queen Giana but got disappointed as she turn her face away left with no choice and not wanting to face any more trouble than she already is, she finally stood up and took her position with her hubby, together they both walk to the Groom’s family to offer their greeting of acceptance.

The maids came in carrying the drinks and a cup each was placed in front of the royal family including the Richwell family, the maiden with Prince Caleb’s cup almost spill the drink as she panicked and lost her steps luckily the cup was caught by the Prince himself saving a disaster from happening, Princess Claire look at the  maid suspicious of her action she glance at her brother to see if he was okay and the latter gave her a smile to assure everything is fine, half-satisfied she turn back to her drink and receive her own drink from the maid serving her.

The serving maids all move back and stood behind each royals they served, just as Claire bend a little to take her cup her gaze shifted to the uncomfortable maid behind the prince and she couldn’t help but feel suspicious about it, sitting back she decide to watch the maid for a while and also find out if she’s under order by any of the royal member. Soon the maid gaze look towards Queen Amanda who look away seconds after staring back at the maid, then the maid turn her gaze back to the cup in front of the Prince and nervous took over her body as she struggle within herself.

Claire stare at the drink of front of his brother and one thing occur to her, it will be a bad thing for her to make a scene at the hall and ended up being false alarm so if she want to confirm her thought there is a simple way of doing it. She beckon unto Sarah who was also standing beside her enjoying the merrymaking going on, Claire whisper some words into her ear and she nodded quickly and left to carry out the order.

Fallon noticed this and wondered if Claire already know of her master’s plan not wanting their whole scheme to go in vain she made to leave the hall but got sent back by her master who signal to her not to do anything. Just as she step back Sarah entered back to the scene, pretending to miss her legs she bump into Prince Caleb’s table sending everything on it rolling on the ground, she quickly kneel down with her face on the ground apologizing profusely for her careless action, everybody turn to the scene but could only stare and say nothing since it’s the sixth Princess maid 

“clean it up” Princess said sternly to her and she clean up hurrily with the help of other two maids, before leaving the scene she nods her head at Claire who nods back at her. Minutes after they left Claire excuse herself from the ceremony and made her way to the still room 

“I will monitor the Crown Prince drink”

All the maids bow to her as she enter the room and made way for her to come in, she search for the maid who served the Prince drink earlier and found her hiding behind without being told Sarah drag her out of the others and push her in front of the Princess, the maid tremble and start to plead guilty even before she was asked

“Who gave you the order?” she asked and the maid did not hesitate in revealing the name 

“Queen Amanda asked me to do I had no choice, forgive me your highness” she pleaded 

All the maids open their mouth wide in shock, it seems like an attempt has been made on the Crown Prince knowing the person Claire is the maid involve will surely face death plus all the maids who serve the drinks today will not be left out 

“For someone ordered by the Queen to kill the Crown Prince of Aither you sure isn’t loyal” Claire said doubtful of her words. Queen Amanda is a corrupt woman but she wouldn’t do something that would implicate her like this, she would rather wait and plan carefully 

“she doesn’t work for Queen Amanda” Sarah whispered to Claire who look closely at the maid kneeling in front of her, realizing there is more to the issue she raise her head up to see if she could recognize her                                                        “I’ve never seen your face before in the palace apart from today, which department do you work for? Who is your master?” Claire asked holding her face in her hands and crushing it together with her nails

“If the Princess isn’t convince of your words….” The maid remembered what she was told, with a rush of hot tears in her eyes “Queen Amanda’s maid told me…” she was saying but the gush of blood that came out of her mouth almost staining Claire end her words as she gave up the ghost.

The next thing to do which is the new couple sharing the same dish together for the first time, a big dish plate was placed before them and other side dishes were placed with it, the dish is the Kingdom famous delicacy which the couple will have to dip their cutleries inside at once and eat together to seal their union accompany with a drink of wine from the same glass as well. Derek pick up a spoon and handed it over to Princess Ashley bowing his head while it’s Ashley’s turn to do the same she refuse to bow and just toss the spoon to him not wanting to disrespect her Derek pick up the tossed Spoon and dig it inside the food after cleaning it with a tissue, Ashley also follow suit and they both dip their spoons and fed theirselves the food afterward they hold the glass of wine to their mouth and take a sip, coming to the end of the ceremony an interruption occur as Princess Claire walk in together with the corpse of the dead maid carried by two of the guards along with Sarah who was holding the poisoned cup.

Everyone turn their gaze to them surprise at the boldness of the Sixth Princess in bringing a dead body to the ceremony, Queen Madison was the first person to stand up from her seat and rush to meet her

“What are you doing Claire?” she reprimand 

Princess Claire push pass her mother and made to the King standing feet away from him, King Josh stood up and look at his daughter for explanation of her imprudent act

“What is the meaning of this Princess Claire?” Queen Amanda asked angrily her daughter was already ridicule by marrying a lowlife and now her wedding is being rudely disrupted 

“Father I have something to report to you” she said and bow on her knees, King Josh nodded and gave her his approval 

“Poison was found in the drink served to the Crown Prince” Prince Caleb who is about to take a sip from his glass quickly drop it smashing it on the floor, everyone seems shock at the news and became conscious of the food and drink place in front of them 

“What do you mean someone poison the Crown Prince?” the King asked recovering from the shocking news 

“This dead maid confessed before her death and told me in front of all presence in the room the culprit who tried to kill my brother” she explained and there are murmurs curious about who this culprit is 

“Who has the boldness to commit such atrocity in my palace?” the King yelled angrily his eyes filled with fury 

Claire waited seconds before she finally reveal the name “Queen Amanda, your majesty” she said and everywhere suddenly become quiet that even a dropping pin could be hear loud and clear 

“What nonsense is this?” Queen Amanda said coming out of shock 

Princess Ashley also look agitated as she left her seat to meet Claire standing in front of the king 

“What do you think you are doing?” she asked and pulling Claire to face her “am revealing your mother’s evil plan to the king” she answered putting on an unfriendly look 

“You are just trying to destruct my life completely, first you force me into this useless unprofitable marriage and now you want to send my mother out of the palace” she accused 

“Force you? No I didn’t it’s your promiscuousness that led you into this, and do you think I will risk my brother’s life or even a maid’s life to frame you and your mother, you are not that worthy” she fired and Ashley grunts in fury 

“Enough! Since there are witnesses to this case, Queen Amanda will be punished for her despicable sin” King Josh said and the guards rush to take away bringing the wedding ceremony to an abrupt end.