Chapter 69 - A Trap For Queen Ariadne...

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Queen Ariadne's POV.

Nobody was allowed to entered the kitchen so they told me. Queen Valeria went ahead and locked all the stores, the women had no choice but to look for her ring. I did not go out of my room. I gave Arya all the fruits left.  I was not able to leave the palace because of the Emperor's absence. Anne went to the village to get food for us.

"Am hungry mother" Arya finally said. She was quiet the whole the time, trying to be mummy's super girl. Now that she spoke out , I have to go look for food.

"Do not worry strong princess. Anne will soon be back with back with food" I stroked her hair. Poor child , she had not spend up to a week in the palace but she hot the worst torment. Queen Valeria was wicked in action, I was expecting her to exclude the children from this punishment but she did not. No wonder, the creator never gave a child to such people.

I sent one of the maid to call prince Edwards but she came back with no good news. He also went to his great- grandmother. Why did they choose to go out all?

The situation on ground require a male member of the royal family. Not a man, but some one who was capable of stopping Queen Valeria from doing what she did.  When I tried to stop her earlier, she took it the wrong way.

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The Author's POV.

"Who do Ariadne think she is?" Queen Valeria asked Naana who was sitting out side the harem. Ever where was quiet and empty. This was unusual. By this time if the day, women were seen around these areas, forming groups for different purposes.

"She is the Emperor's wife. One of his favorites" she told. Naana knew this was going to annoy her mistress. May be this would bring her senses back.

Surprising , Queen Valeria gave a smirk.  She did not care about that, this woman has crossed the limit. It's was high time, she set things straight for her.

When Queen Valeria saw Anne going out of the Harem , she was more furious. Before Queen Ariadne came to the palace this maid was no body. She worked in the kitchen as a cook but now, things were different. The new Queen had given her with wings to fly higher than she should.

"Anne where are you going to ?" She asked as soon as she saw the money in her hand. Queen Ariadne must have sent her to get food from the village.

"Am going home Empress" she curtsied.

"I learnt that Vidor went along with the Emperor. There is no need for you to lie here".

"Guards" She called out to the men, who stood in front of the harem. "Put her in the dungeon. I will tell you when to release her." Queen Valeria instructed.

"Forgive me, if I offended you empress" Anne pleaded , as the guards dragged her to the dungeon. The place where criminals were taken to. For no good reason, she was arrested by these men on the instructions of Valeria. Queen Ariadne would be waiting for in her chambers.

"Why did you do that" Naana asked, after the guards left. She did not like the way Queen Valeria was using her position to inflict pains on the people she was supposed to protect.

"Anne was going against my orders. No lunch for them. I made it clear why will Queen Ariadne send her out ?" Queen Valeria answered. There was a tray of food besides her. She ate while the others watched.

"Queen Ariadne has a child to take care of. At least let the children have some food" Naana advised her. She was afraid of what will happen when the Emperor find out about this.

"I do not care Naana. If I have my way Arya won't live to see the next day Queen Valeria said. Within these few days that the girl lived in the palace, she had come to hate her more. May be it was because of who she was staying with – Queen Ariadne!

"Do you hate her that much? Do not forget queen Valeria, you owe that girl a lot. Be grateful to Queen Ariadne for taking the responsibility of raising her up Naana reminded her of the murder that she committed.

There is no way , I will raise another person's child. I hope Evelyn forgives me wherever she is Queen Valeria said, trying her best not to laugh at her words. Seeing the women  of the harem suffer like this gave her joy.

"I hope the Emperor does not get angry with the way you handle the harem when he was away" Naana told her. She feared the Emperor's rage, to make matters worst, magic did not work on him.

"I have a plan already. I will tell them Emperor that they tried to take control over me when he was away. Seeing me cry will make him believe" she gave a wicked smile after telling Naana of her plan. Queen Valeria wondered why she became soft all of a sudden.

Naana did not waste any of her time to ask further questions. Queen Valeria was stubborn and impatient. These character, she was putting on will only lead them to their early graves.

Her hope was to leave the palace as soon as the Emperor said so. She had been here for too long. At first when the Emperor told her, that he wanted her to stay and help in finding the witch , she thought it's would not take this long. Now, it seemed for ever.

Queen Ariadne's POV.

I waited for hours in the room. But there was no sight of Anne. The village market was not a day journey, I wondered what was keeping her. Did any thing bad happened to her or she lost the money I gave to her? Vidor was not at home, do what made her stay this much,.

Arya had finished the last fruits. I had no choice but to look for a way to feed my daughter and also the other children of the palace. I got up from the bed with Arya in my arm, we went to Queen Alissa's room.

"Queen Ariadne, are you sure about this?" She asked me when I told her about going to the village. There was no need of obeying the Emperor's order when our children had no food. If he wanted us to obey these rules then he would have stopped queen Valeria from the beginning but he did not. Rather, he gave the position of the women's quarters. I wondered if he did not checked her character before they got married? She was his first wife and I expected him to at least take hair time to look for a good Queen for the people of Akkad.

"Yes Queen Alissa. Please do look after Arya for me. Keep her away from the women leader" I told her. She understood what I meant by that. Queen Valeria was a bad news to all.

"Do not worry. Your daughter is safe with me. Be care fully out there." She assured me , when I handed the child to her.

I gave Arya a kiss and left for my room. What ever that was going on in the harem was not right. No one was here to stop queen Valeria. Even if I try, there was no chance for a success.

I took some money and headed off to the village. My hope was to get enough food for the children, if possible for the women who could not wait till evening for the Emperor to return.

Outside the harem , I saw the evil woman called Queen Valeria who was sitting and eating like she did not starved the royal children. There was no time for me to argue with her. I walked passed her without greeting her.

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The Author's POV .

"Why did you stop Queen Ariadne from leaving the palace?" Malia asked her mistress who was still sitting out side.

"It's part of the plan Malia. Do not panic, Your Queen is not foolish like the others" Queen Valeria praised her self. She was happy that Queen Ariadne fell into the trap , that was set for her.

"We do not understand what you are saying" Naana asked, with her brow narrowed in confusion.

"I do not like when you all behave like your brains are not functioning. Don't you see the trap, I  set for her? Queen Valeria asked them. This was simple, she wondered why they were confused.  Was she the only smart woman in Akkad?

"I still do not get what you are saying" Naana said, looking at Malia to see if she understood but her reaction was negative. Queen Valeria was full of drams today, it seemed she was waiting for an opportunity like this.

"Oh dear creator.. Save me from such company" she closed her eyes and uttered the prayer aloud.