Chapter 149 - Another Side of Zenia Anisen? (Part 1)

Verone's maids who were assigned to take care of her meals finally came.

"Did you find the spy in the kitchen?" 

"Your Highness, we did not find her. But, we have been informed that there's a maid named Leyna who asked for a leave. She should return today or tomorrow."

"Monitor her arrival and find ways for me to talk to her. It is possible that no one in this palace knew that she's a spy of the Ninth Prince."

"Yes, Your Highness," the maids answered in unison.

After having her meal, the oldest maid reminded her, "Your Highness, you really need to take your medication." 

"I won't take it! I don't trust that doctor at all. Who knows what that elixir will actually do to me?" 

"I don't think the royal doctor will do something bad to you, Your Highness."

Verone glared at the maid and snarled, "We all know that I am not sick, don't you all get it? She's messing with everyone. She wants the Crown Prince to stay away from me! I bet the Crown Princess told her to do that."

The maids looked at each other. They knew that the royal doctor arrived shortly after the Crown Prince and Princess had left. There was no way that they were able to talk with each other.

"Your Highness!" The maid that Verone sent to fetch the Crown Prince had returned.

"Where's the Crown Prince?" Verone used a menacing tone when she asked the maid who was kneeling before her.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. The Crown Prince said that the royal doctor advised them to stay away from you because you have a communicable disease. He said that…"

Pak! Pak! Pak!

The loud sound of consecutive slaps echoed within the room. The tears of the maid rolled down her cheeks. She did not move and stopped speaking.

"Useless!"

She saw the vial of the elixir on the table and smashed it on the ground. The maids were shocked at what Verone did.

"When the palace maid brings the elixir again, just take it. We will dispose of it later."

The maids looked at each other. They had no other choice but to nod their heads. They prayed that nothing would happen to their mistress. Rosalie already warned them, and they had no idea what kind of punishment would be given to them when Verone's health worsened.

* * * * *

Vaughn returned to their room when the maid informed him that Zenia was already waiting for him to have dinner. Redivo informed Vaughn that his great-grandfather went out to attend to his  business  and would be gone for a week. The old man left the palace after they went to the Royal Apothecary.

When Zekiah arrived, he was taken to a guest room in the main residence. The maids treated him with utmost respect. They knew that their Crown Princess cared for her younger brother a lot.

"When do you plan to pose as the spy?" Vaughn asked Zenia out of the blue.

He knew that his wife would execute her plan immediately upon his younger brother-in-law's arrival in the palace.

"Tonight I will help Zeze with his makeup and briefly discuss with him the palace rules. You can tell my teacher that we can resume our lessons next week. I thought that Zeze would take another day or two to arrive."

"Do you think she will tell you everything?"

"I'm not sure, but she will be able to tell me something. I think she does not fully understand what is going on or what the Left Minister and the Ninth Prince are trying to achieve."

"I agree. We have enough evidence to prove that Concubine Jayda is not the biological daughter of the Left Minister. What puzzles me is that we cannot uncover the Left Minister's roots. It's like his existence only started when the Roccas took him in. He has no record from birth to the day he was sheltered by the Roccas."

"I think he hates your royal family. Do you know if your Father King offended a family somewhere, and the Left Minister was the son of that family?"

"The King had offended many people in order to get the throne. He and his brothers fought with each other to have the throne."

"Why did grandpa chose not to interfere when it was happening?"

"Grandpa once told me that he had been traveling for quite a while and only returned when I was born. I don't know if it's true or not, but I do believe that I'm the only one he likes among his offsprings. He hates the current King to the core."

"Hmm, I agree with grandpa. Your current King is truly hateful. He knew the Left Minister's evil scheme and yet he does nothing to stop him. What does he want to do? He can give the throne to the Ninth Prince, why does he not just do that? I salute mother-in-law for tolerating him all these years."

Vaughn sighed, "Do you know why he married my mother?"

Zenia shook her head.

"He married her because of her family's influence. He married her to secure the throne. He had no choice but to make me, the Queen's only son, the heir to the throne. If he goes against that, I'm afraid that there will be a civil war. The people of Tissuria love the Queen and her family. The majority of the people want me to be the next King of Tissuria. He should be thankful that I am nothing like him. Otherwise, the one sitting on the throne should already be me. If I can turn back time, I will not allow the Left Minister to get close to the King and influence him."

"But, if those things did not happen, do you think the King would still take you with him in Ishelon at the time?"

Vaughn looked at Zenia and understood what she meant.

"I guess not."

"Did you regret meeting me?"

"Absolutely not!"

Zenia gave him a warm smile and said, "Things happen because they need to happen. We were able to meet at that time because you went there with the King of Tissuria."

Vaughn wanted to tell her that he would definitely still meet her somewhere, somehow because he had always believed that they were meant for each other. Time wouldn't be able to stop him from meeting Zenia even if it would take a lifetime to do so.

He kissed her lips and lovingly uttered, "I'm so glad that I've met you."

She smiled at him and continued eating.

"How long will it take to finish the renovations on Verone's courtyard?"

"A couple of weeks, maybe?"

"Tell them to finish it within a week. I don't want to see that Verone in my home when I finished my spy game."

Vaughn chuckled lightly, "As you wish, my wife. Let's finish this so you can visit your brother."

* * * * *

Zenia started early the following morning. It took her almost all night to discuss the details of her plan to Zekiah. Vaughn was still awake when she returned to their bedchamber. He was patiently waiting for her return. Verone was surprisingly behaved and did not cause any trouble ever since Vaughn refused to see her for the second time, but Zenia knew that she was plotting something.

Zenia tried to copy Leyna's looks and demeanor the way she remembered them. It was a good thing that they had almost the same height and built. She was certain that the head cook and the other kitchen workers did not remember her face clearly. They were so busy that they worked without opening their mouths, except when they needed to clarify something with the head cook.

The head cook noticed Zenia's presence and asked her immediately.

"You came back just now?"

"Yes, I'm sorry that it took me another day."

"Well, it's good that you are here already. We have additional people to feed, and it has been hectic lately."

"Head Cook, I have a suggestion that can make the kitchen more efficient. I saw it in our village. Someone introduced it to the people in my village, and I think we can use it here."

"Well, let's hear it and…"

"Head Cook, our Young Madam wants you to send in someone to her room. She wants new dishes to be served to her." It was Verone's maid who came, and her name was Johana.

The maid looked at Zenia from head to foot. She was certain that Zenia was the spy that her mistress was trying to contact.

Zenia smirked secretly. The maid came after a few minutes that she had been there. They must've checked the kitchen workers before and knew that she was the maid who took a leave of absence.

'This Verone acts fast. Let the games begin.'