<h4>Chapter 384: So, who killed the queen?</h4>


    "You..it was you that did it!" King Raff eximed.


    Sigrid acted perplexed. "Me that did what?"


    "You killed the queen." he hissed.


    Sigrid wagged her finger. "No, no, no, you killed the queen with all that poison which you fed her to blind her senses. You and I both know that you sent your manter to feed her some medicine that was slowly eating away at her organs on the inside."


    King Raff appeared to turn even paler than he was originally. This secret, he thought he would take to is grave and nobody would ever know.


    Sigrid walked from left to right slowly, like a detective trying to figure out a case. "On the outside, she was fine. Her appetite appeared to be increasing and she even put on a little weight. But that was only because the parasites inside her were demanding to be fed. If you want to point fingers at me, I will reveal the truth that I know and can prove.


    So, my word of advise is simple. You should just retire and rx. Every once in a while, give Rnd some advise on important matters."


    She turned to leave, then paused dramatically at the door. "My condolences for the death of the queen and my congrattions on your escape from death."


    The door mmed gently. The king blinked. Even if he wanted to chase after Sigrid, he could not. A red knight slid out from under the bed.


    He knelt on one knee at the foot of the bed and met the King’s eyes. "Should I take care of it, your highness? Permanently."


    King Raff rubbed his chest. "No." Knowing Sigrid, she had probably made arrangements for this secret to be revealed in case of her death. And she is a mage that is protected by other mages. She won’t die, but you will."


    The door opened and a doctor walked in.


    "I want to rest, tell everyone to leave. I will not be taking anymore meetings today." King Raff turned to the side and closed his eyes.


    The message was delivered to Rnd and Galen that were outside, waiting because they expected to be questioned.


    Galen did not wait and he turned and left, d that he did not have to face his father who did not have much to say to him.


    Rnd hesitated for a moment as he hade with exnations for everything he had been up to since he took charge.


    "Wait, did he ask about Benjamin?"


    The doctor shook his head. It left Rnd puzzled because he thought they would finally deal with Benjamin. Was his father’s silence a sign of forgiveness for his beloved son?


    Those were the thoughts on Rnd’s mind as he made his way to the parasols near the moat and joined Sigrid for breakfast.


    "Let me guess, he is not in the mood to talk." Sigrid said sarcastically with a smile.


    Rnd nodded. "I don’t know what you two discussed but he I can also take a guess and assume that he is not in a good mood. Might I ask what you two discussed in there?"


    She ced the silk scroll on the table and her eyes returned to watching the many--many dogs frolicking in the water with the ducks and Galen’s children. It was not just them but other royal children too, toddlers and teenagers.


    Servants were lined up everywhere fetching drinks, towels, snacks and chasing after young ones that got too close to the moat. Some were in the water, holding toddlers that were learning to swim.


    Some of their parents were sitting around on pool side chairs and beds.


    The royal castle, under Sigrid and Rnd watch, was a fun ce and everyone felt safe treating it like home.


    "We are sending more knights to help Lord Ridley!" Rnd eximed.


    Sigrid nodded. "The royal knights need a break and most of them should return. These will take over and actively help Lord Alexander to take down the capital."


    Rnd read what she was leaving out. She was deliberately reducing the forces of the De-Kensington family and the Valerius family.


    "The De-Kensington’s have no backer with my mother dead." He reminded her.


    "It does not make them any less ambitious." She countered. She stretched her arm out to get some sun but ended up stretching.


    Lanai started to massage her shoulders gently and Mauve led the the kitchen maids to the moat side, carrying trays that had pizzas of different types.


    The appetizing scent drew Sigrid’s attention, that of the dogs and the children. Everyone suddenly wanted pizza. Servants lined up dog dishes, others toddler tes, drinks were served on tables and the pizza feast ensued.


    Rnd wanted a full breakfast with sausages, eggs, bread and tea and it is what he got. The pizza was just a bonus to him. He was hoping to treat this breakfast like a date but Galen joined them, as did Mauve.


    Orpheus and Christie opted to sit alone and enjoy their breakfast like a couple. Rnd envied them and he shot Galen displeased looks which his brother conveniently ignored.


    "So, is anyone going to share their ideas on why our father suddenly decided not to look at my handsome face?" Galen introduced a conversation to the group and then started pulling on stretched cheese with his mouth.


    "Thew concerning nobles and private armies. The king thinks that nobles should not raise private armies and he is hoping that this will be changed soon."


    "Oh my!" Mauve’s eyes widened.


    "That is not good." Galen said in a voice that said it would be troublesome to aplish. "If you want to see this kingdom on fire, then raise that subject. All the nobles will unite and raise their voices. They will do whatever it takes to bring down the Maximus family and erect a new king. If they cannot overwhelm the royal knights they will coborate with the neighboring kingdoms and empire. As long as they can keep their power, they will not care about who sits on the throne."


    "He is right." Rnd confirmed.


    Mauve raised her hand halfway. "I don’t know if my opinion counts but I also think that he is right. My grandfather takes great pride in the Rosewood knights. He trains them personally and watches over them. My father and brothers are no different. Noble house having their own knights is a tradition."


    Sigrid quietly took in their opinions.


    "You should consider your Thorin knights too." Rnd pointed out. "How unhappy was your grandfather when the Thorin army was disbanded by the king?"


    Sigrid recalled how the men in her family had been downcast. Her mother had been worried that were left without protection.


    Family knights defended the family to thest drop of their blood. Without them, one could be safe here in the capital. But outside in their real territories in the East, West, North or South, things were much different. Enemies coulde upon an entire house, surround it and kill everyone in one night, as long as they were not protected.


    "My love, drop this one." Rnd took her hand and shook his head.