Chapter 3

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AN: I added more to the end of this chapter so some of it will be the same as last time. If you've read it, just skip to the new part.





"Mother, I am not accusing them of anything! I simply find it strange how the wine that almost killed me came from their kingdom," I exclaimed, throwing my hands into the air for emphasis.

"Braelynn, how dare you accuse the people that saved your life of being the ones to try and kill you. The Buren family has been our ally for years, it is not possible that they would stage something like this," my mother said indifferently, like she was talking about the weather.

"But how did Ford know? It didn't look any different than normal wine, mother," I countered. She huffed.

"We have already been over this. Your father is interrogating the kitchen staff right this moment."

"But-"

"Enough! I have had it with this incessant arguing. Leave my presence before you cause a scene," Mother finally showed some outward annoyance. She shooed me away with a flick of her wrist.

I turned on my heel and walked away, pushing past the guards and returning inside the castle.

I didn't get very far before Ford found me in the hall.

"Braelynn, it's nice to see you up and well today," he said smoothly.

"It's nice to be up and well today, Ford," I answered with the same tone of voice.

"I was just sent to retrieve you. Your father has found the culprit of the poison. She just confessed. They are in the throne room right now."

Ford took my arm and we walked down the hall in silence.

"It's a shame, really. That your staff would turn on you," Ford commented, sounding smug.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"That your kitchen maid was the one to poison your drink," he explained as if I should have already known what was going on.

We arrived at the throne room to see a scene of chaos. My father was tense in his throne, face red, fingers clenched. A young woman was sobbing on the floor, being held up by her elbows.

"P-please please don't! I'll leave! I'll leave and never come back! Please don't k-kill me! My f-family! I have three children without a father. Please!" She pleaded, but my father wouldn't budge.

"Enough. I will not have this. Punishment will occur as planned. The children will be moved to an orphanage in the village. Take her away!" He bellowed.

I couldn't move.

This small, frail mother is the person that tried to kill me? What motive did she have? What would she have gained from removing me?

My father calmly strode towards me as the lady was dragged to her death. Her screams echoed throughout the hall.

"This lady came forward and confessed during her interrogation. She is your poisoner. Case closed." He said and brushed out of the room.

I still couldn't believe it. Ford tutted beside me and left the room after my father.

It didn't add up. She had no reason to poison me. I had never seen her before in my life. And her poor children; now without a mother or a father. They hadn't done anything to deserve that.

I tucked my hair behind my ears and walked out of the room. I need fresh air, I thought.

The gardens were busier than usual today. Lots of people were out and about. I guess more guards were ordered on duty from the "incident" as Mother was calling it now.

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The roses were in full bloom and I admired them as the sun reflected off the gold embroidery on my dress. Mother made sure I was dressed up today to show that I was not affected by the attempted murder. I was.

I turned into the "maze" in our gardens. It was really just waist high hedges, but there was a peaceful fountain in the middle, which I found solitude in most times.

Someone called my name from the other side of the maze.

So much for solitude.

The person turned out to be my mother.

"I have something to show you," she said and led me over to the castle wall.

A guard was standing there with perfect posture. His uniform medals glistened in the sun. Brown hair, with sun-streaked blond highlights fell neatly on his head. Deep blue eyes looked straight at me.

I was captivated.

"Braelynn?" my mother said impatiently.

"Mhm. What was it that you wanted to show me, Mother?" I asked.

"This is Maddon. From now on, he will be your personal guard. His duty is to follow you around and make sure you remain safe. After the incident la-"

"Are you serious Mother? You're assigning a guard to follow me around?"

I can't believe this. Is she serious?

"Considering the events that took place last night, we have extreme circumstances that call for this level of protection. It is for your own safety. We are only trying to do what is best for you," she continued.

"I can take care of myself, thank you very much. I don't need a babysitter, and I don't need a guard!"

"I can assure you, Maddon here is very skilled at his duty, and we went through a long process to find someone suitable to care for you."

"Care for me? So now you hire someone to do your job for you?" I was pulling at any string I could find to get me out of this situation. I was not about to have someone watch me 24/7. That wasn't going to happen.

I glanced up at Maddon. His lips remained in a firm line, not reacting to the heated argument going on right in front of him. He glanced over my shoulder watched the gardens.

"That is quite enough young lady! I am a very busy queen, and I don't have time to argue with you about this. My decision is final. Maddon will be on duty starting now." My mother turned on her heel and slid away, leaving me alone with Maddon.

I pursed my lips and rocked back on my heels. "So.." I trailed off. Maddon didn't move, still staring straight ahead.

"Well, this is fun," I muttered. I decided to go and find Kellan and tell him the news. Maybe he got a guard too, and it wouldn't be as bad.

I spotted him chatting up another girl. Typical.

"Excuse me, I need to steal him for a quick minute," I said and yanked his arm in the opposite direction. He let out a cry of protest, but I didn't stop until we were far away from anyone else.

"You are not going to believe this! Do you see that guard over there?" I asked and pointed to where I was just standing. There was no one there.

"Are you okay sis? Did you accidentally swallow some poison, or is it just your stupidity?" He sneered, earning a slap on the arm from me.

I looked around and finally spotted Maddon a few yards behind me.

"Him! Right there!" I exclaimed.

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