Chapter 4 After I Become The Queen

• They all know the rumors surrounding the King. But no one dares to speak them aloud. Except Emilia of course.
• “Tell the palace I was already wed before the decree came.” she says, her tone sharper than ever
• Margaret scoffs.
• “Now you’ve delayed your brothers’ marriage for nothing.”
• “Who are we to complain when even Catherine has remained silent.” Hannah replies with a smug grin.
• “Enough,” Lord Markham says, silencing them.
• He turns to Emilia.
• “We’ll discuss this later.”
• “No father, I already said it in front of everyone, there is no need to beat around the bush,” Emilia interject, rising to her feet.
• “Begin the marriage process immediately. And I won’t be attending the banquet. I need to make arrangement for my wedding.”
• Gasps ripple through the room.
• And without waiting for a response, Emilia rises and leaves. her maids trailing behind like anxious shadows.
• Margaret huffs.
• “Has she finally gone crazy? She has been willful all this time and now she actually wants to disobey the orders of the King” Margaret grumbles and Hannah taps her gently to quiet down.
• Sophia turns to Markham, also anxious.
• “She is just afraid. Leave this to me, I will take care of it” she offers but Markham refuses.
• Markham stands.
• “I will see to it myself.”
• He leaves in a hurry, the food forgotten and his face drawn in deep concern.
• “I need to fix this quickly,” he murmurs faintly.
• Louis, the youngest son, rises next.
• “Mother, may I be excused? I have some important business to attend to,” he asks Margaret, who in turn looks at Sophia to seek permission.
• Sophia nods.
• “Everyone is dismissed,” Sophia said.
• The room empties, the tension lingering like smoke. And everyone leaves, except Catherine.
• She remains her seat, her lips pressed into a thin line, her thoughts unreadable.
• Hannah and Margaret glide toward Sophia as she descends from her chair, their smiles sharpened like blades, and eyes glittering with the thrill of fresh gossip.
• “What do you really think about Emilia's marriage to the King?” Hannah begins, her voice syrupy sweet.
• “I’m sure you must be relieved now that the only thorn in your side will be gone.” Hannah asks and laughs along with Margaret.
• “What nonsense are you both spewing?” Sophia snaps, her eyes narrowing.
• “How is it nonsense?” Margaret replies with a smirk.
• “We all knows how much you despise her. Everyone of us does.”
• “I don’t hate her,” Sophia sighs, exhausted by their ceaseless chatter.
• “Really?” Hannah murmurs with a smug look.
• “Then would you be willing to let Catherine marry the King instead?” Margaret presses, bold as ever.
• “Are you really planning to save Emilia over your own daughter?”
• Her tone carries a challenge, and though Sophia holds a higher rank, Margaret is from a reputable family herself and has never feared pushing boundaries.
• Sophia clenches her jaw at her words.
• “Emilia is also my daughter!” she yells, the words escaping before she can temper them.
• “As if,” Margaret scoffs.
• “She’s never acknowledged you as her mother. Anyway, we’ll be going to prepare for the banquet tonight.”
• With a slight curtsy, the two women flounce off, leaving a storm in their wake.
• “Mother,”
• Catherine’s voice cuts through the silence behind Sophia.
• “I would like to attend the banquet too.” Catherine requests.
• Sophia turns to her with a weary glare.
• “I know, mother,” Catherine says quickly.
• “But since Emilia is refusing to go, our family can’t disobey the King’s summons again. Someone must attend in her place.”
• Sophia exhales slowly, her illness weighing on her like a shroud. Because of it, she has let the other wives go on her behalf.
• “Very well. You may go,” she says reluctantly.
• “But be sure to behave yourself. Represent your sister and this family with dignity.”
• “Thank you, Mother,” Catherine says, bowing slightly before leaving.
• —
• “My lady, you are finally getting the opportunity you deserve,” Emily, Catherine’s personal maid, whispers as they walk back to their quarters.
• Catherine smiles, pleased, and Emily, encouraged, continues.
• “I’ve everything ready and in place for you tonight. We don’t even have to go on with our plan to hurt Lady Emilia—”
• “Shh!” Catherine hisses, spinning around. Her voice lowers, sharp and dangerous.
• “Do you want someone to overhear?” she glares.
• “Forgive me, my lady,” Emily murmurs.
• “But the mistress has always been hard on you and gives all the good opportunity to lady Emilia. The opportunity to become the Queen should be given to you” Emily flatters.
• “Mother is just too kind,” Catherine replies, although her expression doesn’t agree with her words.
• “If only she let you attend the banquet from the start. And you even had to ask.” Emily continue to whisper, expressing her frustration on her behalf.
• “Don’t speak of my mother that way,” Catherine warns pretentiously.
• “She’s always tried her best, even if someone never appreciated her.”
• “Exactly! Emilia’s always overshadowed you, just because she’s older—and the only daughter of the master’s first love.”
• “I’ve told you, I don’t care about that anymore,” Catherine says coldly.
• “After I become the Queen, no one will be able to look down on me.”
• “Of course. I will ask the servants to prepare a special bath for you and tailor the clothes once more.” Emily says joyfully and Catherine stops her.
• “Bring me the sachet I bought from the market yesterday.” she adds.
• Emily’s eyes open wide at her request, but she slowly nods her head and hurries away to prepare that as well