a royal decree

It didn't take long they arrived at the Queen personal throne room. Guards at the door and in the room. The door was locked once Gwen and Floyd walked in.

Gwen heart skipped a bit. Buy if there was anything she had learnt perfectly during her stay here, it was masking her fear.

From the way she walked in, Everyone in the room could at a glimpse tell that something had changed with her.

Hands folded into her sleeves, head held high, shoulders raised and eyes blank. The girl was dressed in nothing explicit but a night dress yet she was surrounded with a domineering air of royalty and superiority. It was almost like it oozed out of her bones.

Queen Jordyn's mood became even worse after seeing this. She was already mad that Gwen had refused to relay the content of her meeting with the prince to Floyd, now seeing her display such royalty, made her angry and uncomfortable.

"Good evening Your Highness" Gwen made a small bow then stood still at the foot of the stairs that led to the throne the Queen was seated on.

"I see it's true" Queen Jordyn sneered, she stood up elegant like and made her way down the stairs, her hips swaying beautifully with each step she took.

"You consider yourself a true royalty now" She got to Gwen and rose her chin up with a finger, disdain and contempt in her eyes and gestures.

All of a sudden her hands moved up and swept across Gwendolyn's cheek.

Pahh!

Gwen fell to the floor from the slap, her cheek tingled with a burning sensation. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she blinked and sniffled them back in.

"How dare you Insult my advisor?!" Queen Jordyn yelled furiously.

Gwen silently stood up and brushed the dust from her body. She lifted her eyes and looked straight at the Queen.

"I don't get what you mean by i insulted him?"

Subconsciously, Queen Jordyn flinched a little when she saw the rigid look in Gwendolyn's eyes.

When did the girl change like this? Could it be because she met with the prince? Could she have found out something?

Out of anger, she moved to slap Gwen again but was stopped by her adviser.

"Your Highness, people would suspect something if a bruise is left on her face." He gently advised.

Following his advise, the Queen brought down her hands but she was still angry and needed to vent out her anger on Gwen so she waved her hand.

In less than two minutes, the kids were ushered in by two maids.

Pahh! A tight slap landed on the face of one of the siblings. To prevent them from alarming people in the palace, they mouths was gagged so no one could hear them cry even after being hit.

Gwen's heart broke, but she tried her best to remain calm. She had anticipated the Queen would involve the kids. She wasn't going to let that affect her. They would have to endure whatever pain they felt now cause her plan was the only way she could ever guarantee their freedoms.

To stop the Queen from slapping the kids again, Gwendolyn hurriedly spoke "If your anger is because I refused to tell him my discussion with the Prince then you're justified to be angry but I still won't speak of our discussion"

What?

Her words shocked everyone in the room. No one expected she would blatantly refuse the Queen. Queen Jordyn herself was shocked. Her shock gradually morphed into anger and fury.

"How dare you!" She shouted. This time she didn't slap any of the kids but directly threw her palm at Gwendolyn's face.

Gwen lost her footing once again and fell to the floor. Her lips broke and blood dyed the corner of her mouth.

"I will tell you only if you agree to my term" Gwen stood up and announced.

She was done being a push over. Everyone was free to make bargains but she wasn't? She was going to change that now! From now henceforth she would have a say in her future.

Queen Jordyn suddenly broke out into a smile. She was smiling yet the smile didn't reach her eye. Within her hers was a murderous glint. She had to urge to kill the girl standing before her but she couldn't.

"Agree to your terms? Do you think you have a say here?" She sneered. As if the guards understood her words, they drew out knives and placed them against the necks of the children.

Gwen's heart too skipped a beat. She looked at the knives against the children neck and had the impulse to immediately tell the truth but she held herself back. After minutes of staring at Ash and Aki, the corner of her lips turned up and she began smiling.

"Yes I do" her sweet voice rang out calmly, with that mischievous smile still on her face.

Queen Jordyn was alarmed and quickened her steps towards Gwen but it was too late. Before all their eyes, Gwen stuffed a pill into her mouth and swallowed it.

Poison!

She poisoned herself!

This was what everyone thought including the Queen.

Queen Jordyn panicked immediately. As much as she hated Gwen she needed her to be alive, it was in her best interest if Gwen stayed alive. One to remain the Princess replacement and two... she just couldn't see her die_ at least not yet.

She rushed to Gwen and pried opened her mouth but the drug had already passed and there was no way to get it out of her stomach.

"Quick! get the royal physician!" She ordered one of the maids.

The maids rushed to the entrance, at the same time a soft chuckle sounded out.

Gwen chuckled wryly, her face was contorted in pain and she skin seemed to have grown pale in the matter of seconds.

"Royal physician?" She snorted, a hand clutching unto her chest. "Even if he comes he wouldn't have a cure to this"

She took a step close to the Queen, a forced smile on her face and a deathly pale face "This poison has no cure... only a temporary cure. The price assured me of that."

The Prince?

The Queen's face showed a shocked expression. Why would the Seventh Prince of Rylica give the Princess a pill to kill herself? What had they talked about?

Gwen read Queen Jordyn's curious gaze. Her plan was working. Like a fish in crooked streams, Gwen had her wrapped around her bait. Now it was time to pull the hook.

"You want to know why?" She smirked "then you better get a pen and prepare to write down a Royal decree"