The Distraught Queen

The two servants who had been busy chatting were surprised when they saw the arrival of the king.

As the king continued to walk closer to them, they could only look down in fear because they thought the king had overheard their chatter and was going to punish them. They finally breathed a sigh of relief as the king passed them by without saying anything.

Nicholas continued to make long strides down the corridor, and before long, he finally arrived at his mother's chamber.

"Mother," Nicholas called from the open doorway. The queen, who was sitting by the sofa with a maid combing her long blonde hair, immediately turned around and was surprised to see her son had come home.

Nicholas walked in and approached his mother. Queen Marianne immediately rose from her seat.

"Mother, I need to talk to you."

Surprise appeared once more on the queen's face when she saw several scratches on Nicholas' face and wounds on his son's neck and hands.