"You said you're here because of Queen Aurora's death?" Queen Floraia asked with a soft and anxious voice, caressing a palm size bee on her hand. It was the Princess's gift to her, and the Queen of Spring was extremely happy.
Maybe because it was pink and hairy while its eyes were popping – looking adorably cute.
"I'll be honest with you, my Queen," Elena started. "Queen Aurora's body disappeared from her tomb."
"Disappeared?" Queen Floraia's nonexistent brow wrinkled, prying if Elena was telling the truth. "But . . . isn't it your duty to guard her tomb?"
Princess Elena shot Ren a quick glance before she answered, "We had a hunch that her body inside that tomb was fake. My mother believed that Queen Aurora still lives."
Queen Floraia's eyes widened in surprise. If she was genuinely surprised, Ren didn't know.
Studying her, Queen Floraia's appearance was unlike any other fey creature he had seen. She appeared to be a hybrid between a fairy and a flower. Her delicate wings were made of soft petals, and her body was covered in a layer of soft, velvety petals, giving her the appearance of a walking, talking flower.
Despite her striking look, Floraia was prone to bouts of extreme anxiety, and she could often be found worrying about the smallest of things. Her anxiety manifested in a number of ways, including pacing back and forth, wringing her petals, and fluttering her wings frantically.
Floraia's voice was soft and delicate, and she spoke with a gentle lilt that was reminiscent of a babbling brook. Her movements were graceful and fluid, and she floated effortlessly through the air on her soft, petal-like wings.
"I knew it . . ." she muttered, pacing back and forth, wings fluttering on her back. "I tried to warn them," she said, voice rising. "But no one would believe me! And they banished me into this . . . this . . . THIS forsaken endless maze of a town!"
The bee in her palm screeched, and it flew on top of the flowery throne, shaking and hiding from the Queen's wrath.
"My Queen," Elena took a step forward. "What exactly do you know?"
Queen Floraia stopped, stared at them with her wide unsettled eyes, and whispered, "Princess Orlanthia, Queen Aurora's sister. . . and the current ruler of Autumn Palace."
"What about her?" Elena urged, her tone rising, and Ren had to clear his throat to remind the Princess of her manners.
Elena paused and took a step back, her calm came back on her face.
Queen Floraia didn't mind Elena's lack of manners, and she continued with a grave voice, "I saw her one time, the Princess Orlanthia, I mean. She was talking to herself in the mirror."
Elena and Ren looked at each. Was the Queen alright in the head? Ren wanted to ask but chose not to.
"What's wrong with the Princess looking at herself in the mirror?" Elena asked.
"Oh, nothing." Queen Floraia's wings fluttered rapidly. "If not that I caught a glimpse of the Queen of Air and Darkness in her reflection."
[The World Quest, Fey Realm has been updated!]
"The Queen of Air and Darkness . . ." Elena frowned. "If she's involved in this, then that means that Queen Aurora's death might be stage, and mother could be right . . . Queen Aurora might still be alive."
Queen Floraia sat on her flower throne and shook her head. "Tell that to the court." She sneered and drank tea to calm her nerves. "Those feys will throw you in some remote land. Ha!"
"Then we will go to Redwood Forest to Autumns Palace and investigate this," Elena boldly declared.
Queen Floraia drank another cup and said, after a loud gulp, "You can go. Sorry if I cannot offer more help. My soldiers are not to my command, unfortunately. As you can see, I'm just a puppet with a crown for the summer court. I don't command any power here."
"It's fine, your highness. Your information is enough."
"And . . ." Queen Floraia shifted uncomfortably on her seat. "I need to report your appearance here in my palace to your mother."
Both Ren and Elena were caught off guard.
At Elena's surprised and confused look, the Queen bristled. "It's protocol. You're a princess! The hire to the Elven Realm. If something happens to you, and the investigations lead to me, I'll be in trouble. Big trouble!"
"Queen Floraia . . . Your grace." Elena forced a smile despite her heart thumping hard on her head. "If you report to my mother, then we will never get to the bottom of this. If the Queen of Air and Darkness is really the culprit behind this, then we need to act fast, or everyone's indecisiveness could endanger the entire Fey Realm."
"I'm sorry." Queen Floraia slumped on her throne and crossed her legs. "I can't do anything about it. I don't want to get in trouble too. Being banished in this place was already hard enough."
"Your Grace . . ." Elena was about to say something when Ren's voice rang in the throne room.
"What will it take to keep your mouth shut and pretend that you didn't see us?" Ren asked.
Elena's eyes popped from their sockets, and she immediately defended him. "I-I'm sorry, your grace. Pardon his insolence. He is only an adventurer. He doesn't know proper courtesy."
You're one to talk. Ren wanted to say, the words were on the tip of his tongue.
Queen Floraia only waved her hand, and instead of taking offense, she seemed intrigued at what Ren said.
In fact, she had a few quests prepared like she had expected the two of them to beg her to keep her mouth shut.
"If you can do three tasks of mine, then you have my word that I have never seen you in Hedgegrove."
"Will you write that into contract?" Ren wanted to be sure.
Queen Floraia's face darkened, and she leaned forward with a foreboding face. "You insult me, mortal. Everyone knew that an Archfey words were as good as their life."
"I'm not a fey. And I need a mortal contract to make me at ease."
When Queen Floraia saw that Ren wouldn't relent, she took a sharp breath. "Fine, then."
A scroll and quill floated in front of Ren, and Elena was quick to his side and warned, "Ren, are you sure? The task might be impossible to comply."