Hildegard did not knock.
She stormed into the royal antechamber with a fury that made servants scatter like frightened mice.
"Hey hey hey you can’t just go in." The guards said as the ran after her.
She ignored them and marched in.
Her steps were sharp, her jaw tight, her eyes burning.
She came to a halt in front of the seat were Rose sat.
"Your majesty," she said stiffly, "I need a word. Privately."
The guards came up beside Hildegard and attempted to take her arm.
She growled at them and snapped.
"Don’t you dare set your filthy hands on me." Hildegard snapped.
They became tensed, quickly withdrew and looked to the Queen for support.
Queen Rose looked up from the stack of parchments she was reviewing.
Her face was tired, drawn, older than usual the kind of tiredness that came from guilt, not age.
"Forgive your majesty." The guards apologized. "She insisted and when we didn’t allow her, she barged in. We tried to explain to her you had asked not be disturbed."
But she still nodded.
"It’s fine you may go."
"Everyone leave us," she commanded quietly.
Her attendants bowed and hurried out.
The guards were the last to leave as you could hear them pulling the heavy doors shut behind them. The silence that followed was tense and heavy.
Hildegard turned to face the Queen immediately.
Rose sighed. "Hildegard... I know you and I are not on good terms. But then this isn’t the way for us to-
But Hildegard cut her off sharply.
"How could you do this?"
Rose blinked, taken aback.
"How," Hildegard repeated, voice trembling with anger, "could you allow them to arrest her?"
Rose closed her eyes briefly. "Hildegard, I understand your frustration and how you feel the same way and-
"THEN WHY," Hildegard snapped, "WHY DID YOU LET THEM TAKE HER?! IF YOU CLAIM TO FEEL THE SAME WAY WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU LET THEM TAKE HER AWAY?!"
Her voice cracked across the room like a whip.
Rose’s face tightened with pain. "My hands are tied Hildegard. It isn’t as easy as you think it to be. The evidence is damning and I-
"You are the Queen," Hildegard spat. "You knowing she is innocent should be enough."
"It is NOT enough!" Rose’s voice finally rose. "Do you think I like what I am doing? Do you think I enjoy watching that child suffer? Especially after everything she has been through?!"
Hildegard scoffed. "If you didn’t, then you would stop it."
Rose stiffened, eyes glowing.
"I am doing everything I can," she whispered.
Hildegard stepped closer, face twisted with rage. "You adore Jasmine, yet you let them drag her away like a criminal!"
"The necklace was found in her wardrobe," Rose said quietly, as if that alone was a chain around her throat. "You were there. You saw with your very own eyes when J myself picked it up. Not a guard or a maid or anyone. But me."
"And isn’t it OBVIOUS someone planted it?" Hildegard demanded.
Rose looked away. "I considered that. But we are still investigating and it’s going to-
"Oh please," Hildegard hissed, rolling her eyes.
Rose turned back to her, stunned. "Do you think being Queen is easy? You think making decisions like this comes without consequences?"
"Of course it comes easy," Hildegard shot back, "when it’s YOUR OWN FAMILY setting Jasmine up."
That struck Rose like a physical blow.
Her face drained of color. "What... what did you say?"
Hildegard didn’t hesitate.
"It’s obvious, Rose. Auburn is not your granddaughter and deep down you KNOW it. You doubt it. But because of your cowardice, you refuse to confront it."
Rose staggered back a step. "I... I have no idea what you’re talking about."
There was a tense silence that felt like a sharp knife edging between both their hearts.
Hildegard felt terrible for what she said and considered apologizing but soon when she thought about Rose let them get away with so much, she once again became infuriated.
"Then arrest me," Hildegard snapped as she offered her hands up . "Go on. Do it."
Rose stared at her, horrified. "Hildegard what are you saying?"
Hildegard lifted her chin, voice hard. "I am the one who stole the jewelry. Isn’t that what it means if it was found in the wardrobe? Jasmine and I share it."
Rose shook her head violently. "No. I cannot do that."
Hildegard stepped closer, eyes blazing. "Then I will tell everyone that I stole it."
"You’re lying," Rose whispered, voice cracking. "Everyone will know it."
"Let them," Hildegard hissed. "At least then Jasmine will not lose her eyes and hands for a crime she never committed. You need a sacrificial lamb don’t you? Then use me!"
Rose’s breath hitched. Her throat moved as she swallowed hard.
"I can never do such a thing," she whispered, tears forming finally. "Hildegard... no..."
But Hildegard wasn’t finished.
"Jasmine," she said, voice low, shaking, "will have her eyes plucked out. HER HANDS CUT before she is finally served her body as a meal to eat. And then be sent to Wolf Abide Prison. Those are the laws given in the pack. Do you understand what that means, Rose?"
Rose covered her mouth as if she couldn’t breathe.
"She will die," Hildegard whispered fiercely. "She cannot survive what your laws demand. And YOU KNOW THIS. You. Know. It."
Rose’s tears finally spilled.
"I know," she whispered brokenly.
"And yet you allow it?" Hildegard choked out.
Rose opened her mouth to speak-
But the doors slammed open.
King Roland strode inside, looking between both women, brows furrowed.
"What is going on?" he demanded as goes hovered from both women.
Hildegard turned to him slowly.
Her eyes were blazing.
Her breath was shaking.
Her rage was barely contained.
She didn’t bow.
She didn’t greet him.
She glared.
Then she hissed, actually hissed, with pure disgust.
And stormed out of the room without a second glance, leaving a stunned Queen and a confused King behind.