Later That Night – Royal Kitchen
Walter led the investigation personally. Servants were gathered and questioned. The dishes prepared for the noble wives were reviewed one by one. Fortunately, a meticulous steward had kept a ledger of ingredients and food portions.
After checking everything over and over again there was nothing wrong with the food or drinks.
Walter then decided to concentrate on those who served Dorothy’s table.
"Something was wrong with what lady Dorothy eat today. If you know anything or noticed anything I will give you a chance to step forward and confess. I will speak with the king and reduce your punishment," Walter said.
He knew from the beginning that this situation was not going to be easy to investigate. After all, if the queen really hurt Dorothy she would not be stupid enough to leave evidence against herself.
The five people looked at each other and remind silence.
"If no one speaks, none of you will excape punishment," Walter said. His voice was cold. He did not believe he would not be able to get answers from a few servants.
"I—I warned her ladyship not to eat too many of the honeyed plums. They were made for decoration... too rich for a pregnant woman... She insisted." a young maid finally spoke up.
Walter frowned. He did not know much about what a pregnant woman can eat. He had already checked the inventory and there was nothing wrong. So this maids words were the only possibility of what could have happened.
"Did no one stop her?" he asked.
"She said she was a physician and knew what she could eat," the maid whispered, almost in tears. "She even waved me away."
The young maid was at lost, at that time the head of service had told them to remind any pregnant woman present that the honeyed stone fruit have been soaked in clove syrup and could not it much but Dorothy had not listened.
Hearing that she was a physician, the maid thought that she knew her limits and stopped talking.
What she did not expect was to get into trouble because of it.
The palace apothecary was summoned and confirmed that excessive consumption of honeyed stone fruits especially those soaked in clove syrup could lead to cramping and nausea, especially in expectant women.
The Physician also asked her if it was as the maid had said and she confirmed it.
Dorothy pursed her lips, at that time when the maid reminded her she was feeling irritated.
Those women had been looking at her with so much disdain, hearing a maid try to stop her from eating what was placed in her front she had snap.
Dorothy knew she should not eat much of the honeyed stone fruits, so she did not. She did not expect that even the little she eat would lead to so much trouble.
The matter was quietly reported to the king.
King Edward read the report in silence, jaw clenched. The torchlight cast deep shadows on his face as he finished the last page. Dorothy’s condition had been caused by her own carelessness. The queen, as expected, had not lifted a finger against her.
His gaze turned to the flickering flame in the hearth.
He had locked his queen away under suspicion, and now the truth mocked him.
"She played no part in it," he murmured, the weight of guilt pressing against his chest.
King Edward signed, he knew he had acted too impulsive. Even if he had suspended Anastasia he should have waited for the results of the investigation first. He should have at most asked someone to keep an eye on her.
"Suppress this incident, it must not get out of the palace," king Edward said. Giving the current situation, if this incident was to leak out, more and more people would lose faith in his judgement.
Back in the Queen’s Chambers
The doors opened with a creak as Walter stepped in. Queen Anastasia turned to face him, unreadable.
"His Majesty has lifted the confinement order," Walter said with a respectful bow. "An apology will be sent in private."
Walter really felt bad for the queen, after all, she had been suspected before anything was confirmed.
Anastasia smiled faintly, but her eyes were tired. "I do not need his apology," she said. "Let him keep it."
Anastasia wave for wlWalter to leave, she felt that the king was really unreliable.
Miss Magdalene stepped forward, her voice sharp. "But Your Majesty, this slander—"
"miss Magdalene, it’s late already I want to sleep. There is a mass tomorrow morning, I intend to attend," Anastasia said. Newest update provıded by novel✶fire.net
Miss Magdalene was forced to swollen whatever she wanted to say. She understood why Anastasia did not accept the king’d apology.
What could she do with it? "Then, I will call Rosa in to assist you," Miss Magdalene said with a bow
"There is no need," Anastasia rejected. She wanted to be alone at the moment.
Miss Magdalene bowed when she heard her response. The queen always preferred taking care of herself.
Anastasia closed her eyes and was deep in thought, tear run down her cheeks as she thought about how difficult life has been from a young age.
"Why am I so on lucky," she could not help but feel helpless. Although she had been worried about her marriage into the royal family after her first night mare but later she thought that if she played by the rules she might be able to save herself but it seems she was wrong.
Anastasia could not help but think of how the king chose to trust Dorothy even in the face of evidence but now, just because Dorothy was ill after the feast, he made a move on her.
The more she thought in this direction the more heart broken she felt. First bet father did not like her and now her husband .
Anastasia cried for a long time before clearing her eyes and getting water to wash her face. Then she climb the bed. Many thoughts and possibilities went through her mind but the fear from the nightmare remains firmed.
Even without remembering the details, she knew she had died of poisoning because of the king’s mistress.