There was a time, not long ago, but quite a few years ago, Marona had been playing hide and seek with her sisters. She was thirteen years old then, which meant Zoronus was eleven, but the girl was already cunning as ever. It was Marona and Chiffery's turn to hide, to be the sheeps, and Zoronus would look for them like the wolf. So Marona did as told. She hid, but little did she know, she was the only one hiding.
Chiffery wasn't a sheep. She was a wolf. There were two wolves and one sheep.
It took a while for Marona's brain to realize what was going on in the game when she noticed Zoronus wasn't after Chiffery, but just her. in fact, they were both after her. it felt quite bizarre, Marona admitted. She didn't know how the rules changed.
Once the friendly game was over, the two younger sisters explained their treachery in between laughter.
They wanted to see how Marona would behave if the two went against her. if she trusted them enough to continue the game, or she would bail out like an immature child because she was the only sheep. Furious, Marona admitted she was close to ending the game, however she stayed nonetheless just to see where this was going.
To this, the two girls hugged their older sister, falling on the dew wet grass together as they promised it was an innocent game. That they would never do anything in which Marona would come across harm. That whatever looked like treachery in Marona's eyes, it would always be a game to protect her.
They would always play games if it meant keeping Marona safe.
And now, after all these years, as Marona stood atop everyone with baited breath, she kind of understood their words. No, she not only understood, she also knew the extant of it.
A chilling silence feel across the whole throne room as Bradford's head rolledon until it stopped right before Lord Reynold's foot. Right at the same time, Zoronus didn't waste a single second before raising her sword and bringing it a mere inch away from Lord Middleton's throat, taking the man by surprise as he flinched backwards, and yet the sword stayed where it was, numbing his movements as she smirked evilly at him. following her movements, the elite knights pulled out their swords as well, placing it against certain commanders among the many present in the room.
Lord Combre gasped hysterically, looking from one person in dread to another as he tried to grab the situation under control. Then all of a sudden, his eyes set on a glare aimed at Chiffery as he seethed. "Traitor!"
This only made Chiffery chuckle like this was a foolish children's play for her. As if her job here was done and that she wasn't surrounded by Hyenas, she placed her bloody sword down and leaned against it carelessly. As if she trusted the people surrounding her to have her back.
Perhaps she was right. But Lord Combre didn't know that still. Turning away from Chiffery, Lord Combre addressed Lord Reynold. "Lord Reynold! We need to get out of here! Call for the reinforcements and-"
But the words died down on the man's throat as yet another sword was pulled against his throat, stopping him mid-way. But it wasn't Chiffery's, nor Zoronus.
It was Lord Reynold himself.
It took a second for Combre to notice who held him at sword point, and when he realized who it was, he seethed in anger, eyes flashing in rage and fury. "You…You betrayed me. you dare betray me? After being in on all these?"
"Betray you?" Lord Reynold asked, tilting his head sideways while exchanging a knowing look with Chiffery who only chuckled. "I was never on your side to begin with."
As the words settled down for the man, his reality began to sink in as he glanced at each and every one of his supporters. At Bradford who was lying headless on the floor, and Middleton who was at sword point like him, and his commanders that were now disarmed by Zoronus's elite knights, Zoronus herself as she continued to smirk with blood staining her raven black hairs and face, and the last but not the least, Chiffery. The one that he was planning on using as a pawn.
This…this was definitely a lot to take in. Marona knew that. She had already fixed the puzzle pieces together, knowing that all this time her sister's had played a game to ambush the traitors, but that still didn't change the fact that she didn't see this coming. Her sisters had outsmarted her just like they did when they were children, and even Diana could not tell.
But what she knew now, was that she needed to step in. she had to get the situation under control.
"Princess Chiffery, Princess Zoronus, explain." That was all she needed to say for her sisters to turn to her, forgetting all about the evil before them as their faces filled with adoration towards their sister, smiles appearing despite their bloodied state.
Zoronus pulled her sword away, letting her knight take control of Middleton as she and Chiffery curtsied in respect, a sight which Marona hadn't seen in years.
"With pleasure." They said in unison, before turning to Combre. Everyone waited for Chiffery to speak, so did Zoronus. But when no words came, the raven head turned to glance at her blonde sister. One look at her and she took the lead. "Lord Combre here had been planning a coup this whole. I'm sure you were already aware of the fact that there was a rebellion forming within the Royal Court itself, Your Highness, but who it was, we weren't sure. So Princess Chiffery and I decided to go undercover and find out. Things became even more easier when we found out Lord Reynold was under cover too, and that the one in charge of the rebellion planned to overthrow Your Highness and replace the throne with someone else. The best candidate could only be one among us, which is Princess Chiffery. Once she expressed her desire to take over the throne, she was already a part of the coup."
Zoronus paused, glancing at Combre as a sly smile built in her face. Beside her, Chiffery clicked her tongue, earning everyone's attention as she shook her head at Combre with disapproval. "Foolish man. How you believed any of this was possible is beyond me. I mean, having Zoronus and I in the coup? Did you really think you would win? That we believed you? Do you really think we didn't know you planned to use me as a pawn to seize the throne?"
Chiffery's final words had Combre whipping his head at her with shock, which only made her smile. "That's right. I knew it. I knew all along what you wanted to do with me. You-"
The sudden burst of laughter has everyone in the room flinching, even Chiffery who stopped midway only to look at the source of the laughter. There, on top of everyone was Marona, still leaning against her sword as she continued to laugh hysterically, making Diana wonder if she was alright.
She was alright. She was more than alright. Because for the first time in years, she was finally sure about something. She was finally getting a hang of the game that was being played this whole time. And no, she wasn't talking about her sisters anymore. She was talking about herself. About the sick, nasty game that was played on her by her ministers.
A sudden rage burnt inside her, a rage ignited with burning flames as she glared at Combre between her laughter, unable to believe this man. She was furious, she was mad. All she could see was red.
Because now she knew exactly what this man had been planning, and what he had in store not only for her, but for her sisters who he believed supported him.
With laughter still echoing across the massive room, Marona slowly stepped down the stairs, the room being eerily quiet at her movements as they waited for whatever she might do next.
"So this is what you have been up to this whole time, is that it? To throw me off my own birth right, and take over yourself?" Marona stalked the room like a predator, her eyes holding a crazed look while Combre gulped, trying to defend himself. "I was only looking out for this Nation. Princess Chiffery had proved to be much suitable for the position so I-"
"PRINCESS CHIFFERY WAS NEVER INTERESTED IN THE THRONE!" Marona shrieked, her outburst echoing all across the room as she glared bloody murder at the man, her whole form trembling with rage. "Don't you dare use my sister as a scapegoat for whatever you had planned. You think I don't know what would happen next? Does no one in this room know what would have happened next!?"
Marona yelled out for the whole room to hear, making everyone lower their heads in shame and fear while Chiffery swallowed the sob in her throat, knowing exactly well what he planned. Zoronus looked from one face to another, her own face holding no emotion. At long last, Marona said. "Fine. I'll tell you what would have happened."
Without warning, Marona stormed towards Combre before grabbing the man by the collar and dragging him to the centre of the room and shoving him to the floor, making him land on all fours. Pointing an accusing finger, Marona said. "This! This pest here had been planning to place Princess Chiffery on the throne alright, but that was all because he needed someone from the Royal lineage to continue unless he wanted the people of Hallowywoods to revolt against him. Once Chiffery's posstion would be secure, she would need an heir to further secure it, and to get an heir, she would need a consort, and that is when House Combre would step in."
Lord Combre remained kneeling on all fours, his eyes darting from one place to another as Marona circled him like a predator, rounding her sword in circles aroundthe man. "Being the first supporter that helped Princess Chiffery ascend the throne, it would only be right for the Royal family to take a consort from House Combre, and who better than Lionel Combre? Lord Marcus Combre's son, hmm?"
Whispers broke all across the throne room, because at this point, every single sane person already knew where this was going. Everyone already knew the sick plan Combre had come up with.
"But alas! Princess Chiffery would never bear an heir! Some unknown ailment would catch her, and no matter how much medications she take, none of it would work. Her Physician would not know what is causing this terrible illness, until one day, she will not be able to bear it." While the words left her lips, the room had listened to each word with sheer attentiveness, like it was a story that had already happened. Perhaps it would, had the two princesses not been smart enough. And as she continued, her eyes no longer held a glare nor did she seem angry. She only looked…devastated. Like saying the story out loud, knowing this could happen to her sister made it even more…overwhelming. "Hallowywoods would then receive the news. Their Queen, Queen Chiffery had passed away only a month after ascending to the throne. And the consort? Poor consort has been widowed only a month after his wedding. Surely he needs a new wife. A new…Queen, for the now crowned King."
Marona stopped circling Crombe, her sword hanging limply by her side as her face softened, turning solemn as she imagined it all in her head. By the time any of this happened, she would already be dead, six feet under the dirt. None of this would affect her. But her sisters? The once that betrayed her? They would take the brunt of it all. They would reap what they sow.
And that…hurt her in more ways than she thought.
"Am I right, Lord Combre?" Marona asked calmly, glancing behind her at the kneeling man. Chiffery and Zoronus had their head down, but at the question, the two looked at the man, waiting for him to finish connecting all the dots they left him.
However, Combre chose another path. He didn't answer their question. He didn't clear any doubts, he didn't help them finish the final battle. Because doing so meant he was accepting defeat, and Combre didn't want to accept defeat.
Like the maniac that he was, he broke into laughter, his first unhinged behaviour being displayed for the open to say. This was so unreal that even the ministers were taken aback by this sudden change in behaviour. All the while, Combre only continued to laugh out loud, but Marona never turned around, waiting for her response.
"Ah Your Highness, ah!" Combre finally said, wiping tears from his eyes. "You have it all figured out! How very clever of you! But alas! Not clever enough."
Zoronus and Chiffery exchanged a look, wondering where this was going now and what else Combre has hidden. The said man tilted his head backwards, looking directly at Marona. "You think I did all of this on my own? That I planned this all on my own? How do you think your parents died, Your Highness?"
At the mention of the rebels, Marona stilled, forcing Zoronus to storm towards the man with her sword until she is stopped by Chiffery. Combre smiles at the reactions he received, finding courage to go on. "True, I was the mole. But that is all that I was. A mole. A mole for a bigger purpose."
"What is it that you mean Lord Combre?" Lord Reynold asked, his teeth set in a tight line as he glared down at the man. Combre smiled like a hyena. "There is a bigger player in this game, is what I mean to say, Lord Reynold. And none of you will ever find out who that is. Princess Zoronus may have killed all the rebels to avenge her parents, but she only silenced them all. You shall never find out who it is! Never! Ha!"
While Combre continued laughing like his life depended on it, Marona mused over his words in her head.
A bigger player in the game. So there is someone else in on it. Combre may have had an ulterior motive, but now it is all under the bridge. However the bigger player still remains. Who could that be?
Out of reflex, Marona glanced at Zoronus, who was already watching her. Zoronus was the one that killed the rebellions.does she know something we don't?
As if to answer her thoughts, Zoronus gave her a curt nod, Marona returning the same gesture before looking away. Sucking in a deep breath, Marona sheathed her sword back, running her fingers through her hairs.
"Your Highness," Came Lord Reynold's voice from beside her. "Allow me to take this treacherous bastard's head for you. I'll-"
"No, Lord Reynold." Marona cut him off, not looking at anyone in particular as she said her final words, ready to wrap up the matter. "This treacherous bastard will die in front of everyone to see. But before that, he will go through trials that will be much more painful than his death."
So saying, Marona didn't spare the people in the room another glance before she walked to the double doors and pulled it open herself, walking out with Diana following behind.
"Take them away." Zornous commanded her knights, who obeyed without hesitation, dragging the men out, turning her attention to Chiffery, her eyes softened as she saw the situation she was in. Taking a hold of her arm after sheathing her sword, she spoke in a voice she only saved for her sisters.
"Come on, let us get out of here. It reeks." Chiffery didn't need to be told twice.
The palace was a blood bath, but Marona felt no pity for the ones dead on the floor as she walked past them. If Zoronus was the one that killed them, then she must have done it knowing they were in on the coup.
No mercy for traitors.