In the Darkness of the Throne Room (Queen au starter for...)
@hardboiledhandsome
Only an hour in and so far everything was running smoothly. It was boring, but smooth. She supposed that was something to be grateful for. Everything was normal with her dukes seated below her on the top of the first staircase. they had their partner pokemon beside them like her high knight did beside him. However he stood directly at her right ever vigilante and watching. Her own poem on were doing the same with the absolute and mightyena at the bottom of the steps, her greninja and bisharp above the dukes at the top of each staircase, and her mandibuzz perched above her throne. At least she had her umbreon on her lap to pet which kept her mildly entertained.
Only last night she’d been having a lovely time with Riddler in the gardens talking about business for a bit before, well simply talking. It was so refreshing having someone who didn’t walk around egg shells with her. Where she didn’t have to say every right thing, or fake her personality. She wanted to be back there. In that freedom, one where she didn’t have to where a dress that reached to the floor, or get dressed to the tens to sit and listen to people bring in their baggage and woes.
Honestly she had zoned out of the current conversation after finding out the whole issue was about the moving of a fence. Only a few more hours of this, she thought to herself masking her annoyance with an emotionless stare as always. The dukes were handling the issue just fine it seemed despite some bickering on the details which had been going on for twenty minutes now. Content with letting them figure this out she was able to notice once of the guards coming in signaling something to Nanu. That signal she knew, and her brow furrowed slightly wondering what was so important that they were wanting the throne room cleared.
“Your highness, I suggest you call the decision.”
Nanu whispered knowing as well as she did that this likely might go on a few more hours. Nodding to him Karen sat up, and cleared her throat. A moment later there was silence as the three sets of eyes looked up to her.
“You will follow Duke Grimsley’s instructions, and I will make a note to have someone go over property guidelines. You’re dismissed.”
There was a grateful response from the woman before she was escorted out. Though only half paying attention she had picked up on Grimsley having the rationale response to the situation. Besides going with his ideas usually caused far less damage when she wasn’t listening.
Once the woman was gone the queen’s attention was fully on the door as more guards stepped in to line the throne room. He already had a fair amount, so this seemed highly unnecessary. If she had a poor relations with her staff she might of had fear this was some kind of revolt. As her curiosity grew all of her questions were answered after seeing the person they were dragging in.
The moment she did the woman had to bit the inside of her mouth to keep her reaction tame. While internally her heart began to pound the most her eyes did was furrow in curiosity as if she was only vaguely aware of who the person might be. Another part that she found difficult was not wincing as he was unceremoniously thrown on the floor. Despite her high seating she could tell he was wounded by stains of scarlet in his clothes, the odd bend of one arm as they were both tied behind him, and early signs of bruising on his skin. The only reaction she showed was gripping her umbreon’s fur when the guard who dragged him in set a blade to his throat.
“An awful lot of security for one person. Please do explain why you brought someone in to bleed all over the floor?”
She questioned in a dulled monotone voice. Maybe they didn’t know everything, she rationalized. To them he was simply someone crossing the border. Sure it’d cause ripples with his home kingdom, but if they didn’t know who he truly was then there was hope she-
“He’s ex-dragon kingdom, his original name is kept secret, but he goes by Riddler. We’ve been hearing of the rebellions increased activity in the kingdom, and have found this to be their leader. He was caught on the East streets.” Nevermind, they knew, and Karen felt her voice escape her.
