Seduce the hero's mother (GL)

Chapter 128: Chapter 25. Assassination attempt on a lady

— WHAT?!

When Rachel Cassius heard this, the pupils of her eyes dilated twice. She stood up abruptly from her desk, resting her palms on its surface.

For a fraction of a second she tried to process what she had heard.

The guard commander stood beside her and waited silently for the queen to give her next order.

— Are you sure…? — At last the girl hoarsely interjected.

The man nodded.

— According to our intelligence, not counting the commoner, this is the man who contacted the crown prince after his release. It happened yesterday.

Rachel's head ached. It was too hard to believe.

This morning Rachel had never expected the commander to rush over and tell her the news. All official business was put on hold in an instant. After all, the surveillance of the king's eldest son, which had begun a couple of weeks ago, had finally… succeeded.

But in a way she couldn't have even expected.

Rachel slowly settled back into her chair, realizing she could concentrate on nothing else. She clasped her hands together, resting her head against it.

After a moment or two, while she pondered this, the commander decided to ask:

— Your Majesty… What do you want me to do next?

Rachel sighed heavily.

— Nothing.

He was very surprised.

— But…! How is it…?!

In fact, as much as Rachel wanted to believe it, she also knew that the commander would not lie to her. Having served as commander of the Cassius family's army all his life, he was more loyal than any dog. And yet… Even if the odds of a mistake were awfully small, there was still hope.

This was not a case where a girl could simply reassign the matter to others. She would have to see for herself.

— I'll go there myself,» said Rachel firmly, «And until I see it with my own eyes, I'll never believe it.

— But…! — The man hesitated, «Your Majesty, all our people are certain they saw…

— I don't care. They… They could have been confused!

The commander sighed.

He guessed that if he had given any other name, the queen would never have gone to check the place out in person. Just ordered a quick end to everything. But who knew it would turn out to be much more personal than just a political game.

If Rachel were to accuse this man suddenly and without evidence, she would lose a great deal.

With that in mind, the girl was determined to be sure as soon as possible. To be sure to sift out all doubts. And if it turned out to be true… She'd have no reason to feel sorry for him.

— I'm going now,» Rachel said without hesitation.

— But what about you? — «Your Majesty, to leave the palace unattended is… It's… It's not…

The girl sighed. She knew what he was talking about, but right now she had no time to find a reliable replacement. It would take about two days to get to that place and back. After all, she still had a personal secretary. So let her do her job.

— The ministers and Camilla can manage without me. It's not fatal to leave the palace for a couple of days.

Tom had to agree.

— As you say…

— Prepare the carriage,» Rachel ordered. «An ordinary carriage,» she emphasized deliberately, «We'll go without guards so as not to make a fuss.

Every trip the monarch took outside the Imperial Palace was considered an event for the people of the city. Rachel knew this, and so she was going to make the trip in secret. As few people as possible should know that she would be away from the palace for that time.

— Yes, Your Majesty!

The commander bowed and ran swiftly out of the office. Rachel began to get ready as well: taking off her imperial robes, and putting on her more inconspicuous aristocrat clothes.

When almost everything was ready, she wished she could have stayed an extra few minutes to warn Leriana. It would be better if she didn't know the purpose of this trip at all. At least that way there would be much less excitement…

Rachel exhaled heavily and before she touched the doorknob and stepped outside, she prayed for the first time in her life that this was all just a mistake.

***

In defiance of all rules of decorum, the maid raced through the corridors of the palace to bring her stunning news to her mistress.

On reaching the right wing, the girl threw open the wide doors and burst into Camilla Fernandez's chambers.

At this time Camilla was sitting in an armchair, with her head thrown back, soaking her feet in a basin of cold water. After the punishment she had received in the imperial office, this was the only way she could do anything to ease the pain of her wounds.

After her maid was in the room, she opened her eyes and listened.

— Douglas, what is it?

The maid, panting, dropped to her knees right in front of her.

— Mistress!» she exclaimed, «Her Majesty… Her Majesty has left the palace today!

Camilla was greatly surprised.

— What?!

— The Commander of the Guards has just told me that she told you to look after things…! — exhaled the maid, — Her Majesty will be absent today and tomorrow.

The lady was so surprised that she'd even forgotten about the tub of water. All her thoughts were occupied with the fact that she had in no way expected the Queen to leave the palace anytime soon.

She had never done anything like this before. Was something serious going on…?

— Why? — Camilla immediately inquired.

— The official reason… Her Majesty has left for a meeting with a foreign ambassador.

— Really?!

— Well… So says the Commander.

Camilla was a little hesitant. Why would the queen of the continent's most powerful empire be going off to meetings like this in person…? When it should be just the opposite. Especially since it would take two days.

Rachel hadn't even warned her about it… Why should the queen's private secretary be the last to know everything, much less from her maid?

Camilla felt a slight twinge of resentment, but quickly forgot it as well. For immediately after the initial surprise, completely different thoughts came to her mind.

— This is my chance,» Camille said suddenly in a low voice.

— What…? — The maid asked again, «Madam, what do you mean?

Unexpectedly to herself, Camille grinned. Frankly, she had planned to do it a little later, when the current situation was settled. But… Since this was such a lucrative opportunity, why not take it?

This girl… No one else could get her this time.

Camille intended to repay her for all the suffering she had endured. Even if the girl had to go through something like this again afterwards, she was ready for anything. No matter what happened, Camille was going to see it through to the end.

— Mistress, do you want to do something? — guessed the intentions of Mistress Douglas.

— Perhaps. Have you done what I asked?

— Ah… Yes!

The maid rummaged in her skirt pocket and took out a beautiful necklace with a gem. Camilla took it at once and examined it.

— Wonderful,» she smiled, «Douglas, you have done well. I'll be sure to reward you.

— Don't be…» the one was embarrassed, «Mistress, the crown princess's maid is such an idiot that it was no big deal.

Douglas chuckled.

On Camilla's orders this morning, Douglas deliberately confronted Melinda, Her Highness's personal maid. And during that moment, while Melinda was hurriedly picking up the scattered supplies from the floor and Douglas was helping her — she managed to steal the necklace from her neck unnoticed.

Fortunately, the lock on the chain was light, and it took Douglas a few seconds to hide it inconspicuously in her sleeve. Later she moved it to her pocket.

Camille knew that this pendant was dear to her, and she would surely come back for it. After all, Leriana herself had said that her relationship with her maid was so close that she had even given her an expensive piece of jewelry.

In other words, this plan is simply doomed to succeed.

Douglas supported her mistress in everything. Seeing the ordeal Lady Fernandez had to endure, she hated the crown princess just as much.

Unlike her mistress, the bitch clearly did not deserve her place!

— Madam, you can rest assured! — «I'll do my best to help you get rid of her. You must be the queen!

Camilla smiled gratefully at her.

— How glad I am to have you, Douglas.

— I have served you since I was a child… And I will remain faithful for the rest of my life.

Camilla nodded, for she had no doubt of that. They had grown up together, and she was sure that the maid would do anything for her.

— Fine. Then we'll do it tonight.

***

— I'm such a klutz…!

Melinda cringed and scolded herself as she tried in vain to find the lost jewelry. She had been at it for hours. And all to no avail.

How could anyone be so stupid?!

Melinda couldn't believe that she had actually managed to lose it. The silver pendant with the gemstone Lady Ashford had given her the first year they had met.

All this time the maid had carefully guarded it, for it was the most precious gift she had ever received. It also served as something of a symbol of their unconventional friendship — not every lady had such a good relationship with her maid.

And Melinda did not know how Lady Ashford would look in her eyes now after she had lost him… she must be greatly disappointed.

Thinking about it, the maid felt ashamed in an instant. No, she certainly can't go back without him!

She would spend all day and all night looking for it, but she would search the palace. The necklace couldn't have just disappeared, could it?

Melinda had already spent a quarter of an hour searching every nook and cranny of the corridor where she had last passed this morning. But it wasn't under the flowerpot, or the stairs and window sills…

She sighed heavily as she scrutinized another corner several times in succession.

And while the maid was crawling on her knees, and everyone was looking at her strangely, she heard footsteps behind her.

— Are you all right?

Melinda turned around and saw a girl standing nearby. She was short and a little chubby, with red hair in a bun. Melinda recognized her at once.

She was Douglas, Lady Fernandez's personal maid. As far as Melinda herself had heard, the two had been inseparable since childhood. And when Camilla entered the palace, she also took her maid with her. The relationship between them can be compared in the same way that she and Lady Ashford had.

Meanwhile, though this girl seemed friendly, she was still the maid of that suspicious secretary… And so she herself must not be overlooked.

Melinda rose slowly from the floor.

— Nothing… I just lost something.

— Really? — Douglas was genuinely surprised,» And what is it?

She hesitated a little, but finally decided it was no secret.

— A necklace,» Melinda answered awkwardly, «I accidentally dropped it around here today… I've been trying to find it.

— Oh…» Douglas nodded understandingly, «It must have been very important if you're still looking for it.

Melinda agreed and sighed heavily.

Suddenly, a thought popped into the girl's head.

— Exactly! — The maid's eyes brightened, — I remembered! Mistress just found some jewelry this morning.

— She did? — Melinda immediately asked again.

— Yes. Madam had found a beautiful necklace, but she didn't know who it belonged to, so she kept it.

She sighed in relief.

— Then I must see if it is…

— Of course! — Douglas said enthusiastically,» You'd better hurry.

Melinda nodded.

— Thank you!

The girl jumped from her seat and ran to Lady Fernandez's chambers. She wished that the necklace she had found was hers.

Melinda dashed through two floors and knocked on the door.

— Yes?» came a gentle voice from inside.

— L-lady Fernandez, it's one of the maids… May I come in for a moment?

— Certainly.

Melinda went inside and shut the doors quietly behind her. Camille Fernandez sat by the window in an armchair and smiled at her softly. Contrary to the rumors, up close it was indeed a very beautiful lady.

— Did you want something? — Camilla asked.

— L-lady…» the maid awkwardly retorted, «I lost my jewelry today, and if you don't mind my asking… Perhaps you've seen it?

— Hmmm…» she pondered, «I did find something. You mean the necklace with the gem?

— Yes! That's it!

— Well,» Camilla rejoiced, «Then it's a good thing I didn't throw it away. Look on my chest of drawers, it must be there.

Just as Her Majesty's secretary had said, the maid came a little closer and peered at the things on the chest of drawers. She was greatly relieved.

It really was there!

— Lady, it really is mine!

She immediately picked it up and put it back around her neck. She felt a mountain fall from her shoulders.

Camilla, meanwhile, laughed lightly.

— I'm glad it ended well.

Melinda turned and bowed low to her.

— Thank you very much, Lady Fernandez!

At that moment the maid thought for the first time that maybe she had really made a mistake…? When they were close, Camilla seemed very nice and did not seem to be repulsive. She even felt a twinge of guilt for having been so quick to form the wrong opinion of her.

Lady Ashford must have been right, and Melinda was simply exaggerating.

After thanking her for her find, the girl bowed to her and was about to leave when Camilla suddenly detained her.

— I apologize for disturbing you unnecessarily… But could you get me a glass of water?

— ??

— It's just that it's difficult for me to walk on my own,» she explained confusedly, «Douglas isn't around right now, and I don't know who else to ask for help.

Melinda looked at her legs, and knew right away. They really didn't look good.

— Yes, of course…!

The maid went to the table where there was a carafe of water, and poured a glass. She walked over to Lady Fernandez and carefully handed it to her.

— Thank you.

Camilla smiled and took a sip. Melinda stood nearby in case she wanted to pick up the empty glass and put it back. But…

Just a few sips later, the lady suddenly started choking.

— Agh…!

Her expression distorted as if she was convulsing, and soon Camilla collapsed unconscious on the floor.

Melinda was in shock.

— LADY FERNANDEZ!

The maid at once rushed to her aid, but before she could palpate her pulse, someone had already burst into the chambers.

Standing on the threshold was Douglas and several other guards.

The maid was instantly frightened and covered her mouth with her hands.

— You…! — she screamed, — What have you done to my mistress?

— I… I…» Melinda was at a loss, «I–I didn't…

But the guards Douglas summoned had already figured it out themselves.

— Seize her at once! — The head man shouted, «That maid dares to attack a noble lady!

At this Melinda herself fell to the floor as she felt the ground literally collapse from under her feet.