Chapter 115: Survival in the palace
Music Recommendation: Abandoned Secret- Fredrick Jonasson
—
Anastasia watched Queen Maya stare at the wall beside her, her hands resting on her crossed legs. The woman inside the cell appeared bitter and angry, yet maintained a stoic expression. As the surrounding silence enveloped them, the only sound she could hear was the distant clanking of chains coming from various corners of the dungeon.
When Anastasia turned to look at Theresa, the older woman took it as a cue and proceeded to walk further away from where she initially stood so that she could promptly inform the young woman if anyone were to approach.
"Were you caught trying to escape from the palace?" Anastasia asked, but Queen Maya only continued to stare at the wall, offering no response. Perhaps the woman didn’t want to speak to her, she thought to herself, and just as she was about to depart, she unexpectedly heard her say,
"It feels like a distant memory that has been buried and obscured amidst other recollections. Something I haven’t revisited for many years now." Queen Maya’s voice softened from its previous volume. "The place I came from used to experience heavy snowfalls. I had loving parents, a brother who cared for me, and a lover I was engaged to. His name was Oslo. I still vividly remember that fateful evening when my town came under attack."
"Was it pirates?" Anastasia inquired, feeling a connection to the woman’s past.
"No. It wasn’t pirates. It was the soldiers of another kingdom who had attacked us during a blizzard. They captured me and four other women, trading us like sheep before we were eventually brought here," Queen Maya explained, her blue eyes void of emotion. Shifting her gaze towards Anastasia, she added, "You know what happens in this place."
But Anastasia was curious about Queen Maya’s attempted escape and the reason for its failure. Additionally, a part of her wanted to understand the woman, who claimed she had not been like this before. Though she didn’t believe the woman completely, she was willing to hear her out. She stated,
"Most of the concubines consider themselves fortunate to be in the presence of the royal family members."
"Is that how you are feeling now?" Queen Maya raised her eyebrow. "Being a prince’s exclusive concubine, one on the path to becoming a king. You must be feeling fortunate."