His Majesty's Devious Sins

Once the coronation concluded, there was a celebration thrown to welcome the new Queen. By now, night time had come. The dark skies were peppered with bright stars, the moon full and bright, almost as if they, too, were celebrating Adeline.

In the center of it all, Adeline was overwhelmed. The same people that questioned her status a few weeks ago were the very ones that congratulated her the loudest. Those that frowned deeply towards her gave the largest smiles. She could no longer read the true expression on everyone's faces.

"What do you think of the current situation in Kastrem, Your Grace? What will you do in the Crown Prince's shoes?"

Adeline snapped back to reality. She was surrounded by a group of world leaders, a mixture of men and women. She glanced at the man who asked such a perilous question. Everyone looked at him. They knew how troublesome the topic of Kastrem was.

"Kastrem is not under Wraith's control," Adeline mused. "If it doesn't concern my country, I'd rather not waste time pondering over the 'what ifs' of life."

The older man was surprised at her response. He was the first to laugh, his smile bright and cheery.

"It's just, Your Grace, that you used to be the Princess of Kastrem—"

"I still am."

His smile slipped a bit. "Ah but the Crown Prince—"

"The usurper?" Adeline returned with an innocent blink of her eye.

The word left a bad taste in everyone's mouths. The man lowered his gaze a bit, awkward that she was so blunt about such a tedious topic. 

Seeing his discomfort made her smile. "What's wrong, Lord Baybrook?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"N-nevermind, Your Grace."

Adeline cast him a humored glance. Over his small shoulders, she saw Elias talking to a group of women. She noted his pleasant smile that never reached his cold eyes. He smiled so easily, but never meant any of it. 

When he caught her stare, he held it for a second and winked, before returning to the conversation. An older woman with white hair and a beret was talking to him, dressed in clothing that was all the same shade of color.

"If I offended you in any way, Your Grace, I didn't intend to."

Adeline's attention returned to Lord Baybrook. She could tell he was testing the waters around her, wondering what made her tick and throw a fit. 

Nothing really fazed her as much as Elias's sudden assault of teases and words. Perhaps that was why he always crossed her boundary lines, so that she could be familiar with the bluntness of high society.

Though, the topic of Kastrem did stir an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. Her blood burned with the thought of her traitorous Uncle, who performed a military coup d'état upon a little girl. Did he have no shame?

"Of course you didn't intend to offend me, when your title can be easily taken away by the Royal Family, Lord Baybrook. Surely, you're not that foolish to provoke the Royal Family?" Adeline mused.

Lord Baybrook flinched back a bit, irritation crossing his features. He forced a large smile and bowed his head. "I may be old, but not that senile yet, Your Grace."

"Hm, there are others who'd think otherwise," she said.

Lord Baybrook opened his mouth, but she turned away and walked off, leaving him standing there, amidst the snickering of his peers.

Adeline saw in the corner of his eyes, his deep scowl. He walked briskly back to Dorothy, like an insulted child crying to his mother. She narrowed her gaze, knowing exactly who sent him to provoke her on her Coronation. Dorothy's eyes met with hers, disapproval written all over her stony expression.

"Your Grace."

Adeline's attention snapped towards the woman that spoke to her in a low, sultry voice. Minerva Stone had presented herself. Adeline was well-aware of how influential this woman was, especially amongst the Aristocratic Vampire Faction.

"Lady Stone," Adeline said in a pleasant voice.

"Won't you come and meet with my group of friends? Every woman is eager to be acquainted with your lovely presence, Your Grace." Minerva gestured to her friends, who stood in a cluster of groups, lightly chatting amongst themselves.

Adeline tried to control her expression. Was this a provocation hidden behind a friendly invitation? She had a feeling that Minerva wasn't as kind as she made it seem. Adeline had an inkling that Minerva was on Dorothy's side.

Even so, Adeline didn't become the Queen just to stay in her comfort zone for the rest of her life. Even if Minerva was on Dorothy's side, it didn't mean Adeline couldn't convince her to come to hers.

"I'd be delighted to meet your friends," Adeline said.

"Splendid, Your Grace!"

Minerva looped her arm around Adeline's and together they walked to the group of women. Adeline glanced at the arm tightly holding her hostage. She could practically feel Lydia's glare towards Minerva. Adeline never understood Lydia's possessiveness towards their friendship.

"Ladies!" Minerva said with a large smile. 

"Your Grace!"

The women lowered themselves into curtsies, their excitement visible, and their grins large. Everyone was eager to get to know the new Queen, but more specifically, which human was able to capture the heartless King's attention.

To see such a human through and through, they were a bit confused, exchanging knowing looks with each other. The Queen was frail and thin, as if a breeze could blow her over.

"These are my friends," Minerva said. "This is Lord Baybrook's daughter," she gestured towards a young woman with friendly features, a complete opposite of her father. Her bright red eyes flashed with interest, but lacked warmth.

"And this is…"

Minerva went down the list of the group of women, all of whom seemed eager to get to the Queen, but that was the extent of it. Once they were introduced to the Queen, everyone began talking amongst themselves, laughing at inside jokes none but them could comprehend. 

"Oh my goodness, do you remember the time Lady Minerva mistakened the vinegar for alcohol when she poured it around the ice cream dessert topped with meringue? She was trying to set the vinegar on fire, thinking it was alcohol!"

"Please, let's not forget Miss Baybrook stating maybe there wasn't enough alcohol and then pouring more onto the poor desert!"

Laughter arised, as the women quickly conversed amongst themselves. They saw the Queen's slightly bewildered expression before giggling again, as if this was something she was supposed to understand but didn't.

If they intended to exclude Adeline, it was working. She stood there, feeling confused by what they were talking about. Instead of trying to join a conversation she was no longer invited to, Adeline chose to observe the celebration thrown in her honor.

Adeline knew the best way to provoke those who insulted her was to pretend she wasn't affected by it. She simply pretended to be disinterested in the conversation and examined her nails.

"Ah, but His Majesty was so kind to you, Miss Baybrook. He still ate the dessert you made for him. Didn't he accept eating it off the fork you offered him?"

Adeline felt all of their eyes on her. They were waiting for a reaction, as any big or small one would satisfy them. She simply widened her smile, just to piss them off more.

"Yes, His Majesty is quite polite, to even eat failed desserts," Adeline stated.

Minerva quirked an amused brow. She had seen the Queen hold her composure during the Round Table meeting, but thought it was because His Majesty was reassuring her under the table. Now that the Queen was alone, she wanted to test how well a human could handle the presence of vampiresses.

"Speaking of His Majesty," Miss Baybrook carefully said. "It is generous of him to marry a human like you, Your Grace. Even if humans are… unsuited for Pure-Bloods like His Majesty."

Adeline's smile dispersed.