MRS RÓDRÍGUÉZ - EPISODE 9

“Where are you coming from mother?” Audrielle asked , the moment her mother walked in.

“The palace” Rachel replied her daughter who sat in a chair reading a simple book

“The queen called you?”

“No. I actually went to see her”

“really? What for?” Audrielle Arched a brow.

“Nothing important. Just had to see her”

Audrielle nodded.
“What is really important now is that you get your things ready cause you’re moving to the palace tonight.”

“What? Why?” The shocked expression on Audrielle’s voice reflected in her voice.

“I’m not even wedded with the prince yet. Why do i move in now?” She flinched, getting up from her seat.

“You will be by next tomorrow. That’s the Queen’s pronouncement. Move into the palace tonight and be a free woman by the morrow after” Rachel clearly stated

“Why do I feel like you guys are rushing this whole thing? Is there a chance you’re hiding something from me?”

Rachel almost frozed at a spot. She wondered what would made her daughter say something like that.
Giving her a furrowed brow, she walked past to the kitchen.

Audrielle followed.

“You move into the palace tonight. No more questions.” Rachel finalized not sparing her daughter a glance.

“At Least mother, I’m the one getting married here. Don’t I at least have a right to know why the queen is rushing all This? For Pete’s sake it’s barely three days I got to know about this whole arrangement”

Audrielle felt utterly frustrated. She felt herself in the dark. Like her mother wasn’t telling her something she wanted to hear.

“You will get to know everything when the time comes. Then you’ll see all we do is for your own good and safety”

That was all Rachel said to her daughter before walking away from the kitchen.

“What good? What safety do you speak of mother?”

Audrielle has never been so clueless and confused her entire life.
Speaking of the debt her father owed the king before his death. How does that relate to her safety?

What has her safety got to do with any of this?

Something tells her there’s more she s yet to be told.
But it’s just her instinct. If there really is,
what could it possibly be??

***********************************

“What could they possibly be hiding from you young lady? Stop over reacting. There’s nothing really. I guess the queen Mother wants you to move in so they can teach you some necessary things you ought to know as a Royal bride”

“And as for the sudden marriage? You needn’t panic. Trust me, we all want you to settle with the prince sooner than later. It’s the best. You’ll have enough time to get to know each other. ”
Tarsia’ said to her friend as she helped her pack her few belongings.

“All that doesn’t seem convincing. What about the safety my mother mentioned? She said it’s for my good and safety” Audrielle stated clearly.

“Alot of safety comes with being the queen of Scotland. Don’t just misquote her.
Who knows? There might be some jealous fellow out there waiting to seize an opportunity just to put you out of the way. You should know not everyone seems Happy about your sudden union with the prince.

“So getting married to the prince very soon can guarantee your safety and make them be at the loosing end.
I think that’s what your mother meant. Just that she didn’t emphasize more on her words.

Trust me, no one is hiding anything from you. If they were, what would it be? What other secret could be greater than what you just got to know about few days ago?”

Tarsie threw more light to clear of Audrielle’s doubt.

Audrielle nodded. Her friend is making sense. What if she’s just overreacting to things?

What if there really is nothing they are hiding?

“I think you’re right. There’s no more secret greater than the union I just learned about. I think I’m just overreacting” she breath out tiredly.

“Relax okay. You’re just nervous. I would be too if I were in your shoes. So I get it if you feel this way. Just take a deep breath and everything will be alright. ”

Tarsia assured, taking a seat beside her friend.

“Okay” Audrielle nodded.

“You know what I think? I think you should take a quick nap before the Royal carriage arrives, just to clear off your heavy thoughts. I’ll wake you up on time. You need rest”

“It’s almost evening Tarsie. Is there still time for that?” Audrielle looked worried.
Her tired eyes searched the old watched which ticked loudly on the wall.

“Yes. There is. Like j said, I’ll wake you if the Royal carriage arrives”
Tarsia repeated

“Thank you dear friend. You have been nothing but kind . How wish you could stay with me in the palace too” Audrielle’s face faltered. That would be better still.

“I was thinking of that too. As you know, I get to tell my father before I make such decisions. But I promise, once you wed the prince, I’ll move in to the palace as your hand maid with your permission”
Tarsia’ gave her word with a loving smile.

“You’ll always have my permission dear friend. Thank you so much”
She pulled Tarsia’ Into a warm embrace before lying back on her bed for a quick nap.

****************************************

The king and his wife Lady Castel were seated on the round table for a meeting with their subjects in the court room when suddenly a guard rushed in, announcing the arrival of a prestigious personnel. Lord Ashton.
An old friend to the Ródrígúéz.

“Please, you mustn’t announce my arrival”
He jolted waving the guard off before walking in.

The King and queen stared in suprise at him as he walked gracefully into the courtroom with his Silver regalia.

“Lord Ashton. You never wrote to announce your arrival. It’s been years”
The king finally found his words.

“My King, I wanted to make it a suprise like the news I hear all over town”
He gave a short but heavy smile.

“What news?” Lady Castel chipped in.

Lord Ashton paused with a brief breath.

“Some privacy, please” he requested, staring at the twelve subjects sitted on the round table whom he just interrupted their meeting.

The king nodded at his subjects, signalling them to go wait outside.

“You came all this way Lord Ashton, what do we offer to help freshen you for such long and tiring journey?”
The queen asked with a gestured.

“Nothing. I’ve not come to dine or merry. I’ve come for a reason. A purpose and I won’t be distracted”
He replied on a serious note, and then continued.

“Your son is back. And I’m here to remind you of our Little treaty. Our agreement years ago. Remember?”

“Lord Ashton I…

The queen paused amidst her words by a gentle tap from her husband.
“Lord Ashton, you know very well such arrangement was annulled three years after. Why bring such now?… We already have someone else for my son” The king replied.

Ashton gave out a short laugh, a laugh which had Alot of meaning tied to it.

“I do not understand my king? So it’s true then. The rumours are True. You have someone else for the prince”

“Yes” lady Castel finally voiced out.

“So tell me, this lady, does she have a greater offer than me? Remember the agreement, getting your son married to the Ashton family will fetch Alot of Fortunes and favors to the house of The Ródrígúéz and the nation as a whole.

“I am affluent, with my daughter as your son’s wife. The future of Scotland is assured. Plenteous Food in time of famine. Many lands to extend the boundaries of this great nation. A uniting hand with France and England persay”
He boasted with head held up high with pride.

But still, Lady Castel gave out a mocking scoff.
“What the other lady and soon to be wife of my son can offer is far more than what you own Lord Ashton.
She offers a future to the Scottish nation. A glint of home and much greater peace. She is my son’s bethroted. So I suggest we make this official to you.
Whatever agreement you think we had with you Twenty four years ago is nullified”

A great shock shook Lord Ashton to his feet. He stared unbelievably at the queen.

“My king? What do you have to say? You can’t possibly reject this great offer?” He faced the king.

“My wife just said what is needed to be said. I hope you understand”

“There is nothing there to understand Reynold!! I have trained my daughter for this day. I have toiled for this season. And then what? You’d throw it all at my face and choose someone else ?? If it’s a game my king, you better put a full stop. Cause it’s an expensive Game”

He sounded more infuriated.

“We have cleared our minds to you Lord Ashton. We do not want what you have to offer. You can take it elsewhere. The agreement we made to you twenty four years ago is nothing. We made that pretty clear to you few years later. You should take the treaty to some other place or France. We are okay”

King Reynold replied.

The Royal house do not want anything to do with Lord Ashton for his dubiousness. He isn’t a fair man at games. They once made it clear to him.

“You shouldn’t blame us Lord Ashton. You persisted. Remember we wrote to you a letter of Annulment on our agreement three years after the planned arrangement. I, lady Castel personally wrote it and saw to it that you received the letter. I stated clearly that we no longer want to be a part of the agreement.
We Believed you moved on. And Now you return with same offer? Oh please Ashton, it’s not in any way our fault. You should understand”

Lady Castel braced out.

Lord Ashton felt pained to his bones.
He nodded slightly at everything they said.

“I take my leave” he said with an heavy heart. Walking out of the courtroom rather disappointedly.