Chapter 555 - Five Hundred And Fifty-Five: The Queens Days Were Numbered (1/2)

The third point of view:

In a certain living room late at night, a secret meeting was being conducted without an invitation being extended to the Queen.

”A-hem,” One of the old men around cleared his throat, ”Lord Albert, I still don't understand why you called us to your manor in this unholy hour of the night,” Lord Simon initiated the conversation, his eyes flickering around to the other Lords available.

In Lincolnshire, there were about six major Lords and they were all members of the inner cabinet who saw to the day-to-day running of the kingdom and assisting Queen Roselle in her rule.

No matter how powerful Queen Roselle was, she still needed their help as they were influential and had fair control of Lincolnshire as well. But then all must bow to the queen because she's the sovereign authority.

Lord Albert sat on the largest chair in the living room while the others sat directly across from him from both sides. If Lord Albert had been unsure of his ambitions earlier, he was sure of his plans now especially after the encounter with the little boy.

Although the boy had no clue about the chat, that incident had woken him up from his slumber. As far as the queen was on the throne, his future and that of his daughter was in her hands - and the hands of her son, Kai. She couldn't even send her daughter back home without the permission of the crown prince. Doesn't that speak volumes of what was to be expected in the future?

His daughter Fiona was right, he had been blind all this while. Lord Albert had helped the queen recover the kingdom from the hands of those invaders but how did she pay him back? By banishing his daughter abroad for the crimes she pushed her into doing.

No, it was unacceptable. Lord Albert didn't need her apology or pity, he would take what belongs to him. It was time Lincolnshire had a change of monarchy.

Lord Albert snorted, ”I'm sure you know why I called you here already,” He pointed out and the other lords turned the other way, none willing to be the first to speak out.

Of course, they all knew the reason for this secret meeting else the queen would be present, but sometimes it was better to be pretentious than to acknowledge.

After a short while of uncomfortable silence, one of the lords summoned the courage to speak, ”Eeh, lord Albert, we get the point but treason against the queen, isn't that too much? It's not even possible!”

”Lord Ezra, I heard you slept with a ten-year child who died from the ordeal, but then, you were able to hide the secret because she was an orphan with no one to trace and bring justice to her. But then, how long do you think you can keep this secret before the queen finds out?” Lord Albert asked him, staring him straight in the eyes.

There was murmuring in the living room as no one expected that kind of huge secret to be revealed nor had they expected that horrendous behavior from Lord Ezra of all people. The man was a humanitarian, not a pedophile - so they had thought.

Cold sweat broke out across Lord Ezra's face, how had Lord Albert known that? He was sure he had kept that incident a secret. The only person who knew was he and his butler - who buried the child. Realization dawned on him, if Lord Albert knew this, it wouldn't be long before the queen hears of it as well.

Seeing the dilemma Lord Ezra was undergoing, Lord Albert smiled, he had gotten him where he wanted him to be. He had to use that weakness to gain what he wants.

”The queen won't spare you, lord, or not,” He told the old man whose hands were shaking even though he tried to hide it.