Peace Offering To The Cursed Prince

"Did you suddenly lose your tongue? Why did you dare lay your finger on her?" king George demanded? 

"I..., your Majesty... I never touched her,"  Queen Regina felt wronged. Yes, she had wanted to slap her but that maid stopped her. 

This was not the first time she hit Princess Ellen, usually, the girl will try to dodge but yesterday the girl had stayed fixed and did not even move to protect her face. When she thought back she realized that the Princess did not seem happy that the maid has stopped her.

"Then how is her face red and swollen. Who else would dare hit her?" The king asked. He knew of one time that the Queen had slapped Ellen. That day he was informed by a servant but when he asked Ellen the girl had lied about hitting her face on the door.

Back then this king had thought that the mother and daughter bound has been formed by these two, so much that she would not even report the Queen to him. He only realized now, that it was not so. This daughter of his must-have lied because she thought he would not believe her and she will get scolded by him.

As a king, he has done great, but as a father, he had failed Ellen. He even dared to send his young daughter to the camp of the injured at this woman's lies.

He was angry and felt like throwing her into the dungeon. Queen Regina looked at princess Ellen's face with shock. 'Has she been planning this?'  She asked herself. She began to suspect that the princess had deliberately annoyed her to the point of wanting to hit her.

Ahh! Do you think you can beat me in this game child? Queen Regina mocked the Princess in her heart but her face looked pitiful. "I swear by the heavens I did not touch her. Ever since she found out I was not her mother, she has been making things difficult for me but I did not complain. I never thought she will go to the... " Queen Regina let her words get swollen up by her tears.

Since Queen Regina was crying and acting wronged, she did not notice the disgusted look that was sent to her by everyone present. She had fallen right into the princess trap. This is why princess Ellen did not say anything when she was been asked.

She had not opened her mouth to accuse the Queen but the Queen did not waste time pointing fingers at her. First, she claimed that the princess had insulted without reason. Next, she Called out the princess to have been lying on her.

This had left everyone, except the Queen children to believe that she was the one lying. Princess Ema knew her mother may be lying but she supported her mother. After all, this mother has always supported her when she wrong Ellen and scold Princess Ellen insisted.

"Mother is okay, since she does not valve the love you show her, you should let her be," princess Ema said.

Princess Ellen still did not say anything. It was Grater who could not take it anymore. "Your highness I am sorry but I can not watch them lie against you like this," Grater suddenly spoke up. She pretended as though she was just whispering to the princess but ensured that the king and a few people heard her.

"No, it is an order. Besides, do you think anyone will believe when the Queen... Looks like that," Princess Ellen whispered back.

"But your highness... " Grater acted as if she wanted to argue but Princess Ellen shut her a look and Grater suddenly shut her lips.

"Grater, I command you in the name of the crown prince of Avalo to speak. If you refuse you shall be the explanation I offer to the prince when he asks what happened to her face," One said.

He was very angry and the people in the room were scared. Not of One of course. Even Queen Regina realized that princess Ellen had not accused her and realized that had made a mistake.

Princess Ellen pin her lips. No matter what the authority of the crown prince was not something she can contend with.

"Back in Avalo, I serve under the crown prince. No one, not even the king of Avalo will open the door to the Crown Prince's chamber without knocking. As for we servant, we do not even dare knock. We wake up early and wait for him to leave the room. Then we go in and tidy the place as quick as possible," Grater paused and looked at everyone. No one understood why she started her explanation from that point.

"Last night the Princess was getting ready for her bath when the Queen suddenly pushed the door open. The Princess had panic and immediately warn the Queen. She was scared that the Queen will act the same way when the prince was around but the Queen misunderstood the princess and called her ungrateful and stupid just like her mother... Then the princess must have gotten irritated and talked back to the Queen, this made the Queen get so angry and...

"Slapped the Princess," The king said and turned to face the Queen. Queen Regina was shocked. She had indeed underestimated the princess and fallen right into her scheme.

She has already also said that the princess insulted her, so slapping her was an expected outcome. Even if she continued to deny no one will believe her. The princess maid has accepted that the princess did say hurtful words but only because she had insulted Queen Agatha. 

Princess Ellen was Amazed by Grater's way of twisting words. she had said as it happened, but whoever listened will feel the Queen went overboard. Grater was good with reading in-between the line and knew how she could rope the Queen with her own words. She has lived long and seen different schemes.

"Guards, please escort the Queen back to her chamber. She is not allowed to come out or receive any visitors outside of her children, till the day of the ritual," king George said.

Just as the guards were about to escort the Queen away One spoke. He was not satisfied with this outcome.

"Your majesty, this will do, princess Ellen might be your daughter but she is a member of the Avalo Royal family. She is here as a guest and in one night her face is red and swollen and no punishment is given to the person responsible. Are you by chance breaking the trace between the two kingdoms?" One spoke surprising everyone.

Even princess Ellen had not considered this point.