CARL'S POV
"The purple lotus can be found in Neptune, but as it is, Neptune and Everton, are at war, there's no way King Arthur, would agree to give it to us, and even if he does, it will be at a great price. All I can do for the queen now is give her a concoction that will subdue the poison, and keep her alive for at least a week, that's all. you also have to know that the baby, will not survive...
I sighed, pacing around, it's like fate has decided to play a cruel joke on me. Just when everything was going well, just when we were happy. And now again, the lotus for saving Zara can only be found in Neptune, an enemy nation.
"Carl, everything will be alright, you just have to believe that the fates will set it right," Catherine consoled, patting my shoulder, and I turned to her.
"The fates? I scoffed. Why should I believe in the fates? Why should I? it is the same fate that put me in such a dilemma, it is the same fate that gave me happiness and still took it away. No Catherine, I don't believe in the fates, I only believe in me, I know that no matter what it takes, I will do it to save my queen, even if I have to go against fate."
"King Carl, you're right, we still have a week. You heard the physician, he said, he's not aware if the other nations have the purple lotus, except Neptune, he didn't say, that they don't have it. I think we should send a message to the other nations to ask about the lotus," Lady Anna suggested.
"Yes your majesty, the lady is right. I'm aware that Neptune has it because it's common there. But as for the other nations, I've never heard of purple lotus growing there," the physician added, and everyone nodded.
"Lady Anna, you are from Azrael, do you know if the purple lotus grows there?" I asked.
"No king Carl, I'm not aware. I only just heard of the purple lotus, but I'll send a message immediately to ask."
"My king, shouldn't we also talk about, who poisoned my dear Zara," Lia who has been sitting beside Zara, and crying silently, asked.
It's like what she said ignited a fire inside of me, a fire of rage. I immediately stormed out of the chamber, going into the hall.
"Guards, I want you to summon every servant in the palace, whoever served Zara food or something to drink, must be brought before me," I yelled, and they scurried away.
...
Earlier(Before the banquet)
Gwen, poured the portion, into a drink, "you, come here," she said, pointing to a servant girl.
The girl hastily went to Gwen, with her head down.
"Lady Gwen," she greeted.
"I want you to take this drink to queen Zara, it's a concoction, which will help both her and the baby," Gwen muttered, and the girl eyed the drink, before accepting it from Gwen. "Okay, lady Gwen," she answered, turning away, but Gwen pulled her back.
"Don't tell queen Zara that it's from me, you know she doesn't like me, even if I mean well," Gwen muttered, and the servant nodded, before leaving.
Immediately she left, Gwen smiled. I wonder what type of portion this is? it even has a nice smell, Gwen thought, sniffing the portion.
She walked out of the kitchen but halted. She gasped as if she was suddenly hit by a realization.
Oh my God, could it be that this is poison? she asked herself. She suddenly remembered what the spy had told her, about being able to do anything, even kill if she wanted to become the Queen.
Gwen panicked. "How could I be so stupid? what else would be in such a bottle if not poison?" she mulled. She was so desperate to become the Queen, that she didn't stop to think before acting.
"I need to go find her(The spy)" Gwen mumbled, going to search for the spy.
...
Gwen looked everywhere, but couldn't find her. She didn't even bother about going to the banquet, because to her, that was no longer important. "Where could she be? Oh God, did she run away? Gwen pondered.
If the spy did run away, she would be the one to take the fall.
Gwen panicked, looking around, what do I do now? she asked herself. She was still lost in thought when she saw some guards, running around looking unnerved.
"What's happening?" She asked one of the guards, and he answered "Queen Zara was poisoned," then he left.
Gwen stumbled backward, so it really is poison? She was supposed to feel happy but for some reason, she wasn't.
She couldn't be happy because, at the moment, she was in a state of unrest. If Carl finds out, that she was behind Zara's poisoning, she will surely be hanged, and if not hanged, punished severely.
...
All the servants in the palace were brought before Carl, including the one who gave Zara the poisoned drink.
She trembled in fear, as she stood before Carl. "Did Lady Gwen poison the drink?" She mulled, remembering Gwen told her not to tell Zara it was from her...
The tension in the air made everyone shiver. They could feel the rage emitting from Carl. He was like a wounded lion, who would snap at even the slightest movement.
Carl tilts his gaze to the servants, burning holes through them. He gnashed his teeth and clenched his fist. He wanted to punish each one of them, as presently, he saw them like the enemy, he couldn't trust any of them, after all, it was one of them, who poisoned, Zara.
"Your majesty," The physician called, walking to him. "Do you know what queen Zara ate or drank a few hours ago?" he asked, and Carl gave a curious look before inquiring. "Why do you ask?"
The physician sighed, then answered. "Your majesty, it is because whatever queen Zara last ate or drank, should be the cause of her present predicament. I mean, the purple vine only affects a person after some minutes of taking it.
Carl, clenched his fist, trying to remember what Zara had eaten throughout the day, from dawn till now.
He vividly remembers that Zara didn't eat much, she only ate some fruits and it was hours before the banquet, and like the physician said the purple vine(poison) takes effect on a person after some minutes of taking it, so It had to be what she had at the banquet.
What did she have? He mulled, then he remembered that she only drank, a cup of milk and the concoction the servant girl had given her.
Immediately he snapped his head to the direction of the servants again, scanning them, when his eyes landed on the servant girl, who gave Zara the concoction.
"Guards, arrest that servant," he growled