The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 218: Chance to survive

Chapter 218: Chance to survive

"Your Majesty, I also do not know what is going on. He did make that statement yesterday when he was drunk," Walter said. Anastasia looked at his sincere gaze and could not help but lower her head. She knew there was no way to change the situation.

The king had already found a scapegoat. She did not have the power to protect him. Moreover, Dorothy was not the one who had hurt her this time, so she decided to let it go.

Edward, on the other hand, knew Walter very well. He had not arranged this play.

"Answer my mother’s question. Do you know who gave you the new prescription?" His gaze was cold.

"Your Majesty, I truly do not know," Gill replied, kneeling. He had no idea why he had said anything about changing a prescription. He had never done such a thing. He began to regret drinking with the others last night after his shift. He wanted to explain that he was speaking nonsense, but it felt as though his mouth had a will of its own.

"Send him to the torture room. We should be able to find something," King Edward said angrily. He felt the man’s mouth was too tight.

Walter bowed and left with the man. Mary, intrigued by the case, believed it might offer a clue about her husband’s death.

"Now that this issue is resolved, Mother, I wish to acknowledge Dorothy as my official mistress," King Edward said. If he wished to choose a mistress, Anastasia had no say in the matter.

Mary looked at Anastasia, whose expression remained indifferent. She had only raised doubt about the situation; when the king resolved it, she did not object.

Mary turned her gaze to Dorothy, still dissatisfied with her. "Wait until the interrogation is complete. This matter must be settled properly," she said. She no longer had a strong reason to oppose Dorothy but could still delay the recognition.

"Mother, I have made up my mind," King Edward insisted. Mary was surprised by his firmness. The kingdom was unstable—this was not the time to officially name a mistress, especially one who was pregnant.

Mary wanted to reason with King Edward, but at that moment, Anastasia stood up.

"I need to rest—with Your Majesty’s and Your Grace’s permission," Anastasia said, bowing slightly before walking out of the room. She had no desire to listen to the rest of the conversation.

King Edward and Mary looked at each other. Seeing Anastasia’s indifference, Mary chose to remain silent.

Dorothy, on the other hand, was pleased with herself. The last time she had been summoned, she was questioned. Now, with her name cleared, she watched Anastasia’s retreating figure smugly.

---

Later...

"Your Majesty, this matter is truly strange. Gill has been working in the medical room for more than five years and holds a certain status. He is not the kind of person to get drunk and speak carelessly," Miss Magdalene commented. She had been assigned to investigate the workers in the medicine room.

"I know," Anastasia replied. There had been something odd about the man. It felt as though he had been forced to say those words. The king wanted to cover for his lover—what could she do? Moreover, the man had confessed himself. He claimed to have spoken while drunk, and now there was no way to change the situation.

Miss Magdalene fell silent. She understood that this was likely the king’s doing. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for Anastasia—a mistress had harmed the queen, and the king helped to cover it up.

The two women walked quietly back to the queen’s chamber.

...

A few days later...

The news of King Edward officially naming Dorothy as his mistress spread like wildfire through the capital and beyond. In the noble halls, whispers grew louder. In the market squares, tongues wagged. Courtiers who once treated Anastasia with excessive reverence now greeted her with calculated courtesy. It was subtle almost unnoticeable to a stranger but to a queen who had once walked through the palace with unquestioned dignity, the shift was unmistakable.

Many of the nobles were divided. Some believed it was only a matter of time—after all, the girl carried the king’s first child. News of the queen been poisoned and unable to get pregnant also spread along.

Anastasia sat quietly as Miss Magdalene read out the latest reports from the palace scribes. Songs and poems had begun to circulate through taverns and festivals mocking verses about a forgotten queen and a cunning mistress who would wear the crown before the year’s end.

"...And thus the rose with golden hair

Did charm the lion from his lair.

While crowned dove weeps alone,

Her nest betrayed, her seat dethroned."

Miss Magdalene voice trembled as she finished the stanza. "Your Majesty, shall I... burn this one?"

"No," Anastasia said softly, taking the paper from her. Her fingers were steady, but her heart was not. "Let them write. A queen who is shaken by ink and quill was never worthy of the crown."

Rosa lowered her gaze, she wished there was something she could do to help her mistress"It is not true, Your Majesty. You are still the queen. No matter what anyone says." She did not know if she was comforting the queen or herself.

Anastasia said nothing, her thoughts drifting. She had fought so hard to avoid her nightmare becoming reality yet, it seems she had only fasten the process.

Suddenly, Grater entered, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Lord Halreth. It appears he wishes to discuss a matter of importance concerning the royal image."

"Read it," she said, gesturing lightly.

As Grater unfolded the parchment, he paused briefly, his eyes scanning the lines. "It is a suggestion... that Your Majesty begin hosting more charitable and public-facing events."

Anastasia gave a faint, cold smile. "So I must entertain the people while the mistress is entertained by the king."

Rosa clenched her fists. "Shall we refuse, Your Majesty?"

"No," Anastasia replied after a moment. "We will do it. If they wish to see me, I shall let them. But not as a grieving queen or a jealous wife. They will see a ruler," Anastasia understood that this lord’s point was valid. No matter what, Dorothy was just a mistress, although publicly acknowledged, the king did not dare to ask her seal at this point.

General Robert and her father have also send a message wanting to see her since the news spread but she had rejected them.

She knew clearly that she did not want to owe them a favor. Moreover, what could they do? The king did not even listen to his mother about not acknowledging Dorothy in a short while. Since they could not stop the king, she refused to see them. She would make her own plans and fight for her chance to survive.

She turned to Miss Magdalene,

"Send word. In three day, I shall host a royal feast in the queen’s hall. Invite all the noble wives of the royal city. Let it be known that in another seven days I wish to host a public feast. For this feast Invite the guild leaders, the high priests, the widows from the eastern quarter, and the orphans. Let them see the queen who still wears the crown."

Magdalene bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Anastasia rose and walked to the window. The wind carried voices from the gardenlaughter. A familiar, high-pitched laugh.

Dorothy.

The king have moved her to a better courtyard. Looking through the window she saw the two taking a walk. They seem to be heading towards the royal garden.

"Remember, Dorothy must also be invited," she added after a pause. Since the king did not preserve her honor and even expose her problem just to pave a way for Dorothy then she would not consider the enire situation.

No body hated a mistress more than a noble wife. Although they could all talk nicely and appear graceful, they disdain a mistress. The king wish to hid how long Dorothy has been pregnant but she wish to expose it.

Many people doubts the king’s abilities, since he has time to accompany his mistress for a walk, then she would create some unrest and give him something to do.

They were still many royal blood who has eyes for his throne. Anastasia’s jaw tightened, but she let out a steady breath

"Grater, send words to Aldan. He spread the words that while I was injured after being used as a bait to win the war against Gube, his majesty was entertaining his mistress," Anastasia said. Gavin was good at gathering news, as for spreading news she felt that Aldan was the best man for the job.

"Your majesty, this would only make people mock you more," Grater advice. She did not know why Anastasia would make such a move.

"Who do noble women hate the most?" Anastasia asked.

Grater paused, she was old although she had served quitly in the Duke resident, she knew that the noble women hate mistresses. And those they hated the most was a woman who climbed into a man’s bed before she is recognized.

....