CHAPTER 247: ACT A PLAY

Back in the Queen’s Garden, Mary was admiring a rare blood-rose with Lady Cavens when a palace maid approached in a rush, curtsying deeply before speaking in a low, urgent voice.

"Your Grace, Lady Anastasia is unwell. Her maid asked for a token to summon the royal physician."

Mary turned sharply, a crease of concern knitting her brow. "Anastasia?" she said, her voice just loud enough to draw the attention of the nearby women.

"She felt faint after the soup. They say she could barely walk," the maid whispered.

Gasps rippled through the garden.

"Oh dear," murmured Lady Helene.

"She looked perfectly well earlier," said another.

Mary didn’t miss a beat. With a graceful yet hurried motion, she removed a silver brooch from her sleeve and handed it to the maid. "Take this to the infirmary and bring the physician at once. Tell him it’s urgent."

Then, lifting her skirts, she turned to the women gathered around. "Ladies, forgive me. I must go to her. Lady Anastasia was once part of this royal household—her health cannot be taken lightly."

"We’ll come with you," said Lady Beatrice, already moving.

"I hope it’s nothing serious," another added.

A flock of noblewomen followed as Mary led the way, their slippers brushing against the stone paths as they exited the garden in a rustle of silk and anxious whispers. The sunshine still gleamed on the petals, but the mood had shifted—curiosity mixed with concern, and a hunger for gossip thinly veiled behind polite murmurs.

Mary’s pace was neither rushed nor slow—just enough to show dignity while allowing the whispers to bloom around her like wildflowers.

When they reached the corridor leading to the ladies’ room, a servant was already stationed at the door.

"She is resting inside, Your Grace," the servant said with a bow.

Mary placed a hand over her chest and sighed. "Poor thing. We must make sure she is properly cared for. She has suffered enough disgrace in the public eye. Let it not be said that we were anything but compassionate."

The ladies around her nodded, some with genuine concern, others with lips already itching to retell the tale.

Suddenly a strange noise was heard from within the chamber, "what is going on? Why is the royal physician not hearing yet?" Mary asked with a frown.

"Your grace, perhaps we should go in an check? At least let’s know her current condition," a lady said with a concern voice. The noise inside was strange and this lady just wanted to know what was going on.

The other ladies murmured in agreement, so Mary signal for Miss Margaret to open the door.

The door swung open with a gentle creak.

A hush fell over the garden party as a stream of noblewomen followed Queen Mother Mary into the guest chamber. At first, all they saw was the flickering light of candles—and then the shadow of movement behind a sheer privacy screen near the bed.

Gasps escaped before anyone could stop them.

A figure—King Edward—rose abruptly from behind the screen, shirt half-buttoned, lips still parted in surprise. The fine silk of his coat was crumpled, and his hair was tousled as though he’d only just broken from an embrace.

One slipper thudded to the floor.

"My—!" he started, his eyes darting toward the door, but it was too late.

Behind the screen, the outline of a woman was visible—bare shoulder, long dark hair, and the unmistakable motion of hands adjusting disheveled clothing.

A noblewoman clutched her fan to her chest.

"It’s... her."

"They made up?"

"She must’ve gone back to him. Maybe she was never sick at all."

"I knew she couldn’t stay away."

Mary didn’t speak. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze swept over the scene.

These noble ladies looked one to another.

"Only my sister is a fool to believe lady Anastasia’s nonsense," Bridget who has just gotten the opportunity to come out could not help point fingers at Anastasia.

"That’s right, previously she left the palace fearing for her life, " another said.

"I have always known the former queen was all pretends," lady Amber said. She had always hated Anastasia because she believes she stole the position of the queen from her.

"Lady Anastasia, why not say something," someone said .

Just then, the woman behind the screen stepped turned and tucking a curl behind her ear, her flushed face visible.

She seemed stunned and immediately lowered her head.

"It was not lady Anastasia," someone said.

"How can it not be Lady Anastasia?" Someone else did not believe and step forward to see clearly.

Mary who had been standing by the side and covering half of her face also turned to look towards the bed.

Even king Edward hearing those words also turned to look at the lady on the bed as the murmurs faltered.

"...That’s not the formal queen," another lady confirmed."

"Is that Lady Elizabeth?"

"Which lady Elizabeth?" Someone asked since she could not see the bed clearly.

"Duke Thompson second daughter, Lady Anastasia stepsister?"

Another gasp.

One of the older women turned her face away in disbelief. Another leaned in toward her companion and whispered,

"Do you think he planned it... He meant for the queen to walk in on this."

"But it wasn’t the queen who saw. It was us. This does not make any sense,"

"Did you see his majesty’s face just now? He seems surprised it was not lady Anastasia’," someone said.

"Right? Could lady Elizabeth seduce the king in the name of her sister?" Someone suggested.

"That is is not impossible, she had been jealous of her sister for marrying the king," lady Cece said

"Ahh! But she is engaged right?" Someone asked with doubt.

"I heard..."

"Ladies, this is our royal family business, let leave," Mary said. Her gaze was red with anger but she could not voice it out.

Mary turned slowly, her expression unreadable, and began walking away.

And like petals falling after a sudden wind, the noblewomen followed her—one by one, leaving behind the scandal, the king, and the broken illusion of control.

...

Half an hour earlier

The room was dimly lit, the scent of roses still lingering from the banquet.

Anastasia lay still on the couch, her breathing calm and even. Her eyes remained closed as Rosa left the room.

Once the latch clicked behind the maid, Anastasia’s eyes snapped open.

A strange numbness crept over her limbs—not enough to paralyze, but just enough to dull her senses.

She hadn’t eaten the soup, but the air, the wine, something had been tampered with.

Clenching her teeth, she raised her trembling hand and bit down hard—deep enough to draw blood. The jolt of pain sharpened her awareness. It was enough.

She rose unsteadily and made her way to the door. But just as her hand touched the handle, it opened.

Anastasia moved aside seeing the door open. Not caring who makes in she made a move.

With a swift movement, she grabbed a nearby crystal jar and struck the person across the side of her head. The girl collapsed instantly.

Panting, Anastasia dragged her to the bed and threw her own cloak over the ladies body. She adjusted the pillows, turned her face just slightly away, and left the screen pulled halfway.

With the door open to the private servant’s hall, Anastasia slipped out unseen.

---

Moments Later – King Edward Enters

He arrived at the doorway just moments later.

Everything was going as expected.

He had heard whispers from the servants: Anastasia was resting, unwell, isolated. It was the perfect setup. Let the nobles walk in and see her with him. Let their tongues wag and their loyalties waver.

He entered quietly. The screen was half-drawn.

There, on the bed, was a woman’s form draped in Anastasia’s cloak. He didn’t see her face fully—just the hair. That was enough.

He loosened the ties on his collar, rumpled his hair, and sat on the edge of the bed.

"She doesn’t even resist," he muttered under his breath, staring at the still figure. "Fitting."

Outside, the voices grew louder. Footsteps approaching. A door creaked open.

He smirked. Let them see. Let the scandal begin.

He stood quickly, feigning surprise—his tunic unfastened, his hair disheveled—as Mary and the noblewomen entered.

Elizabeth on the other hand was in tears, she had followed Anastasia for an opportunity to mock her. She wanted flaunt her engagement to a noble son before her, she did not expect to be attacked the moment she stepped in.

And now a scandal has started, although she was not conscious she knew the king had not really touched her but who would believe such words.

"Why are you here?" King Edward asked after everyone else left.

"Your majesty, I noticed my sister was sick, since she left the palace she had not been, home so I wanted to check on her. I did not expect to be attacked the moment I walk in," Elizabeth answered honestly.

King Edward gaze turned dark when he heard this explanation.

He felt like hitting himself for not checking the person in the bed.