Chapter Two

THE QUEEN'S POV

“I am the Queen of Slytherland”

I answered her directly. I looked at Liza who looks so surprised, her panic-stricken face can really tell that she was beyond shocked hearing what I have just said. She even dropped the towel she has been holding since when she got out of the kitchen doing her usual chores.

“k… Quee… Queen of Slytherland???” The young girl replied. The dullness in her face eventually faded away, she suddenly burst out with laughter. James laughed along as well.

Did they just make fun of me? Oh! Sounds like these kids do not believe me!

An exciting idea flashed in my head. Starring at them like this, I couldn’t help myself but sigh and wonder if my plan would work well.

I am the Queen of Slytherland. Reigning Monarch from the Bree Dynasty, no other than Queen Alexandra III  – I was named Donny Alexandra Zachy upon birth. Right after my father, the late King Arthur Mcflurry Linkoln Zachy died, I was enthroned by my legal right as the oldest child, heir to The Crown. I am the Twenty-Eighth ruler of this Kingdom celebrated Diamond Jubilee just this week.

All my life, I lived as an heir to the throne so I didn’t quietly live the life of commoners. There was a point in my life before when I wished I am just a normal person living in Slytherland with no pressures or responsibilities from the crown. Seeing the opportunity I have just now, I think it is a perfect time for me to live my life peacefully.

The palace has been very stable in terms of colonization against other ruling nations, and the crown has been strong enough. My heirs have been doing good on their own as well... Oh yes! I want to test their leadership too! There should not be any more reason for me to hold back!

'I want to be selfish even just once in my life, I have never done anything stupid before.'

After a moment of figuring out my next move, I let out a soft smile joining them and we laughed comfortably altogether. This is one of the rarest memories I think I would treasure in my life in the future because I have never laughed like this back then in the castle I always have to be serious especially when I am with the Parliament. This is like a dream come true for me that I would proudly reminisce about in my remaining years of life; I am literally turning ninety years, three months from now.

When I regained my composed self I told them I was just bluffing around, and that I can't remember any memories from my past. Adding the fact that Liza sees me like her grandmother and that she would love to keep my company with the two of them in this house, she offered me their home. I answered “yes!” right away.

It has been four weeks since the incident happened. I have been very welcomed by Liza especially the six years old James and his adorable ways to help me do chores I'd like to experience. They are indeed accommodating and very well-mannered, I never felt so out of place nor they treated me like a stranger. They never suspected me of lying and pretending that I have a memory lost.

Staying here for quite a long time now has made me familiarize doing normal people’s routines. I helped them do some house chores like folding the cleaned clothes or watering the plants in the garden, Liza would always remind me not to bother doing these things because I will only make myself exhausted but I do not mind her and would still continue some stuff. It is not exhausting; it is enjoyable. I mean it!

Sometimes I do simple gardening with James by my side, and sometimes with Liza. It was a great way for the family bonding. I wish I have done this before with my children in the palace backyard.

Lizzie just arrived an hour ago from the market. She bought us goods, toys for her nephew, and a lot of food to be consumed for the next few days. She said she went to a bookstore that she often visited whenever she was out in the city; she also borrowed a magazine of her favorite actors whose passion is music and entertainment. I am surprised by her revelation; she does not look like a girl with this hobby. So many sides to her, really!

What makes me surprised even more was when she told me that there is an article in the magazine about a missing woman. It was a hot topic in the town but she didn’t look at it as she was not interested and heard enough at the market already.

I opened the magazine to find the section she was referring to; I wasn’t really surprised when I see myself in a little younger-looking face with the word MISSING in bold letters.

'Oh! they were looking for me.' I unconsciously pronounced the words a little louder. But how dare they make such a piece of poor news about me?! I mentally made a note of this issue to tackle with the royals when I come back.

I was sitting leisurely on the sofa while reading an article about me, James and Liza came rushing towards my spot playing and as usual. The latter was trying hard to hide, and in no time James found her. Minutes passed by and they finally joined me. Lizzie glanced at the book while panting a little. She leaned closer to the book, I hesitated a bit, afraid she could recognize my face plastered on the page, but she pointed her finger at the young man I was within the photo below. I heaved a sigh of relief when I knew she was not focusing on the missing figure but on the photo of a young man. My grandson, Prince Hades.

''Granny take look at this guy right here. He is… he’s cute! I like him!" She said out of nowhere, smiling.

I looked at her in disbelief. She seems to not care about the news or look attentively at my enlarged picture with the royal family, though it is quite a younger look of me than I am now, anybody can easily tell it’s still me. This young girl set her eyes on the Prince only. If I am not mistaken, it's a look of having an interest in someone, just a photo yet she has totally blushed! I smirked secretly as I stare at her. Young people nowadays, they get to fall in love easily. Well, I couldn’t disagree! Hades is a handsome young man in his late twenties, he is good in everything and can make any woman’s heart bounce in a flutter plus he is my grandson and Liza would be a perfect match, I thought.

Hmm... I think I just figured out a way to pay her courtesy back.