Chapter 14: Jewel Thief

JEWEL THIEF

All the maids gathered in the kitchen as they discussed in whispers, some were weeping profusely while others had a mournful countenance.

“He was such a good man.” A maid said, wiping her tears. “Oh you cruel hands of death! Another cried.

Rouges was dead, it was only discovered this morning, and a maid had met his dead body in the hallway.

The maid was frightened and screamed when she saw the corpse of Rouges, ever since then she couldn't stop crying, she was paralyzed with shock and couldn't shake off the scene she had seen away from her mind.

Celin, Tamina’s personal maid was the person weeping profusely by the corner, she was also the one that had screamed when she saw Rouge's corpse, lying cold in the hallway.

This was the sight Linn came to meet, when she walked into the kitchen to get her mistress a cup of hot coffee.

She was surprised and asked what happened, immediately she got the news, her heart flinched in shock. Jazell did keep to her words, she eliminated Rouges and that too before the break of dawn.

Linn clutched her maid dress in fear, she tried to keep a calm composure but was finding it very hard to do so. She went about arranging a tea set on a golden tray, her shaky hands barely able to grasp the tray firmly.

“A maid saw her quivering and walked up to her. “Linn are you alright? Rosa asked. Her voice frightened Linn and she dropped the tray she was holding, which contained the hot cup of tea and it splashed on Rosa's legs.

“Ahh, it burns! Rosa shrieked, retrieving her steps, as the hot tea which had splattered on her legs, trickled with a burning sensation.

Linn was quick to apologize. “Rosa….I..I am so sorry.” She said quickly and made to a corner of the kitchen, she came back holding some ice cubes and wanted to use them to soothe Rosa's wound but the latter was angry.

“Don't touch me.” Rosa shrilled in anger, by this time some maids were already clustered around them.

“I will do it myself.” Rosa said, snatching the bag of ice cubes. Linn felt helpless, she was just too careless. Just then another maid walked into the kitchen.

“Everyone, Queen Jia, has asked that we all meet at the royal living room, “ The maid who had just walked in said.

*******

“How dare they! Jia screamed as she ran her hands through her table and all the things on it came pouring on the floor. Her face was red with anger, and her countenance distorted.

Her precious jewelry, her precious diamond necklace, the one her father had specially given to her, was missing. She wanted to explode with exasperation, as she breathed heavily, commanding the maids to check every nook and cranny in the house.

“If I don't find that necklace, you all are going to pay dearly.” She hissed as she slightly raised her dress and made her way out of the room to the main living room where she had summoned all the maids.

She had a strict countenance and immediately the maids caught sight of her; they were petrified.

“Your highness! They all chorused as they courtesy, while bowing slightly. Jia scrowled, she scanned each of their face, inching to catch a glimpse of anything that would make them susceptible, but their innocent faces radiated with no inch of suspicion.

“My diamond necklace has gone missing.” Jia started off, her eyes skimming through the lines of maids.

“I will spare whoever did this if that person comes clean now and speaks up.” The maids started casting glances at themselves, who would just steal the queen's necklace? Did that person want to die!

“But! If the culprit refuses to bear accountability for this evil deed, then when caught it will be punishment by death.” Jia's words made the maids gasp, their eyes darted among one another, who could it be?

Meanwhile in Racheal's room she gazed in as two guards made a mess of her chamber while searching for Jia's necklace.

“Who gave the orders that you should search my room? Rachael's sharp eyes had a glint of fury. She felt disrespected, was Jia trying to call her a thief?

“Queen Jia gave the orders your royal highness.” One of the guards answered Racheal and she nodded curtly. She was brewing with anger but she didn't show it, her calm eyes were like the blue sea. She was seated on an armchair in her room and picked up an apple from a fruit vase on a table beside the chair.

“Let's see how this drama ends.” She said taking a small bite from the apple.

“Jia! Selena, the first queen mother of Decreash yelled as she made her way to the colossal living room. As the queen regent she had authority almost matching up to Ragaleon's wives, infact as Ragaleon's mother she felt she was the next in line to authority.

Her yellow flowing gown bellowded her from behind as the walked down the double staircase, with her hand etched on her dress, which was slightly raised to prevent her from tripping. Her black hair parted in the middle, but well packed behind. Her dark obsidian eyes, signified her beauty in the time of her youth.

They were two knights armed with swords walking behind her.

When Jia heard her name she didn't turn to see who it was, she could recognize Selena's high pitched voice but today she would not be challenged by any authority.

“Jia what is the meaning of the melodrama? Selena questioned her totally displeased by the way Jia was handling things. All the personal maids were lined up in front of Jia and their Mistresses needed their services.

“Today nobody will try and stop me from doing what I want.” Jia sounded crossed

“If your necklace went missing then why don't you replace it Jia? Johanna's voice pierced the air as she walked in with two guards behind her. She was wearing a blue coloured flowing gown, melanged with flowers, her neck was embellished with golden jewelries that glittered under the ray of the sun coming from the floor to ceiling windows.

Her violet auburn coloured hair matched her jade black eyes. Her hair was in a dutch braid style.

Johanna was right, Jia could have easily replaced her diamond necklace, she had all the resources to do so, but know one knew how special that necklace wa to bes to Jia it was given to her by her father it was a family amulet passed down in the royal family of Hamstung.

Johanna was the second queen mother and as such Jia also had to accord some respect to this woman.

“Queen mother Johanna, it's not as easy as you make it sound, that necklace is the royal amulet of Hamstung, my father gifted me that necklace it is irreplaceable.” Jia made her point clear but Johanna still felt unsatisfied.

“Well you definitely will have to wait. I need my morning tea and only Sarah knows how to prepare it the way I like it.” Johanna said signalling her personal maid but Jia won't hear of it.

“Not another step! Her voice was laced with strictness, she was referring to Sarah who was about to make her way to where Johanna was.

Johanna felt disrespected.

“Jia you dare to defile my orders, have you lost your manners? Johanna clenched her fist. Jia was beginning to make her lose her face In front of her mate, Selena.

“Johanna, your morning tea can wait. I would also like to catch this jewelry thief. It would be best for all of us if the culprit got caught. I don't want any of my jewelry to go missing.” Selena cuts in indifferently, seeing how important the diamond necklace was to Jia, she wanted the thief to be caught.

By this time Johanna felt totally embarrassed, once again Selena had stepped on her authority and trampled it in front of the maid. Her face was red with anger and she turned to leave but bumped into her daughter Leah who just walked into the main living room.

“Move! She said and pushed passed Leah making her way to her room.

Leah was dazed by her mean attitude, she frowned while trying to regain her balance as Johanna pushed past her.

“Why is mother so angry? She thought to herself as she gazed at the sight in front of her.

All the palace maids were lined up, Leah furrowed her brows, she had been in her room all morning, so she had been missing out on all the drama.

Ragaleon was out on a meeting, so he wasn't here to keep things in check.

Leah stood for a while, her dark obsidian eyes roaming around the room. Her dark violet hair was let down, her hair was crown braid, a braid weaved around the hair like a crown.

“Jia if you don't find the necklace then…” Leah was interceded.

“It's queen Jia! She snapped. Her black curly hair swayed from side to side. Her amber coloured eyeballs matched the silver coloured gown she was wearing.

Leah arched her brows, then scoffed.

“Queen Jia? What makes you think I will address you in that manner? Leah taunted.

“Watch your tongue Leah, she is your queen.” Selena reprimanded Leah and Jia gave her a knowing smirk

“We will see about that.” Leah turned around and walked away.

“Like mother , like daughter.” Jia hummed to herself sidestepping Leah’s rant.

Jia had command some guards to check all the rooms in the palace except Ragaleon's chamber. She was awaiting the guards feedback and had to keep an eye on the household workers while the guards were searching for her necklace.

That was why she summoned them here, she had no intention of keeping them from serving their Mistresses.

“We have found the necklace! A yelled while quickly making his way to where Jia was. The guard looked proud of himself, he walked to where Jia was with his chest out.

Jia immediately turned around to the direction of the guards, her eyes softened when she saw her necklace dangling in the guards hand.

She felt elated…..”My necklace.” She muttered under her breath. The guard finally got to where Jia stood and presented the necklace to Jia, she snatched it from his grip and scrutinized it carefully.

It was indeed her necklace, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“You may all get back to your duty post.” Selena to the maid.

“Hold on! Jia stopped them before they could move an inch.

“What now? Selena muttered under her breath.

“I want everyone to be present when the thief is brought out.” Jia said and turned to the guard who had found the necklace.

“I would like to know who's chamber you found my necklace in.” At this point the guard proudful countenance disappeared, it now read fear. The guard was silent for a while, but then he knew he had to speak up.

“I found it in queen Tamina's chamber.” The guard said with his gaze on the floor.

“What?!