Chapter 15: Jewel Thief(2)

THE JEWEL THIEF (2)

Jia's face was contorted. Tamina had dared to touch her things. How dare she?

Jia fumed inwardly, trying to keep her nerves calm. "Go and tell Lady Tamina she has been summoned to the meeting room.

Jia's voice pierced the air. The guard nodded immediately and scurried through the verse corridors, making his way to Tamina's chamber.

Meanwhile, Tamina was busy relaxing on a cotton swing in the garden.

Her lean, fair fingers were plucking from the bunch of grapefruits on a golden tray, which was placed on a glass table beside the swing. Next to the grapes was a glass of milk.

She took the glass of milk and brought it to her lips, sipping from it demurely.

Just then her personal maid was beside her... "My lady, a guard is claiming you have been summoned to the meeting room chamber." The soft voice of Celin.

"Did he tell you the reason I was summoned? Tamina questioned, rising to her feet.

"No, my lady, he only mentioned that you were summoned immediately." The maid said, trying to keep things professional.

Jia was pacing to and fro in the meeting room when Tamina walked in.

Tamina's red hair swayed from side to side, her siren grey eyes unswervingly gazing ahead.

"Where is she? Jia questioned the guard angrily for the third time; she hadn't noticed that Tamina had made an entrance because she was backing the door.

By this time, Selena was seated on a fancy armchair in the meeting room. There was a cup of steamy tea placed on a table in front of her, with some biscuits.

All the queens were now in the living room, seated elegantly; Selena had summoned them and was yet to tell them why.

Racheal's eyes were fixed on a book in front of her; she really didn't care about what was happening and felt that her time was more precious and should be channeled towards more crucial matters.

Jazell, however, seemed to be interested in what was happening. She had her eyes on Jia this whole time, scrutinizing every inch of her being.

Jia was wearing a purple lace gown. The gown had a thin laced material that looked like a jacket attached from the neck down to her feet, almost making it seem as if she was wearing a cape.

The designs on her gown were intricate; every inch of it was designed to perfection. The room was silent for a while, but soon the sound of heels walking towards the room was heard.

Jia raised her gaze and turned around; she saw Tamina making her way into the meeting room confidently. Her back was straightened out, and her gaze fixed ahead; she walked as if she ruled the world.

This was how she was trained, but it fueled Jia's contempt. This shameless woman still had the nerve to act as if she was not guilty of any crime. Jia was bent on teaching her a lesson.

Tamina was wearing a sea green gown; her cleavage was exposed, the dress had a long sleeve, and there was golden embroidery on the waist, which made it seem as if she was wearing a golden belt.

"Look who finally made an entrance." Jia gritted under her teeth, but her voice was still audible enough for everyone to hear.

"Who summoned me?" Her cold voice questioned as her eyes roamed around the room. She was surprised to see the whole household gathered in one place.

"I did! Jia's voice shrilled, and Tamina finally shifted her gaze to Jia.

"My necklace was found in your chamber; do you care to explain how it got there? Jia calmly said, raising her necklace in the air for everyone to see.

Tamina glared at the necklace for a moment before shifting her gaze to Jia.

"Are you trying to call me a thief? Tamina couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know; you tell me. What do we call a person who takes what doesn't belong to them without asking? Jia inches closer after passing her necklace to her personal maid, Hahn, for safekeeping.

"You spiteful creature..." Tamina said almost in a whisper but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"This necklace is precious to me; what was it doing in your chamber? Jia said, walking up to Tamina, she stood in front of her, measuring up to her.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Tamina's tongue clicked in mockery.

"What a show you had to put on in front of everyone," she said, circling Jia, clapping her hand at intervals.

"Why would I want to steal your necklace, Jia? I have jewelry crafted to my taste."

"I don't know, to spite me? Jia said with sarcasm, Tamina stopped circling her…

"That is hilarious."

"You think this is funny? Jia raised her voice while shooting Tamina a deadly glare.

"No, I think this is pathetic; you are pathetic, Jia!

Jia wanted to explode immediately. Tara said that she raised her hand to strike her across the face, but Tamina caught her wrist midair.

"Don't you dare." Her voice dripped with coldness; she yanked Jia's wrist away.

"Who do you think you are to accuse me of such an outrageous thing? What evidence do you have? Tamina questioned cogently. Her voice was calm, quite a contrast to Jia's.

Jia blinked her eyes and laughed momentarily; in fact, she was not going crazy, she was just amused.

"Are you going to deny the fact that my necklace was found in your chamber? Jia cooed, and Tamina scoffed.

"No, but I can say someone put it there. It was definitely not me, but it could be you. You had someone put your necklace in my chamber so that you could have something to use against me! Tamina clenched her fist.

"That's enough! Selena, who was seated on an armchair drumming her fingers, shrilled with a high pitch.

She suddenly began to massage her temples as she rose to her feet.

Racheal had long stopped reading her book; she glanced at Jazell, who was seated beside her, then shifted her gaze back to the scene in front of her.

"That's enough drama for one day. You two see me in my chamber now." Selena said and then walked away elegantly.

Jia cast an evil glare at Tamina before turning on her heels and making her way to Selena's room. Tamina clutched her dress in anger and followed suit; there was a tense atmosphere hanging in the air.

"Such a trivial issue emasculated into an altercation—what you all will do for attention." Jazell, who was seated with her legs crossed, hissed.

Racheal, who had her head fixed on the book she was reading, suddenly raised her gaze. All this time, Jia and Tamina had been exchanging words. She was the least bothered about them.

"Do you think Tamina is innocent, Racheal? Jazell asked, helping herself to a glass of wine.

"Why does my opinion matter? Racheal's gaze was fixed on the book she was reading. Her brown hair cascaded on her face, and her green, emerald eyes glowed with perfection.

"Jia made such a fuss about nothing. Who accuses someone without having evidence?" Jazell brought the glass of wine to her lips.

Immediately Jazell said that Racheal raised her gaze; for some seconds her eyes perched on Jazell's face as if searching for something. The reason was simple: Jazell was very cunning; every word she uttered always had a hidden meaning.

Rachael had only spent a few months with her, and she could already write a book about her.

"I wouldn't say so myself; a stolen necklace isn't a trivial issue." Racheal said, retracting her gaze to the book in her hand, she was aiming at something.

"However, you seem to be enjoying watching them get on each other's nerves." She commented, flipping a page of the book she was reading.

"Don't be puerile, Racheal..." Jazell purred, staring at an invisible dirt on her pedicure.

"Nothing is more soothing than seeing your enemies fight one another; it's satisfying." Jazell muttered under her breath, but Rachael heard her clearly.

Racheal suddenly stiffened; she slowly raised her gaze from the book she was reading, as if something just dawned on her.

The most cunning queen in the kingdom was seated next to her, satisfied over a fight two queens just had. Suddenly Jazell raised her gaze; their gaze locked, and a smirk tugged at the corner of Jazell's lips.

That was the last straw that broke the camel's back....

"It was you…" Racheal's voice was low; her eyes read surprise. She slammed the open book in her hand, and it closed.

"You did this; you tried to frame Tamina." Racheal's voice was laced with shock, but she acted rather calmly.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Jazell suddenly reclines on the chair and sips from her wine. She had given Racheal enough clues, it was left to her to figure out the rest.

Racheal suddenly rises to her feet…

"I will be keeping an eye on you from now on." Her cold voice whispered, and then she started walking away.

"What I do, I do it for the harem; the smaller the obstacles, the merrier." Jazell didn't spare Racheal a gaze.

"This harem you speak of, is it a battlefield? Backstabbing, spitefulness, and deceit, Jazell I know royalty is like a game to you, but you have taken things too far." Racheal said after halting in her tracks, she didn't turn around.

"You are quite blind to think I am the only one playing games, Racheal. There are a lot of people in this palace scheming; you just don't know about them yet. When you find out, it will probably be too late. I can see that you are relaxed because you seem to have curried the king's favor." Jazell elegantly dropped the empty golden cup on the table after emptying the contents with one gulp.

She rises to her feet, then slowly inches forward.

"Watch your back, Racheal; from now on sleep with one eye open. Because I will be coming for you…soon." Jazell said and then walked past Racheal.

"You act as though we are at war with each other." Racheal said, and it was Jazell's turn to halt in her tracks.

"Royalty is war, Racheal; it is also a battlefield. We try to eliminate our enemies, and in the process, we get our hands smeared with blood. If royalty is not bloody, I don't know what is." Jazell calmly said before finally walking away.

Racheal shook her head from side to side, her hand fondling the golden ring on her finger.

"Jazell…you will be the end of yourself!