Chapter 6: Queen Of Chess

Racheal was in the garden plucking some red roses when a maid came to inform her that Queen Jazell was coming to see her. Rachael saw this coming; her supportive gestures towards Ragaleon's plan made her enemies numerous.

"Jazell is coming to see me? Did she tell you when? She questioned after taking in a deep breath; her voice was sonorous and soothing. Before the maid could answer the question directed at her. Jazell made her way into the garden with two royal guards behind her.

She looked formidable in the red dress she was wearing; she had the aura of an authoritative queen. Her short blonde hair was shoulder length, and her crystal blue eyes and prominent dark eyebrows made her sinfully beautiful.

She had a predator gaze as she arched her brows while gazing at Racheal. The red velvet gown billowed from behind her, and her crown was radiating under the sun.

Each queen had two personal royal guards assigned to keep an eye on them. They always stood in front of their chambers, and immediately any queen stepped out of their chamber, they escorted them from behind.

Racheal had sent her royal guards away; she needed some time alone and wanted to breathe in some fresh air. Now Lora was here to ruin her peace.

Racheal handed the basket of roses she had plucked to the maid beside her.

The two ladies made their way to the swing arena in the garden. A few meters away from the swing was a water fountain, with a golden statue of Ragaleon in the middle.

Jazell sat on one of the swings in the garden while Racheal stood erect, fixing her gaze on her.

"I suppose you can fathom out the reason I am here; however, I deem it fit to state the purpose of my visit." Jazell's voice was low and calm, dare I say patient.

"You are obliged to the King's decision…why, Racheal? Jazell's brows arched, trying to disguise her anger.

"First you disregard me, and now you seek answers from me? Racheal scoffed and then crossed her hands behind her back.

"You are the straightforward type; I like the fact that you don't hide your disdain for me."

"It's not like your words will change anything, but I will give you an inkling." Racheal's possessive voice purred.

"You thought you were so smart…"

"But I am… I know I am smart." Jazell crossed her legs while sliding a strand of hair behind her back.

Racheal gazed at her for a while, her green eyes searching for something.

"What do you want from me? Racheal questioned taking her seat on a swing opposite Jazell.

"You know what I want from you, Racheal. Bringing in a new queen into Decreash won't support our interest at heart, so why do you support Ragaleon's intentions? Jazell asked, caressing the diamond ring on her finger.

"And this interest you speak of, may I know what it is? It was Rachael's turn to cross her legs.

"The harem is a place for the survival of the fittest; don't make it more complicated by bringing in a new queen." Jazell went straight to the point.

"Jazell, I am afraid this interest you speak of has nothing to do with me. What will you have me do? Try and make the king change his mind? Racheal mocked sarcastically, her calm voice unswerving.

Jazell gazed at her knowingly; Racheal read the message she was passing. She shot her brows up in amusement.

"What makes you think I can change the king's mind? Rachel questioned, rising to her feet.

"You know you can. I don't know how you do it, but you have your ways, queen of wisdom." Jazell cooed.

Racheal inched closer… "And what do I get in return?

"Finally, you are speaking like royalty." Jazell said, helping herself to a cup of tea on a table between the swing set.

"How about we play a game of chess? If I win, you will have to convince the king to sever all his plans of getting a new wife." Jazell said, sipping from the cup of tea in her hand, that she was stepping on a lion's tail and she knew it.

"You do like turning everything into little games, don't you? Racheal,said snapping her fingers, a maid inches forward.

"You know what to do." Racheal said without sparing the maid a glance, her gaze was fixed on Jazell.

Queen Racheal and Queen Jazell are having a chess battle? The maid wanted to see how this would end, and soon words began to spread around.

In no time, the whole household became aware of it. Some maids stood by watching from a distance.

Now these two opponents were very smart; to cut to the chase, no one, not even the maids, could guess who would win.

"Who do you think will win? Linn, Jazell's personal handmaid whispered to her colleague.

"I would bet on Queen Racheal; she is the queen of wisdom after all." It was Celin speaking, Queen Tamina's personal handmaid.

"How much will you bet? I know my mistress will win; she is cunning. They don't call her the queen of tactics for nothing." Linn said as she watched a maid set the game in front of the two queens.

"Five silver coins—that is the betting price." Celin said, not breaking her gaze away from the two queens.

Standing beside the two queens were four guards as they were seated at the palace courtyard. The atmosphere was tense, with a strong aura looming all over.

The tranquility was very keen, and Racheal made the first move. She had the experience, the dexterity, and, of course, enough wisdom to smash this game and win.

But hold on, Jazell was her opponent. Jazell had the knowledge as well as the cunning tactics to turn the game to her favor. She had the skills and knew all the tunnels to win this game, so who was it going to be?

"Why do you want to get rid of all your rivals so quickly? The king already made you in charge of the harem; there is nothing to be afraid of." Rachel broke the silence.

"The worst mistake anyone can ever make is thinking they have no enemies, thinking they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid of; that's when the biggest force hits the hardest." Jazell's calm voice echoed; she made her move.

"You should have thought about that before exposing Katie's secret; she had nothing against you." Rachel made her move.

"Are you insinuating that I should have kept mute, thereby sustaining Katie's infidelity?" Jazell stared at the game for a while before making her next move.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Jazell." Racheal said, countering Jazell's move.

"She was a threat, and only I could see it. She won't have been able to last long in the harem anyway; she is weak."

"There are better ways to eliminate your enemies; you have caused more harm than damage." Racheal said as she watched Jazell counter her move, she made her move, countering Jazell's.

"How so? The least that could ever happen is Decreash having a war with the kingdom of Canna, which, of course, we know Canna will lose." Jazell made her move.

"Not bad! Racheal commended when she saw the move Jazell made before making her move.

"You know, for a person who always keeps to themselves, I never reckoned you would be this good." Rachel was being genuine.

"Is that why you look down on everyone? Because you think you are perfect. You think no one is as good as you." Jazell said, gazing profoundly at Racheal.

"Who said anything about being perfect? Nobody is perfect. Why would you think I look down on people, most especially you? Racheal raised her sinister gaze.

"Well, let's see…" Jazell made a stunning move. "You are good with swords, belligerent, and pretty. Came from a powerful kingdom, and for some reason, the king has taken an interest in your fountain of wisdom. He asked for your opinion, and you supported him." Jazell twisted her lustrous lips before arching her brows.

Racheal paused in her tracks…. "How did you know about that? She asked, looking stunned.

"I have my ways." Jazel knew how to turn the game to her favor, but she wanted to make a move that would make her victorious once and for all.

"You are not bad yourself; your brother is the hand of the king. You are at an advantage when it comes to manipulation." Racheal made a move that left Jazell astonished.

"You can call it quits if you want." Racheal taunted her, but she scoffed and made a move, but not enough to win Racheal.

"My words are sacred; I never go back on them. I started this, and I will end it." She retorted, reclining on the royal armchair she was sitting on.

Racheal saw right through her and knew at once that she was determined to win this game.

"I will savor this moment while it lasts; this might be the last time we will ever agree on something." Rachel commented that she made a move that Jazell seemed to have predicted.

"Sometimes I wonder why you haven't tried to get on my bad side yet." Rachel was getting somewhere.

"When I find something to use against you, I promise I will be on your bad side." Jazell immediately made her final move, and boom... "Checkmate!

Jazell couldn't hide the proudness in her voice; she raised her gaze to glance at Racheal, but the latter's face was void of any emotions. What a strong woman; she never lets her weakness come to light.

Racheal's face was neutral as she stared at the game of chess Jazell had just won; her prowess had been challenged.

"I expect you to be true to your words and fulfill your part of the deal." Jazell mused, standing to her feet; she adjusted her red flowing gown and had the countenance of a dynamic queen.

Racheal crossed her legs, then shifted her gaze from the game of chess to Lora, and she pouted her lips. "Which deal? I don't remember concluding any deal with you." She remarked with a cross tone. Jazell's eyelashes twitched in exasperation; this woman was messing with her.

"Don't make me laugh. Racheal, clearly we made a deal; why else did we play this game in the first place? Jazell interrogated, losing her patience. What was her deal with confusing people?

But the truth was that Racheal was being as honest as she could be at that moment; it was just that Jazell was yet to realize it.

"The last thing I remember is you offering me a deal. I don't remember accepting your offer; I thought we played the game for the fun of it. Racheal said, and Jazell's string of patience snapped.

"You told me what you wanted if you should win, but I didn't chip in what I wanted if I should win; there was definitely no deal between us." Racheal said, and Jazell almost staggered frenetically; this woman had just played her. What Racheal said was the truth.

If both parties didn't come to an agreement in the first place, there was no deal; even if Jazell had just won, there was no gain.

"You…" Jazell felt like strangling Racheal to death, but she was helpless when she gazed at the two royal guards behind her. She finally turned around and walked away, fuming with anger.

"She might be cunning, but Racheal is definitely wise." Celin, a maid standing from a distance said.

"You owe me five silver coins, Celin." Linn said, walking away proudly. Even though her mistress was tricked, she still won the game.

Slouching forward Rachel made her final move, "Checkmate! She slammed.

On a terrace, a figure who leaned on the railings suddenly smiled knowingly.

"Racheal, you never seem to disappoint me." Tamina said before taking her leave. She had watched the whole game, and now she knew whose side to be on if she wanted to play her cards well.

Jazell was too excited to see that Rachel still had a chance to make another move; the guards that were Rachel's escort were bewildered by her act of proximity. They were standing behind her and couldn't contain their stunned expression.

Racheal saw this and cautioned. "Not a word should I hear about this," she said in a wary manner, and they all nodded.

She reclined on the chair and signaled a maid to pour her a glass of wine, then she slowly sipped from it.

"Well, I guess the king is getting his new bride."