Chapter 46 Drops Of Octave

• Zara
• I was on a mission outside the walls of the palace. It was all a secret purpose to acquire a something very important to me. Maryann was to escort me. It all amounted to going out unnoticed and coming back in unnoticed.
• We had managed to get out with the help of Alejandro, the head guard who made us make use of a secret passageway only few people in the palace knew. He had told me that the reason why he had shown me it was because I was the Queen.
• Guess that came with some advantages.
• Maryann didn’t even know what I wanted to get. I never told her. The only thing I had said was that she should take me to a herb seller. That only he would know the exact thing I wanted to acquire.
• I drove both of us down there. I paid the Royal guard to keep his mouth shut if anyone asked of our whereabouts.
• The drive was a bit long. We both came down as I surveyed the land. We had disguised by putting on hoodies and sun shades so no one recognized us.
• She directed me to the herb seller discreetly. When we got there, I had told her to wait outside.
• No one could be trusted.
• No one could know what my intentions today where.
• I entered the place swiftly. Looking at man who sold the herbs, he asked me what I needed.
• “Hemlock,” I simply said. O could see the fear that overrode his eyes. He took two steps back and nodded his head.
• “It isn’t available.” He said.
• I immediately brought forward a huge bundle of money. I had learnt this aspect from my mum. People were always greedy for money. And, I knew the right tabs to press.
• “Come with me,” he said, after getting hold of the money I had dropped on the dusty table. I looked behind me to see if anyone had seen us. When I was sure no one did, I inched close and followed him.
• He went to a safe, bringing out some bottles. He pointed to one.
• “I call this, the viper. It kills instantly.” He said.
• “This is a trio. It takes three days to get rid anyone,” he added. I knew that wasn’t what I wanted.
• “I need something slow. Something that no one will notice until it’s too late. I want something none would ever suspect.” I said directly to him. Even though I was still nervous about the step I wanted to take, I had to voice out what I came here for.
• “Hmm… then I think this would do,” he said. It was a mini sized bottle. “This is the Octave. It’s so slow, takes 8 months to get rid on anyone. No one would smell a rat,” he said. I grasped it from his hand.
• “Tell me the dosage.”
• “Oh, it’s a drop everyday. You need about 3 bottles to make it last for three months. No one can consume this for that long and not be six feet under,” he added.
• I watched as he took two other bottles and added it to the one with me.
• “You never saw me.” I told him fiercely. He bowed and brought the money to his mouth to kiss it.
• “I never saw you,” he repeated.
• I met Maryann outside. We quickly went back to the car and drove back to the palace. Taking the secret passageway, it was like we hadn’t left the palace since.
• When I got to my room with Maryann on my side, Zack was still not there. It was definitely due to the fact that he had lots of duties to fulfill as a King. This gave me enough time to explain to Maryann what she had to do.
• Every morning, Esmeralda always made sure that Mary brought a cup of local tea to her room. She saw this as reminding her of her place but it was to my advantage.
• I gave Maryann a bottle, telling her the instructions. She would put a drop every morning in the tea. As each finished, she would come back to me for the second so was the third too. This would be the routine for eight months.
• Mary didn’t even fret. She was as determined as ever to do it. It definitely had to do with Esmeralda taking her child away from her, by forcing her to abort it.
• ===
• I was just about to go out when Shawna and Elizabeth, came in giggling like teenagers. I had asked them what was wrong until I noticed what Shawna held I her hands.
• It was an envelope, sealed with colorful ribbons. They handed it over for me to see for myself. I opened it.
• “Wow,” I said. It was Zack’s writing. It had a royal seal just at the bottom, which sent butterflies to the pit of my stomach. I had this giddy feeling. It read:
• Will my wife do me the honor of being my date tonight?
• Meet me at 7pm in the garden.
• Zack.
• I could see the faces of the girls. They were so excited. So was me. This was all surprising.
• “I’ll do her hair,” Shawna said.
• “No, I’ll do her hair. You do the makeup,” Elizabeth replied.
• “Awnn… You did it the last time.” She complained.
• “That’s because I’m good at that. You’re better with makeup.” Elizabeth dragged my arm while Shawna dragged the other.
• This was going to be a really long day!
• ===
• Zack had shown up in an attractive attire. He got there before me which left me thinking of what he has in store for the date.
• I had worn a lilac mini gown which were backed up with a stiletto. My hair was braided into a French plait, with two strands at the sides of my face.
• “You look drop dead gorgeous,” Zack commented at me. I smiled and complimented him too.
• “Thanks, you look as eloquent as ever too,” I replied him.
• He walked me to the table and dragged a sit for me. His romantic gestures where really weird but I loved it.
• We talked for hours. Asked ourselves questions about each other and even became more familiar with each other. It was like an intense chemistry. Something that I couldn’t even avoid even if I wanted to.
• We stood up after some time. We walked to the stars and appreciated every single bit of it.
• He suddenly looked at me.
• When I asked him what, he said,
• “You are most kindest woman I’ve ever met in my life,” I knew he was referring to how I helped those peasants.
• Yet…
• A part of me felt guilty.
• For whatever I was doing to Esmeralda, all because she wanted to harm me and my child.
• “I'm glad you think that.” I said.
• “My King,” he looked at me surprisingly because I had never called him that. We were so informal with each other.
• “Yes?”
• “I want you to know something,” I said.
• “What is it?” He asked.
• “I want you to know that whatever I do is for myself, yourself and our child,”
• I finalized. He looked confused but replied positively…
• The next thing we did was hold each other’s arms and stare at the beautiful stars.
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• A/n Wrote 5000 words today. I hope you leave a review to support me.