Slowly she drifted off into space being wrapped in a familiar magical presence, soothing her into sleep . 'It feels like daddy's but it's different.'

Once Ashnah woke up, she found herself laying on a grand bed within a bedroom chambers that was even larger in magnitude than her father's. It was at least three times the size. Sitting up, her eyes darted around the bedroom chamber. "...Where exactly am I? How did I get here?" She questioned herself.

The brown haired child swung her legs over the edge of the bed standing up. Once she did, an acute pain flashed through her lower limbs, hitting the nerves of her toes. This caused her to wince and to also recall everything that had occurred before she had got here.

She had been chased by a bee. She had fallen due to slipping in a mud puddle, then she had been suddenly devoured within a magical turquoise light. The last thing she had heard had been her father frantically shouting her name.

Just from observations, Ashnah knew that she couldn't be within the Marshall Estate. Then she saw a family coat of arms on the wall the canopy bed was against. It was the royal family's coat of arms, the Cromwells.

Suddenly the double doors opened with a clamorous sound, once they had bombarded against the walls. Anger filled eyes mixed with killing intent scanned the chambers before finally landing on Ashnah.

The Queen Regnant Milcah Cromwell had pondered who had dare enter the residence of her late son and daughter-in-law then had actually dare going into her son's room. But it was her. Her eyes immediately softened. She smiled, asking in a gentle tone. "You're Ashnah, right?"

The brunette recognized the royal in front of her from a portrait of the royal family that Ben had shown her during one of his lessons. But that portrait had been painted at least twenty-five years ago.

Queen Regnant Milcah still looked the same. Even in old age her royal golden blonde hair never lost its colour or its plasticity. Her emerald green eyes were warm and on her face were only a few wrinkles. She only liked a woman who was only in her late fifties.

Ashnah immediately curtsied, greeting her as she should. "Greetings Queen Regnant Cromwell."

Milcah studied the child noticing her sullied attire and wounds. "Dear, what happened to your clothes and how did you get those abrasions on your knees?" After she walked up to her, Milcah crouched down gazing at Ashnah's injuries. There was obvious concern and in her eyes and voice that it left Ashnah somewhat perplexed.

She had heard about the current King, Cyril favoring the Archduke greatly, but did that extend to the King's grandmother as well? Even if it was so, it was a bit much.

Before Ashnah could even answer the Queen Regnant's questions, Milcah had swept her away to her palace and had immediately summoned for a royal doctor.

Milcah had later obtained the answers for questions from Ashnah as she had chatted with her while the royal doctors were silently healing just mere wounds on her knees. The royal doctors had thought the Queen Regnant life was in peril with how the old Lady-in-waiting for her had asked for their presence.

Ashnah was currently standing within the Queen Regnant's own bedroom chambers after she had been bathed, healed and clothed. Even though she had already been clothed, the royal was still picking out dresses along with cute accessories that she thought would best compliment the child's features.

"Hmmm, what about this barrette for her hair?" Milcah muttered more to herself than anyone with the room.

The lady-in-waiting of the Queen Regnant smiled. "Anything would suite Lady Ashnah. She inherited most of her features from the kingdom's previous beauty pageant queen after all."

"I know. That's what makes it so onerous." Queen Milcah released a simple sigh as she placed a hand against her cheek.

'.....I've become a dress-up Barbie doll .... for Queen Regnant.' Ashnah thought.

••••

"The atmosphere of the Queen Regnant Palace has changed. Grandmother had even summoned for the best royal doctors from the court. Is everything alright, Cyril?" Queen Elizabeth inquired. Even though she asked this her face and the tone of her voice were extremely cold and seemingly void of all emotions. 'I-I-Is grandmother alright?! I-I-I hope everything is fine!! Maybe I should visit her immediately!! ..... But I haven't sent word of a visitation!!!'

Cyril did a small smile. "First, she had felt another presence within father's bedroom chambers. When she found out who it was she was instantly filled with delight. Well, still is considering from the atmosphere." He stood up, walking to and gazing out of the window that presented a generous view of his grandmother's palace on the royal grounds.

'Phew!!!! Grandmother is fine! But Father-in-law's room?' At the vague words of her husband, Elizabeth thought. She knew the Queen Regnant would not show mercy to just anyone who had been caught in the previous King's and Queen's residence, her parent-in-laws. Her mind quickly played with the possibilities. "But shouldn't she be visiting the retired Viscount with Archduke Morley?" Then she stiffened. '....I-I-I am not adequately prepared to meet her!!!' Her inner voice nervously shouted. She didn't know what little girls at that age liked.

Sensing that the temperature in the room was dropping a few degrees, Cyril chuckled. Even though his wife didn't look nervous from her stoic face, he knew she was internally panicking. "Are you planning on turning this room into a little ice-land again, Eliza?" He teased.

This was when the Queen's cheeks flushed red, the redness continuing onto her ears. "Sh-Sh-Shut up, Cyril!!!" Notable coldness filled the room with ice covering the ground and icicles forming on the ceiling.

When the act was done, Elizabeth was nowhere in sight. Cyril found his feet iced to the ground.

The King's aide came into the room after feeling a sudden surge of powerful magic. He sighed once he saw the state of the room. "Did you tease Her Majesty again?"

"It's a habit."