" Catherine, Can I have a word with you, privately? " the Queen asked. Lady Catherine exchanges a knowing look with her husband.

"Of course, your highness, " she replied.

" I will excuse you, " prince Julia said getting off the table.

" Your father asked me to do something to save you yesterday," The Queen said as soon as they were left alone. Lady Catherine looked at the Queen not knowing how to respond to her statement.

For an unknown reason, Catherine could already tell that she was not going to like the conversation.

" But I refuse, " the Queen said causing lady Catherine to unconsciously raise her brow. She wanted to snap at the Queen but after what happened at the Royal Court yesterday she knew better than to let her tongue losing.

The Queen looked at Catherine and saw her conflicted reaction. "you know child, I would have helped if only he did not raise a knife and threatened me. I don't do well with threats. It tends to bring out my worst. So now your father is going to battle with me," the Queen said. A beautiful smile was playing on her lips as she spoke.

Lady Catherine looked at her not understanding why the Queen was telling her anything." the battle of truth, She paused and looked at the shocked expression on lady Catherine's face.

"So you do know that one of us would end up dead at the end of the battle. Of course, that is going to be your father," she said with so much confidence.

Lady Catherine swallowed and put herself together. She did not want to show the Queen any fear. She needed to appear brave. She believes the Queen's confidence is coming from the fact that her son would be fighting in her stand.

" So I thought about it. You are likely going to get a death sentence today and then your father would follow in a few days. The house of Thompson has been great and with your brothers dead at war, it would be bad to kill out the entire family. So I decided to save you, " The Queen said.

" Why? I thought you said you refused my father, " Lady Catherine asked but the real question in her head was why her father would be fighting the Queen in a battle of truth.

" let's just say I would hate to see you die for nothing, " the Queen replied. Lady Catherine looked at her. She knew better than to take the Queen's help without knowing what price she would have to pay.

"How do you plan to help me?" she asked the Queen.

"That question I can not give an answer to but if you let me, I would help you," the Queen replied.

Lady Catherine nodded her head. She had expected that answer. "what price will I pay for this help," she asked.

The Queen fave her a sweet smile, "I don't want anything, I just want you to leave the Royal Palace and return to your household. Live a quiet life," she replied

"what? I am still married to prince Julia how do you expect me to leave the Royal Palace and my husband?" Lady Catherine asked. She was taken by surprise when she heard the Queen's words.

"Then you choose to die with him?" the Queen raised her brows before elegantly picking up her teacup and have a sip. She hates talking with dumb people. If she did not already make up her mind not to involve the innocent in her quest for revenge she would have cared less.

" What do you mean? Did you poison the food?" Lady Catherine raised her voice as she got up from the table staring daggers at the Queen who remained nonchalant and sip her tea.

"I could have your tongue cut off for raising your voice at me, " she said calmly. "I am not stupid to invite you to breakfast and poison the food. If I want you or your husband dead I would do it when you are in your quarter. I can have my careless maid die because they eat the ruminated of your food," the Queen said and lady Catherine's jaw dropped.

She honestly could not believe her ears, the Queen was more concerned about her careless maids eating whatever is left on their plate and dying than her. "Does this mean, the Queen values the life of her maid's more than that of me and my husband?" Lady Catherine asked herself.

" you see it is difficult to get hard-working savant that can be trusted, so I would not risk harming them," The Queen said before sipping from her tea again. "Now sit before I forget I was trying to save your life and cut off your head for thinking of me as stupid," the Queen's voice increases slightly for the first time.

She really found lady Catherine's accusations insulting. She was no fool to invite them and kill them knowing that she would be the first suspect should they die. Moreover, who wastes poison on the dead?

Lady Catherine fought the urge to roll her eyes before sitting down. "what if I refuse your offer?" she asked.

"Then your life would be left in the hands of fate. It will not be my problem anymore. It will make no difference if you die with Julia. You know get a death sentence, " the Queen replied.

It finally made sense to Lady Catherine. "Then save us both, we would not cause trouble anymore," lady Catherine said. She was not sure why she said that but everything got to where it did because the Queen spoke in favor of the princess.

"I can't," the Queen replied.

"Why, everything got here because you spoke up," Lady Catherine asked.

"Child did your father not tell you that words are like arrows once release they can not be taken back. Moreover, Julia went after his brother's wife and when she refused he tried to hurt her. I can plead on your behalf, that you were been childish but what would I blame your husband's behavior on, " the Queen explained.

She was already tired of the conversation and wanted to ask lady Catherine to leave." How did a cunny man like general Thompson father someone this stupid? " the Queen asked herself.

"But your highness... Lady Catherine wanted to insist but the Queen was tired of talking to her. In fact, she was already regretting her decision of trying to talk to her.

" you take my offer or you leave it. I would know you are willing to take my offer if you keep mute and do not say a word in defense of your husband. Then I just might plead on your behalf," the Queen stated.

"Thanks for the offer, your highness," Lady Catherine got off her chair and walked out of the room. She the Queen has no intention to keep speaking to her. for some reason she felt the Queen looked scary. She was nothing like the kind-hearted woman she had known in the Palace.