Chapter Forty-One
The Queen's POV — An Empty Kingdom
Morning in the palace of Wilson usually began with quiet order.
Servants moved through the corridors, preparing breakfast. Maids arranged the royal chambers while cooks worked in the palace kitchens.
But that morning… something felt wrong.
I noticed it the moment I stepped into the hallway.
Silence.
Too much silence.
Where were the maids?
I frowned slightly and walked toward the main hall.
"Where is everyone?" I asked sharply.
A nervous servant bowed.
"We… we are trying to find out, Your Majesty."
Trying to find out?
That answer was unacceptable.
I continued walking through the palace. The corridors felt strangely empty.
No footsteps.
No quiet voices.
No movement.
Even the royal kitchens looked unusual when I entered.
The cooks stood there awkwardly.
Several pots were empty.
"Why is breakfast not prepared?" I demanded.
One of the cooks swallowed nervously.
"Your Majesty… the kitchen maids did not arrive this morning."
My irritation grew.
"Then send someone to fetch them."
The cook hesitated.
"That… may be difficult."
"Why?"
"Because… none of them are in the city."
I stared at him.
"What nonsense are you speaking?"
Before he could answer, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.
A royal messenger rushed in, breathing heavily.
"Your Majesty!"
His voice carried panic.
"What is it?" I asked coldly.
He bowed quickly.
"We have discovered something strange in the capital."
My patience was disappearing.
"Speak clearly."
"The markets are half empty. Most homes are quiet."
"And?"
He swallowed.
"The women of the city are gone."
For a moment, the words made no sense.
"Gone?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Explain."
"Throughout the night, women across the kingdom left their homes."
He hesitated before finishing the sentence.
"They left Wilson."
My fingers tightened against the table.
"Where did they go?"
The messenger lowered his head.
"To France."
France.
The word echoed through the hall like an insult.
I slowly stood up.
"Who organized this?"
The messenger's voice became quieter.
"A student… named Clare."
Clare.
The same girl who stood in my royal court yesterday.
The same girl the King had praised.
My anger burned slowly, like a fire growing stronger.
"So this is her answer to my order."
The King entered the hall at that moment, looking equally surprised.
"Is it true?" he asked the messenger.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thousands of women left during the night."
The King sighed deeply.
"This will cause chaos in the kingdom."
But my thoughts were far colder.
"A kingdom cannot function without women," I said quietly.
"Cooking… cleaning… markets… homes…"
Everything would be affected.
And the entire world would soon hear about it.
My gaze turned toward the window where the winter sun slowly rose above Wilson.
"A student thinks she can challenge the authority of a queen."
The messenger stood frozen.
"Prepare the royal carriage," I ordered.
The King looked at me.
"You intend to follow them?"
"Yes."
My voice was calm, but filled with steel.
"If the women of Wilson believe they can escape my authority by running to France…"
I paused.
"…then I will go to France myself."
Because no rebellion—no matter how clever—would go unanswered.
And Clare was about to learn exactly what it meant to challenge a queen.
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