The Royal Payback

The Royal Payback: checkmate, your majesty.

• Fantasy
• Short story
• Action and Adventure

								
In the land of Azura, where the sun dipped into the horizon and painted the sky with hues of crimson and gold, the royal family had long been a symbol of power and prestige. However, behind the opulent curtains and grandeur of the palace, a tale of deceit, betrayal, and revenge had been brewing for years.

Queen Lirien, a woman of unparalleled beauty and cunning, had once been deeply in love with her husband, King Thrain. Together, they had ruled Azura with wisdom and grace, bringing peace and prosperity to their people. But as the years went by, Thrain's ambition and lust for power grew, consuming him entirely. He began to make decisions without consulting his queen, ignoring her counsel and disregarding her feelings.

The final blow came when Thrain abandoned his duties and fled the kingdom, leaving Lirien to bear the weight of his treachery alone. The queen's heart was shattered into a thousand pieces, her trust and love replaced with a burning desire for revenge.

Ten years passed, and Lirien's wounds had not healed. Instead, they had festering into a deep-seated resentment towards her estranged husband. She had played the role of the devoted queen, maintaining the illusion of a happy marriage for the sake of their people. But behind closed doors, she had been secretly gathering allies, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

That moment arrived on the night of the grand ball, a celebration marking a decade since Thrain's departure. Lirien had orchestrated the event with precision, inviting nobles and dignitaries from across the land. The king, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath the surface, had accepted the invitation, eager to reclaim his place beside his queen.

As the night wore on, Lirien's plan unfolded with the grace of a chess player moving her pieces into position. She had prepared a special welcome for her husband, one that would humiliate him before the entire court.

With a subtle nod, the queen signaled her loyal knight, Sir Edward, to escort Thrain to the center of the ballroom. The music stopped, and the guests parted, forming a circle around the king. Lirien descended the stairs, her eyes blazing with a fire that seemed to pierce the very soul of her husband.

"Your Majesty," she said, her voice dripping with venom, "it's been far too long. I see you've returned to reclaim your throne, but I'm afraid that's no longer yours to take."

Thrain, realizing too late that he had walked into a trap, tried to retreat, but it was too late. Lirien's guards surrounded him, their swords drawn. The queen approached her husband, her eyes flashing with triumph.

"Checkmate, Your Majesty," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gasps and murmurs of the stunned guests. "You may have abandoned your duties, but I have not forgotten mine. You will pay for your betrayal, Thrain. You will pay dearly."

And with that, the queen's revenge was set in motion. Thrain was taken away, his fate sealed. Lirien, her heart finally avenged, turned to her guests and smiled, the mask of the devoted queen slipping back into place.

The night wore on, the music resuming, and the guests whispering among themselves, their eyes fixed on the queen with a newfound respect and fear. For in the game of thrones, Lirien had proven herself to be a master player, her checkmate a testament to her cunning and strength.

In the end, it was not the king who had been served, but the queen who had served justice, her majesty reigning supreme over the land of Azura.
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