First draft

Ann wrinkled her nose when a peculiar smell hit her nostrils. She glanced at the huge painting on the other side of the room and nodded, well aware that Morris Anchorvy had arrived.  Fivestar was three hundred leagues from the sea, and yet, that acrid, salty smell seemed to follow him wherever he went. Therefore, when Helena and Morris entered the castle's study a couple minutes later, announced with much fanfare by a courtier, Ann wasn't surprised. The queen's brother-in-law was a stout and bald man, short as a dwarf and almost as fat. The smell together with his double chin, stocky build and sloped shoulders were the main reason everyone called him Seafrog.  

The fact that Ann's sister was standing at his side only magnified his flaws. Helena was still growing, but she was already a head taller than him, and so beautiful that even someone like Ann, who was far from being ugly, paled in comparison. That day she was wearing a satin long dress that emphasized her curves. She looked so radiant that Ann couldn't help but look at her with a bit of envy. Her sister was a statuesque woman, but her features were more delicate than Ann's, her curly auburn hair as vivid as flames, and her skin spotless white, not full of freckles. 

In comparison, I'm just a faded copy of the original.

Helena was better than her in every way and yet, it was Ann the one sitting on the throne while her sister had been sold off.

And to him of all people...

The difference in ages between husband and wife wasn't much, barely six years, but they seemed more like father and daughter, or maybe a lady and her servant. They were exactly like the fairytale couple, the princess and the frog. A pity that even after marrying the beauty, the frog was still a frog.

"Your majesty." Morris Anchovy knelt clumsily.

Ann couldn't help but look at him with disgust. His pea-green attire was an eyesore, but the real problem was his jacket. It was so tight that the buttons were about to pop off. That coupled with the fact that he was dressed in green, made him look like a swollen frog.

"Rise, please." She said, and when Morris looked up, she lowered her head, her shoulders slouching as if she wanted to shrink away and hide, " You don't have to kneel.  We're family."

Her voice sounded high-pitched and nervous, her orders more like hesitant suggestions. The queen was gone and the girl who had taken her place looked young and scared, unsuited for her position. Of course, it was just an act, a well-built mask, but that mask fit her like a glove. After all, she'd had ten years to perfect it.

"Keep your head down and don't speak until you are spoken to. Wring your hands from time to time. Yes, like that. You must look beautiful but completely useless. Remember, Ann, you will defeat the Highlords sooner or later, but until then...you're not a person, you're a doll.  That's how you survive."

After all those years, It was hard to keep acting like a fearful girl. Hard but necessary. The man before her was her brother in law but he also was an Anchorvy, the son of a Highlord. An enemy.

"You too, sister. Please."

Helena gave her a grateful smile before hugging her a bit longer than normal. Ann widened her eyes a bit, evidently surprised. Her sister had never been a clingy person. Morris, on the other hand, struggled to stand up. He was still panting when Ann asked them to sit. They drank black tea from the Eastern Continent and talked about useless things for a few minutes.  However, when Helena asked her to dismiss the servants, including the guards standing at the door, Ann knew that her intuition had been right. They had something to tell her. Something important. 

She braced herself for whatever might happen next, but Helena still managed to shock her.

"Ann, I am with child." That's what she said.

Ann gaped, the teacup in her hand shaking as she tried to put her thoughts in order.  She glanced at Helena, but her stomach was flat. Her sister didn't look pregnant but she seemed worried for some reason. She was holding her breath as she nervously stared at Ann.

What is she worried about?

"Felicitations." Ann faked a smile, trying to sound happy for her. 

Helena released her breath slowly, taking Ann's hand to squeeze it, "Thank you, your majesty. I'm younger but I married before you and this baby..." She shook her head and repeated, "Thank you. " 

Ann raised an eyebrow. Then she bit her lip, fighting back her laughter. She ended up giving a cough or two as she sneaked a glance at Helena.

Silly sister, I'm not jealous of you.

"Your majesty," Morris Anchorvy interjected, "Helena's pregnancy is one of the reasons for our visit, but it's not the only one. Now that you are the queen,  we wish to be more...supportive."

Ann became wary, her smile stiffening as she faked to take a sip of tea. Seafrog was undoubtedly ugly, his manners clumsy and the way he dressed ridiculous, but he was a very shrewd man,  a merchant who assessed risks and rewards carefully.

"I'm sure we could use your help, Lord Morris. Your work for the merchant guild is invaluable." Ann diplomatically answered, "But you're a very busy man, I don't know if..."

"Nonsense!  We will gladly support your Majesty in the council. As your Majesty said, we are family." 

Ann amiably smiled, but her cheeks were starting to hurt.

"What my husband means," Helena said, drawing Ann's attention to herself, "is that we should join forces. There are many menaces to the Queen's peace."

The Highlords' Peace, you mean. Her sister was getting better to lie.

Ann moistened her lips, "What are you exactly suggesting?"

"The Coppertsons ruled these lands for thousands of years. That will never change. However, the present situation is unprecedented. Your majesty is not married and although there is still someone who shares your blood," He glanced at Ann's sister, and Helena unconsciously lowered her head, "without an heir. I think that we should remedy to that...for the good of the realm, of course."

Ann narrowed her eyes before stealing a glance at Helena, but Her sister was still keeping her head down. 

"I'm sorry, Lord Morris, but...how should we do that?"

"Your Highness could adopt our child." Morris' answer was very smooth, like what he was suggesting made perfect sense, "Of course, you wouldn't have to worry about raising him, Helena would do that. Besides, he would come after your highness' children in the line of succession. This way, your Highness would have an heir of your blood and...house Anchorvy's support, of course."

Ann couldn't help but lift her head, her facade slipping as she finally looked at him. Morris was sitting with his hands in his lap, his lips holding a faint smile as he stared at her. He looked calm, acting as nothing happened. 

"Your majesty, is something the matter?" His big round eyes became two slits when he saw that she was staring at him.

"I...I..." She cleared her throat but her mind was a mess at the moment, "What...what if the baby is stillborn?" Ann blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

Only when Helena paled, she realized what she'd just said.

She covered her mouth with her hand, "I'm sorry, Helena. I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine." Helena answered, but Ann could barely hear her, "It's just the truth. I know that mother miscarried before giving birth to you. You said nothing wrong."  She tried to smile but she still looked distraught.

Morris, on the other hand, was much more composed, "I'm confident in Helena's ability. She will give birth to a healthy baby." He said in a tone that sounded a lot like an order.

Then he glanced at Helena, and once again, her sister meekly lowered her head.

"Anyway, your majesty, worry not" Morris continued, "Even if the baby is stillborn, we will still fulfill our obligations."  

He resumed staring at Ann as if he expected an immediate answer. However, she had no intention to play into his hands.

"Apologizes, Lord Morris, but..." Ann sounded bashful, her eyes locked on the floor, "...can you give me some time to think about it?" 

Morris' smile slipped,  "Of course. it's a difficult decision." He said, but his tone was vaguely condescending, "Take your time, your majesty. But..."His tone suddenly hardened, "...don't wait too long. After the baby is born, everything will become more difficult."

He left the threat---because that was undoubtedly a threat---lingering in the air for a while before saying, "I'll take my leave then. Helena, take your time."

Then he stood up, gave Ann a stiff bow and left without waiting for the queen's permission.

"I'm sorry, your majesty..." Helena's said when he left, her voice trembling, "It...it was a long journey." 

Ann couldn't take it anymore. She lifted her head but Helena was looking down at her hands. She kept smoothing her skirt over and over again, but unlike Ann, her behavior wasn't an act. It was like she was suffering from a violent nervous attack.

"My lord husband has...a sensitive stomach." Helena continued defending him, "Riding in a carriage must have been uncomfortable for him."

Ann bit her lip until she tasted blood. Long journey? Sensitive stomach?

Morris and Helena lived in Fivestar and their manor was less than five miles away from the castle. Besides, Ann had seen Morris eating. It only happened once but it was enough to utterly disgust her.

Helena, why are you making excuses for him?

"I better go now." Helena gave her a shaky smile.

Then she stood up, curtsied and she was about to follow her husband when Ann grabbed her arm.

Helena turned to look at Ann's face, her eyes quizzical, "Your majesty?"

"I want to..." Ann shook her head, "Nothing." She forced a smile, "I'm just...happy for you. I know you always wanted to be a mother."

Helene gave her another smile, this time a real one. Her entire face lit up and for a moment she was the confident, bright girl Ann loved. Whatever was happening between her and Morris, her sister wanted this baby.  

"Thank you." Helena whispered to her.

 Then she was gone. Ann made sure she was alone before straightening her back, her hesitation vanishing without a trace. She looked taller, standing upright like a soldier.

"They're gone. You can come out now." She ordered, her expression turning cold as she looked at the painting.  

There was a clicking sound, and then the turning mechanism started moving. The painting on the other side of the room opened, just like a door, revealing a secret passage and beyond that, a hidden room. Less than a minute later, Rowley and Duncan came out of it.

She started tapping her fingers on the table, her mouth set in a hard line, "You have nothing to say?" 

When she glared at them, Rowley shifted from one foot to the other and even Duncan looked uncomfortable.

"My queen..."

She held up a finger, "I don't want to hear your excuses, Duncan."
The captain's mouth snapped shut.

"Now, tell me..." Ann said, putting her hands on her hip, "what the hell happened to my sister?"