The Second Queen's Trial was sixty years after the first trial between the Triplet Queens. It was between the Grandaughters of the winning Queen of the first trail. There were four Princesses in this Trial. Princess Lana, Princess Fantine, Princess  Orla and Princess Cora. The Master Scholar at the time determined that, unlike the previous Triplet Princesses, these princesses should grow up together. That they should love each other like any other sibling. That way, by sacrificing her siblings to win, the winning princesses will further prove her dedication for the throne.

The King chose Princesses Cora, his youngest daughter, as his choice. She was, after all, the most popular of all the girls. She was beautiful, young and innocent. With there being ten years between her and Princess Lana, she was seen as the baby of them all. She was often remembered as the Kindest of all the sisters.

Unlike the Triplets who loved each other dearly even without having met, these sisters grew up hating each other. Though the eldest three have one thing in common. They despised the perfect, youngest child. That lead to a very interesting and gruesome second Queen's Trial. 

The History of the Queens Trial

Cordelia sits alone in her room, brushing through the tangles of her ginger hair. Getting annoyed with the thick curls which always seem to find themselves tangling, she gives up and sends for a maid to do it for her. The woman arrives only a few minutes after.

"Good Morning, Princess," she says, curtsying as she enters.

"Morning Rose," Cordelia smiles.

"What are you after today, princess?" she asks.

"It's up to you," Cordelia replies to the woman. Rose is the best hairstylist in the city and also owns the workshop which provides the Princesses with all their dresses. She makes some of the best hair potions and is extremely talented in styling. She also comes up with the most unique dress designs, with some of the Princesses input of course. 

"Anything special happening today?" Rose asks. Cordelia smiles.

"Just a couple of important meetings," she shrugs.

"Ahh, so you want to look like a proper princess then?" she asks. Cordelia doesn't reply, but a smile does toy at her lips. "I have just the style that would be perfect. I could recommend a dress too if you would like. One that makes you look like a force to be reckoned with," the woman smiles.

Cordelia chuckles back. "No, not yet. I need to be their perfect, innocent little doll," she tells her. The woman nods her head knowingly, a dark smile on her lips.

"Sometimes, a dress can be a better defence than armour," Rose tells Cordelia. Cordelia smiles back.

"Sometimes, a dress can be a better weapon than a sword," Cordelia replies. Rose nods her head and begins to work on Cordelia's hair.

"Tell me, princess, do I need to get some of my designers working on a different dress style for you? One for when you shed the skin of a sheep and show them all the lion really are?"

"That might be a good idea," Cordelia smiles.

After about half an hour, Cordelia's hair is complete.

"Wonderful job, Rose," she tells the woman. "Thank you." The front of her hair has been pulled back into two intricate twists and attached at the back of her head. The rest of the curls descend down her back. However, with one of Rose's special ointments, they are no longer tangled and messy. Instead, the rich ginger colour glistens as the strands fall in perfect ringlets. With the added addition of a small silver tiara sat on the top of her head, she certainly looked the part. Glittering and perfect.

As usual, when it comes to dresses, she sticks to pastel colours. That way, she would always appear the delicate, elegant Princess. The perfect princess. She smiles as she looks in the mirror. The dress certainly achieved what she was aiming for. The baby blue material compliments her soft pale skin perfectly. The off the shoulder neckline has white flowers attached to it along with a few sparkling diamonds. Thick along the neckline before getting less and less as it goes down her torso. The sleeves go all the way down to her wrists and is a fine blue lace, decorated with a few more diamonds or flowers. Around her waist is a thin black ribbon, tied in a bow at the front. From the belt, the dress flows down to the ground in layers upon layers of fine blue silks.

"It is perfect," Cordelia replies. Rose curtsies again.

"It is an honour to dress you, princess." Cordelia dismisses her and continues to look in the mirror for a little longer, taking slow deep breaths. She then goes to her dressing table and adds a shimmery pink liquid to her lips and some light, barely visible bronzes around her emerald eyes.

When she sees her finished complexion, she smiles happily. The costume was now complete. She stands up and leaves her room. As she walks past the staff, she sees that both her and Rose were correct in their dress and hair choice. The staff walk past her and smile brightly.

"Good morning princess," some say with cheery voices. Cordelia puts on her best, most dazzling smile before replying back.

"Good morning," she would say, followed by their names. She always made sure she knew all the staff by name. Just by showing them you know their names is one of the easiest ways to get them to like you. She makes her way into the gardens, walking along the familiar paths to where she needs to be. Her eyes fall on Lord Kristoff, waiting for her under the gazebo. His eyes fall on her and he instantly smiles. She gives her most charming smile back and watches him closely. Taking in his reaction to her appearance. After a few seconds, the Lord relaxes, his shoulders slumping and a genuine smile appearing on his face.

Good. She thinks. It was as she hoped. He had taken one look at her delicate beauty and without realising, had labelled her as not being a threat. To him, she was as a princess should be. A little bit of skin on show around her neck, the top of her chest, and her shoulders was just enough to add a little bit of mystery but not enough to make her look a harlot. The corset was the same. Though it showed the curves of her breasts and some of the shape of her torso, the skirts flowed out enough to hide the shapes of her hips, bottom and legs. That is how Kristoff likes her to be. To be innocently desirable. Enough skin showing or tight clothing for the other men to be curious, but not enough for them to know what lies beneath. Kristoff likes to taunt those around him. He likes people to know that only he gets to know all her beauty and they can only look from a distance and imagine.

"Princess," he smiles and gently takes her hand and brings it to her lips. They do not break eye contact as he does this.

"My King," she replies finally and gives a small curtsy. He grins wider and pulls her close to him.

"You look ravishing today, I'm sure all the ladies of the court will be copying this look by tomorrow. In fact, I can already imagine they have gotten in contact with their dressmakers a soon as they saw you," he tells her. She blushes slightly and looks away.

"I just dress how a princess should," she says softly. When Illyana was still here, Cordelia had to come up with some very unique designs in order to set the seasons trends. Sometimes that didn't work either. It would frustrate her to no end. The ladies of the court would almost always replicate whatever the firstborn Princess of Vivelle was wearing. What made it more frustrating is that Illyana never designed her own clothes. Their father had everything made for her from his own instructions. He didn't care about the rest of the girls enough to do the same. To him, it has always been about Illyana. Controlling her and moulding her into what he wanted her to be.

Of course, now she is gone the styles of dress around the castle and within the city has shifted slightly. The women are dressing in very similar shades and conservative styles that Cordelia fashions. They even style their hair and makeup in very similar ways.

"It is good they are beginning to imitate you," Kristoff tells her. "It means they are already beginning to see you as better than your sisters. They are looking up to you. It will make it a lot easier when you are my queen if the people already have a love for you," he shrugs. Cordelia smiles.

"That would be nice," she says. "But until Illyana is out of the picture, they will always prefer her," she sighs. "Even when she is dead, they will still look to her as their true princess. She will be adored over me still, even in death. I do not need the Vision Gift to see it." Kristoff shakes his head.

"Not if we tarnish her name so much that when the traitorous whore does get what's coming to her, they will celebrate."

"I like the thought of that," Cordelia smiles as she leans up onto her tip-toes to plant a delicate kiss on his lips. She pulls back again and his hand gently tucks away a strand of hair from her face. His eyes are soft and another genuine smile plays at his lips.

"What?" she whispers as he continues to look into her eyes. He shakes his head.

"I just never thought I would find someone who doesn't see me as a monster," he says. She smiles and touches his cheeks.

"That's because no one else is willing," she tells him. He looks up suddenly and Cordelia turns to see Lord Emlyn walking with Fallon. The two quickly part, their postures changing to stiff and distant. Fallon gives Kristoff a cold glare and a curious one to Cordelia. She doesn't go up to them and she and Emlyn walk away.

"Those two..." he growls under his breath as his lips twist. "Your bitch sister needs to learn her place before I am forced to teach it to her," he smugly smiles. Cordelia gulps.

"How would you do that?" she asks softly. His eyes, still blazing with a burning hatred, he replies.
"I'd drug her and lock her up somewhere. Restrain her so she can't fight back too much. Then, I'll let all my men have their way with her. If she wants to act above her station and dress like a common whore, she can be degraded like one. Hopefully, she'll learn that to be treated like a princess, she needs to act like one," he grins. Cordelia's throat dries but she lets the smile cross her features.

"I guess that would be appropriate," she tells him. With the cruel smile still on his face, he turns back to Cordelia.

"Yes. But I don't think I'll tie her up too much. I think my men will find it a little bit more fun if she can put up some off a fight. She needs to be shown, however, that no matter how good at combat she gets, men will always be stronger and better." Cordelia nods her head and thinks back to their exchange a few moments before.

Kristoff's moods can change in seconds. One moment, he can be sweet and caring. A second later, he can be the monster that he has the reputation of being.

The two, after their meeting, make their way to the council chambers. Kristoff opens the door and the room silences. The Councilmen quickly stand upon seeing the two. They bow quickly.

"Good afternoon, Princess," they say. The King stands also and looks over his daughter.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"My King," Kristoff begins. "Princess Cordelia has news she wishes to share with the council and yourself," he begins. Matthias looks over his daughters for a few more seconds before sitting down.

"Very well," he says. Cordelia smiles and nods her head. The other councilmen sit back down again. She makes her way to the table.

"I have news on how my sister was able to escape and on who told her of the True Contract." They all sit up quickly.

"Go on," Matthias urges. She takes a deep breath.

"It was Master Audwin, father." Her father narrows his eyes and leans back in his chair again.

"Can you be sure of this?" he asks. Though he was the King, the Master Scholar was not someone you wanted to be seen to be messing with. It was their role to make sure the crown follows the rules. If the people have any sort of suspicion that the crown is going after the Scholar in any way, they will quickly turn on their rulers.

"Yes, father. Ever since Illyana left, I have been trying my hardest to gather any information that could help you and find solutions for all the trouble Illyana is causing."

"How did you come to this conclusion?" Councilman Leander Drake asks. She gulps and looks at him.

"Erm," she begins. "I asked him," she replies. They all stare at her. "He trusts me to be on the same side as Illyana," she tells them. "He thinks I don't want the Queen's Trial to happen and that I want to help end it."

"You don't? Your eldest sister gave me quite the impression that all of you were against the Queen's trial and my choice of King Chosen," he frowns. Cordelia grits her teeth.

"Illyana does not speak for me," she almost growls. "I do not share her arrogance as to think a woman on the throne is appropriate. I believe that the Queen's Trial is what is best for Vivelle in order to keep madness off the throne. I am willing to give up my sisters in order to ensure Vivelle has the safest future," she tells them all. Kristoff smiles proudly and the Councilmen also smile.

"Well, at least you have managed to raise one of your daughters properly," Lord Drake tells the king.

"Be silent and don't question my parenting again." Lord Drake looks down quickly. Matthias narrows his eyes as he thinks.

"Father," Cordelia interrupts with a slightly shaking voice. "May I remind you that by telling Illyana about the contract of the True Trial as well as helping Illyana escape, Master Audwin has not actually broken any laws," she tells him. Though she does not say that it is her father who was breaking the laws by not telling the girls about it and trying everything to prevent them from attempting the True Trial.

"Your point?" he asks. She gulps.

"My point is you can't appear to go after him for doing his job," she tells him. "You also can't have him killed and make it seem like an accident as a successor has already been chosen by him. The New master he has chosen has been trained by him and will be very similarly politically opinionated. This new person will cause just as much trouble and being younger, will be harder to kill being that he should not have failing health. Also, two deaths of scholars during the time that a Princess is attempting The True trial will also be suspicious," she tells him. He gives her a curious look.

"So what would you have me do?" he asks. She takes a deep breath.

"Well, I wouldn't presume to tell you to do anything, father," she begins. "The way I would deal with the situation is by getting the Master Scholar to change his successor to someone whose ideas match or are similar to yours. Scholar Jensen for example. The Master Scholar is frail after all, it would be easy to give him a couple of drops of a special potion to make him slightly confused. Then, we could easily place it into his mind that a different scholar would be a better choice of successor. Of course, everyone will think his new confusion will just be down to old age," she tells them. Again, silence follows as they think over what she has just said.

"It could work," Councilman Drake says. "It is about time we had a Master Scholar who actually understood his place below the crown instead of working above it." The King doesn't speak. He just runs a hand through his hair and frowns.

"I like it," he finally says as he stands up. "We will have to have something arranged," he tells the room.

"Thank you, Cordelia. You may be excused now," he says, looking away from her and waving his hand. Anger surges through her, but she forces a smile and does a curtsy.

"I am only doing my duty as your daughter," she tells him. He just waves her away without even looking. She gulps back her frustration and goes to leave. As she leaves, she hears her father speak to the council again.

"Have you heard from the Centaurs? Are they any closer to getting Illyana home?" She closes her eyes and grits her teeth. Her fists clench and a nasty sneer that does not suit the delicate attire she had chosen to wear crosses her face. She turns back. Kristoff had stayed with her father and the council. Even he does not pay her any attention, instead, he joins the conversation on getting Illyana back.

She takes another deep breath and lets the soft, princess smile fall over her features as she walks all the way back to her room. Once inside, she locks the door and lets out a frustrated scream before throwing everything off her dressing table and sitting down, her head in her hands. Angry tears spill down her cheeks as the frustration boils inside of her.

After all she has done for them, betraying her sisters, betraying Master Audwin and giving them vital information. She has been the perfect princess. Everything that the King had been trying unsuccessfully to beat into Illyana. Yet still, it is all about her. Illyana. The True Queen. Cordelia slams her hand on her desk and sighs deeply. After a few moments, she opens her eyes and stares at her reflection in the mirror. She practices putting on the perfect, princess smile. Over and over again. She does it until all traces of anger has been successfully hidden from her expression. Her shoulders relax, her eyes soften and her smile widens. Happy, she stands again and makes her way to dinner. Though her expression is calm and delicate, her mind swirls with dangerous words.

I am a princess. A perfect princess. They cannot see how I really feel. They must see how they want me to feel. I will be perfect. I will be Kristoff's perfect wife. I will be our son's perfect mother. I will be their perfect Queen.