"I didn't know Lady Tatianka was this evil," Yvonne finally spoke after some time. They had returned from the passage and everyone seated silently pondering on what they had heared. Zhanna didn't remember this scene from her past life. Yes, King Igor was killed but it was by her.
"We need to stop her... cause If King Igor dies, there would be serious chaos" Vika said and everyone nodded their head in aggreement. "Your majesty, do you have a plan" Annette asked Zhanna. Zhanna, who was originally lost in thoughts, turned her face to the remaining behind her and with a dark glint in her eyes she said, "Of course I do"
The next day...
Ulyana sighed once more, she could see the courtyard from where she stood. The guards, the knights and the prince's group were all practising their fighting skills. That meant Shura was there and from what Ulyana had heard, he was a Dragon blood Warrior. She thoughts those warriors were extinct and only existed in fairytales. Shura was a Dragon-blood warrior, a supernaural human worthy to be married to her not some human... Boris.
Ulyana dressed her best, trying to attract the prince's attention. As Shura fought, it was as though his face got more handsome that's why Ulyana sighed constantly. After the practice, they dispersed and so did Ulyana. She then remembered that she hadn't written to her mother since she got married three weeks ago. So, she sat on her table, brought a nepa (feather pen), a paper rag and began writing.
These were the contents of the letter:
Dearest Mother,
I can hardly write this without my hands trembling in anger. How dare she, Zhanna, live her life as though she is some great lady, married to a prince, living in luxury, with the throne so close she could touch it? While I am trapped here with a man who is nothing but a mortal, beneath me in every way, suffocating in this castle, playing the part of a bride to a man who should never have been mine. I can hardly stand to be in his presence.
I have seen her, Mother. Zhanna. She is here, living in the castle and married to a Prince. Not just any prince but the warrior prince! It makes my blood boil just thinking of it. And here I am, stuck with Prince Boris, a man who cannot even begin to understand me, a man so beneath my power, it sickens me. Zhanna must come back, and she must return to Prince Boris.
Please, Mother, you know what must be done. You always have a plan. I need your help. Do something, make it happen. Bring Zhanna back to where she belongs, and let me finally go back to my kingdom. I can't bear this any longer.
I wait for your wisdom, and I pray it comes quickly.
With all my love and desperation,Ulyana.
After writing, she let out a pigeon, tied the letter to it's legs and let it fly to Koldunova.
...
Tatianka put her plan into actions the next day. She got an opportunity to enter the kitchen and successfully threatened the maid who served the king into putting the poison in the king's food. If everything goes well and this continues for a couple of days, King Igor would be on his deathbed sooner than he expected. Unknown to her that Zhanna and her crew were one step ahead.
A maid, who usually served the king his meals, made her way to the King's chambers after making sure everything was set. She shook in fear as she walked along the path. Remembering Tatianka's threat, she was sure death was near. She didn't take note of her surroundings as fear of death consumed her thoughts.
"Halt," Zhanna said as she approached the maid, Vika and Annette behind her. The maid bowed on realising that Zhanna was a Royal.
"Your highness," She said and bowed.
"Where are you headed?" Zhanna asked
"The King's dining court my lady"
"Take this trolley instead, you wouldn't want to deliver poison to the King now would you. I don't think that would end well for you and your family"
The maid looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. She was shocked that this Royal knew about the poison.
"I apologise my lady for this act, I was threatened to carry out the duty,"
"You may rise, now go. I'm just looking out for you- an innocent maid"
"Thank you, thank you" The maid said, bowed an left with the trolley Zhanna gave to her.
"Now, let's deliver breakfast to Tatianka"
"Was the mission successful?" Tatianka asked the maid. She knew the answer. Someone had delivered the poisoned food to her instead.
"Yes, my lady" The maid lied, confident Tatianka had no idea about her encounter with that Royal.
"Lair!" Tatianka roared and signalled some guards to hold the maid in place. "You thought you could play me?" Tatianka scoffed, "Let me show you what I do to people like you. Guards! You know what to do,"
---
"You've been going to the Kitchen constantly lately. Is there something going on?" Shura asked Zhanna one morning.
"No, no. I..love cooking so I go there to do my hobby and practice my skills" Zhanna said
"All right, I'd love to see you cook" Shura said. Zhanna paused in her tracks
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Brother!" Vasilisa called.
While everyone laughed, Boris frowned deeply. He wanted to scream, "That's my wife not Shura's"
"Well then, let's make a trip to Volkorod. I' like to see my daughter"