Agnes was taken aback with what Lucianne just said but she stubbornly insisted, “No, I did. It was me. Please. I’ve always h-hated Ellia Morgan, a-and I wanted her j-job, a-and…”

“Who do you love most, Agnes?” Lucianne interrupted her with a seemingly-unrelated question.

Agnes was confused but seeing Lucianne’s warm, encouraging smile, she nodded with uncertainty and uttered, “M-My child, your Hi-Highness.”

Lucianne smiled wider and leaned closer as she asked, “A boy or a girl?”

“G-Girl.” She was still lost.

“What’s her name?”

“B-Bethany… we call her Beth.”

Only then did the men know what the Queen was doing. She was getting Agnes to trust her enough to...