Chapter Text
“What century do you think we are living in, General Lane?” The words were spat across the room like a bullet. They echoed around the Queen’s spacious office, ricocheting off minimalistic, modern artwork and the dark, utilitarian desk.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs looked back at her from across the wide table of no-man’s-land. “Your Majesty, what other choice is there? We need Elcorpia’s technology and we have nothing else to offer. His Lordship should be honoured to make this sacrifice for his country.”
Queen Alexandra of Midvale slammed her binder closed as she prepared to storm from the room. The sun hid behind a cloud to shield itself from her wrath. “Elcorpia is days away from collapsing into civil war! Why would we want to chain ourselves to an impending disaster?”
“Because a disaster in Elcorpia will bring disaster to Midvale whether we are bound to them or not. We need to prevent this civil war for the good of Midvale and for the stability of Your Majesty’s own reign. The Elcorpian Royal Family is correct that a royal wedding could boost their popularity and prevent an uprising. It would be the wedding of the century! They aren’t asking for Your Majesty or the Princess, just your Father’s nephew.”
“They are still asking for my cousin, a human being with as much a right to love as anyone else. This must be the twentieth time that I have told you: you may discuss your proposal with Lord Smallville but I will not force his hand.”
“Ma’am!” General Lane exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation, “Midvale does not look to Lord Smallville to save the people from this pestilence, it turns to you.”
“Is Lord Smallville not part of Midvale?”
General Lane’s rebuttal was interrupted by a sharp rap at the door.
The room flooded with a deadly silence, as if it was waiting to see what beast dared sneak past the Queen’s pack of bodyguards and her ferocious personal assistant. At the Queen’s command, the towering doors opened with the haste of a funeral procession. The Queen’s heart was a war drum in her chest.
The Queen’s personal assistant, Susan Vasquez, stepped into the office with a step that the trained eye recognised as slightly too fast to be professional.
She barely had time to dip into a curtsey before the Queen asked, “Yes?”
“Please forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty, but I have an urgent message for you.” Ms. Vasquez explained with a pointed look at elephant who remained comfortably seated in the room.
A single look at Ms. Vasquez’s sheet-white face was all the Queen needed to turn her cold mask towards the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I apologise, General, but would you be so kind as to wait in the reception for a moment?”
With a light shove cleverly disguised as ‘ushering’, Ms. Vasquez escorted the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the room. The moment the door clicked shut, Ms. Vasquez blurted, “The Princess is unwell. An ambulance has been sent for.”
The Queen was at the door to her office before she was aware that she was standing.
-----o0o-----
Princess Kara of Midvale, the sister of Queen Alexandra, lay sprawled like a rag doll upon the luxurious marble tiles. Her cheeks were colourless and her chest hardly moved with her shallow breaths.
Nia Nal, the Princess’ personal assistant, anxiously tried to cushion the Princess’ head as she stroked her clammy brow. A mobile phone was wedged between Nia’s ear and shoulder as she frantically answered the operator’s questions.
“Yes, she is 25 years old... She does suffer from mild asthma and is medicated for it. She has a family history of high blood pressure and leukaemia... No? Not to my knowledge... I have informed security, they will be granted admission... Yes, it began on Wednesday but was-“
Nia’s eyes darted up at the sound of an opening door. Her eyes became saucers as the Queen flew in, the door swinging in her wake. Nia looked briefly as though she considered standing in respect before a regal hand waved the thought away and she settled for a polite bow of her head.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” The Queen blurted, diving towards her sister. Her fingers danced across Kara’s body, searching for injuries and measuring her vitals.
“Please excuse me for a moment, her family has arrived,” Nia told the emergency operator before muting her phone and looking at her Queen.
“Her Highness has been complaining of a headache all morning, Your Majesty. However, as she prepared to call on Lord Smallville, she collapsed.”
“Was she working too hard?” The Queen asked, reaching for the Princess’ hand.
“Always, ma’am, but no harder than any other morning, disregarding the headache.”
“When is the ambulance coming?”
“They should be here in a few minutes, ma’am. I have called the gatehouse to admit the ambulance immediately and escort them to the western entrance.”
“Good,” The Queen nodded shortly. “Remember, she is Keira Zor-El. She is a staffer at the palace. I am Sentinel Zor-El, her sister and I am the deputy head of housekeeping. Are you prepared to accompany her to the hospital?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Nia nodded frantically. However, the Queen had already turned her attention to her own personal assistant.
“Ms. Vasquez, please call for a car-” She began. Her mind raced with a thousand possibilities and her eyes suddenly became slightly hazed.
“It is already on its way,” Susan Vasquez interrupted soothingly, offering a comforting hand to the Queen. “Your Majesty will be accompanied by Agent Lane, Ms. Nal and myself while Agent Sawyer escorts the Princess.”
The Queen frowned sharply at this answer but Susan hurried to explain herself, “I firmly believe that Agent Lane would kill me herself if I suggested that you share a vehicle with the Princess. As painful as it is, Her Highness will be safer if you are not in the ambulance.” Agent Lucy Lane, the Queen’s head bodyguard, nodded in agreement from where she had been lurking by the doorway.
“Very well,” The Queen reluctantly acquiesced before looking towards the Princess’ head bodyguard, “Agent Sawyer, keep Kara safe.”
“Yes ma’am,” Agent Sawyer promised solemnly.
“I will coordinate the necessary NDAs and spread the required rumours,” Ms. Vasquez continued to reassure the Queen, “No one will know.”
Before anymore plans could be made, the paramedics rushed into the room. After a swift security check directed by Agent Lane, the Princess was loaded into an ambulance.
The most powerful woman in Midvale merely watched, as silent as a sleeping newborn.